LJ meme: 2011 evalution questionnaire
From the same LJ-meme I did this time in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
2011 in that regard was more a repeat of 2010, only with less actual travel and more visiting places (physical and spiritual) again after a long period away; oddly enough, this included two visits to Australia after a 4-year absence. Specifically, I rested on the marvellous beaches of Indian Ocean islands (January), watched my sister get married in May, and participate in my first German beer festival - Oktoberfest! - in September.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes! I actually managed to keep my New Years resolution for a change, and as usual, will only be making one for next year. *
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two, in fact: neefsck with Jasper, and silverblue and chaos_crafter with Tegan, both in the last three weeks. My sister also fell pregnant earlier in the year but sadly miscarried not long after.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Happily no, my streak of morbid bad luck in that area has well and truly ended. *
5. What countries did you visit?
In order? Australia (still), Mauritius, Australia (again), Malaysia (again), Sri Lanka (again), Denmark (again), Germany (again), Italy (again), San Marino, Vatican City (again), Belgium (again), and Luxembourg (again). Not so widely travelled this year as previous, but that was by design: I had other things to focus on this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Probably decent payrise!? Also an opportunity at British citizenship. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amongst a few others, I'll go with:
1) May 7th: watching my sister walk down the aisle on the arm of my grandfather at her wedding in the Dandenong ranges, in Australia;
2) August 8th: watching London tear itself apart in a three-day orgy of destruction via television and online, as the riots burst across the streets of my home city, London;
3) September 22nd: standing on a table and clinking stein of beers with other international tourists, singing along in drunken pseudo-German outside the Hofbrau beer tent, at Munich's Oktoberfest, Germany;
4) December 6th: after a false start and nearly prevented from attending my interview, finally being granted my IRL, cementing my immigration status in Britain and escaping the restrictions I laboured 5 years under, in Birmingham.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Three, in fact: finally getting onto the Cisco certification ladder, a surprise promotion at work into the ranks of management, and being granted my ILR after 5 long years.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I think this year has been pretty damn successful, considering. I can't think of any one, devastating failure, to be honest. *
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from the odd sniffle, thankfully this year as been relatively healthy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone - my first, having stuck with my old Nokia 6210 for 9 years previous - in September.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
No one I can immediately think of: with all the highs and lows of my particular life currently, I wouldn't single mine out specifically for praise. *
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Like I'd name anyone for such in an LJ. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
For a change, less on international travel and more on solidifying my position in the UK (certification and my ILR, mainly). That and attempting to slowly get rid of my credit card debt, to which I've been kinda successful.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I've walked on and snorkled off pristine Indian Ocean island beaches, celebrated my sister's wedding, strolled amogst historic Sri Lankan ruins, got my first Cisco cert, got pleasantly drunk at Oktoberfest, visited the world's oldest established republic in tiny San Marino, and of course, was finally granted my ILR.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
múm's "Awake on a train"/"Asleep on a train".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Definitely happier, I'd say.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably slightly fatter, probably due to less travel and more English food, which seems to be sticking to me more these days.
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely poorer: while living in London is generally expensive, I've made a concerted effort this year to start getting rid of my debts.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, of course! It's an addiction! There's never enough time to go and see everything you want to! *
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Second-guess myself. A few situations this year would not have been as difficult if I'd just followed my instincts more. *
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my new housemates and their family in London.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
Only one (not including ex-sex).
24. What was your favourite TV program?
With a pay TV subscription, I'm watching more TV in the down-time between shifts. I'm still a complete addict to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (and by extension, the original L&O series) and House, but I still download more TV than I do watching transmissions. Still loving Mock the Week, HIGNFY, QI, and other featured torrented films (like The Kings Speech) I was able to download.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. *
26. What was the best book you read?
Sad as it is to say, nothing really sticks in my memory: I appear to be listening to far more music in my down-time than I am reading this year. *
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Considering all the travel I did over Scandinavia last year, discovering the Icelandic folk electronica band múm at the beginning of this year was a little late at the time, but I've instantly fallen in love with their music.
28. What did you want and get?
My ILR! And finally an entry to the Cisco certification track.
