LJ meme: 2009 evalution questionnaire
From the same LJ-meme I did this time in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
2009 in that regard was more a repeat of 2008: discovering new countries, languages, customs and even parts of myself. Specifically, I finally got a look into the heart of Russia in June, and wander through the Sahara in November.
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?
No. *
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? England (still), Vatican City (again), Italy (again), Cyprus and Northern Cyprus, Wales (again), Ireland (again), Northern Ireland (again), Finland (again), Russia, Ukraine, Hungary (again), Slovakia (again, transit), Austria (again), Lichtenstein (again, transit), Switzerland (again), Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain (again, transit), and Gibraltar. Whew!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A decent payrise? Otherwise, since getting my own place this time last year, I can't think of anything.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amongst a few others, I'll go with:
1) June 3rd: walking across Red Square, across the St Basil's cathedral, and penetrating the red brick walls of Moscow's Kremlin, in Russia;
2) October 4th: seeing the immense forms of the Pyramids of Giza for the first time, on the western fringes of Cairo, in Egypt;
3) November 1st-7th: spending a truly astounding week camping in the Saharan Desert with 4WDs and Tuareg guides, in southern Algeria.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Carrying on from last year: settling down and taking life slower!
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?
Increasing spells of RSI. :(
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A 37" Samsung LCD television I bought second-hand off gumtree.com in January.
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 an LJ. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
International travel! Away for so long in Africa wasn't all that cheap.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I've seen the Giant's Causeway, the Kremlin and St Basil's cathedral, Salzburg castle, the Pyramids, gorgeous Punic- and Graeco-Roman ruins, Carthage, the desolate Sahara, and the Fez medina.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Khaled's "N'ssi n'ssi"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Probably happier, I'd say.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner! The weight I gained this year disappeared while I was in Africa!
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely poorer: living in London is expensive, especially combined with exotic international destinations.
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?
Another quiet one this year (damn you work!). Looking forward to next Xmas though.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No. *
23. How many one-night stands?
Only one (not including ex-sex).
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Now that I have a Sky pay TV subscription, I'm watching a lot more TV in the down-time between shifts. I've developed a complete addiction to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (and by extension, the original L&O series), but I still download more TV than I do watching transmissions. Catching up on Mock the Week, Doctor Who, 24, Battlestar Galactica, and other featured torrented films (like Star Trek) I was able to download.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. *
26. What was the best book you read?
Robin Lane Fox's 'The Classical World: An Epic History of Greece and Rome' that work-mate Andrew lent me. It turned out to be relevant, considering where I went backpacking later in the year.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The marvellous genre of raï: mixing French, Spanish and Arabic music with Western influences, making an astoundingly beautiful blend. Especially popular in Algeria.
28. What did you want and get?
A decent television!
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?
I didn't have time to watch anything really: there really wasn't much of a selection this year to be honest. *
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Overseas again: went out with Aoife from her place in Dublin, Ireland, turning 30.
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 2009?
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?
It was nice to see the US gain a sentient president for a change; the UK MP expenses scandals that continue to go on and on, and the fascinating fall-out surrounding the Iranian presidential election.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my family and all my Australian friends: damn I 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 2009:
Nothing I can really recall at the moment: the problem with slowing down and taking life at a more sensible pace for a change. :) *
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2009 began?
At work, sadly, with work colleagues.
41. Where will you be when 2009 ends?
Hopefully Up North in Manchester with my friends! It's the first time in 3 years I actually NOT working over NYE, so I'm making the best of it!
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2009?
Not really.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2009?
Not really.
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2009?
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 2009?
"Oh no, I don't drink anymore."
47. How much money did you spend in 2009?
Far too much! I really should be saving something.
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2009 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 2010?
The usual: work, and travel.
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"What's the point of instruments, words are a sawed-off shotgun / Come on and let it out, come on and let it out."
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
2009 in that regard was more a repeat of 2008: discovering new countries, languages, customs and even parts of myself. Specifically, I finally got a look into the heart of Russia in June, and wander through the Sahara in November.
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?
No. *
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? England (still), Vatican City (again), Italy (again), Cyprus and Northern Cyprus, Wales (again), Ireland (again), Northern Ireland (again), Finland (again), Russia, Ukraine, Hungary (again), Slovakia (again, transit), Austria (again), Lichtenstein (again, transit), Switzerland (again), Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain (again, transit), and Gibraltar. Whew!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A decent payrise? Otherwise, since getting my own place this time last year, I can't think of anything.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amongst a few others, I'll go with:
1) June 3rd: walking across Red Square, across the St Basil's cathedral, and penetrating the red brick walls of Moscow's Kremlin, in Russia;
2) October 4th: seeing the immense forms of the Pyramids of Giza for the first time, on the western fringes of Cairo, in Egypt;
3) November 1st-7th: spending a truly astounding week camping in the Saharan Desert with 4WDs and Tuareg guides, in southern Algeria.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Carrying on from last year: settling down and taking life slower!
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?
Increasing spells of RSI. :(
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A 37" Samsung LCD television I bought second-hand off gumtree.com in January.
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 an LJ. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
International travel! Away for so long in Africa wasn't all that cheap.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I've seen the Giant's Causeway, the Kremlin and St Basil's cathedral, Salzburg castle, the Pyramids, gorgeous Punic- and Graeco-Roman ruins, Carthage, the desolate Sahara, and the Fez medina.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Khaled's "N'ssi n'ssi"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Probably happier, I'd say.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner! The weight I gained this year disappeared while I was in Africa!
iii. richer or poorer? Definitely poorer: living in London is expensive, especially combined with exotic international destinations.
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?
Another quiet one this year (damn you work!). Looking forward to next Xmas though.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No. *
23. How many one-night stands?
Only one (not including ex-sex).
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Now that I have a Sky pay TV subscription, I'm watching a lot more TV in the down-time between shifts. I've developed a complete addiction to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (and by extension, the original L&O series), but I still download more TV than I do watching transmissions. Catching up on Mock the Week, Doctor Who, 24, Battlestar Galactica, and other featured torrented films (like Star Trek) I was able to download.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. *
26. What was the best book you read?
Robin Lane Fox's 'The Classical World: An Epic History of Greece and Rome' that work-mate Andrew lent me. It turned out to be relevant, considering where I went backpacking later in the year.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The marvellous genre of raï: mixing French, Spanish and Arabic music with Western influences, making an astoundingly beautiful blend. Especially popular in Algeria.
28. What did you want and get?
A decent television!
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?
I didn't have time to watch anything really: there really wasn't much of a selection this year to be honest. *
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Overseas again: went out with Aoife from her place in Dublin, Ireland, turning 30.
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 2009?
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?
It was nice to see the US gain a sentient president for a change; the UK MP expenses scandals that continue to go on and on, and the fascinating fall-out surrounding the Iranian presidential election.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my family and all my Australian friends: damn I 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 2009:
Nothing I can really recall at the moment: the problem with slowing down and taking life at a more sensible pace for a change. :) *
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2009 began?
At work, sadly, with work colleagues.
41. Where will you be when 2009 ends?
Hopefully Up North in Manchester with my friends! It's the first time in 3 years I actually NOT working over NYE, so I'm making the best of it!
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2009?
Not really.
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2009?
Not really.
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2009?
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 2009?
"Oh no, I don't drink anymore."
47. How much money did you spend in 2009?
Far too much! I really should be saving something.
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2009 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 2010?
The usual: work, and travel.
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"What's the point of instruments, words are a sawed-off shotgun / Come on and let it out, come on and let it out."