An Atypical Year. But aren't they all?
2013 in review. Compare and contrast with 2012, 2009, 2008, 2007 or 2006, if you really want to.
What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Organised everything we do. More specifically, was part of a big social group and organised a lot of things. Climbed on more than 50% of the days of a year. Won prizes in climbing competitions (third in a local comp due to very few other people entering, coming after the British champion and another member of Team GB bouldering, and a hat because I asked if I could get a prize. Which totally counts.) Helped stop someone killing themselve. Attended a catholic funeral. Cemented myself as part of the London climbing scene, for better or worse. A fair bit of acro yoga. Oh, and er, wrote and submitted a PhD thesis, while climbing a V6 (font 7a) outdoors on grit.
I may have buried the lead there.
Did you keep new year's resolutions and will you make more next year?
Yes: here. Of those 11, I kept numbers 1, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10, and arguably 11, 5, 9, and, for a while, 6. Which just leaves "getting a job" as uncompleted. That's somewhat unfortunate.
I have made more. One of which is indeed "get a job", another is "pass my viva". The rest are details.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Quite a few people, for varying degrees of closeness. Kirsty's the closest, really.
Did anyone close to you die?
An acquaintance died after trying to kill herself. I was at her funeral.
What countries did you visit?
England, Scotland, France, and Belgium.
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A job would be nice. A good job on the way to a career I'd like would be nice.
Peace and happiness for my friends and loved ones.
Last year I wrote "It would be nice to see Eva again. I know it's not that likely". It's still true. I was going to see her in the next day or two, but that's fallen true. Ditto "A trip to the states should be on the cards.
To have a plan for life, larger scale. To know what I'm doing more. To keep growing up, without losing my youth.
A girlfriend would be nice.
Maybe to start writing fiction.
To sort out what I want to do about medication.
What dates from 2013 will remain etched in your memory and why?
The 6th of May. A great day out, some slight sunburn, and a great gig with someone important to me.
The entire month of August -- a crazy ten day stay in St Andrews with another ten days at an older home, leading to accomplishment, partial relationship deterioration and discovery of a suicide. Which led into more insanity in the lead up to...
30th of September. I submitted my thesis.
9th of November. My 27th. In Fontainebleau. With friends. It was far from perfect in lots of ways, but was great.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making the target of reading 101 [conditions] books in a year, and thus 300 in three years. Maybe saving a life. Getting a V6 outdoors. Getting a PhD thesis finished and handed in.
What were your biggest failures this year?
Not getting a job. Not having a viva yet -- though that's not quite my fault.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the odd three-week cold, some headaches and sickness, various mental health problems, finger-tendon and shoulder tweaks, nothing. The same's true: some three-week colds, some headaches and the usual sicknesses, mental health problems, finger tendons, shoulder tweaks, tendinitis, a tweaked knee and a bashed knee.
About as clean a bill of health as I can hope for as a climber.
What was the best thing you bought?
Books. Actually, as befits a year with no income, I didn't really buy that much. Some new shoes here and there, a new pair of jeans when needed.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Loads of people. Primarily Clare, her parents, Vicky. Actually, me, a tiny bit: we celebrated a finished thesis, at last. Dave, a good bit.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I think it's fair to say Elisabeth. Also the suicide, a bit.
What did you spend most of your spare cash on?
As with last year: "Comics, books, DVDs, Music. Takeaway food. A substantial chunk on cards and climbing shoes."
What did you get really, really excited about?
Finishing my thesis. The film of the year. Going to Brimham in August. Fontainebleau. Blokfest. Brazil, but that was a foolish dream.
What song will always remind you of 2013?
Step -- Vampire Weekend. A track I've loved from a great album that's been very summer-y and smart. There's a verse which is too on the nose, and I've only made it more so with memories. But a great song.
Compared to this time last year are you happier or sadder?
A little happier, I think.
Thinner or fatter?
Fatter. I mean, I'm in great shape, but need to lose more weight to be climb better. As is so often true.
Richer or poorer?
I'm a bit worse off, but still in the situation of living on free food and board in a very nice place in London, thanks to a friend's parents.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting a job. Writing.