29. What did you want and not get?
Meh, too much to ramble on about here again; scroll back through my journal and you'll get an idea. *
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
While not having much time to watch anything as usual, spending more time in the UK this year and a slightly better selection this year to watch this year allowed me to watch a little more than usual: specific highlights were The King's Speech, and Kung Fu Pandu 2.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Overseas again: a whirlwind 3-day tour of the ancient Royal kingdom sites and then the capital of Sri Lanka, turning 32.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Besides one or two things, I've had a pretty good year this year, compared to most. *
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Pretty much boringly practical, with all the travelling I did, with the occasional alternative/cybergoth outfit from time to time, depending on circumstances. *
34. What kept you sane?
Distraction through travel mostly, and my friends to distract me on the odd occasion otherwise. *
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really. *
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
This year was rather fascinating in that regard: the Arab Spring really kicked off across many countries I had previously visited and the ouster of Ben Ali and Mubarak and the death of Qaddafi and continued issues in Syria and Yemen and Bahrain, the Japanese earthquake/tsunami and the fall-out (both political and literal) over the Fukushima nuclear powerplant, the Yanks killing Osama bin Laden, the eurozone crisis, and the world population reaching 7 billion.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my family (Australian and Belgian) and all my Australian and Belgian friends: I was able to visit both countries and catch up with you all after a long period, but I still miss you all!
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a few new people this year, I don't want them to regret doing so if I rank them here! *
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
While getting a slight inclination of it when I applied for my work permit 5 years ago (and was officially unemployed for 3 of the 5 months it took), it appears the British really do love their bureaucracy and red-tape, if all the hoops I had to jump through for my ILR were any indication.
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2011 began?
In Melbourne at a toga party of all things, with a lot of old friends I hadn't seen in years, sweltering in 33deg heat at midnight.
41. Where will you be when 2011 ends?
Up North in Manchester with my friends, for the first time in 2 years I wasn't working or too destitute to celebrate!
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2011?
Probably a little more (considering the trips to Germany and Belgium), but that's not saying much.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2011?
Not really.
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2011?
Heh, now that would be telling. ;) *
45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Not that I can recall. *
46. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2011?
"Dealings with the Home Office should be fairly straightforward."
47. How much money did you spend in 2011?
While not as much as previous years (and actively trying to kill my credit card debt), I really should be saving something.
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2011 and change something, what would it be?
I'm fairly happy with the way this year went, nothing really much I can think to change! *
49. What are your plans for 2012?
The usual: work, and travel. *
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Behind these two hills here, fall asleep / And when I float in green grass of tunnel, it flows back"
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
2011 in that regard was more a repeat of 2010, only with less actual travel and more visiting places (physical and spiritual) again after a long period away; oddly enough, this included two visits to Australia after a 4-year absence. Specifically, I rested on the marvellous beaches of Indian Ocean islands (January), watched my sister get married in May, and participate in my first German beer festival - Oktoberfest! - in September.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes! I actually managed to keep my New Years resolution for a change, and as usual, will only be making one for next year. *
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two, in fact: neefsck with Jasper, and silverblue and chaos_crafter with Tegan, both in the last three weeks. My sister also fell pregnant earlier in the year but sadly miscarried not long after.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Happily no, my streak of morbid bad luck in that area has well and truly ended. *
5. What countries did you visit?
In order? Australia (still), Mauritius, Australia (again), Malaysia (again), Sri Lanka (again), Denmark (again), Germany (again), Italy (again), San Marino, Vatican City (again), Belgium (again), and Luxembourg (again). Not so widely travelled this year as previous, but that was by design: I had other things to focus on this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Probably decent payrise!? Also an opportunity at British citizenship. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amongst a few others, I'll go with:
1) May 7th: watching my sister walk down the aisle on the arm of my grandfather at her wedding in the Dandenong ranges, in Australia;
2) August 8th: watching London tear itself apart in a three-day orgy of destruction via television and online, as the riots burst across the streets of my home city, London;
3) September 22nd: standing on a table and clinking stein of beers with other international tourists, singing along in drunken pseudo-German outside the Hofbrau beer tent, at Munich's Oktoberfest, Germany;
4) December 6th: after a false start and nearly prevented from attending my interview, finally being granted my IRL, cementing my immigration status in Britain and escaping the restrictions I laboured 5 years under, in Birmingham.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Three, in fact: finally getting onto the Cisco certification ladder, a surprise promotion at work into the ranks of management, and being granted my ILR after 5 long years.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I think this year has been pretty damn successful, considering. I can't think of any one, devastating failure, to be honest. *
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from the odd sniffle, thankfully this year as been relatively healthy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone - my first, having stuck with my old Nokia 6210 for 9 years previous - in September.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
No one I can immediately think of: with all the highs and lows of my particular life currently, I wouldn't single mine out specifically for praise. *
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Like I'd name anyone for such in an LJ. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
For a change, less on international travel and more on solidifying my position in the UK (certification and my ILR, mainly). That and attempting to slowly get rid of my credit card debt, to which I've been kinda successful.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I've walked on and snorkled off pristine Indian Ocean island beaches, celebrated my sister's wedding, strolled amogst historic Sri Lankan ruins, got my first Cisco cert, got pleasantly drunk at Oktoberfest, visited the world's oldest established republic in tiny San Marino, and of course, was finally granted my ILR.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
múm's "Awake on a train"/"Asleep on a train".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Definitely happier, I'd say.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably slightly fatter, probably due to less travel and more English food, which seems to be sticking to me more these days.
