2011 in review
Here's that meme that everyone seems to do around this time of the year. Looking back on 2011, it feels like it was both very eventful and yet very mundane and dull. I'm glad that I did get to work on a couple of creative projects that gave me an added dimension to the usual SAHM routine.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Produce a play at the Esplanade; appear in an advertisement.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year, but at a party last night I did say that I wanted to spend my time in 2012 more constructively and creatively.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Perth and Malaysia (JB via train).
6. What would you have liked to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More commitment to time with friends.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Funnily enough it's the last day of 2011 - 31 December. The Bun had his first proper sleepover at my parents' place. Child-free for a night, J and I celebrated the New Year in the company of my best friends, drinking and talking till 2am in the morning. When we returned home and The Bun wasn't around, it felt odd but also very liberating. I am so glad for it.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting that play onstage at the Esplanade, and staying true to our group's philosophy of putting the audience and the actor first. And actually not going broke in the process.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not doing more to nurture my marriage. 2011 was one of the harder years we have had as a couple, but I think that in the last couple of months, J and I have slowly worked our way to a better understanding of our changing selves and our evolving relationship.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing much beyond the usual ankle and respiratory bugbears.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Big Snip haircut!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
C - this has been a challenging year for her and through all of its ups-and-downs she has always had her heart firmly in the right place.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The driver who pulled a hit-and-run on my car in July. At least we got him back good!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and Bun-related stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The play. On opening night, I stood backstage listening to the first audience members step in and I felt like I was going to hyperventilate.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Never thought I'd ever pick a Chinese song for this question, but 2011's song is undoubtedly 一帘幽梦, i.e. 'Curtain of [Hidden? How does one translate a word like 幽?] Dreams', a very old song by Taiwanese maestro Liu Jia Chang. Just listening to the first verse makes my heart shiver:
我有一帘幽梦
不知与谁能共
多少秘密在其中
欲诉无人能懂
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
I'm happier, or at least, I'm feeling more optimistic.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter. I always have this answer, which does not bode well.
iii. richer or poorer?
No real change here.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Relaxing more and going with the flow. I'm a control freak AND a worrywart - a lethal combination when it comes to having a spontaneous good time.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Feeling frustrated/worried over The Bun's behaviour.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
J, The Bun and I had a good meal with my friend C, devouring a great crispy pork knuckle in a coffeeshop in Hougang. Unpretentious and all about the basics: food, friends, family. The way I like it.
21. If you could relive one thing in 2011 so that you could have acted differently, what would that be?
I would have stopped using Facebook much earlier than quitting it in March 2011. Good riddance!
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
My answer never changes - next!
23. How many one night stands?
Plenty of standing at night (thanks to The Bun), but no actual one night stands.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Sorry, I don't watch TV. It may make me sound like a sad loser, but really, I think it's great.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
That hit-and-run driver. And I really dislike several people, but let's not go there. The older I get the bigger a grouch I become.
26. What was the best book you read?
I really cannot choose just one. I thought Alison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It was surprisingly, addictively good. Sloane Crosley's I Was Told There'd Be Cake. Peter Carey's Wrong About Japan. And of course, Rebecca Woolf's (aka Girl's Gone Child) Rockabye - superb.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing much to report for this year, I'm afraid. Still listening to the usual bands - a sure sign of aging, no?
28. What did you want and get?
A worry-free, child-free night to celebrate and chill with my friends. See #7.
29. What did you want and not get?
The opportunity to travel alone and to lie alone, in silence, somewhere very very far away.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I am ashamed to confess that I did not watch a single film this year. Not even on DVD. I did see many plays, though. The one I most enjoyed (although it was not necessarily 'the best') was Theater Ekamatra's Charged.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a teppanyaki dinner with friends the day before my birthday, where we ate a ton and laughed like drunken hyenas. There was talk of buying penis-shaped cake molds. On the actual day I celebrated with dimsum and my family at Noble House. There was a big fruit tart in lieu of cake, balloons for The Bun, and big big smiles on everyone's faces. That was all that really mattered. This was also the year in which I decided I no longer need or want birthday presents from anyone. I turned thirty-three.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A healthier, trimmer body and a better sense of perspective.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Breathable comfort (when at home) and smarty-arty (when at work).
34. What kept you sane?
Reading = escapism = sanity. Time alone and the opportunity to stretch myself at work also felt good.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ha ha.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The General Election + social media + a ridiculous, yobbish mentality = what a farce. We have come far, but we still have a long way to go.
37. Who did you miss?
Having only met up with him a handful of times this year - my friend Mozzie.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Karen T. Although she wasn't exactly 'new' to me, we really only got to know each other properly this year while working on the play. One night we had a very frank and heartfelt talk about depression and motherhood. I didn't write about that talk because it cut so deep I couldn't process it enough to write about it, but having that talk with her was a small milestone in my journey as a mother. And knowing she is there for me to reach out to if the need arises is comfort enough.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
When someone rear-ends your car, for fuck's sake, just jump out and grab hold of the driver and don't let go!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh, I’ll settle down with some old story
About a boy who’s just like me
Thought there was love in everything and everyone
You’re so naive!
