2015 meme and the year in review
Answered all the questions in this meme on tumblr, cos why the hell not
1: What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
-Working as an au pair (for three months)
-Negotiating two publishing contracts at the same time.
-Buying dresses online
-Taking care of a plant
2: Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Let's see, my resolutions last year were:
-ask for my French nationality -- didn't happen but I did ask for a 10-years immigration permit
-write and create more easily -- well these past months have been quite good in terms of doing my job and not in a too painful way, so yeah, one point for me
-read more books -- that didn't happen. Last year I read about 30 books, this year it was around half that.
-pay my debts -- I only started doing that, but didn't clear my slate entirely (I'm actually far from that)
3: Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope
4: Did anyone close to you die?
No
5: What countries did you visit?
None. Almost went to Ireland and then that tanked spectacularly
6: What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More travels -- I'd like to go to Japan if I can, and also go back to London.
I'd also like more joy in general -- but at least I wasn't as horribly depressed as in 2014 (man that was a truly horrible year for me)
7: What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
-7th of January. The world pretty much collapsed then.
-30th of October, my birthday, where I turned 30. And it was a very good day.
8: What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Three fucking publishing contracts signed, and I've been working at getting them for so long Jesus Christ, almost a whole fucking year
Managing to complete the three months as an au pair even though the job was hell. I'm boss.
The second volume of Rhapsody came out and we miraculously managed to sign for a third so we could end the series. It'll be the first comics series that I'll be allowed to end, I'm actually happy about that.
9: What was your biggest failure?
Didn't manage to write my novel, still not sure whether I'll finish it or not
Didn't manage to participate to the erotic novella contest
Didn't go to Ireland because I thought it was part of Schenghen when it wasn't and so I didn't have a visa. The walk of shame from the airport and back to the house was about as shit as you can imagine.
Also my plant died.
10: Did you suffer illness or injury?
At the beginning of the year I had a long-lasting case of very bad cough, but nothing at the end of the year, hurray
11: What was the best thing you bought?
I've bought so many things this year (especially compared to 2014)! I guess the Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell set of tarot cards was the most extravagant thing I've bought since it was just a bit expensive with not a lot of utility but it's beautiful and I love it, especially because it was fan-made.
In terms of clothes, it's a toss between my purple sequined dress, my black coat lined with fur, and my Christmas jumper
12: Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The Parisians', immediately after the 13th of November
13: Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Most of our politics. And people on the internet in the wake of the 7th of January.
14: Where did most of your money go?
In clothes, DVDs, books and trinkets. Also taxes.
15: What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was dying with excitement over Mad Max: Fury Road, especially since my viewing had to be delayed; and I wasn't disappointed one bit when I saw it, it's one of my favorite films ever.
When I was working as an au pair, the only highlight of most of my weeks in June-July was each new Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell episode, and I had to delay my pleasure a bit and make it last as much as I could each time, until it was over, and then I was sad.
I was also incredibly excited about Spectre, and in my opinion that was a total let-down, especially after a three-years wait.
Right now I'm very excited about Charlie Brooker's 2015 Wipe
16: What song will always remind you of 2015?
Uptown Funk, probably. And Hello by Adele? In general, I mean.
But my personal favorite song this year has been "Ferma Zitella" by Ludovico Enaudi. I think I've listened to it hundreds and hundreds of times. I have yet to be fed up with it.
17: Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? © richer or poorer?
Happier, probably fatter, and richer
18: What do you wish you’d done more of?
More fics. Definitely more fics.
And read more books, I wish I'd read more books.
19: What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating and pissing valuable time away doing literally nothing.
20: How did you spend Christmas?
Not entirely alone, unfortunately. I ate well, though.
21: Did you fall in love in 2015?
With Jonathan Strange as a character
22: What was your favourite TV program?
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (WHAT A SURPRISE)
And the Great British Bake-Off, which really knocked it out of the park this year
23: Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No one comes to mind right now.
24: What was the best book you read?
JS&MN of course, and The Ladies of Grace Adieu, both by Susanna Clarke. This author was a true revelation to me this year.
25: What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hozier I think, even though he's been around for quite some time(?)
Also Claire Diterzi, ans Ludovico Enaudi.
26: What did you want and get?
Pretty much everything I asked for in terms of gifts for my birthday, I've been very spoiled.
And those damned contracts as well.
27: What did you want and not get?
Two more publishing contracts that are supposed to bring me more financial stability and that have been postponed to next year
And my 10-years immigration permit. I'm still waiting.
28: What was your favourite film of this year?
I'll have to go with Mad Max: Fury Road, even though I've watched Kingsman about 7 or 8 times, and Whiplash and Nightcrawler were absolutely amazing as well
29: What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Money.
30: How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Vince Noir-tastic
31: What kept you sane?
Good films (2014 was such a shitty year in terms of cinema, I'm so glad we got so many good films this year), music (I wouldn't have managed without music, I think), and fandom, as always.
Also a whacky correspondence, with actual letters through the post, between my friend Béa and I while I was working as an au pair. That was brilliant.
32: Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
God it's a toss between Charlotte Riley and Bertie Carvel I guess
33: What political issue stirred you the most?
After the 13th of November I've been reading a lot about geopolitics and the stakes of the Islamic world, so I'd have a constructive discourse and arguments against racists (and my family, who are not bad people but are very bigoted Catholics). I think I know a little more now that I did; can't say I'm happy about it, though.
34: Who did you miss?
I miss my little nephew Luke who lives in New Zealand now, my sister-in-law Samini who's a joy to be around, and my grandmother Mithé who's gone.
35: Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
In general? Just keep going, whatever it is you do.
And more pragmatically: in group negotiations, you're only as good as the dumbest element in that group allows you to be.
