Meme
What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Had my hair cut short, drank a proper cup of tea, cooked a Sunday roast and all the trimmings, co-habited (because last year, in a house of six of us, didn’t really count as ‘living together’.)
Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
There wasn’t anything last January which I particularly wanted to change. Come February and the start of my downward spiral as far as academic work is concerned, I’ve made repeated resolutions to start applying myself a bit more. Can’t say any of them have really worked that well…
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, although a couple of friends became an aunt/uncle.
Did anyone close to you die?
Auntie Nellie - technically my Great Aunt - died last month, though it’d been a few years since I’d seen her.
What countries did you visit?
Italy (Rome in April), and Greece (Crete over the summer). I’ll also be in France for New Year’s Eve.
What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A work-ethic. Also, I’d very much like an interview for my MA, swiftly followed by an acceptance letter.
What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There aren’t any which particularly stand out. We moved into the flat on August 4th, I turned 20 on April 22nd… This has been a year of fairly long periods of niceness or nastiness, rather than stand-out events.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I was fairly amazed to receive an award from the Faculty of Arts for academic stuff, but I’ve got a feeling they had a quota to fill per degree subject and (apologies to the ten-or-so exceptions to this) our department seems to be populated with an unusually high percentage of wasters and half-wits.
What was your biggest failure?
The loss of my work-ethic. The worst thing being, I have no one to blame but myself.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
There’ve been a few fairly persistent colds. And I managed to stab myself in the thumb with a kitchen knife.
What was the best thing you bought?
My iStation, closely followed by my iTrip.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Can’t think of any specific examples of meritable behaviour… Can I use a celebrity example
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I wouldn’t go so far as to say it appals me, and it was no more than I really expected, but Heather Mills’ behaviour continues to annoy me. As for RL, I can’t really think of anything at all. A couple of people have behaved in a way which confirmed my suspicions about them, though I can’t really comment as I’ve had my fair share of moments this year which I’m not particularly proud of.
Where did most of your money go?
The first half of the year, probably alcohol/nights out, music and clothes. Since we moved in here and the start of this term, I’d have to say bills, books and (very much a trailing third place) alcohol.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving in, going to Rome, (currently) going home for Christmas - or not excited, but really, really looking forward to it.
What song will always remind you of 2007?
Anything played in Le Bat on a Friday night (particularly 'The Magic Position' by Patrick Wolf), and Mama Cass’ 'It’s Getting Better'.
Compared to this time last year (2006), are you:
i. Happier or sadder? In most aspects I’m as happy, if not happier than last year. Having said which, last year was a mad, fun, no-cares-in-the-world-and-living-with-my-mates year, which I miss. Also, unlike last year, I have no definite idea where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing in a year’s time. I’m not a fan of the unknowable-ness of the next 12 months.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Looking back at photos from the summer term, I’m surprised by the weight I put on over the summer term. I lost it again by the time we went away in July, and no longer living over the road from Asda and their white chocolate cookies has meant that I’m actually probably a bit thinner than I was twelve months ago.
iii. Richer or poorer? My current account’s in just about the same position as it was last year. My savings, however, are in a fairly worrying state.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Before summer? Nothing. Since the start of term? More work, and more making time to go to the pub.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastination, closely followed by idleness and sloth.
How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas ’05 was fairly dreadful, what with Dad being in hospital and it being my first holiday home from uni, so last year it was nice to have a low-key, just-the-three-of-us Christmas.
What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2007?
Nothing particularly springs to mind (apart from the usual tiny embarrassments, like almost falling over on the bus). I did get spectacularly drunk playing Liverpool Monopoly at the others’ and had to be taken home, but my friends have seen me plastered often enough for it not to really be that embarrassing.
Did you fall in love in 2007?
I fell even more in love, which counts.
How many one-night stands?
None.
What was your favorite TV program?
TG and The Big Gay Wine Adventure obviously loomed large in my telly-life this year. Other than that, I’ve loved Rome (despite the blatant, ridiculous discrepancies with the timeline) and Heroes. Also, Simon Amstell continues to brighten the universe by hosting Buzzcocks *adores*.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Recovering hippy unsuccessfully discovers indie.
What kept you sane?
Rob, the promise of being able to go home for Christmas, and beer. Not necessarily in that order.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
’Hatred’ is a very strong concept. There’s one person I very strongly dislike, but they’re a friend-of-a-friend so I don’t often have to come into contact with them.
What was the best book you read in 2007?
I was really enjoying Midnight’s Children, until I got distracted. Salman Rushdie isn’t the sort of author you can dip in and out of, so I’m going to leave finishing it until I have a few days to give it my whole attention. I re-read The Sunne In Splendour and rediscovered my love of historical fiction (not to mention my fangirly crush on Richard III). I also re-read Norwegian Wood and The Elephant Vanishes and remembered why Murakami is a genius.
In TG-related literature (and I say that in the loosest sense of the word) Hammond’s book irritated me immensely (the style of it, not the subject-matter). James, on the other hand, continued to be eloquent and witty and Notes was generally a joy to read.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
The utter genius of Maximo Park (why was I so unfussed by A Certain Trigger when it first came out? Why?!) Does IWANTTOMARRYTOMFROMMCFLY count as a musical discovery?
What did you want and get?
Somewhere better to live than last year, for Dad to get out of hospital before they came to visit for his birthday.
What did you want and not get?
Some where to live which DOES NOT HAVE DAMP.
What was your favorite film of this year?
I was fairly impressed with Atonement (particularly the Dunkirk section) even though it inevitably failed to do justice to the book. Was Zodiac this year? It took what is ordinarily a very creepy song (Donovan’s 'Hurdy Gurdy Man') and used it to chilling effect, for which I really, really loved it. Also, I finally bought Casablanca on DVD and it’s still the best film in the world. Fact.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a drink with my friends at home, then a joint-with-Ninja fancy-dress trip to DV. I was 20.
What three things would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Rediscovering my love for my subject/my motivation, those tickets to Maximo Park at the Apollo (damn you, ebay!), and a larger student loan.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
James. Hands down. Due to my momentary insanity, he’s currently vying for position with any-or-all members of McFly…
What political issue stirred you the most?
Trident. Don’t get me started.
Who(m) did you miss?
For the first time since coming to uni (and it’s been three years, so you’d think if it was going to happen, it would have happened before now) I missed Mum and Dad an awful lot, probably because Dad was in hospital for so long and too far away for me to visit as much as I would have liked. It’s a sorry state of affairs when actually being in hospital comes closer to killing you than the thing which you went in for in the first place.
Who was the best new person you met?
Various friends-of-friends. The people at the Record Office also deserve a mention, for being awesome and helping with the MA application.
What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007?
When you have 7,000 words to research and write in less than a week, ‘ignore it and it’ll go away’ is not a particularly well-considered, mature or wise plan of action.
What quote can be used to sum up your year?
’I’m too weary to rest / since I noticed coming second best / is close to ideal’ - Catatonia, Goldfish and Paracetemol.