2014 in review
.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Worked the graveyard shift. Went to a vegan wedding. Phoned in sick from overseas.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't keep them, and will make more for this year. Mostly personal issues stuff.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, hurray! a friend from mothers group who went through 2.5 years of infertility treatments to have her second girl.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and I feel so fortunate about this.
5. What countries did you visit?
Perths' northern suburb, ie Bali. We went camping a couple of times at Hamelin Bay and also camped at Coral Bay, plus a week in Dunsborough. With all this camping we are looking at getting a 4WD because we would actually use it off road.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
Time.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Dec 31st - my stepson (Js older half brother) came over and came out as a transsexual. We cried and hugged and I painted her nails and then we played a board game.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This was a year of spinning plates and mostly I kept them all going.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Being a bit crap at my job. Failing to deal with work politics in a mature way. Failing to deal with personal issues so that they affect my ability to be a good wife and mum.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, unless you count depression as an illness. I plan to work on dietary experiments to see if there is some sort of food issue causing this stuff. About to read 'Grain Brain'.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Solar panels, a carport, and a thermomix.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband and kids, who all had to step up big time when I started full time work and was unable to do all the myriad domestic stuff that I do. J, for getting a school prize, getting into GATE art program, academic extension maths and science programs, and SIMS music.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
J's father - so cruel and selfish. I wouldn't care about myself but it kills me to see him emotionally damaging our daughter.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Solar panels, carport, mortgage.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A kitchen appliance - the almighty thermomix.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Let it Go. Over and over. All year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Waaaay richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Seeing friends, exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working. My supposed part time job was full time for seven months and only this week will it finally switch to being part time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I worked overnight Christmas morning and got home around 830am. We went to the beach and then opened presents. I then had a 1.5 hour nap, after which we went to my sister in laws for christmas lunch. After that we went up to the hills to see my relatives, then home for another brief nap, then back to work to work overnight boxing day morning. It sucked, I would prefer to have been home with my family and not basically delirious from fatigue.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
None, particularly as LJ seems to be pretty much in its death throes.
22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Yes, with my immediate family. And to a lesser extent, with a kitchen appliance.
23. How many one-night stands?
Surely you jest. And don't call me Shirley.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes, my ex partner, who is now costing me thousands in pointless legal fees. It is rare that I actually hate anyone so this is an impressive achievement.
26. What was the best book you read?
I can't remember for the year but I just finished Infidel which is a powerful book that has changed my thinking about Isl.am.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
We went to a WASO concert and sat in the choir stalls. Really interesting to hear an orchestra oriented around the other way, and to see what the conductor was doing, and to hear what it was like to push notes out into the hall.
28. What did you want and get?
Permanent, part time, well paid job.
29. What did you want and not get?
Better mental health.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Frozen, Pride, and Paddington were all great.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 46. I wanted to have a night off from cooking and a quiet meal with my immediate family. Somehow my husbands entire family came along and I sat looking after an overtired Annabel, next to my parents in law, who was spent the meal complaining about food, service, location, foreigness (it was a Vietnamese place) etc. I was exhausted and furious that again my mother in law had spoilt my birthday celebration, furious with my husband that he did not listen to what I wanted, and furious that he sat up the other end of the table with the relatives that we enjoy seeing. After the meal everyone invited themselves round for coffee and my birthday cake.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better mental health.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Non descript. Also very comfortable shoes, because my new job involves being on my feet and walking a lot.
34. What kept you sane?
I discovered Candy Crush and played it all the time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Noone that I can think of really. Maybe one of the good looking ones on Game of Thrones.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pretty much every single thing the current government does.
37. Who did you miss?
Noone that I can think of right now.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
A few new people at work who are lovely.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014?
You can't escape work politics, however hard you try to.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Let it Go.
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Worked the graveyard shift. Went to a vegan wedding. Phoned in sick from overseas.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't keep them, and will make more for this year. Mostly personal issues stuff.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, hurray! a friend from mothers group who went through 2.5 years of infertility treatments to have her second girl.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and I feel so fortunate about this.
5. What countries did you visit?
Perths' northern suburb, ie Bali. We went camping a couple of times at Hamelin Bay and also camped at Coral Bay, plus a week in Dunsborough. With all this camping we are looking at getting a 4WD because we would actually use it off road.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
Time.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Dec 31st - my stepson (Js older half brother) came over and came out as a transsexual. We cried and hugged and I painted her nails and then we played a board game.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This was a year of spinning plates and mostly I kept them all going.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Being a bit crap at my job. Failing to deal with work politics in a mature way. Failing to deal with personal issues so that they affect my ability to be a good wife and mum.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, unless you count depression as an illness. I plan to work on dietary experiments to see if there is some sort of food issue causing this stuff. About to read 'Grain Brain'.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Solar panels, a carport, and a thermomix.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband and kids, who all had to step up big time when I started full time work and was unable to do all the myriad domestic stuff that I do. J, for getting a school prize, getting into GATE art program, academic extension maths and science programs, and SIMS music.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
J's father - so cruel and selfish. I wouldn't care about myself but it kills me to see him emotionally damaging our daughter.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Solar panels, carport, mortgage.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A kitchen appliance - the almighty thermomix.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Let it Go. Over and over. All year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Waaaay richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Seeing friends, exercising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working. My supposed part time job was full time for seven months and only this week will it finally switch to being part time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I worked overnight Christmas morning and got home around 830am. We went to the beach and then opened presents. I then had a 1.5 hour nap, after which we went to my sister in laws for christmas lunch. After that we went up to the hills to see my relatives, then home for another brief nap, then back to work to work overnight boxing day morning. It sucked, I would prefer to have been home with my family and not basically delirious from fatigue.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
None, particularly as LJ seems to be pretty much in its death throes.
22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Yes, with my immediate family. And to a lesser extent, with a kitchen appliance.
23. How many one-night stands?
Surely you jest. And don't call me Shirley.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes, my ex partner, who is now costing me thousands in pointless legal fees. It is rare that I actually hate anyone so this is an impressive achievement.
26. What was the best book you read?
I can't remember for the year but I just finished Infidel which is a powerful book that has changed my thinking about Isl.am.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
We went to a WASO concert and sat in the choir stalls. Really interesting to hear an orchestra oriented around the other way, and to see what the conductor was doing, and to hear what it was like to push notes out into the hall.
28. What did you want and get?
Permanent, part time, well paid job.
29. What did you want and not get?
Better mental health.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Frozen, Pride, and Paddington were all great.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 46. I wanted to have a night off from cooking and a quiet meal with my immediate family. Somehow my husbands entire family came along and I sat looking after an overtired Annabel, next to my parents in law, who was spent the meal complaining about food, service, location, foreigness (it was a Vietnamese place) etc. I was exhausted and furious that again my mother in law had spoilt my birthday celebration, furious with my husband that he did not listen to what I wanted, and furious that he sat up the other end of the table with the relatives that we enjoy seeing. After the meal everyone invited themselves round for coffee and my birthday cake.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better mental health.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Non descript. Also very comfortable shoes, because my new job involves being on my feet and walking a lot.
34. What kept you sane?
I discovered Candy Crush and played it all the time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Noone that I can think of really. Maybe one of the good looking ones on Game of Thrones.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Pretty much every single thing the current government does.
37. Who did you miss?
Noone that I can think of right now.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
A few new people at work who are lovely.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014?
You can't escape work politics, however hard you try to.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Let it Go.