LJ meme: 2012 evalution questionnaire
From the same LJ-meme I did this time in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
...not very often I mark a decade of the same meme. *smile*
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
2012 was actually different with regard to 2011: after finally winning my ILR to remain in Britain this time without a time-limit, I could finally stop stressing about an uncertain future in London and relax a lot more, and pick up my travelling ways again, greatly curtailed during 2011. Specifically, I crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the first time (May), thoroughly enjoyed my first bungee-jump (November) on my first trip to southern Africa.
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?
Not that I can recall. My sister is still trying though.
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? Canada, the United States, France (again), Germany (again), Poland (again), Belarus, Czech Republic (again), Slovakia (again), Austria (again), the Netherlands (again), Belguim (again), the Netherlands (yet again), South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Lesotho and Qatar. Definitely more travelled this year than previous!
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Probably decent payrise!? I'm also formally eligible for British citizenship, once I complete my nationality application and have the paperwork submitted. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amongst a few others, I'll go with:
1) May 24th and 26th: the experience that is Las Vegas (gambling and leaving with a PROFIT!), and then staring down into the Grand Canyon from its edge at the head of the Bright Angel trail, later from the windows of a helicopter above, in the United States;
2) July 12th: nearly getting arrested when I take a picture of what turns out to be the Presidential Palace in central Minsk (and the soldier hurrying over wasn't exactly going to say hello), in Belarus;
3) November 23rd: standing on the edge of Table Mountain with the fabulous panorama of Cape Town and Table Bay stretched out one kilometre below me, in South Africa.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Nothing really comes to mind, besides being a manager for just over a year now; it's quite different from being just a plain engineer, but I seem to be picking it up slowly.
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?
Another HP Microserver, which turned into the house's HTPC, in June.
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 a journal. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
Back to the usual: international travel! 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 rode on the outboard of a San Francisco cable-car, crossed the Channel on a passenger ferry for the first time, looped through "Europe's last dictatorship" aka Belarus, and bungee-jumped for the first time off the South African coast.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Black Box Recorder's "England made me".
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 exercise 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?
Working. Meh.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No. *
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
There's no terrestrial TV at this place, so most of my TV has been by download-only. This means I've also been raiding my housemate's collection (like "A bit of Fry and Laurie", "The Goodies", "The X-Files"), and recently "Homeland" and the last series of "The Thick of It". And now that I have a HTPC, I can play high-definition/blu-ray media, so I've been slowly upgrading the quality of my movie collection as well.
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?
The English lo-fi, indie-rock band Black Box Recorder caught my attention earlier in the year. That and learning Dead Can Dance had reformed and released new music for the first time in 16 years!
28. What did you want and get?
A chance to try my luck in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas....actually winning something was an unexpected extra.
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, work has allowed us to watch terrestrial TV in the office: specific highlights were Men in Black 3, Prometheus, Ted and The Dark Knight Rises.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Overseas again! My birthday proper was while I was in San Francisco, but I celebrated it with a high-class restaurant meal in Las Vegas, turning 33.
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 2012?
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 saw the continuation of the Arab Spring, specifically its escalation in Syria; the launch (unsuccessfully at first in April, then successfully in December) of North Korea's space rocket and launch of a satellite, thus introducing them to the space race while the rest of the country is still starving; the ongoing eurozone crisis; the overdue upgrade of Palestine's UN status to a non-member observer state, and the general buzz in Britain in general and London specifically as the 2012 Olympic games took place.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my family (Australian and Belgian) and all my Australian and Belgian friends: I was able to visit Belgium again this year, but having visited Australia in 2011 just makes me miss the place more. 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 2012:
Nothing I can really recall at the moment: the problem with taking life at a more sensible pace for a change. :)
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2012 began?
Up North in Manchester with my Northern friends!
41. Where will you be when 2012 ends?
Working. Meh.
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2012?
Not really.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2012?
Not really. *
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2012?
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 2012?
"Canada is boring", and "Crossing the American border should be a breeze, as long as you're honest."
47. How much money did you spend in 2012?
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 2012 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 2013?
The usual: work, and travel. However, I also intend to apply for British naturalisation, and after that my British passport. Which means, if all goes well, I may be leaving the United Kingdom for good late next year.....?
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Satellites break up in the atmosphere, our ashes are scattered in space / All of the answers fall into place, it's only the end of the world"
This entry was originally posted at http://mnemonia.dreamwidth.org/319191.html. Comments may be left on either entry.
