2015: Back to Square One
Welcome back post, I guess?
2004; 2007; 2008; 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Took a cruise. Caught a chartered Qantas flight. Travelled to new places: Las Vegas, Yosemite, Santa Barbara, LA, Bali, the Gold Coast. Sought professional advice on: money and mental health. Drove to Canberra (by myself). Attended a dear friend's wedding. Employed a house cleaner. Cooked recipes and food delivered to me. Ran 9km in the Sydney Running Festival.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I do not recall making any New Year's resolutions, and I don't generally like making them, but I'm kicking it off by making some goals for Nerd Fitness' next 6-Week Challenge.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My childhood best friend Bernadette gave birth on 23 December, just sneaking in for the year. &heart;
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, USA, Indonesia (Bali). It was an amazing travel year!
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Less credit card debt.
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 18, the weekend of Flight Centre's Global Ball in Las Vegas. It was the culmination of an amazing year in my career, and an amazingly fun time. It also marked, unbeknownst to me, and thankfully divorced from my memories of the trip, the breakdown of the relationship I was in.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Probably my reaction to the breakup.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I try not to look at it as a failure, but I did not perform very well at work. Sales work is hard and I'm not cut out for it, but objectively speaking, I failed a lot at work.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got tonsillitis on the cruise, which was pretty shit, but that's about as bad as it gets.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to see Hugh Jackman live, that was a pretty amazing gift for my mum and sister, and it was also just great fun for me!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My new Area Leader. Our last one was great, but too friendly and not manager-y enough. Kinda like when parents try to be friends too much. Our new one is amazing and organised and I really respect her.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The US Government isn't winning any points on the gun control front.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, and my credit card debt.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travel! Probably my trip to the USA, that was an amazing experience and I was super excited for it.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2015?
I'm not sure yet! Probably "Uptown Funk".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i) ...happier or sadder?
I don't know about this time last year, but I am certainly happier than I have been for most of the year.
ii) thinner or fatter?
I've been on a nice plateau that I'm not happy about.
iii) richer or poorer?
Richer, but that is not saying much at all.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Regular exercise. I went through spates but I need to be more regular about it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Drinking at home.
20. How will you be spending did you spend Christmas?
At home with family, watching TV, eating and drinking. Like the best Christmases are spent.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No, I didn't. But I fell out of it.
23. How many one night stands?
None.
24. What were your favourite TV programs?
I am really not good with memory, but probably Flash, Gotham, Daredevil, Arrow, Falling Skies, The 100, Game of Thrones, Sleepy Hollow... and a lot of stuff I'm missing.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, I don't, even though everyone expected me to hate Mark after he broke up with me.
26. What was the best book you read?
I only read one book and I cannot even remember what it was, but I guess by default that was the best one I read.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't make any :( I went to a great gig with Jenn but I can't remember who it was, so I didn't really discover them because I didn't keep listening to them.
28. What did you want and get?
For my birthday and Christmas I asked for a lot of kitchen stuff and I got it and it has all been amazing!!!
29. What did you want and not get?
I wanted my boyfriend to be something he wasn't, I guess, and I would never have gotten it anyhow.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Star Wars, easily. Yes it was the most movie I have most recently seen, but it was also the best.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31 years old this year (what the fuck), and I was in New Zealand. I woke up in the delightful town of Whakatane (pronounced "fuck-a-ta-nay"), from where we went to visit White Island, which is an active sulphur volcano island about 90 minutes by boat from the mainland. We had to wear masks and hard hats (my new default userpic). Then we drove to Auckland, where my tour mates took me out to an Irish pub in the rain.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Breaking up with Mark a lot earlier, probably. Which sounds like a horrible thing to say, but this year was stressful and difficult, and I don't think sticking it out was the best idea.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Same as always. Jeans and t-shirts.
34. What kept you sane?
Myself. I got in my own way a lot, but ultimately I always have to be the one to keep myself where I want to be.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I didn't have a lot of room for that, but I have to admit to being charmed by Channing Tatum over the course of the year. What a doll.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gun control got me really bothered. I don't know how the USA manages to have so many children killed without doing anything about it. Even the President is pissed.
37. Who did you miss?
I missed Natalie! I got to see Jo and Garth in Sydney, and caught up with Ami and all my other amazing Beijing friends when I was there in May, but I missed Natalie. Luckily, she's sleeping on my couch for two weeks in March so I'll get to see her VERY soon.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of the amazing people I met through Flight Centre. As a group, we're an amazing bunch. The group I went to NZ with, and the group I went to Bali with, my Contiki Global crew -- everyone has been amazing. We're all really cool.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:
I truly can get through anything. If decided I had to see a therapist this year, I can get through anything. But I also think that it was important for me to go through the breakup and realise that I should have called it myself long before it got to that point.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I thought about doing something new and different but I think I'll just go with Ashita no Kioku again:
巡り 巡る 季節の 途中で 何色の / In the midst of the changing seasons
明日を 描きますか / What color will we paint tomorrow?