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely poorer: while living in London is generally expensive, I've made a concerted effort this year to start getting rid of my debts.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, of course! It's an addiction! There's never enough time to go and see everything you want to! *
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Second-guess myself. A few situations this year would not have been as difficult if I'd just followed my instincts more. *
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my new housemates and their family in London.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
Only one (not including ex-sex).
24. What was your favourite TV program?
With a pay TV subscription, I'm watching more TV in the down-time between shifts. I'm still a complete addict to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (and by extension, the original L&O series) and House, but I still download more TV than I do watching transmissions. Still loving Mock the Week, HIGNFY, QI, and other featured torrented films (like The Kings Speech) I was able to download.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. *
26. What was the best book you read?
Sad as it is to say, nothing really sticks in my memory: I appear to be listening to far more music in my down-time than I am reading this year. *
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Considering all the travel I did over Scandinavia last year, discovering the Icelandic folk electronica band múm at the beginning of this year was a little late at the time, but I've instantly fallen in love with their music.
28. What did you want and get?
My ILR! And finally an entry to the Cisco certification track.
29. What did you want and not get?
Meh, too much to ramble on about here again; scroll back through my journal and you'll get an idea. *
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
While not having much time to watch anything as usual, spending more time in the UK this year and a slightly better selection this year to watch this year allowed me to watch a little more than usual: specific highlights were The King's Speech, and Kung Fu Pandu 2.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Overseas again: a whirlwind 3-day tour of the ancient Royal kingdom sites and then the capital of Sri Lanka, turning 32.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Besides one or two things, I've had a pretty good year this year, compared to most. *
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Pretty much boringly practical, with all the travelling I did, with the occasional alternative/cybergoth outfit from time to time, depending on circumstances. *
34. What kept you sane?
Distraction through travel mostly, and my friends to distract me on the odd occasion otherwise. *
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really. *
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
This year was rather fascinating in that regard: the Arab Spring really kicked off across many countries I had previously visited and the ouster of Ben Ali and Mubarak and the death of Qaddafi and continued issues in Syria and Yemen and Bahrain, the Japanese earthquake/tsunami and the fall-out (both political and literal) over the Fukushima nuclear powerplant, the Yanks killing Osama bin Laden, the eurozone crisis, and the world population reaching 7 billion.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my family (Australian and Belgian) and all my Australian and Belgian friends: I was able to visit both countries and catch up with you all after a long period, but I still miss you all!
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a few new people this year, I don't want them to regret doing so if I rank them here! *
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
While getting a slight inclination of it when I applied for my work permit 5 years ago (and was officially unemployed for 3 of the 5 months it took), it appears the British really do love their bureaucracy and red-tape, if all the hoops I had to jump through for my ILR were any indication.
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2011 began?
In Melbourne at a toga party of all things, with a lot of old friends I hadn't seen in years, sweltering in 33deg heat at midnight.
41. Where will you be when 2011 ends?
Up North in Manchester with my friends, for the first time in 2 years I wasn't working or too destitute to celebrate!
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2011?
Probably a little more (considering the trips to Germany and Belgium), but that's not saying much.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2011?
Not really.
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2011?
Heh, now that would be telling. ;) *
45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Not that I can recall. *
46. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2011?
"Dealings with the Home Office should be fairly straightforward."
47. How much money did you spend in 2011?
While not as much as previous years (and actively trying to kill my credit card debt), I really should be saving something.
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2011 and change something, what would it be?
I'm fairly happy with the way this year went, nothing really much I can think to change! *
49. What are your plans for 2012?
The usual: work, and travel. *
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Behind these two hills here, fall asleep / And when I float in green grass of tunnel, it flows back"