...not very often I mark a decade of the same meme. *smile*
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
2012 was actually different with regard to 2011: after finally winning my ILR to remain in Britain this time without a time-limit, I could finally stop stressing about an uncertain future in London and relax a lot more, and pick up my travelling ways again, greatly curtailed during 2011. Specifically, I crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the first time (May), thoroughly enjoyed my first bungee-jump (November) on my first trip to southern Africa.
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?
Not that I can recall. My sister is still trying though.
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? Canada, the United States, France (again), Germany (again), Poland (again), Belarus, Czech Republic (again), Slovakia (again), Austria (again), the Netherlands (again), Belguim (again), the Netherlands (yet again), South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Lesotho and Qatar. Definitely more travelled this year than previous!
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Probably decent payrise!? I'm also formally eligible for British citizenship, once I complete my nationality application and have the paperwork submitted. Otherwise, I can't think of anything else.
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amongst a few others, I'll go with:
1) May 24th and 26th: the experience that is Las Vegas (gambling and leaving with a PROFIT!), and then staring down into the Grand Canyon from its edge at the head of the Bright Angel trail, later from the windows of a helicopter above, in the United States;
2) July 12th: nearly getting arrested when I take a picture of what turns out to be the Presidential Palace in central Minsk (and the soldier hurrying over wasn't exactly going to say hello), in Belarus;
3) November 23rd: standing on the edge of Table Mountain with the fabulous panorama of Cape Town and Table Bay stretched out one kilometre below me, in South Africa.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Nothing really comes to mind, besides being a manager for just over a year now; it's quite different from being just a plain engineer, but I seem to be picking it up slowly.
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?
Another HP Microserver, which turned into the house's HTPC, in June.
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 a journal. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
Back to the usual: international travel! 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 rode on the outboard of a San Francisco cable-car, crossed the Channel on a passenger ferry for the first time, looped through "Europe's last dictatorship" aka Belarus, and bungee-jumped for the first time off the South African coast.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Black Box Recorder's "England made me".
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 exercise 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?
Working. Meh.
22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No. *
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
There's no terrestrial TV at this place, so most of my TV has been by download-only. This means I've also been raiding my housemate's collection (like "A bit of Fry and Laurie", "The Goodies", "The X-Files"), and recently "Homeland" and the last series of "The Thick of It". And now that I have a HTPC, I can play high-definition/blu-ray media, so I've been slowly upgrading the quality of my movie collection as well.
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?
The English lo-fi, indie-rock band Black Box Recorder caught my attention earlier in the year. That and learning Dead Can Dance had reformed and released new music for the first time in 16 years!
28. What did you want and get?
A chance to try my luck in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas....actually winning something was an unexpected extra.
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, work has allowed us to watch terrestrial TV in the office: specific highlights were Men in Black 3, Prometheus, Ted and The Dark Knight Rises.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Overseas again! My birthday proper was while I was in San Francisco, but I celebrated it with a high-class restaurant meal in Las Vegas, turning 33.
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 2012?
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 saw the continuation of the Arab Spring, specifically its escalation in Syria; the launch (unsuccessfully at first in April, then successfully in December) of North Korea's space rocket and launch of a satellite, thus introducing them to the space race while the rest of the country is still starving; the ongoing eurozone crisis; the overdue upgrade of Palestine's UN status to a non-member observer state, and the general buzz in Britain in general and London specifically as the 2012 Olympic games took place.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my family (Australian and Belgian) and all my Australian and Belgian friends: I was able to visit Belgium again this year, but having visited Australia in 2011 just makes me miss the place more. 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 2012:
Nothing I can really recall at the moment: the problem with taking life at a more sensible pace for a change. :)
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2012 began?
Up North in Manchester with my Northern friends!
41. Where will you be when 2012 ends?
Working. Meh.
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2012?
Not really.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2012?
Not really. *
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2012?
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 2012?
"Canada is boring", and "Crossing the American border should be a breeze, as long as you're honest."
47. How much money did you spend in 2012?
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 2012 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 2013?
The usual: work, and travel. However, I also intend to apply for British naturalisation, and after that my British passport. Which means, if all goes well, I may be leaving the United Kingdom for good late next year.....?
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Satellites break up in the atmosphere, our ashes are scattered in space / All of the answers fall into place, it's only the end of the world"
This entry was originally posted at http://mnemonia.dreamwidth.org/319191.html. Comments may be left on either entry.