Review of 2013...
...in summary: it wasn't very good. (Apart from my holidays, and the odd bit of good culture).
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Had a job interview in a different country. Saw Kraftwerk live. Joined a Trade Union. Saw some performance art. Visited the Wellcome Collection. Visited Barcelona. Looked around Hackney Town Hall. Raised a grievance at work. Ate at Nandos.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My main resolutions were to find a new job and a girlfriend. There were plenty of dates and job interviews but no actual success on that front. 2014 is set to continue in this vein.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ed and Angel made a baby.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. Which countries did you visit?
Germany, Portugal, Spain.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
See point 2.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
14 February: Kraftwerk at Tate Modern (amazing).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Er....surviving the year in just about one piece.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not that I regard it as failure necessarily....but see point 2.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only one major man flu this year which was good, though acouple of minor colds too. Oh, and i was signed off sick with stress, depression and anxiety for two months. And hurt my dodgy leg in the summer in the gym and have had Plantar fasciitis in my foot sicne then. Apart from that I've been picture of health.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Does my holiday in Barcelona count? Or the Kraftwerk tickets. I haven't bought anything amazing this year, aside from the usual slew of CDs, the odd book and DVD.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends. The V&A for the David Bowie exhibition. Suede, for not releasing a terrible comeback album.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Two managers at work. Our HR department.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage/service charge, holidays, food and whatnot.
15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
Going to Barcelona. The new OMD album. Two films - Djanho Unchained and Alpha Papa.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Ejecta - It's Only Love.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
Sadder.
b) Bigger or smaller?
Probably smaller. I lost half a stone due to stress but have managed to put most of it back on.
c) Richer or poorer?
Richer, slightly.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Cooking. Taking advantage of the hot summer. Gigs.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fighting the work issues.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my sister and nephew's house for two days and at my parents for Chrimbas Day.
21. What was your favourite month of 2013?
February, maybe.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No.
23. What was your favourite TV programme?
The Americans.
24. How will you see in the New Year?
Depressingly I have no plans so will probably stay in unless an amazing offer appears before then.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes.
26. What was the best book you read?
Craig Taylor's Londoners and Paul Morley's Earthbound (both birthday presents) were particularly good. I've not read a lot since then.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
In terms of new stuff....Ejecta, Rainer, Pete Lyons, Heterotic all spring to mind. And new-ish - The Sound Of Arrows.
28. What did you want and get?
See point 11.
29. What did you want and not get?
See point 2.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Gravity.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I think on the actual day I just went shopping. I had a meal with my parents on the following day and a great evening of drinks in the Old Ship with friends on the preceeding Saturday.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The dismissal (for bullying) of my line manager.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I wore more suits this year. No real change to my 'style' though, although I did change my hairstyle for the first time in years (and back to how it used to be when I was 16).
34. What kept you sane?
Variously: my friends/family, Doctor, medication, Kathryn and Eddie at work, Homerton University Hospital Primary Care Psychology Department.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Florrie.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The government's shenanigans, I suppose.
37. Who did you miss?
No-one in particular.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a few great people for the first time actually.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Don't assume all people have good intentions.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Up against it"
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Had a job interview in a different country. Saw Kraftwerk live. Joined a Trade Union. Saw some performance art. Visited the Wellcome Collection. Visited Barcelona. Looked around Hackney Town Hall. Raised a grievance at work. Ate at Nandos.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My main resolutions were to find a new job and a girlfriend. There were plenty of dates and job interviews but no actual success on that front. 2014 is set to continue in this vein.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Ed and Angel made a baby.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. Which countries did you visit?
Germany, Portugal, Spain.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
See point 2.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
14 February: Kraftwerk at Tate Modern (amazing).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Er....surviving the year in just about one piece.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not that I regard it as failure necessarily....but see point 2.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only one major man flu this year which was good, though acouple of minor colds too. Oh, and i was signed off sick with stress, depression and anxiety for two months. And hurt my dodgy leg in the summer in the gym and have had Plantar fasciitis in my foot sicne then. Apart from that I've been picture of health.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Does my holiday in Barcelona count? Or the Kraftwerk tickets. I haven't bought anything amazing this year, aside from the usual slew of CDs, the odd book and DVD.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends. The V&A for the David Bowie exhibition. Suede, for not releasing a terrible comeback album.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Two managers at work. Our HR department.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage/service charge, holidays, food and whatnot.
15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
Going to Barcelona. The new OMD album. Two films - Djanho Unchained and Alpha Papa.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Ejecta - It's Only Love.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
Sadder.
b) Bigger or smaller?
Probably smaller. I lost half a stone due to stress but have managed to put most of it back on.
c) Richer or poorer?
Richer, slightly.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. Cooking. Taking advantage of the hot summer. Gigs.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Fighting the work issues.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my sister and nephew's house for two days and at my parents for Chrimbas Day.
21. What was your favourite month of 2013?
February, maybe.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No.
23. What was your favourite TV programme?
The Americans.
24. How will you see in the New Year?
Depressingly I have no plans so will probably stay in unless an amazing offer appears before then.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes.
26. What was the best book you read?
Craig Taylor's Londoners and Paul Morley's Earthbound (both birthday presents) were particularly good. I've not read a lot since then.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
In terms of new stuff....Ejecta, Rainer, Pete Lyons, Heterotic all spring to mind. And new-ish - The Sound Of Arrows.
28. What did you want and get?
See point 11.
29. What did you want and not get?
See point 2.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Gravity.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I think on the actual day I just went shopping. I had a meal with my parents on the following day and a great evening of drinks in the Old Ship with friends on the preceeding Saturday.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The dismissal (for bullying) of my line manager.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I wore more suits this year. No real change to my 'style' though, although I did change my hairstyle for the first time in years (and back to how it used to be when I was 16).
34. What kept you sane?
Variously: my friends/family, Doctor, medication, Kathryn and Eddie at work, Homerton University Hospital Primary Care Psychology Department.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Florrie.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The government's shenanigans, I suppose.
37. Who did you miss?
No-one in particular.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a few great people for the first time actually.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Don't assume all people have good intentions.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Up against it"