2015 Meme
1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
Learned to Scuba dive, dived in a coral reef and in an icy palace (Silfra) and dipped in the dead sea, been terrified crossing a national border (Jordan/Israel), Been seeing someone for more than 2 months, got into serious trouble at work, rented an apartment for myself in a new country, spent more than one night in a tent, held a puffin, climbed a live volcano, had a heartbreak, been pecked by a bird, moved back to old familiar places (Edinburgh and Romania),
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
One I remember was to appreciate the people round me and I did keep to that.
This year: Don't waste money, eat more healthily, be more disciplined about sticking to your study timetable, spend half an hour to an hour studying Romanian, don't get stressed about things you can't change.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
UK (when I was living in Saudi), Jordan, Israel, Bahrain for an 8 hour stopover, Iceland, Moved to Romania and Moldova
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More money. A plan.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Mid January, going home and being slightly shocked in Newcastle and miniskirted females openly grabbing their men. February, trips to go diving in the Red sea and seeing such prettiness I could hardly stand it, March, seeing displaced Palestinians in Israel. Finally getting the fuck out of Saudi, A great birthday in Edinburgh and 8th Sep, moving back to Romania. 13th Sep, meeting a couchsurfer who took a shine to me. We have been dating since.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not being tempted by the money and getting the Hell out of a place I was really unhappy in.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Spending too much, putting weight back on, failing to focus on study
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Gum infection and cystitis and an inflamed tendon
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Trips!!! Plane ticket home (in fairness this was reimbursed)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My chums :)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some people I thought had been my friends but weren't. Good luck to 'em. Bigots of all flavours, white, brown, Muslim and Christian.
14. Where did most of your money go?
books, travel, jewels
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travel! Leaving Saudi.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Comme d'habitude.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier/sadder; fatter/thinner; richer/poorer?
a) Happier!!!!!!
b) Fatter
c) Poorer but frankly it's worth it..
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Improving my mind, writing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Faffing
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Looking after My sisters kids.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Become very fond of someone but I don't know if I love him.
22. How many one-night stands?
0
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Romanian cartoons which I have been watching/
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No
25. What was the best book you read?
The Lacuna, Siberian Education, The Romanian, The Electric Michaelangelo
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not been a very musical year but I rediscovered Musica Populara
27. What did you want and get?
Love (or sex!), travel
28. What did you want and not get?
Saving
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Legend of Barney Johnson, Star Wars, remastering of the Third Man, Inside Out. Song of the Sea. Not been a terribly intellectual year folm wise!.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
34. worked but some friends came to visit and their effort was the best present and we had a great time.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having saved more and a clearer idea of what I want to achieve.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Garish! as usual.
33. What kept you sane?
Concentrating on a happier future.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election, the refugee Crisis
36. Who did you miss?
The family.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Lots of new people in Edinburgh
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
Don't look back.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
The Best things in life are free.
I end this year in a better place by far than I did last year. I feel much calmer though I have a feeling there will be storms ahead, at least I have had some time to replenish my energy. I am going out with someone and while it is going well I have my doubts about it being long term. Nonetheless It is nice to feel appreciated and also to know that I am loved by my old friends and people who really matter. There will be trouble in the world this next year, and perhaps love will be what we need most.
Learned to Scuba dive, dived in a coral reef and in an icy palace (Silfra) and dipped in the dead sea, been terrified crossing a national border (Jordan/Israel), Been seeing someone for more than 2 months, got into serious trouble at work, rented an apartment for myself in a new country, spent more than one night in a tent, held a puffin, climbed a live volcano, had a heartbreak, been pecked by a bird, moved back to old familiar places (Edinburgh and Romania),
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
One I remember was to appreciate the people round me and I did keep to that.
This year: Don't waste money, eat more healthily, be more disciplined about sticking to your study timetable, spend half an hour to an hour studying Romanian, don't get stressed about things you can't change.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
UK (when I was living in Saudi), Jordan, Israel, Bahrain for an 8 hour stopover, Iceland, Moved to Romania and Moldova
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More money. A plan.
7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Mid January, going home and being slightly shocked in Newcastle and miniskirted females openly grabbing their men. February, trips to go diving in the Red sea and seeing such prettiness I could hardly stand it, March, seeing displaced Palestinians in Israel. Finally getting the fuck out of Saudi, A great birthday in Edinburgh and 8th Sep, moving back to Romania. 13th Sep, meeting a couchsurfer who took a shine to me. We have been dating since.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not being tempted by the money and getting the Hell out of a place I was really unhappy in.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Spending too much, putting weight back on, failing to focus on study
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Gum infection and cystitis and an inflamed tendon
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Trips!!! Plane ticket home (in fairness this was reimbursed)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My chums :)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some people I thought had been my friends but weren't. Good luck to 'em. Bigots of all flavours, white, brown, Muslim and Christian.
14. Where did most of your money go?
books, travel, jewels
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travel! Leaving Saudi.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Comme d'habitude.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier/sadder; fatter/thinner; richer/poorer?
a) Happier!!!!!!
b) Fatter
c) Poorer but frankly it's worth it..
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Improving my mind, writing
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Faffing
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Looking after My sisters kids.
21. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Become very fond of someone but I don't know if I love him.
22. How many one-night stands?
0
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Romanian cartoons which I have been watching/
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No
25. What was the best book you read?
The Lacuna, Siberian Education, The Romanian, The Electric Michaelangelo
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not been a very musical year but I rediscovered Musica Populara
27. What did you want and get?
Love (or sex!), travel
28. What did you want and not get?
Saving
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Legend of Barney Johnson, Star Wars, remastering of the Third Man, Inside Out. Song of the Sea. Not been a terribly intellectual year folm wise!.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
34. worked but some friends came to visit and their effort was the best present and we had a great time.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having saved more and a clearer idea of what I want to achieve.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Garish! as usual.
33. What kept you sane?
Concentrating on a happier future.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election, the refugee Crisis
36. Who did you miss?
The family.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Lots of new people in Edinburgh
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
Don't look back.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
The Best things in life are free.
I end this year in a better place by far than I did last year. I feel much calmer though I have a feeling there will be storms ahead, at least I have had some time to replenish my energy. I am going out with someone and while it is going well I have my doubts about it being long term. Nonetheless It is nice to feel appreciated and also to know that I am loved by my old friends and people who really matter. There will be trouble in the world this next year, and perhaps love will be what we need most.