It's an end of year roundup meme!
I thought I'd do my roundup of the year as it's nearly the end! 40 questions about 2013 - feel free to pinch.
Lj seems to be OK again too, although there are some nasty things happening in Russia at the moment, and I hope that doesn't mean a DoS attack may be planned.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before
I worked as an External Moderator in 2013. I'd never done that before - I'd been a moderator (someone who checks the quality of work and how it has been marked by teachers) for my old College, but never worked as an External Moderator. I ended up doing an awful lot of work as sadly one of our moderators unexpectedly died just before the start of the academic year, it meant I was trying to juggle two jobs through June and July, but I enjoyed the challenge.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year (I don't really do that anyway). I did decide to try and get fitter, and I think I actually managed that as I can walk fast up the escalators at the tube stations and I'm very proud to say I don't collapse in a big heap at the top (which I did when I first tried it!!).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope
5. What countries did you visit?
We haven't been abroad for ages, and we must rectify that!! This year we stayed in England - writerconuk at Coventry and a short break in Canterbury which was nice.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I still need a new family bathroom - that somehow dropped to the bottom of the renovation list this year!!
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
9th July 2013 - the day Eldest Cee graduated with his Computer Science BSc (Hons) *proud*
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving all the additional External Moderation I ended up doing. I had 9 Colleges to visit all over London and the surrounding areas (one in Portsmouth!), and 11 Diplomas to moderate. I was very pleased that I was commended by my line manager for the quality of the reports I wrote.
9. What was your biggest failure?
As usual, I wish I'd lost some weight. Mr Cee and I really do need to do something this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fortunately no, which was nice. I had one incidence of a 'flu like bug, but generally enjoyed good health.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
iPhone 5S - love it to pieces.... I'm such a geek!!!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Both my boys. I'm incredibly proud of both of them - Eldest Cee is an independent man now with his own home and and a good job. Youngest Cee is so well organised about EVERYTHING, and is doing so well.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The current government cuts - don't even get me started about how our economy and health care is being so mis-managed!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Decorating the house this year. I hadn't realised how much renovation we had done this year before I started this meme - we repainted the back sitting room (the paint had faded badly as it's a sunny room and the ceiling had to be repaired), then we did our bedroom, then with Youngest Cee's help) we completely redid the hall, landing and stairs including replacing the landing and stair carpet and the hall floor. Wow!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was really excited about getting my new phone and I had to wait quite a long time for it as I wanted the gold one (bling!). I was also very excited when Eldest Cee got his results for his degree.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Not a song as such, but this year was the first time that Mr Cee and I watched the whole series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' which we've never done before (despite the fact it's been on TV for over 10 years!). The theme tune was just an earworm I had trouble getting rid of over the weeks.....!!!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I'm about the same as I was last year I think.
ii. thinner or fatter? I'm not thinner definitely, and I have a sneaking suspicion I may be fatter :(
iii. richer or poorer? I think we're about the same as last year - mostly as Mr Cee has been awarded 'golden handcuffs' as they are so worried he'll be headhunted. He will get a bonus at the end of this year and next year provided he stays with his current company. It's given us some security as his job has always been at risk (his firm has been bought, merged and taken over more times than I care to remember over the 30+ years he's been employed).
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More travel, and more fannish stuff.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
In light of #17ii probably less eating of biscuits at work...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family and friends! Ate too much, enjoyed rather a lot of wine and champagne and did LOADS of cooking.
21. What LJ users did you meet?
Fewer Lj-ers at writerconuk this year, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves. Hopefully we will have another event next year, but we need more people to come!!
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Love Mr Cee, so no-one else got a look in really...
23. How many one-night stands?
see 22 - therefore not an option.
24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
UK programmes - The Great British Bake Off (compulsive!!), Doctor Who, Sherlock, Strictly Come Dancing, Murder in Paradise, QI, A Young Doctor's Notebook (wacky!)
US programmes - Elementary, Person of Interest, NCIS, Haven, SPN, The Big Bang Theory, Continuum, Sleepy Hollow, Suits
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Odd question - if I really don't like someone that much, I tend to avoid them entirely...
26. What was the best book you read?
I read over 50 books again this year, so there are so many to chose from! I really enjoyed the Jasper Fforde books, and have been working my way through Lee Child's Jack Reacher books (I'm nearly up to date).
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Youngest Cee introduced me to Bastille. I have also subscribed to the Nightvale podcasts and they have some very interesting music as 'the weather' which is good.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted to get the house refurbished and we managed a lot of that.
29. What did you want and not get?
New family bathroom!!!!! This year - definitely!! We've already planned it all out and know what we want to do, just not got around to doing anything about it.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I really enjoyed Star Trek: Into Darkness and Thor: The Dark Lord (Hiddleston was enjoying himself so much!!)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent it at work - boo!! I was taken out to lunch a work friend which was lovely.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A bit more free time would have been nice. Somehow what with the renovation and the hard work over the summer I was really tired a lot fo the time.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
LOL! I'm not really a follower of fashion because I'm not an average size, so I rarely find I can buy really fashionable things, and tend to buy 'classic' styles. I do like to look smart though.
34. What kept you sane?
Mr Cee as always.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hugh Jackman - so pretty still, and always comes across as such a nice bloke.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The destruction of the NHS....
37. Who did you miss?
I do miss Eldest Cee now he's moved out.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met lots of lovely people at the Colleges I visited who seemed to appreciate the work my department are doing.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
That I can't eat biscuits all day and expect not to put on weight...
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" - kind of sums up how I had to write reports for the colleges following moderation so that the report had some good stuff as well as the critical stuff that had to be in there!
