Almost forgot about this!
So apparently it's been a while since I last posted! Oh well, have one of these while I think about reviving this journal.
Year in the life of Lone Cow, 2011
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My main resolution of the year was the Spartan one - to limit my spending on clothes and accessories (accessories meaning jewellery, hair clips, bags, tights, etc).
To that end, I think I did pretty well. I bought one second-hand dress, for the mid-year ball in Adelaide. I bought two pairs of shoes (one pair of new runners, one pair of second-hand work shoes). Once I went over on my accessories budget all spending on accessories was cut.
It's been difficult, especially during these last few months when I've been struggling to fit into my old clothes, but I'm proud to be able to say that I've done it. I think my attitude to fashion has become more deliberate, and I have appreciated the few new things that came my way this year.
I've been working on a list of new clothes to buy in the new year, and having so much time to think about it means that I've pared it down to what I think are essential. I may not continue as strict a resolution next year, but I want this considered deliberation to always be a part of my fashion choices in the future.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
Another year in Australia. 2012 may be the year to visit the rest of the world again.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Maybe an overseas holiday would be nice? Or even somewhere within Australia, I just want to explore without having to move on a long-term basis to do so.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? What were some major events of the year?
Moving to Adelaide was pretty exciting, along with my sister's graduation as a doctor!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Living alone and realising it's a thing I can do. Also, playing Wet from start to finish. Oh, and getting promoted at work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have to say I don't think there were any enormous failures this year. Perhaps I've erased them from my memory.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had hayfever and the return of the Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Apart from that I've been pretty healthy. I am 100% convinced that walking to work (rather than catching public transport) is the main reason. When I'm back in Melbourne, I'm going to look for a place that I can either walk to work from, or invest in a bicycle.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
That's pretty tough. I was going to say my Xbox (Madeleine), but then I bought a new camera (Bella) with birthday monies from my parents! She's a Canon Powershot G12, as a smaller camera I can take around with me every day.
12. What is the best thing you were given?
The Mountain Goats' All Eternals Deck, from Rex.
13. What is the best thing you have given someone?
I bought my sister a Kindle for her birthday. It's pretty cool, and the cover I got for her comes with a little light for reading in bed!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Savings, rent and groceries. (Most of the travel expenses were paid for by work, which is handy.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Rex's surprise visit one weekend when I was in Adelaide.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?
Mountain Goats - This Year
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) fitter? No. Definitely time to focus on exercise.
c) richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Photography, though it was hard to find inspiration in both Adelaide and Canberra at times.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Packing.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
A Christmas lunch with family friends.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No more than I previously was.
22. This was the Year Of?
Secondments.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Breaking Bad and The Wire. I hope this question doesn't ask about current TV programs, as for most of the year I've been living with static-y old television screens and so haven't had the patience for much more than the news.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
This question is fairly useless.
25. What was the best book you read?
The most interesting book I'm reading at the moment is The Art of Looking Sideways, which is enormous but full of interesting, vaguely related concepts designed to make you think about visual awareness. It was my birthday present from my sister, and I love it!
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Haven't been listening to much new stuff this year. A lot of Jonathan Coulton, mainly.
27. What did you want and get?
A place of my own, and a promotion!
28. What did you want and not get?
A permanent strategic role in Adelaide.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Captain America.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27, and had dinner with my sister and Rex at a vegetarian restaurant in the evening, after work.
31. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could have had Rex and my sister and more company in Adelaide, along with the interesting work I was doing there.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Limited and frustrating at times.
33. What kept you sane?
Baking. I need to take a photo of my recipe book collection some time soon - I'd be inclined to make a pile and curl up and gloat upon them, but most of them have hard covers.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still no fancying - this question is another one I must think of throwing out.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Many different things.
36. Who did you miss?
Everyone in Melbourne!
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Most of the Adelaide team, who I hope I'll get to keep in touch with.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Very rarely have I regretted saying 'yes' to an opportunity, like moving to Adelaide. I've learnt so much this year, and my experience means I've been trusted with a role in strategic projects when I'm back in Melbourne next year.
Year in the life of Lone Cow, 2011
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
- Created a Google+ account.
