(no subject)
Hello everyone, I remain not dead. Just before I slink in to 2017, though, I am going to do this survey. It helps me work out how the year went, and that is a thing I need.
01. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
Ran a 10km and THEN a 10 mile race, which I'm quite pleased with.
Other than that I don't feel like I've done an awful lot this year in terms of being a completely new thing?
02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year: Next year, I would like to take it back a level and just plain be a better friend. I think of people a lot, and love reading social media updates and doing cards and catching up at weddings, but I want to be better at just dropping a text and saying hey. Just because I'm lazy and cheerfully don't think any worse of anyone for not contacting me for months and end doesn't mean others feel the same.
Also: I have signed up for a 10km in May. So that's a thing.
Well, I did the 10km - but not in May because I knackered my tendons. I like to think I have worked on being a better friend - I've made the effort to see people and to send emails and letters and stuff. It's a work in progress. That's ok.
For 2016 I would like to train for a marathon and ideally even run one (allowing myself a get out clause if I break something!) I would also like to fight against the horror that will be 2017 politics in any way I can.
03. Did someone close to you give birth?
It is The Year Of Babies. The time has come. They appear to all be called George. I dutifully send cards, talk to the parents from a distance and quietly not actually see the kid until it's at the cute stage and can support their own necks.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
No, for which I am extremely grateful. David Bowie doesn't count even if I did cry.
05. What countries did you visit?
I went to Corfu again and it was EXCELLENT, a thoroughly lovely luxury holiday. I also went to Scotland for a wedding. I already have some travels booked for 2017 though!
06. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Last year I wanted some career progression. Not only did I stand up for myself in my appraisal I got a new job as a HR Manager which is, er, challenging but is definitely career progression.
In 2017 I would like... well, career progression again.
07. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No precise dates, but the holiday; two lovely weddings; a trip to Birmingham, drinking beer and rhapsodising about the wonder that is Jillian Holtzmann; crying at electroral results; a Eurovision with people who had never seen it before and wondered what these strange Brits were doing; still sunlight at 5.30am, the world to myself.
08. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Running a 10 mile race; getting a new job that's a massive step up in my career.
09. What was your biggest failure(s)?
Not realising early enough that winter was going to kick my ass this year; occasionally not being the world's most considerate partner.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My tendon snapped in March when out for a run; even when I managed to get running again it took about six months to be back to full strength.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I had an EPIC Ikea trip in June and bought a new bookshelf and reorganised the living room with some other bits. Six months later it's still a calmer and more relaxed room and makes me feel better.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Richie cycled a bloody long way to raise money; our friends and family contributed the money. Wonderful all around.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Hello, did anyone see the news this year?
14. Where did most of your money go?
A new bookcase; food and drink because obv; a holiday.
2017 has been a year of SAVINGS. That has never, ever happened before in a meaningful sense.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Every time I saw a friend, particularly those living a long way away! Also this year I saw Placebo, which I was ridiculously over-excited about. It was the correct thing to be excited about, it was bloody wonderful.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or Sadder? Sadder; the job is not quite what I wanted, the world is a clusterfuck.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Some of that is because I have spent a week eating crisps.
iii. Richer or Poorer? Richer. New job, baby. (And actually: this is an important thing and I don't want to become inured to it or think it's normal, but for the first time in my whole life and I do literally mean ever I am in a reasonably comfortable place monetarily. Okay, we don't own a house yet but I can buy a round of drinks without having to reorganise my monthly budget; I can give more to charity; I can help friends who need it. It's a lovely feeling and feels like at least some things are working for me. I'm not wildly rich, god no, the bills are still real and the rent went up but there's a comfortable buffer. That's really important for me.)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Journalling; it is a good habit and I've lost it a little.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination. I keep looking at big jobs and quietly going 'nope, not today' and that is why amongst other things I have three pension funds for the end of 2017.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I had a wonderful Christmas this year, let me tell you about it.
