it's that time of year again
(2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, blimey, I've been doing this for a while)
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Lived all on my own (for 4.5 months, in Sydney, in a seriously lovely flat in Elizabeth Bay). Learnt to surf. Camped on a coral island. Travelled halfway round the world by ship. Published a book. Went climbing.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I finished the 101 things list with 76/101 things finished. I've started another one, but it's not at present public. A couple of things on it have already happened, which is nice.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Assorted friends have had babies. Two of my close friends from university will (all going well) be having babies in the summer, which is both awesome and scary.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
The second half of the Year of Travel featured rather fewer countries: Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Mexico (sort of: we weren't allowed shore leave), the USA. Most of these without my passport being checked (other than in the US, obv, paranoid so-&-sos), due to the whole freighter-ship thing, which I found odd but entertaining.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More focus. Less angst. Some form of teleporter.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
3 July (was supposed to be 4 July) -- sailed back into Tilbury, was met by Marna, Pete, doop, Mum, & Dad, with champagne! I got a bit hyper.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting the book finished? The whole living-in-Australia thing.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to get properly focussed once I got back to these shores.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Sciatica (and, apparently, hip-putting-out-ness) subsequent to the being hit by a motorbike (in Cambodia) last year. Now on the mend I SINCERELY BLOODY HOPE.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I have been trying not to buy things! A train ticket to Melbourne a week earlier than I originally planned it :) My lovely lovely fleece coat (actually uon bought that for me). My climbing shoes (um, ditto). Oh: my tattoo, that is the best thing, of course.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
So many awesome people! The ever-lovely dogrando, uon, & marnameow. Maia for many IM and phone conversations despite time-zone hassle (& for generally being incredibly fantastic).
Assorted people of my acquaintance who took various sorts of climate-change-related direct action.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The negotiators at COP15.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Getting back to the UK. Rent in Sydney. Mortgage here. Savings for going travelling again...
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finlay!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Memories & Dust", Josh Pyke.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Pass. More irritable, but I'm not sure about sadder. Maybe.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. Insufficient cycling!
iii. richer or poorer? Probably about the same as this time last year, but (by choice) poorer than I have been since I left college, otherwise.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Paying attention to myself. Climbing. Activism. Socialising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being irritable & unfocussed & generally uncertain of myself. (I have been home for 6 months! It is past time to get a grip!)
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it in B-Mo with Pete, doop, Marna, Sean, & Bec. There was nice food & nice drink & The Box Of Delights on DVD. Mum, Dad, & Wendy came round on Boxing Day, and then there was more food at Marna's in the evening. Same as previous years I've been in this country, and all very lovely :)
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Depends on your definitions (love / in love / etc). Maybe.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Toss-up between SGA and Merlin, probably. I have been quite fond of Glee, as well.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Don't think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
Argh I can never remember the name of books, not ever. FAIL.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Josh Pyke!
27. What did you want and get?
Freighter tickets home (it was a bit touch-and-go briefly). My tattoo. Job with CTUK (they pay me to teach people to ride bikes!) with the hours I wanted.
28. What did you want and not get?
A teleporter! COME ON PEOPLE GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Watchmen, I think, which I saw with Chris in Sydney.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31, and I was in Sydney. doop & I went shopping (I needed clothes, having worn the same 5 tops for 3 straight months by that stage), had nice dinner (possibly at that Chinese restaurant? I forget), & then saw Run Lola Run on a screen in the bay, with a live improvised soundtrack by that band who only do live stuff and not records. It rained, but hey, we are Glasto veterans and not to be scared off by a little warm rain :)
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Working out WTF I'm doing. Have I said that in enough ways yet?
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Young-person's trousers. I love both my pairs of young-person's trousers.
Layers. Lots and lots of layers. This country is sodding freezing.
33. What kept you sane?
As always: Marna, Pete, & doop.
Surfing. Climbing. Morning pages. IM and international telecommunications.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Um. Probably Brian Cox (oh look, a physicist, well there's a surprise).
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Climate change.
36. Who did you miss?
People in the UK, until July. People in Australia, after May. This is the trouble with travelling. Dammit. I miss both Maia & Daniel an awful lot. Richard continues to live too far away, or possibly it is me who lives too far away, whatever :)
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Maia. Daniel. Chris.
Finlay!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009
Pay more attention to what *you* want, and then actually do that.
Be a grown-up and take some damn responsibility for yourself.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"I refuse to leap from vessels before they've even set sail. [...] And there's not time to fuck around for too long."
