That end of year meme for 2013.
It's been a simultaneously quiet and hugely busy year for me. Parenting is...a thing. Not sure terms like 'good' or 'bad' really work. Let's just say it's been real.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
Had a baby, obv. That was the big one; other firsts were mostly subsidiaries, like taking M to their first festival (ATP) in November. Babies involve LOTS of firsts. I got fairly into baby-wearing & spent rather too much money of beautiful wraps, but that's calmed down a bit now. In non-baby news, I also completed a Masters degree and won an academic prize, both firsts despite this being my fourth spell at a university.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Again, I didn't make any; 2010's personal space improvement resolution is a perennial, and the year involved much home rearrangement, but it's still fairly sub-optimal and we need to think hard about big improvements, like maybe building an extension. Some of the improvements were small but brilliant though, like the new bathroom storage which still makes me smile.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not geographically close, but ariiadne had a second baby who I hope to meet in person soon, maybe in 2014.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. Which countries did you visit?
None, sadly. Was hoping to make it to Scotland at least but didn't. 2014, I hope.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
More energy. Better health. A less messy garden. Standard entries. A truly seismic shift in the horrible downward spiral the UK is in, politically. The current foetus to appear healthy & with a minimum of fuss. For people to stop insisting to me that the singular pronoun "they" is grammatically incorrect, because this is really angering bullshit.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Feb 8, when M was born. I have had to repeat that date a LOT.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping child alive and mostly in good nick. Writing dissertation while managing 3 month old child (with quite a bit of help!).
9. What was your biggest failure?
Elimination Communication; we just dint have the spoons. Otherwise, mostly just not taking M out to places enough, not learning baby sign or swimming, or reading to them regularly. Associated, not getting out to see other people enough myself or go out to Things at weekends. That's been a real shame but agin, spoons.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Pregnancy isn't an illness but it is tiring, especially with a baby already there. I've escaped quite a bit of the crap from the last one, but on the other hand, all of us have had repeated infections (mostly ENT stuff) throughout autumn & winter, which has made things really hard. My mental health has been a bit worse again, partly from illness & tiredness and partly due to my mother's unpleasantness.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
IPhone 5C, although some of the features noe annoy me, especially the new layout for iCal. And I've just bought a replacement laptop that *may* be awesome once I set it up! Baby wraps, especially the ones with dragons on. I cannot swear by the positives of baby-wearing enough; my dodgy shoulder is the only downside. Long-desired pair of Liberator boots from Ethical Wares, plus ribbon laces.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
alextiefling, as always. hazyjayne. kake. Rude Twitter. You awesome folks. Just friends generally.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My mother, whose behaviour made me literally depressed, and is why I've not seen the rest of her family since M was born.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Babby items.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to ATP. Crime & The City Solution reforming. Child development things, like smiling and talking and walking and teeth, though the excitement of the latter wore off a bit when M discovered biting.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Not sure if there are any particular songs. Artists, mainly Chelsea Wolfe, Creep, Deptford Goth, Distorted Memory, Crime & The City Solution, and for older stuff, Talk Talk, Thievery Corporation, Bohren Und Der Club of Gore and other such soothing things played to encourage M to sleep.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Bit of both. Overall quite happy though.
ii. thinner or fatter? Again a little after, pregnancy notwithstanding. I ate a lot of chocolate while writing my final dissertation.
iii. richer or poorer? A fair bit poorer, with the income drop and the spending on baby things.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taking the Babby out to places. Spending time with friends. Supporting my poor knackered co-parent. Reading books. Again, exercise.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being ill.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Quietly at home with alextiefling& M.
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No. Ever more in love though.
22. How many one-night stands?
None, sadly; I might actually have enjoyed that.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
'Nurse Jackie' was a fun addition. I've re-watched ludicrous amounts of 'Big Bang Theory' due to E4's endless repeats. Was really enjoying 'Peaky Blinders' but missed the end due to iPlayer's swift removal and lack of time. FFS. Still enjoying 'Sons Of Anarchy' and waiting for time to see the end of 'Breaking Bad'. Must get Netflix so I can see OITNB!
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not hate, but I'm genuinely deeply unhappy with my mother.
25. What was the best book you read?
Comics - Saga, which makes me very happy. I quite like The Massive too. I haven't finished ANY book-books! Currently on 'How Babies Think' though, which is interesting.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lots at ATP; I loved Eraas, Blanck Mass and Forest Swords.
27. What did you want and get?
A healthy, happy baby, without harm to me.
28. What did you want and not get?
Better health. Kind, supportive family. A government which isn't a ludicrously evil caricature.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Sadly, I didn't make it to the cinema even once.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 37. I did nothing and was happy about that.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
My family not sucking.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Lots of lounge pants. Clothes with pockets & belt loops. Things which are easily washed & hard to destroy. Cheerful skulls.
33. What kept you sane?
As always: alextiefling
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Probably Melissa Gira Grant as a total brain crush.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Workfare, disability, sex workers' rights, poverty, food banks, Internet filters, the ongoing destruction of the legal system,
36. Who did you miss?
Absent friends. My aunt, still.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Many lovely Twitter folk like @LupieStardust, @pastachips (we technically met in 2012 but I DON'T CARE!), @fornicatrix, @eithne_crow, @stavvers, @waitinggirl13, @katabaticesque, @samambreen, @judeinlondon, @ArchedEyebrowBR, @doloresonthedot, @MrDuttonPeabody @Ellwynnnnn and anyone else I've carelessly forgotten.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
You can kid yourself you have a good relationship with someone as long as you avoid contentious subjects, but the truth will out eventually.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"Hidden inside him/Music in the dark/This conquering kindness/To all in his quiver/Burdened hard on the road/By law all are wounded/That you may know/You may know one another" (Wovenhand, 'Cohawken Road). My runner-up would be: "He said come/Come let us reason together" (Wovenhand, 'A Holy Measure')
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Bits were very hard, but it contained a great deal of joy overall.
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