end of year meme
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Ran on Hackney Marshes -- visited Hackney Marshes! Bought a bike myself. And a netbook. Budgeted with significant amounts of money. Became (and registered) self-employed. Put money aside for tax because of being self-employed. Survived on seven hundred pounds a month in London (only for a few months). Snowshoed. Appeared in court. Appeared in the High Court. Did pro bono legal representation. Got paid by solicitors, local authorities and the Legal Services Commission. Became a tenant in chambers. Had to take out work insurance for myself (I am covered up to 500,000 pounds!). Did an "office move". Registered to collect/pay VAT. Saw a play at Stratford-Upon-Avon (Matilda! Go see, is amazing!). Passed up an opportunity to go skiing (because I'd hurt myself skiing two days previously and didn't feel up to it again). Began to think that maybe I should learn to drive.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, my New Year's resolution was to be substantially lighter by my 30th birthday. I think I lost all of up to a stone in actual weight, but close to two dress sizes, so I guess it depends how you cut it.
I'd like to get fitter and trimmer still this year. And maybe get my own place (rented) and get closer to actually buying some property.
Maybe I should learn to drive.
I want to really start planning to arc of how the next five years or so will go, and planning when I will finally make my long-discussed move back to Vancouver.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
firenightingale gave birth to the adorable baby Iggy some eight months ago. He is a delight to behold. And to hold!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just Canada this year. :)
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Stability, both financial and work-wise. Perhaps my own flat. A steady relationship would be nice, too. More immigration work, and some Hague Convention and/or forced marriage work.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None spring to mind. I was on my feet 12 April. I finished pupillage on 4 October. And I got the phone call to say I was unanimously accepted as a member of my new chambers on 1 December. Perhaps I'll remember one or other of those.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting tenancy, must be!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting tenancy. But it turned out OK. :)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hurt my arm skiing and jarred various other things in the same fall -- still have a bit of a crick in my neck from that. Nothing else comes to mind.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Time will tell! My netbook is getting a lot of use, but hopefully my bike will get even more when the weather gets nicer.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother's and step-father's, as always. My flatmate Josephine's. My various supervisors and mentors at my pupillage chambers and elsewhere.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. Some other barristers', and judges'.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent. It's a cop-out answer but it's true! And travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting tenancy. Politics. Seeing Matilda in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Flying to Canada. Canadian Christmas in Banff generally, and getting to go skiing specifically.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Bob and Doug's Canadian 12 Days of Christmas ("and a beer!... in a tree").
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Socialising/social events. Getting off me arse and out the house, as always. But not exercise, this year -- I did pretty well at that, at least after about May.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet, as always.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
In Banff, surrounded by family and amazingness.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Not this year, no.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What were your favorite TV programs?
LOST, Grey's Anatomy, The Old Guys, Little Mosque on the Prairie, sometimes Question Time and other BBC news/satire staples.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What were the best books you read?
The Spirit Level and probably the one I'm reading now, Good To A Fault.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing really.
27. What did you want and get?
Tenancy!
A new bike, a netbook.
28. What did you want and not get?
Tenancy!
Various law texts, wig and gown (will be purchased soon enough).
A lasting (and loving, and fulfilling) relationship.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably Made in Dagenham.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went down to London Bridge and picked up my new bike. Rode it to Angel for a low-key third date -- lunch at one of the Gallipolis, then a pub. Planned how to go see Matilda. Didn't drink anything! Rode to another pub where I was joined at various times by some friends, including firenightingale and daisho with their aforementioned lovely little baby Iggy. Spent most of the evening cuddling the baby. Drank very little. Ate rather a lot. Cycled home. I was 30.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm not sure. Probably love of the romantic variety, but the year was pretty amazing, varied, full, and satisfying as it was, so I'm not complaining.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Stuffy black suits with uncertainly ironed white shirts!
33. What kept you sane?
Sheer bloody-mindedness. My work. Loved ones.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can't think of any for this year. Always fancy Tim Minchin though. :D
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Asylum and immigration. The coalition. The cuts.
36. Who did you miss?
Canadafam.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Time will tell. I've met some lovely people through the Hackney Green Party.
38. Did you enjoy this year?
By the end of it!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
It's never the end of the world -- if I didn't already know it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm the hero of the story, don't need to be saved.