- Completed a computer game from start to finish.
- Went to a roller derby bout in Adelaide and Canberra
- Lived alone.
- Made my own vanilla extract.
- Made sourdough bread.
- Walked to work.
- Got a photo taken with Bryan Batt.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My main resolution of the year was the Spartan one - to limit my spending on clothes and accessories (accessories meaning jewellery, hair clips, bags, tights, etc).
To that end, I think I did pretty well. I bought one second-hand dress, for the mid-year ball in Adelaide. I bought two pairs of shoes (one pair of new runners, one pair of second-hand work shoes). Once I went over on my accessories budget all spending on accessories was cut.
It's been difficult, especially during these last few months when I've been struggling to fit into my old clothes, but I'm proud to be able to say that I've done it. I think my attitude to fashion has become more deliberate, and I have appreciated the few new things that came my way this year.
I've been working on a list of new clothes to buy in the new year, and having so much time to think about it means that I've pared it down to what I think are essential. I may not continue as strict a resolution next year, but I want this considered deliberation to always be a part of my fashion choices in the future.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
Another year in Australia. 2012 may be the year to visit the rest of the world again.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Maybe an overseas holiday would be nice? Or even somewhere within Australia, I just want to explore without having to move on a long-term basis to do so.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? What were some major events of the year?
Moving to Adelaide was pretty exciting, along with my sister's graduation as a doctor!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Living alone and realising it's a thing I can do. Also, playing Wet from start to finish. Oh, and getting promoted at work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I have to say I don't think there were any enormous failures this year. Perhaps I've erased them from my memory.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had hayfever and the return of the Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Apart from that I've been pretty healthy. I am 100% convinced that walking to work (rather than catching public transport) is the main reason. When I'm back in Melbourne, I'm going to look for a place that I can either walk to work from, or invest in a bicycle.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
That's pretty tough. I was going to say my Xbox (Madeleine), but then I bought a new camera (Bella) with birthday monies from my parents! She's a Canon Powershot G12, as a smaller camera I can take around with me every day.
12. What is the best thing you were given?
The Mountain Goats' All Eternals Deck, from Rex.
13. What is the best thing you have given someone?
I bought my sister a Kindle for her birthday. It's pretty cool, and the cover I got for her comes with a little light for reading in bed!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Savings, rent and groceries. (Most of the travel expenses were paid for by work, which is handy.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Rex's surprise visit one weekend when I was in Adelaide.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?
Mountain Goats - This Year
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) fitter? No. Definitely time to focus on exercise.
c) richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Photography, though it was hard to find inspiration in both Adelaide and Canberra at times.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Packing.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
A Christmas lunch with family friends.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No more than I previously was.
22. This was the Year Of?
Secondments.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Breaking Bad and The Wire. I hope this question doesn't ask about current TV programs, as for most of the year I've been living with static-y old television screens and so haven't had the patience for much more than the news.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
This question is fairly useless.
25. What was the best book you read?
The most interesting book I'm reading at the moment is The Art of Looking Sideways, which is enormous but full of interesting, vaguely related concepts designed to make you think about visual awareness. It was my birthday present from my sister, and I love it!
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Haven't been listening to much new stuff this year. A lot of Jonathan Coulton, mainly.
27. What did you want and get?
A place of my own, and a promotion!
28. What did you want and not get?
A permanent strategic role in Adelaide.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Captain America.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27, and had dinner with my sister and Rex at a vegetarian restaurant in the evening, after work.
31. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could have had Rex and my sister and more company in Adelaide, along with the interesting work I was doing there.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Limited and frustrating at times.
33. What kept you sane?
Baking. I need to take a photo of my recipe book collection some time soon - I'd be inclined to make a pile and curl up and gloat upon them, but most of them have hard covers.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Still no fancying - this question is another one I must think of throwing out.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Many different things.
36. Who did you miss?
Everyone in Melbourne!
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Most of the Adelaide team, who I hope I'll get to keep in touch with.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Very rarely have I regretted saying 'yes' to an opportunity, like moving to Adelaide. I've learnt so much this year, and my experience means I've been trusted with a role in strategic projects when I'm back in Melbourne next year.