強く 強く 信じ 合えた なら / If we can strongly, strongly believe in each other
何色の 未来が 待っていますか / What color future will be waiting?
41. What was your favorite moment of the year?
Drunkenly walking through The Venetian in Vegas with Sophie and finding the "outdoor" gondola area and being really, really fucking confused.
42. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Mark breaking up with me after I stuck with him for 16 months. Not gonna lie, that sucked.
43. Where were you when 2015 began?
At Mark's family house.
44. Who were you with?
Mark and my family
45. Where will you be when 2015 ends?
I honestly have no idea. Either at home or at mum and dad's, probably. New Years plans did not get made.
46. Who will you be with when 2015 ends?
My family!
47. What was your favourite month of 2015?
October was pretty great. I did well at work, went on two (work) trips... that was pretty great. I'd like to say July but I both went on an awesome trip and got broken up with, so I can't really say July.
48. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2015?
I guess so. I still reckon there were boozier years either in 2005 or in China, but I could've been less boozy.
49. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2015?
Still never.
50. How many people did you sleep with in 2015?
Just the one.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
haha, nope, nothing I'm ashamed of. Some things do not bear repeating (they stay in Vegas) but still not ashamed.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2015?
I hope nobody lied to me that massively! This idiot on Tinder couldn't keep our date because he "had to go home to pick up something" and was going to be another hour. lol that is just a bad lie.
53. Did you treat somebody badly in 2015?
I hope not! I don't think so.
54. Did somebody treat you badly in 2015?
Not that I can think of. Mark didn't treat me badly. We probably had irreconcilable differences we weren't willing to admit so we snapped at each other, but we didn't treat each other badly.
56. How much money did you spend in 2015?
I could've spent less on holidays, but it was all well spent so I don't feel bad about it.
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2015 and change something, what would it be and why?
There's nothing I would change. I had a pretty terrible year, but I'm starting over now and I feel better for the experience.
58. What are your plans for 2016?
I will always say "read more" and "write more". I'm going to move more. I'm going to get my strength back, by hook or by crook. I'm going to advance my career. I'm going to get back to the kick-ass person I was when I left China. I want my strength back and I want my energy back. I need new friends and I want to get out there. So I will, and it'll probably suck sometimes but it won't be worse than feeling boring and alone all the time.
2004; 2007; 2008; 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Took a cruise. Caught a chartered Qantas flight. Travelled to new places: Las Vegas, Yosemite, Santa Barbara, LA, Bali, the Gold Coast. Sought professional advice on: money and mental health. Drove to Canberra (by myself). Attended a dear friend's wedding. Employed a house cleaner. Cooked recipes and food delivered to me. Ran 9km in the Sydney Running Festival.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I do not recall making any New Year's resolutions, and I don't generally like making them, but I'm kicking it off by making some goals for Nerd Fitness' next 6-Week Challenge.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My childhood best friend Bernadette gave birth on 23 December, just sneaking in for the year. &heart;
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, USA, Indonesia (Bali). It was an amazing travel year!
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Less credit card debt.
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 18, the weekend of Flight Centre's Global Ball in Las Vegas. It was the culmination of an amazing year in my career, and an amazingly fun time. It also marked, unbeknownst to me, and thankfully divorced from my memories of the trip, the breakdown of the relationship I was in.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Probably my reaction to the breakup.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I try not to look at it as a failure, but I did not perform very well at work. Sales work is hard and I'm not cut out for it, but objectively speaking, I failed a lot at work.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got tonsillitis on the cruise, which was pretty shit, but that's about as bad as it gets.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to see Hugh Jackman live, that was a pretty amazing gift for my mum and sister, and it was also just great fun for me!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My new Area Leader. Our last one was great, but too friendly and not manager-y enough. Kinda like when parents try to be friends too much. Our new one is amazing and organised and I really respect her.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The US Government isn't winning any points on the gun control front.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, and my credit card debt.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travel! Probably my trip to the USA, that was an amazing experience and I was super excited for it.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2015?
I'm not sure yet! Probably "Uptown Funk".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i) ...happier or sadder?
I don't know about this time last year, but I am certainly happier than I have been for most of the year.
ii) thinner or fatter?
I've been on a nice plateau that I'm not happy about.
iii) richer or poorer?
Richer, but that is not saying much at all.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Regular exercise. I went through spates but I need to be more regular about it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Drinking at home.
20. How will you be spending did you spend Christmas?
At home with family, watching TV, eating and drinking. Like the best Christmases are spent.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No, I didn't. But I fell out of it.
23. How many one night stands?
None.