Ran on Hackney Marshes -- visited Hackney Marshes! Bought a bike myself. And a netbook. Budgeted with significant amounts of money. Became (and registered) self-employed. Put money aside for tax because of being self-employed. Survived on seven hundred pounds a month in London (only for a few months). Snowshoed. Appeared in court. Appeared in the High Court. Did pro bono legal representation. Got paid by solicitors, local authorities and the Legal Services Commission. Became a tenant in chambers. Had to take out work insurance for myself (I am covered up to 500,000 pounds!). Did an "office move". Registered to collect/pay VAT. Saw a play at Stratford-Upon-Avon (Matilda! Go see, is amazing!). Passed up an opportunity to go skiing (because I'd hurt myself skiing two days previously and didn't feel up to it again). Began to think that maybe I should learn to drive.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, my New Year's resolution was to be substantially lighter by my 30th birthday. I think I lost all of up to a stone in actual weight, but close to two dress sizes, so I guess it depends how you cut it.
I'd like to get fitter and trimmer still this year. And maybe get my own place (rented) and get closer to actually buying some property.
Maybe I should learn to drive.
I want to really start planning to arc of how the next five years or so will go, and planning when I will finally make my long-discussed move back to Vancouver.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
firenightingale gave birth to the adorable baby Iggy some eight months ago. He is a delight to behold. And to hold!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just Canada this year. :)
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Stability, both financial and work-wise. Perhaps my own flat. A steady relationship would be nice, too. More immigration work, and some Hague Convention and/or forced marriage work.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None spring to mind. I was on my feet 12 April. I finished pupillage on 4 October. And I got the phone call to say I was unanimously accepted as a member of my new chambers on 1 December. Perhaps I'll remember one or other of those.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting tenancy, must be!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting tenancy. But it turned out OK. :)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hurt my arm skiing and jarred various other things in the same fall -- still have a bit of a crick in my neck from that. Nothing else comes to mind.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Time will tell! My netbook is getting a lot of use, but hopefully my bike will get even more when the weather gets nicer.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother's and step-father's, as always. My flatmate Josephine's. My various supervisors and mentors at my pupillage chambers and elsewhere.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. Some other barristers', and judges'.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent. It's a cop-out answer but it's true! And travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting tenancy. Politics. Seeing Matilda in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Flying to Canada. Canadian Christmas in Banff generally, and getting to go skiing specifically.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2010?
Bob and Doug's Canadian 12 Days of Christmas ("and a beer!... in a tree").
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Socialising/social events. Getting off me arse and out the house, as always. But not exercise, this year -- I did pretty well at that, at least after about May.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet, as always.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
In Banff, surrounded by family and amazingness.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Not this year, no.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What were your favorite TV programs?
LOST, Grey's Anatomy, The Old Guys, Little Mosque on the Prairie, sometimes Question Time and other BBC news/satire staples.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What were the best books you read?
The Spirit Level and probably the one I'm reading now, Good To A Fault.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing really.
27. What did you want and get?
Tenancy!
A new bike, a netbook.
28. What did you want and not get?
Tenancy!
Various law texts, wig and gown (will be purchased soon enough).
A lasting (and loving, and fulfilling) relationship.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably Made in Dagenham.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went down to London Bridge and picked up my new bike. Rode it to Angel for a low-key third date -- lunch at one of the Gallipolis, then a pub. Planned how to go see Matilda. Didn't drink anything! Rode to another pub where I was joined at various times by some friends, including firenightingale and daisho with their aforementioned lovely little baby Iggy. Spent most of the evening cuddling the baby. Drank very little. Ate rather a lot. Cycled home. I was 30.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm not sure. Probably love of the romantic variety, but the year was pretty amazing, varied, full, and satisfying as it was, so I'm not complaining.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Stuffy black suits with uncertainly ironed white shirts!
33. What kept you sane?
Sheer bloody-mindedness. My work. Loved ones.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can't think of any for this year. Always fancy Tim Minchin though. :D
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Asylum and immigration. The coalition. The cuts.
36. Who did you miss?
Canadafam.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Time will tell. I've met some lovely people through the Hackney Green Party.
38. Did you enjoy this year?
By the end of it!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
It's never the end of the world -- if I didn't already know it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm the hero of the story, don't need to be saved.