ReMemebering 2011
Yes, that end-of-year summary meme that goes around at this time of year. well... far be it from me to withold such obviously & eagerly anticipated minutiae.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Took seriously the inescapable fact that I needed help to get my life back on some kind of useful track... & found it... I hope... Early days...
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
You know, I don't really remember if I kept last year's specific ones or not. I know my usual determined promise to myself to improve my tax bracket wasn't kept, but it's not the first year that's happened.
So I don't think I'll make any new resolutions... the old ones serve as useful signposts.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Aahh... I remember this question from last year... No. Nobody went into labour anywhere near me.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
My first overseas trip this year... Only through the South Island of New Zealand, but it's a start.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Health, Wealth & Happiness. Or any combination of two of them.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I remember events, but not dates. I'm terrible at dates... Ask anyone whose birthday I forgot this year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It was a year of some small victories, nothing of particular note. This year was about beginning the long journey back.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm reluctant to label anything as a 'failure' this year. I never failed to try, at least...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from the usual colds & such, the worst thing was an attack of SofaFellOnItis
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New, bigger, brighter stove & fridge... New bigger & better bookshelves. WaitingManor is slowly entering the 21st Century...
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
It's terrible, but no one really comes to mind other than the obvious (& same as last year) answer:~ My L-SP.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Kyle Sandilands, his employers & the brain-dead zombies they call 'Listeners'...
This incident makes me so angry & so despairing of human nature that I really shouldn't write any more about it... I'll eventually start advocating the summary execution of those who fail mandatory IQ & Social Values Tests...
14. Where did most of your money go?
Everywhere except the Bank.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nothing. Quiet, blissful contentment & slow-burning passions were the order of the year.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
This...
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? A little of both... it's been that kind of year.
ii. thinner or fatter? Possibly a little heavier, but some of it's muscle... Honestly!!
iii. richer or poorer? Richer in possessions, hence ~ poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Music... but only now do I feel that way.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Tolerating the intolerable.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With families. Then a day on the couch to recover.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I wouldn't say I fell any further... just consolidated.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Deep breath... Boardwalk Empire, Torchwood, True Blood, House, Spicks & Specks, RockWiz, QI, In Gordon St Tonight, Tim Minchin at the Opera House, United States of Tara...
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think I hate anyone, but there are a couple of people I no longer have contact with. Life goes on...
26. What were the best books you read?
I didn't read any 'new' books this year, but continued to expand my collections of:~ Jasper Fforde, Donna Leon, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Martin Amis, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Cornwell... with welcome revisits to Spike Milligan, Thomas Harris & my favourite Crime/Mystery novel 'Mystery' by Peter Straub.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That my twenty five years worth of guitar licks don't work on an Irish Bouzouki...
28. What did you want and get?
Confirmation, consolidation, constructive criticism.
29. What did you want and not get?
Recogniton, respect, restitution.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Black Swan for the brain, Thor for the blockbuster.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had an uncomfortable dinner with my L-SP, my parents, my sister & her bloke. More of a Tension Convention than a birthday dinner... I was 44.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
$1000.00 per week after tax.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Pretty much the same as it's always been:~ jeans, long-sleeved shirt, boots.
34. What kept you sane?
My incredulity at the decaying insanity of the modern world.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can't say that the Cult of Celebrity threw up anyone worth fancying this year...
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The cynical manipulation of democracy by the rich, right-wing rabble in the U.S.A.
37. Who did you miss?
Old friends I didn't get to see this year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Nobody I met this year has really proven themselves to be the 'best'... Yet.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
You can't go backwards & you can't stay here.
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2011 began?
Home with L-SP.
41. Where were you when 2011 ended?
Home... waiting for L-SP.
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2011?
I consider it my contribution to the Australian economy in general & the wine industry in particular.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2011?
No... not by anyone's standards.
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2011?
Only one person was tired enough to sleep with me all year... nearly every night too!!
45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Occasionally let my tongue off the leash when I shouldn't have. Same as every year, really...
46. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2011?
"It wasn't me who took the money".
47. How much money did you spend in 2011?
Ummm... all of it I think...
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2011 and change something, what would it be?
The amount of zeroes on my payslips... The amount of time I spent tolerating the intolerable.