This evening we shall be having home-made focaccia bread, Italian antipasti and mozarella. Yum.
Happy Monday!
Lj seems to be OK again too, although there are some nasty things happening in Russia at the moment, and I hope that doesn't mean a DoS attack may be planned.
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before
I worked as an External Moderator in 2013. I'd never done that before - I'd been a moderator (someone who checks the quality of work and how it has been marked by teachers) for my old College, but never worked as an External Moderator. I ended up doing an awful lot of work as sadly one of our moderators unexpectedly died just before the start of the academic year, it meant I was trying to juggle two jobs through June and July, but I enjoyed the challenge.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year (I don't really do that anyway). I did decide to try and get fitter, and I think I actually managed that as I can walk fast up the escalators at the tube stations and I'm very proud to say I don't collapse in a big heap at the top (which I did when I first tried it!!).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope
5. What countries did you visit?
We haven't been abroad for ages, and we must rectify that!! This year we stayed in England - writerconuk at Coventry and a short break in Canterbury which was nice.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I still need a new family bathroom - that somehow dropped to the bottom of the renovation list this year!!
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
9th July 2013 - the day Eldest Cee graduated with his Computer Science BSc (Hons) *proud*
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving all the additional External Moderation I ended up doing. I had 9 Colleges to visit all over London and the surrounding areas (one in Portsmouth!), and 11 Diplomas to moderate. I was very pleased that I was commended by my line manager for the quality of the reports I wrote.
9. What was your biggest failure?
As usual, I wish I'd lost some weight. Mr Cee and I really do need to do something this year.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fortunately no, which was nice. I had one incidence of a 'flu like bug, but generally enjoyed good health.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
iPhone 5S - love it to pieces.... I'm such a geek!!!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Both my boys. I'm incredibly proud of both of them - Eldest Cee is an independent man now with his own home and and a good job. Youngest Cee is so well organised about EVERYTHING, and is doing so well.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The current government cuts - don't even get me started about how our economy and health care is being so mis-managed!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Decorating the house this year. I hadn't realised how much renovation we had done this year before I started this meme - we repainted the back sitting room (the paint had faded badly as it's a sunny room and the ceiling had to be repaired), then we did our bedroom, then with Youngest Cee's help) we completely redid the hall, landing and stairs including replacing the landing and stair carpet and the hall floor. Wow!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was really excited about getting my new phone and I had to wait quite a long time for it as I wanted the gold one (bling!). I was also very excited when Eldest Cee got his results for his degree.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Not a song as such, but this year was the first time that Mr Cee and I watched the whole series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' which we've never done before (despite the fact it's been on TV for over 10 years!). The theme tune was just an earworm I had trouble getting rid of over the weeks.....!!!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I'm about the same as I was last year I think.
ii. thinner or fatter? I'm not thinner definitely, and I have a sneaking suspicion I may be fatter :(
iii. richer or poorer? I think we're about the same as last year - mostly as Mr Cee has been awarded 'golden handcuffs' as they are so worried he'll be headhunted. He will get a bonus at the end of this year and next year provided he stays with his current company. It's given us some security as his job has always been at risk (his firm has been bought, merged and taken over more times than I care to remember over the 30+ years he's been employed).
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More travel, and more fannish stuff.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
In light of #17ii probably less eating of biscuits at work...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family and friends! Ate too much, enjoyed rather a lot of wine and champagne and did LOADS of cooking.
21. What LJ users did you meet?
Fewer Lj-ers at writerconuk this year, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves. Hopefully we will have another event next year, but we need more people to come!!
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Love Mr Cee, so no-one else got a look in really...
23. How many one-night stands?
see 22 - therefore not an option.
24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
UK programmes - The Great British Bake Off (compulsive!!), Doctor Who, Sherlock, Strictly Come Dancing, Murder in Paradise, QI, A Young Doctor's Notebook (wacky!)
US programmes - Elementary, Person of Interest, NCIS, Haven, SPN, The Big Bang Theory, Continuum, Sleepy Hollow, Suits
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Odd question - if I really don't like someone that much, I tend to avoid them entirely...
26. What was the best book you read?
I read over 50 books again this year, so there are so many to chose from! I really enjoyed the Jasper Fforde books, and have been working my way through Lee Child's Jack Reacher books (I'm nearly up to date).
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Youngest Cee introduced me to Bastille. I have also subscribed to the Nightvale podcasts and they have some very interesting music as 'the weather' which is good.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted to get the house refurbished and we managed a lot of that.
29. What did you want and not get?
New family bathroom!!!!! This year - definitely!! We've already planned it all out and know what we want to do, just not got around to doing anything about it.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I really enjoyed Star Trek: Into Darkness and Thor: The Dark Lord (Hiddleston was enjoying himself so much!!)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent it at work - boo!! I was taken out to lunch a work friend which was lovely.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A bit more free time would have been nice. Somehow what with the renovation and the hard work over the summer I was really tired a lot fo the time.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
LOL! I'm not really a follower of fashion because I'm not an average size, so I rarely find I can buy really fashionable things, and tend to buy 'classic' styles. I do like to look smart though.
34. What kept you sane?
Mr Cee as always.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hugh Jackman - so pretty still, and always comes across as such a nice bloke.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The destruction of the NHS....
37. Who did you miss?
I do miss Eldest Cee now he's moved out.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met lots of lovely people at the Colleges I visited who seemed to appreciate the work my department are doing.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
That I can't eat biscuits all day and expect not to put on weight...
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" - kind of sums up how I had to write reports for the colleges following moderation so that the report had some good stuff as well as the critical stuff that had to be in there!
This evening we shall be having home-made focaccia bread, Italian antipasti and mozarella. Yum.
Happy Monday!