Actually deciding once and for all if I want to quit medication for good, or whether or not I want to start taking them again. It's a choice I've had to deal with for well over a decade now, and still have no clue. This gets in the way of my future planning so much: I should not let it.
(The words I wrote here last year are excellent.)
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hurting people and wallowing in indecision.
What was your favorite TV programme?
I was a bit let down by the ending of Breaking Bad, but it was still excellent. New Girl was great, and the least season of How I Met Your Mother seemed great. Arrested Development was ballsy, but didn't work entirely.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I don't.
What was the last book you read?
Bad Nature, by Javier Marias. A 56-page novella that was a lot of fun. Before that, a collection of short stories of love and loss that I was given by an old flame. It was very good.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really need to listen to more music. Nick Cave? That can't be true.
My taste in music needs an upgrade.
What did you want and get?
A completed thesis. Good times with good friends.
What did you want and not get?
A job. A viva. A future.
What was your favourite film this year?
The World's End. (Honourable mention: Rush.)
What did you do on your birthday and how old are you?
I'm 27. I was in a tour bus in Fontainebleau with my friends bouldering. I had a good climb, pizza, and read a cool book.
What one thing would've made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A job would be good. Or a future plan. That one, for sure. My friends being around more? More focus?
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Still diamond crotch climbing trousers and black vests. Also a really awesome hoody which was my major coat all year. Worked in the summer, as well as arriving in a snowy mountain village in Belgium without a clue of where I was going and no thicker coat.
What kept you sane?
Friends, (especially Clare), climbing, therapy.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None, really.
What political issue has stirred you the most?
The entire Prism mess. To a lesser extent the independence referendum, but that's next year.
Who did you miss?
A lot of people. Alastair for leaving, Dave for being busy, and a lot of people who weren't around at times.
Who was the best new person you met this year?
Vicky's been great. I've enjoyed getting to know a lot of people through climbing, but I've made less new friends who I didn't already know this year. Maybe Irene? River's cool, but I don't know her that much. Undoubtedly, though, Vicky.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
I'm an idiot. I have my good points. I thrive under pressure, but not the wrong type or amount of pressure. I like to work against expectations. And I really need to make up my mind.
What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Organised everything we do. More specifically, was part of a big social group and organised a lot of things. Climbed on more than 50% of the days of a year. Won prizes in climbing competitions (third in a local comp due to very few other people entering, coming after the British champion and another member of Team GB bouldering, and a hat because I asked if I could get a prize. Which totally counts.) Helped stop someone killing themselve. Attended a catholic funeral. Cemented myself as part of the London climbing scene, for better or worse. A fair bit of acro yoga. Oh, and er, wrote and submitted a PhD thesis, while climbing a V6 (font 7a) outdoors on grit.
I may have buried the lead there.
Did you keep new year's resolutions and will you make more next year?
Yes: here. Of those 11, I kept numbers 1, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10, and arguably 11, 5, 9, and, for a while, 6. Which just leaves "getting a job" as uncompleted. That's somewhat unfortunate.
I have made more. One of which is indeed "get a job", another is "pass my viva". The rest are details.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Quite a few people, for varying degrees of closeness. Kirsty's the closest, really.
Did anyone close to you die?
An acquaintance died after trying to kill herself. I was at her funeral.
What countries did you visit?
England, Scotland, France, and Belgium.
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A job would be nice. A good job on the way to a career I'd like would be nice.
Peace and happiness for my friends and loved ones.
Last year I wrote "It would be nice to see Eva again. I know it's not that likely". It's still true. I was going to see her in the next day or two, but that's fallen true. Ditto "A trip to the states should be on the cards.
To have a plan for life, larger scale. To know what I'm doing more. To keep growing up, without losing my youth.
A girlfriend would be nice.
Maybe to start writing fiction.
To sort out what I want to do about medication.
What dates from 2013 will remain etched in your memory and why?
The 6th of May. A great day out, some slight sunburn, and a great gig with someone important to me.
The entire month of August -- a crazy ten day stay in St Andrews with another ten days at an older home, leading to accomplishment, partial relationship deterioration and discovery of a suicide. Which led into more insanity in the lead up to...
30th of September. I submitted my thesis.