36: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"No more alone or myself could I be" (Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene, by Hozier)
1: What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
-Working as an au pair (for three months)
-Negotiating two publishing contracts at the same time.
-Buying dresses online
-Taking care of a plant
2: Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Let's see, my resolutions last year were:
-ask for my French nationality -- didn't happen but I did ask for a 10-years immigration permit
-write and create more easily -- well these past months have been quite good in terms of doing my job and not in a too painful way, so yeah, one point for me
-read more books -- that didn't happen. Last year I read about 30 books, this year it was around half that.
-pay my debts -- I only started doing that, but didn't clear my slate entirely (I'm actually far from that)
3: Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope
4: Did anyone close to you die?
No
5: What countries did you visit?
None. Almost went to Ireland and then that tanked spectacularly
6: What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More travels -- I'd like to go to Japan if I can, and also go back to London.
I'd also like more joy in general -- but at least I wasn't as horribly depressed as in 2014 (man that was a truly horrible year for me)
7: What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
-7th of January. The world pretty much collapsed then.
-30th of October, my birthday, where I turned 30. And it was a very good day.
8: What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Three fucking publishing contracts signed, and I've been working at getting them for so long Jesus Christ, almost a whole fucking year
Managing to complete the three months as an au pair even though the job was hell. I'm boss.
The second volume of Rhapsody came out and we miraculously managed to sign for a third so we could end the series. It'll be the first comics series that I'll be allowed to end, I'm actually happy about that.
9: What was your biggest failure?
Didn't manage to write my novel, still not sure whether I'll finish it or not
Didn't manage to participate to the erotic novella contest
Didn't go to Ireland because I thought it was part of Schenghen when it wasn't and so I didn't have a visa. The walk of shame from the airport and back to the house was about as shit as you can imagine.
Also my plant died.
10: Did you suffer illness or injury?
At the beginning of the year I had a long-lasting case of very bad cough, but nothing at the end of the year, hurray
11: What was the best thing you bought?
I've bought so many things this year (especially compared to 2014)! I guess the Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell set of tarot cards was the most extravagant thing I've bought since it was just a bit expensive with not a lot of utility but it's beautiful and I love it, especially because it was fan-made.
In terms of clothes, it's a toss between my purple sequined dress, my black coat lined with fur, and my Christmas jumper
12: Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The Parisians', immediately after the 13th of November
13: Whose behaviour made you appalled?
Most of our politics. And people on the internet in the wake of the 7th of January.
14: Where did most of your money go?
In clothes, DVDs, books and trinkets. Also taxes.
15: What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was dying with excitement over Mad Max: Fury Road, especially since my viewing had to be delayed; and I wasn't disappointed one bit when I saw it, it's one of my favorite films ever.
When I was working as an au pair, the only highlight of most of my weeks in June-July was each new Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell episode, and I had to delay my pleasure a bit and make it last as much as I could each time, until it was over, and then I was sad.
I was also incredibly excited about Spectre, and in my opinion that was a total let-down, especially after a three-years wait.
Right now I'm very excited about Charlie Brooker's 2015 Wipe
16: What song will always remind you of 2015?
Uptown Funk, probably. And Hello by Adele? In general, I mean.
But my personal favorite song this year has been "Ferma Zitella" by Ludovico Enaudi. I think I've listened to it hundreds and hundreds of times. I have yet to be fed up with it.
17: Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? © richer or poorer?
Happier, probably fatter, and richer
18: What do you wish you’d done more of?
More fics. Definitely more fics.
And read more books, I wish I'd read more books.
19: What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating and pissing valuable time away doing literally nothing.
20: How did you spend Christmas?
Not entirely alone, unfortunately. I ate well, though.
21: Did you fall in love in 2015?
With Jonathan Strange as a character
22: What was your favourite TV program?
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (WHAT A SURPRISE)
And the Great British Bake-Off, which really knocked it out of the park this year
23: Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No one comes to mind right now.
24: What was the best book you read?
JS&MN of course, and The Ladies of Grace Adieu, both by Susanna Clarke. This author was a true revelation to me this year.
25: What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hozier I think, even though he's been around for quite some time(?)
Also Claire Diterzi, ans Ludovico Enaudi.
26: What did you want and get?
Pretty much everything I asked for in terms of gifts for my birthday, I've been very spoiled.
And those damned contracts as well.
27: What did you want and not get?
Two more publishing contracts that are supposed to bring me more financial stability and that have been postponed to next year
And my 10-years immigration permit. I'm still waiting.
28: What was your favourite film of this year?
I'll have to go with Mad Max: Fury Road, even though I've watched Kingsman about 7 or 8 times, and Whiplash and Nightcrawler were absolutely amazing as well
29: What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Money.
30: How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
Vince Noir-tastic
31: What kept you sane?
Good films (2014 was such a shitty year in terms of cinema, I'm so glad we got so many good films this year), music (I wouldn't have managed without music, I think), and fandom, as always.
Also a whacky correspondence, with actual letters through the post, between my friend Béa and I while I was working as an au pair. That was brilliant.
32: Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
God it's a toss between Charlotte Riley and Bertie Carvel I guess
33: What political issue stirred you the most?
After the 13th of November I've been reading a lot about geopolitics and the stakes of the Islamic world, so I'd have a constructive discourse and arguments against racists (and my family, who are not bad people but are very bigoted Catholics). I think I know a little more now that I did; can't say I'm happy about it, though.
34: Who did you miss?
I miss my little nephew Luke who lives in New Zealand now, my sister-in-law Samini who's a joy to be around, and my grandmother Mithé who's gone.
35: Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
In general? Just keep going, whatever it is you do.
And more pragmatically: in group negotiations, you're only as good as the dumbest element in that group allows you to be.
36: Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"No more alone or myself could I be" (Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene, by Hozier)