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Um. Overall yes. It's been patchy, or difficult, or something, in places. I suspect I would feel more positive if I was feeling more competent/less directionless right now. I'll get there.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Lived all on my own (for 4.5 months, in Sydney, in a seriously lovely flat in Elizabeth Bay). Learnt to surf. Camped on a coral island. Travelled halfway round the world by ship. Published a book. Went climbing.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I finished the 101 things list with 76/101 things finished. I've started another one, but it's not at present public. A couple of things on it have already happened, which is nice.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Assorted friends have had babies. Two of my close friends from university will (all going well) be having babies in the summer, which is both awesome and scary.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
The second half of the Year of Travel featured rather fewer countries: Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Mexico (sort of: we weren't allowed shore leave), the USA. Most of these without my passport being checked (other than in the US, obv, paranoid so-&-sos), due to the whole freighter-ship thing, which I found odd but entertaining.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More focus. Less angst. Some form of teleporter.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
3 July (was supposed to be 4 July) -- sailed back into Tilbury, was met by Marna, Pete, doop, Mum, & Dad, with champagne! I got a bit hyper.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting the book finished? The whole living-in-Australia thing.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to get properly focussed once I got back to these shores.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Sciatica (and, apparently, hip-putting-out-ness) subsequent to the being hit by a motorbike (in Cambodia) last year. Now on the mend I SINCERELY BLOODY HOPE.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I have been trying not to buy things! A train ticket to Melbourne a week earlier than I originally planned it :) My lovely lovely fleece coat (actually uon bought that for me). My climbing shoes (um, ditto). Oh: my tattoo, that is the best thing, of course.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
So many awesome people! The ever-lovely dogrando, uon, & marnameow. Maia for many IM and phone conversations despite time-zone hassle (& for generally being incredibly fantastic).
Assorted people of my acquaintance who took various sorts of climate-change-related direct action.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The negotiators at COP15.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Getting back to the UK. Rent in Sydney. Mortgage here. Savings for going travelling again...
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finlay!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Memories & Dust", Josh Pyke.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Pass. More irritable, but I'm not sure about sadder. Maybe.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter. Insufficient cycling!
iii. richer or poorer? Probably about the same as this time last year, but (by choice) poorer than I have been since I left college, otherwise.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Paying attention to myself. Climbing. Activism. Socialising.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being irritable & unfocussed & generally uncertain of myself. (I have been home for 6 months! It is past time to get a grip!)
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it in B-Mo with Pete, doop, Marna, Sean, & Bec. There was nice food & nice drink & The Box Of Delights on DVD. Mum, Dad, & Wendy came round on Boxing Day, and then there was more food at Marna's in the evening. Same as previous years I've been in this country, and all very lovely :)
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Depends on your definitions (love / in love / etc). Maybe.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Toss-up between SGA and Merlin, probably. I have been quite fond of Glee, as well.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Don't think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
Argh I can never remember the name of books, not ever. FAIL.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Josh Pyke!
27. What did you want and get?
Freighter tickets home (it was a bit touch-and-go briefly). My tattoo. Job with CTUK (they pay me to teach people to ride bikes!) with the hours I wanted.
28. What did you want and not get?
A teleporter! COME ON PEOPLE GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Watchmen, I think, which I saw with Chris in Sydney.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31, and I was in Sydney. doop & I went shopping (I needed clothes, having worn the same 5 tops for 3 straight months by that stage), had nice dinner (possibly at that Chinese restaurant? I forget), & then saw Run Lola Run on a screen in the bay, with a live improvised soundtrack by that band who only do live stuff and not records. It rained, but hey, we are Glasto veterans and not to be scared off by a little warm rain :)
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Working out WTF I'm doing. Have I said that in enough ways yet?
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Young-person's trousers. I love both my pairs of young-person's trousers.
Layers. Lots and lots of layers. This country is sodding freezing.
33. What kept you sane?
As always: Marna, Pete, & doop.
Surfing. Climbing. Morning pages. IM and international telecommunications.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Um. Probably Brian Cox (oh look, a physicist, well there's a surprise).
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Climate change.
36. Who did you miss?
People in the UK, until July. People in Australia, after May. This is the trouble with travelling. Dammit. I miss both Maia & Daniel an awful lot. Richard continues to live too far away, or possibly it is me who lives too far away, whatever :)
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Maia. Daniel. Chris.
Finlay!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009
Pay more attention to what *you* want, and then actually do that.
Be a grown-up and take some damn responsibility for yourself.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"I refuse to leap from vessels before they've even set sail. [...] And there's not time to fuck around for too long."
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Um. Overall yes. It's been patchy, or difficult, or something, in places. I suspect I would feel more positive if I was feeling more competent/less directionless right now. I'll get there.