9th of November. My 27th. In Fontainebleau. With friends. It was far from perfect in lots of ways, but was great.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making the target of reading 101 [conditions] books in a year, and thus 300 in three years. Maybe saving a life. Getting a V6 outdoors. Getting a PhD thesis finished and handed in.
What were your biggest failures this year?
Not getting a job. Not having a viva yet -- though that's not quite my fault.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the odd three-week cold, some headaches and sickness, various mental health problems, finger-tendon and shoulder tweaks, nothing. The same's true: some three-week colds, some headaches and the usual sicknesses, mental health problems, finger tendons, shoulder tweaks, tendinitis, a tweaked knee and a bashed knee.
About as clean a bill of health as I can hope for as a climber.
What was the best thing you bought?
Books. Actually, as befits a year with no income, I didn't really buy that much. Some new shoes here and there, a new pair of jeans when needed.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Loads of people. Primarily Clare, her parents, Vicky. Actually, me, a tiny bit: we celebrated a finished thesis, at last. Dave, a good bit.
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I think it's fair to say Elisabeth. Also the suicide, a bit.
What did you spend most of your spare cash on?
As with last year: "Comics, books, DVDs, Music. Takeaway food. A substantial chunk on cards and climbing shoes."
What did you get really, really excited about?
Finishing my thesis. The film of the year. Going to Brimham in August. Fontainebleau. Blokfest. Brazil, but that was a foolish dream.
What song will always remind you of 2013?
Step -- Vampire Weekend. A track I've loved from a great album that's been very summer-y and smart. There's a verse which is too on the nose, and I've only made it more so with memories. But a great song.
Compared to this time last year are you happier or sadder?
A little happier, I think.
Thinner or fatter?
Fatter. I mean, I'm in great shape, but need to lose more weight to be climb better. As is so often true.
Richer or poorer?
I'm a bit worse off, but still in the situation of living on free food and board in a very nice place in London, thanks to a friend's parents.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting a job. Writing.
Actually deciding once and for all if I want to quit medication for good, or whether or not I want to start taking them again. It's a choice I've had to deal with for well over a decade now, and still have no clue. This gets in the way of my future planning so much: I should not let it.
(The words I wrote here last year are excellent.)
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hurting people and wallowing in indecision.
What was your favorite TV programme?
I was a bit let down by the ending of Breaking Bad, but it was still excellent. New Girl was great, and the least season of How I Met Your Mother seemed great. Arrested Development was ballsy, but didn't work entirely.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I don't.
What was the last book you read?
Bad Nature, by Javier Marias. A 56-page novella that was a lot of fun. Before that, a collection of short stories of love and loss that I was given by an old flame. It was very good.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
I really need to listen to more music. Nick Cave? That can't be true.
My taste in music needs an upgrade.
What did you want and get?
A completed thesis. Good times with good friends.
What did you want and not get?
A job. A viva. A future.
What was your favourite film this year?
The World's End. (Honourable mention: Rush.)
What did you do on your birthday and how old are you?
I'm 27. I was in a tour bus in Fontainebleau with my friends bouldering. I had a good climb, pizza, and read a cool book.
What one thing would've made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A job would be good. Or a future plan. That one, for sure. My friends being around more? More focus?
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Still diamond crotch climbing trousers and black vests. Also a really awesome hoody which was my major coat all year. Worked in the summer, as well as arriving in a snowy mountain village in Belgium without a clue of where I was going and no thicker coat.
What kept you sane?
Friends, (especially Clare), climbing, therapy.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None, really.
What political issue has stirred you the most?
The entire Prism mess. To a lesser extent the independence referendum, but that's next year.
Who did you miss?
A lot of people. Alastair for leaving, Dave for being busy, and a lot of people who weren't around at times.
Who was the best new person you met this year?
Vicky's been great. I've enjoyed getting to know a lot of people through climbing, but I've made less new friends who I didn't already know this year. Maybe Irene? River's cool, but I don't know her that much. Undoubtedly, though, Vicky.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
I'm an idiot. I have my good points. I thrive under pressure, but not the wrong type or amount of pressure. I like to work against expectations. And I really need to make up my mind.