On Thursday 22nd I had a difficult company update event, which I will describe in a later post, but the company party was that evening and it was really good fun to get to know everyone better. I also found out that some of the work I'd done in the last month had made a real and tangible difference to people's lives.
Friday 23rd I cleaned the house. Whatever, I know what I enjoy.
Christmas Eve I went to Mary's house with Richie and we spent a wonderfully restful Christmas with her. Being a vicar she had to work so we prepared dinner on Christmas morning; we all cooked together and did presents in the early afternoon after a wonderful meal. On Boxing Day afternoon we drank champagne, Mary knitted, Richie did a dot-to-dot and I did colouring in and all the while we were in pajamas and drinking champagne and port, reaching peak millenial. I regret nothing. It's probably one of the best Christmas periods I've had in a while. Even when we came home we did very little, although I did have to work on 30th, alas.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Already there.
23. How many one-night stands?
Nope.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
It's been a fantastic year for telly but take a bow, Supergirl. I don't like DC properties but it's the best thing on the TV by miles. Between the crossover with The Flash (OH GOD her FACE with the ICE CREAM), Kat Grant and "Life is too short and we should be who we are, and we should kiss the girls we want to kiss" it has been my reliable program to make me feel better about life.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
DID YOU KNOW, friends, DID YOU KNOW that this time last year I had not even HEARD the time alt-right what is even up with that.
26. What was the best book you read?
A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet. It hit literally all the same emotional buttons for me that Supergirl does. The sequel came out at the end of this year and I just cried on the train about it for, er, three days. Found family! Learning your place in the universe! Also ALIENS and SPACESHIPS. It's so wonderful.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I have been terrible with music this year. Terrible, terrible, terrible.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job! Which, despite my complaints, is better than my previous Corporate Mothership.
29. What did you want and not get?
To stay in the EU and a female President.
30. Favourite film of this year?
Ghostbusters fought this one really, really hard. However, Civil War still has this one in the bag. I really did love it. "Can you move your seat forward?" "No."
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 29 which I have some very strong feelings about. That said it was a great birthday; went to work then went out for Mexican food and drinks with a large group of wonderful friends. It was really nice, low-key but thoroughly enjoyable. I think I will try and ensure all my birthdays involve margharitas in the future as an absolute minimum.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less Nazis, tbh.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
The Ghost Of Corporate Future.
34. What kept you sane?
Running; Richie; friends; twinkling candles on the darkest day; that feeling when you finish a difficult job an whatever else happens at least it is DONE.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Last year's answer was: Chris Evans (not the ginger one). Weirdly, Sebastian Stan. I don't find Sebastian Stan attractive. I mean, I actually don't. And yet my subconscious says otherwise.
Still a thing, but also Holtzmann. You guys. Oh, you guys. I would do terrible, terrible things for that woman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
It's 2016 and I cannot believe I have to say 'fascism' but that's what it is.
I have complained to the BBC about Farage and UKIP representation; I have in not one but two workplaces introduced protections for staff as much as I can manage it; I have written letters and tweets and emails; I have tried to talk to people rationally; I am just me, I don't know what else I can do to stop this horror.
It's not all a failure. Zac Goldsmith lost TWO elections this year. That's something.
37. Who do you miss?
I missed my family this year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met lots of new people this year but I didn't get to know any of them that well - I hope to change that in 2017.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
Kindness is perhaps the quality I most value in the people I know, and the value I want to put out into the world the most. (Kindness isn't the same as being nice, either. Anyone can be nice. Being kind is an effort.)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Not a lyric, but: "Life is too short and we should be who we are, and we should kiss the girls we want to kiss."
There are worse mottos for life, particularly with this year just gone.
Overall: for me, personally, 2016 has been a year of triumph and progress and becoming a better me. Unfortunately it has been framed by horror. We keep striving onwards.
Now: there is champagne in the fridge. There is a metric ton of food in the fridge for a quiet new year's day gathering we're having tomorrow. We're over the solstice and the light is coming back.
01. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
Ran a 10km and THEN a 10 mile race, which I'm quite pleased with.
Other than that I don't feel like I've done an awful lot this year in terms of being a completely new thing?
02. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year: Next year, I would like to take it back a level and just plain be a better friend. I think of people a lot, and love reading social media updates and doing cards and catching up at weddings, but I want to be better at just dropping a text and saying hey. Just because I'm lazy and cheerfully don't think any worse of anyone for not contacting me for months and end doesn't mean others feel the same.
Also: I have signed up for a 10km in May. So that's a thing.
Well, I did the 10km - but not in May because I knackered my tendons. I like to think I have worked on being a better friend - I've made the effort to see people and to send emails and letters and stuff. It's a work in progress. That's ok.
For 2016 I would like to train for a marathon and ideally even run one (allowing myself a get out clause if I break something!) I would also like to fight against the horror that will be 2017 politics in any way I can.
03. Did someone close to you give birth?
It is The Year Of Babies. The time has come. They appear to all be called George. I dutifully send cards, talk to the parents from a distance and quietly not actually see the kid until it's at the cute stage and can support their own necks.
04. Did anyone close to you die?
No, for which I am extremely grateful. David Bowie doesn't count even if I did cry.
05. What countries did you visit?
I went to Corfu again and it was EXCELLENT, a thoroughly lovely luxury holiday. I also went to Scotland for a wedding. I already have some travels booked for 2017 though!
06. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Last year I wanted some career progression. Not only did I stand up for myself in my appraisal I got a new job as a HR Manager which is, er, challenging but is definitely career progression.
In 2017 I would like... well, career progression again.
07. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No precise dates, but the holiday; two lovely weddings; a trip to Birmingham, drinking beer and rhapsodising about the wonder that is Jillian Holtzmann; crying at electroral results; a Eurovision with people who had never seen it before and wondered what these strange Brits were doing; still sunlight at 5.30am, the world to myself.
08. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Running a 10 mile race; getting a new job that's a massive step up in my career.
09. What was your biggest failure(s)?
Not realising early enough that winter was going to kick my ass this year; occasionally not being the world's most considerate partner.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My tendon snapped in March when out for a run; even when I managed to get running again it took about six months to be back to full strength.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I had an EPIC Ikea trip in June and bought a new bookshelf and reorganised the living room with some other bits. Six months later it's still a calmer and more relaxed room and makes me feel better.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Richie cycled a bloody long way to raise money; our friends and family contributed the money. Wonderful all around.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Hello, did anyone see the news this year?
14. Where did most of your money go?
A new bookcase; food and drink because obv; a holiday.
2017 has been a year of SAVINGS. That has never, ever happened before in a meaningful sense.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Every time I saw a friend, particularly those living a long way away! Also this year I saw Placebo, which I was ridiculously over-excited about. It was the correct thing to be excited about, it was bloody wonderful.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or Sadder? Sadder; the job is not quite what I wanted, the world is a clusterfuck.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Fatter. Some of that is because I have spent a week eating crisps.
iii. Richer or Poorer? Richer. New job, baby. (And actually: this is an important thing and I don't want to become inured to it or think it's normal, but for the first time in my whole life and I do literally mean ever I am in a reasonably comfortable place monetarily. Okay, we don't own a house yet but I can buy a round of drinks without having to reorganise my monthly budget; I can give more to charity; I can help friends who need it. It's a lovely feeling and feels like at least some things are working for me. I'm not wildly rich, god no, the bills are still real and the rent went up but there's a comfortable buffer. That's really important for me.)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Journalling; it is a good habit and I've lost it a little.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination. I keep looking at big jobs and quietly going 'nope, not today' and that is why amongst other things I have three pension funds for the end of 2017.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I had a wonderful Christmas this year, let me tell you about it.