49. What are your plans for 2012?
Remedial renovation.
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"... When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now those days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before."
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Took seriously the inescapable fact that I needed help to get my life back on some kind of useful track... & found it... I hope... Early days...
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
You know, I don't really remember if I kept last year's specific ones or not. I know my usual determined promise to myself to improve my tax bracket wasn't kept, but it's not the first year that's happened.
So I don't think I'll make any new resolutions... the old ones serve as useful signposts.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Aahh... I remember this question from last year... No. Nobody went into labour anywhere near me.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
My first overseas trip this year... Only through the South Island of New Zealand, but it's a start.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Health, Wealth & Happiness. Or any combination of two of them.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I remember events, but not dates. I'm terrible at dates... Ask anyone whose birthday I forgot this year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It was a year of some small victories, nothing of particular note. This year was about beginning the long journey back.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I'm reluctant to label anything as a 'failure' this year. I never failed to try, at least...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from the usual colds & such, the worst thing was an attack of SofaFellOnItis
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New, bigger, brighter stove & fridge... New bigger & better bookshelves. WaitingManor is slowly entering the 21st Century...
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
It's terrible, but no one really comes to mind other than the obvious (& same as last year) answer:~ My L-SP.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Kyle Sandilands, his employers & the brain-dead zombies they call 'Listeners'...
This incident makes me so angry & so despairing of human nature that I really shouldn't write any more about it... I'll eventually start advocating the summary execution of those who fail mandatory IQ & Social Values Tests...
14. Where did most of your money go?
Everywhere except the Bank.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nothing. Quiet, blissful contentment & slow-burning passions were the order of the year.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
This...
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? A little of both... it's been that kind of year.
ii. thinner or fatter? Possibly a little heavier, but some of it's muscle... Honestly!!
iii. richer or poorer? Richer in possessions, hence ~ poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Music... but only now do I feel that way.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Tolerating the intolerable.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With families. Then a day on the couch to recover.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I wouldn't say I fell any further... just consolidated.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Deep breath... Boardwalk Empire, Torchwood, True Blood, House, Spicks & Specks, RockWiz, QI, In Gordon St Tonight, Tim Minchin at the Opera House, United States of Tara...
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think I hate anyone, but there are a couple of people I no longer have contact with. Life goes on...
26. What were the best books you read?
I didn't read any 'new' books this year, but continued to expand my collections of:~ Jasper Fforde, Donna Leon, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Martin Amis, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Cornwell... with welcome revisits to Spike Milligan, Thomas Harris & my favourite Crime/Mystery novel 'Mystery' by Peter Straub.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That my twenty five years worth of guitar licks don't work on an Irish Bouzouki...
28. What did you want and get?
Confirmation, consolidation, constructive criticism.
29. What did you want and not get?
Recogniton, respect, restitution.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Black Swan for the brain, Thor for the blockbuster.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had an uncomfortable dinner with my L-SP, my parents, my sister & her bloke. More of a Tension Convention than a birthday dinner... I was 44.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
$1000.00 per week after tax.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Pretty much the same as it's always been:~ jeans, long-sleeved shirt, boots.
34. What kept you sane?
My incredulity at the decaying insanity of the modern world.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can't say that the Cult of Celebrity threw up anyone worth fancying this year...
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The cynical manipulation of democracy by the rich, right-wing rabble in the U.S.A.
37. Who did you miss?
Old friends I didn't get to see this year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Nobody I met this year has really proven themselves to be the 'best'... Yet.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
You can't go backwards & you can't stay here.
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2011 began?
Home with L-SP.
41. Where were you when 2011 ended?
Home... waiting for L-SP.
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2011?
I consider it my contribution to the Australian economy in general & the wine industry in particular.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2011?
No... not by anyone's standards.
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2011?
Only one person was tired enough to sleep with me all year... nearly every night too!!
45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Occasionally let my tongue off the leash when I shouldn't have. Same as every year, really...
46. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2011?
"It wasn't me who took the money".
47. How much money did you spend in 2011?
Ummm... all of it I think...
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2011 and change something, what would it be?
The amount of zeroes on my payslips... The amount of time I spent tolerating the intolerable.
49. What are your plans for 2012?
Remedial renovation.
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"... When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now those days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before."