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End of the Year Reminiscing
I don't think I did this last year, but so much has happened in 2010 that I've decided to give it a go.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Became a grandmother. Started my teaching degree. Passed a maths course, with a Distinction.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make a resolution last year but the systems I set in place for this year pretty much failed. I lost a lot of weight last year but had started putting it back on by May. I applied for and got into uni, but bronchitis made it impossible to continue in second semester. I don't know if I'll do resolutions this year per se, but Lee and I always have a meeting at the beginning of the year/month/week to decide what long/mid and short term goals we've got.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? This year Aiden brought home a pregnant girl. We were wary and had our issues with the situation, but by the end of the year we became grandparents to Luc. I got to see the birth and love both Georgie Girl and Luc as much as if they were my own blood.
4. Did anyone close to you die?No.
5. What countries did you visit? None. Again.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A job that I enjoy and that furthers our goals for our family.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 11 November - Luc was born. March 5 - Started uni. 28th March - Cassandra came to live with us.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing semester one of uni with Distinctions. Being the best support person for Aiden and Georgie that they could have asked for.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not helping Cassandra get her life back on track after a particularly bad relationship.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had severe bronchitis that lasted a month. The rest of the family followed, one at a time, so it was a pretty awful time for us.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My uni handbag. It's big and it's red and I love it.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Aiden. He liked a girl and wanted to go out with her. She discovered she was pregnant but that didn't deter Aiden. He still started a relationship with her with a view to the long term. He has been there for Georgie and Luc and has become a real father to the baby. Lee, because he was unhappy with his job and set about finding one that would pay well and make him happy. Now he's the Arts and Culture Officer for Rockingham.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mark, for the abuse he heaped upon my little girl.
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, bills, bills. With so many people living in the house, the costs just keep mounting.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The birth. I was so touched when Georgie asked me to be there. It was wonderful.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. It's been a year of events and I've spent most of it feeling out of control.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:i. happier or sadder? ii. thinner or fatter? iii. richer or poorer? Sadder, fatter and poorer. So much poorer. But I have lost a few kilos in the past couple of weeks, I'm looking for a job and the disruptive influence has gone elsewhere.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Arguing with Cassandra.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? Spent it quietly with my immediate family. Boxing Day was with my brother and his family.
21. Who did you meet for the first time? Georgie Girl who is now a part of our family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010? I'm still very much in love with my beloved Lee. It's been a tough year and Lee and I have had our ups and downs, but we've stuck with each other through the hard times and are still solid to our core.
23. What was your favourite TV program? Ahem. Toddlers and Tiaras. Yes, it's awful but it's like a train wreck. You can't help but watch it. Georgie and I make sure to sit down together and watch it everyday. Also, The Armstrong and Miller Show, a british sketch comedy show that has become a family favourite (not the littlies though).
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Mark. What he did to Cassandra was deplorable and I have to admit that I wish all sorts of evil to rain down upon his head.
25. What was the best book you read? The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. What started of as research ended up as a much loved read.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? That Justin Beiber sucks just slightly less than Lady Gaga.
27. What was your favorite film of this year? Inception. I had no interest in watching it but Lee wanted to see it and I couldn't be bothered arguing. Turns out, easily the best movie I saw this year.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 41.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Completing semester two of uni.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Jeans and t-shirt.
31. What kept you sane? Lee. Uni. Lunches with Yvonne and Linda, my old school pals that I met up with for the first time in 25 years. They have been such good friends to me in what has been an emotional year.
32. What political issue stirred you the most? Shrug.
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010? That I can't save my children, only guide them.
34. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"Hypodermics on the shores, China's under martial law
Rock and Roller cola wars, I can't take it anymore"
We Didn't Start the Fire - by Billy Joel
We faced big problems, we faced little problems and by the end of it I was totally wrung out. 2011 is going to be about Lee, me and the little kids. Aiden and Georgie are striking out on their own, Cassandra's living a life far removed from my own and Blake's focus is his mates and work. I no longer have any real need to contact their father and it's now time for us to focus on the Battersbys.
And that's the way it should be.