On Thursday 22nd I had a difficult company update event, which I will describe in a later post, but the company party was that evening and it was really good fun to get to know everyone better. I also found out that some of the work I'd done in the last month had made a real and tangible difference to people's lives.
Friday 23rd I cleaned the house. Whatever, I know what I enjoy.
Christmas Eve I went to Mary's house with Richie and we spent a wonderfully restful Christmas with her. Being a vicar she had to work so we prepared dinner on Christmas morning; we all cooked together and did presents in the early afternoon after a wonderful meal. On Boxing Day afternoon we drank champagne, Mary knitted, Richie did a dot-to-dot and I did colouring in and all the while we were in pajamas and drinking champagne and port, reaching peak millenial. I regret nothing. It's probably one of the best Christmas periods I've had in a while. Even when we came home we did very little, although I did have to work on 30th, alas.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Already there.
23. How many one-night stands?
Nope.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
It's been a fantastic year for telly but take a bow, Supergirl. I don't like DC properties but it's the best thing on the TV by miles. Between the crossover with The Flash (OH GOD her FACE with the ICE CREAM), Kat Grant and "Life is too short and we should be who we are, and we should kiss the girls we want to kiss" it has been my reliable program to make me feel better about life.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
DID YOU KNOW, friends, DID YOU KNOW that this time last year I had not even HEARD the time alt-right what is even up with that.
26. What was the best book you read?
A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet. It hit literally all the same emotional buttons for me that Supergirl does. The sequel came out at the end of this year and I just cried on the train about it for, er, three days. Found family! Learning your place in the universe! Also ALIENS and SPACESHIPS. It's so wonderful.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I have been terrible with music this year. Terrible, terrible, terrible.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job! Which, despite my complaints, is better than my previous Corporate Mothership.
29. What did you want and not get?
To stay in the EU and a female President.
30. Favourite film of this year?
Ghostbusters fought this one really, really hard. However, Civil War still has this one in the bag. I really did love it. "Can you move your seat forward?" "No."
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 29 which I have some very strong feelings about. That said it was a great birthday; went to work then went out for Mexican food and drinks with a large group of wonderful friends. It was really nice, low-key but thoroughly enjoyable. I think I will try and ensure all my birthdays involve margharitas in the future as an absolute minimum.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less Nazis, tbh.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
The Ghost Of Corporate Future.
34. What kept you sane?
Running; Richie; friends; twinkling candles on the darkest day; that feeling when you finish a difficult job an whatever else happens at least it is DONE.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Last year's answer was: Chris Evans (not the ginger one). Weirdly, Sebastian Stan. I don't find Sebastian Stan attractive. I mean, I actually don't. And yet my subconscious says otherwise.
Still a thing, but also Holtzmann. You guys. Oh, you guys. I would do terrible, terrible things for that woman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
It's 2016 and I cannot believe I have to say 'fascism' but that's what it is.
I have complained to the BBC about Farage and UKIP representation; I have in not one but two workplaces introduced protections for staff as much as I can manage it; I have written letters and tweets and emails; I have tried to talk to people rationally; I am just me, I don't know what else I can do to stop this horror.
It's not all a failure. Zac Goldsmith lost TWO elections this year. That's something.
37. Who do you miss?
I missed my family this year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met lots of new people this year but I didn't get to know any of them that well - I hope to change that in 2017.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
Kindness is perhaps the quality I most value in the people I know, and the value I want to put out into the world the most. (Kindness isn't the same as being nice, either. Anyone can be nice. Being kind is an effort.)
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Not a lyric, but: "Life is too short and we should be who we are, and we should kiss the girls we want to kiss."
There are worse mottos for life, particularly with this year just gone.
Overall: for me, personally, 2016 has been a year of triumph and progress and becoming a better me. Unfortunately it has been framed by horror. We keep striving onwards.
Now: there is champagne in the fridge. There is a metric ton of food in the fridge for a quiet new year's day gathering we're having tomorrow. We're over the solstice and the light is coming back.