24. What were your favourite TV programs?
I am really not good with memory, but probably Flash, Gotham, Daredevil, Arrow, Falling Skies, The 100, Game of Thrones, Sleepy Hollow... and a lot of stuff I'm missing.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, I don't, even though everyone expected me to hate Mark after he broke up with me.
26. What was the best book you read?
I only read one book and I cannot even remember what it was, but I guess by default that was the best one I read.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't make any :( I went to a great gig with Jenn but I can't remember who it was, so I didn't really discover them because I didn't keep listening to them.
28. What did you want and get?
For my birthday and Christmas I asked for a lot of kitchen stuff and I got it and it has all been amazing!!!
29. What did you want and not get?
I wanted my boyfriend to be something he wasn't, I guess, and I would never have gotten it anyhow.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Star Wars, easily. Yes it was the most movie I have most recently seen, but it was also the best.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31 years old this year (what the fuck), and I was in New Zealand. I woke up in the delightful town of Whakatane (pronounced "fuck-a-ta-nay"), from where we went to visit White Island, which is an active sulphur volcano island about 90 minutes by boat from the mainland. We had to wear masks and hard hats (my new default userpic). Then we drove to Auckland, where my tour mates took me out to an Irish pub in the rain.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Breaking up with Mark a lot earlier, probably. Which sounds like a horrible thing to say, but this year was stressful and difficult, and I don't think sticking it out was the best idea.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Same as always. Jeans and t-shirts.
34. What kept you sane?
Myself. I got in my own way a lot, but ultimately I always have to be the one to keep myself where I want to be.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I didn't have a lot of room for that, but I have to admit to being charmed by Channing Tatum over the course of the year. What a doll.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gun control got me really bothered. I don't know how the USA manages to have so many children killed without doing anything about it. Even the President is pissed.
37. Who did you miss?
I missed Natalie! I got to see Jo and Garth in Sydney, and caught up with Ami and all my other amazing Beijing friends when I was there in May, but I missed Natalie. Luckily, she's sleeping on my couch for two weeks in March so I'll get to see her VERY soon.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of the amazing people I met through Flight Centre. As a group, we're an amazing bunch. The group I went to NZ with, and the group I went to Bali with, my Contiki Global crew -- everyone has been amazing. We're all really cool.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:
I truly can get through anything. If decided I had to see a therapist this year, I can get through anything. But I also think that it was important for me to go through the breakup and realise that I should have called it myself long before it got to that point.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I thought about doing something new and different but I think I'll just go with Ashita no Kioku again:
巡り 巡る 季節の 途中で 何色の / In the midst of the changing seasons
明日を 描きますか / What color will we paint tomorrow?
強く 強く 信じ 合えた なら / If we can strongly, strongly believe in each other
何色の 未来が 待っていますか / What color future will be waiting?
41. What was your favorite moment of the year?
Drunkenly walking through The Venetian in Vegas with Sophie and finding the "outdoor" gondola area and being really, really fucking confused.
42. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Mark breaking up with me after I stuck with him for 16 months. Not gonna lie, that sucked.
43. Where were you when 2015 began?
At Mark's family house.
44. Who were you with?
Mark and my family
45. Where will you be when 2015 ends?
I honestly have no idea. Either at home or at mum and dad's, probably. New Years plans did not get made.
46. Who will you be with when 2015 ends?
My family!
47. What was your favourite month of 2015?
October was pretty great. I did well at work, went on two (work) trips... that was pretty great. I'd like to say July but I both went on an awesome trip and got broken up with, so I can't really say July.
48. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2015?
I guess so. I still reckon there were boozier years either in 2005 or in China, but I could've been less boozy.
49. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2015?
Still never.
50. How many people did you sleep with in 2015?
Just the one.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
haha, nope, nothing I'm ashamed of. Some things do not bear repeating (they stay in Vegas) but still not ashamed.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2015?
I hope nobody lied to me that massively! This idiot on Tinder couldn't keep our date because he "had to go home to pick up something" and was going to be another hour. lol that is just a bad lie.
53. Did you treat somebody badly in 2015?
I hope not! I don't think so.
54. Did somebody treat you badly in 2015?
Not that I can think of. Mark didn't treat me badly. We probably had irreconcilable differences we weren't willing to admit so we snapped at each other, but we didn't treat each other badly.
56. How much money did you spend in 2015?
I could've spent less on holidays, but it was all well spent so I don't feel bad about it.
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2015 and change something, what would it be and why?
There's nothing I would change. I had a pretty terrible year, but I'm starting over now and I feel better for the experience.
58. What are your plans for 2016?
I will always say "read more" and "write more". I'm going to move more. I'm going to get my strength back, by hook or by crook. I'm going to advance my career. I'm going to get back to the kick-ass person I was when I left China. I want my strength back and I want my energy back. I need new friends and I want to get out there. So I will, and it'll probably suck sometimes but it won't be worse than feeling boring and alone all the time.