They always reach a sorry ending
They always get it in the end
Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then
With a winning smile, the poor boy
With naivety succeeds
At the final moment, I cried
I always cry at endings
~ 'Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying', by Belle and Sebastian.
Previous years here: 2010, 2009, 2006, and 2005.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Produce a play at the Esplanade; appear in an advertisement.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any resolutions last year, but at a party last night I did say that I wanted to spend my time in 2012 more constructively and creatively.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Perth and Malaysia (JB via train).
6. What would you have liked to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More commitment to time with friends.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Funnily enough it's the last day of 2011 - 31 December. The Bun had his first proper sleepover at my parents' place. Child-free for a night, J and I celebrated the New Year in the company of my best friends, drinking and talking till 2am in the morning. When we returned home and The Bun wasn't around, it felt odd but also very liberating. I am so glad for it.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting that play onstage at the Esplanade, and staying true to our group's philosophy of putting the audience and the actor first. And actually not going broke in the process.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not doing more to nurture my marriage. 2011 was one of the harder years we have had as a couple, but I think that in the last couple of months, J and I have slowly worked our way to a better understanding of our changing selves and our evolving relationship.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing much beyond the usual ankle and respiratory bugbears.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Big Snip haircut!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
C - this has been a challenging year for her and through all of its ups-and-downs she has always had her heart firmly in the right place.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The driver who pulled a hit-and-run on my car in July. At least we got him back good!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and Bun-related stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The play. On opening night, I stood backstage listening to the first audience members step in and I felt like I was going to hyperventilate.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Never thought I'd ever pick a Chinese song for this question, but 2011's song is undoubtedly 一帘幽梦, i.e. 'Curtain of [Hidden? How does one translate a word like 幽?] Dreams', a very old song by Taiwanese maestro Liu Jia Chang. Just listening to the first verse makes my heart shiver:
我有一帘幽梦
不知与谁能共
多少秘密在其中
欲诉无人能懂
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
I'm happier, or at least, I'm feeling more optimistic.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter. I always have this answer, which does not bode well.
iii. richer or poorer?
No real change here.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Relaxing more and going with the flow. I'm a control freak AND a worrywart - a lethal combination when it comes to having a spontaneous good time.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Feeling frustrated/worried over The Bun's behaviour.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
J, The Bun and I had a good meal with my friend C, devouring a great crispy pork knuckle in a coffeeshop in Hougang. Unpretentious and all about the basics: food, friends, family. The way I like it.
21. If you could relive one thing in 2011 so that you could have acted differently, what would that be?
I would have stopped using Facebook much earlier than quitting it in March 2011. Good riddance!
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
My answer never changes - next!
23. How many one night stands?
Plenty of standing at night (thanks to The Bun), but no actual one night stands.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Sorry, I don't watch TV. It may make me sound like a sad loser, but really, I think it's great.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
That hit-and-run driver. And I really dislike several people, but let's not go there. The older I get the bigger a grouch I become.
26. What was the best book you read?
I really cannot choose just one. I thought Alison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It was surprisingly, addictively good. Sloane Crosley's I Was Told There'd Be Cake. Peter Carey's Wrong About Japan. And of course, Rebecca Woolf's (aka Girl's Gone Child) Rockabye - superb.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing much to report for this year, I'm afraid. Still listening to the usual bands - a sure sign of aging, no?
28. What did you want and get?
A worry-free, child-free night to celebrate and chill with my friends. See #7.
29. What did you want and not get?
The opportunity to travel alone and to lie alone, in silence, somewhere very very far away.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I am ashamed to confess that I did not watch a single film this year. Not even on DVD. I did see many plays, though. The one I most enjoyed (although it was not necessarily 'the best') was Theater Ekamatra's Charged.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a teppanyaki dinner with friends the day before my birthday, where we ate a ton and laughed like drunken hyenas. There was talk of buying penis-shaped cake molds. On the actual day I celebrated with dimsum and my family at Noble House. There was a big fruit tart in lieu of cake, balloons for The Bun, and big big smiles on everyone's faces. That was all that really mattered. This was also the year in which I decided I no longer need or want birthday presents from anyone. I turned thirty-three.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A healthier, trimmer body and a better sense of perspective.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Breathable comfort (when at home) and smarty-arty (when at work).
34. What kept you sane?
Reading = escapism = sanity. Time alone and the opportunity to stretch myself at work also felt good.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ha ha.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The General Election + social media + a ridiculous, yobbish mentality = what a farce. We have come far, but we still have a long way to go.
37. Who did you miss?
Having only met up with him a handful of times this year - my friend Mozzie.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Karen T. Although she wasn't exactly 'new' to me, we really only got to know each other properly this year while working on the play. One night we had a very frank and heartfelt talk about depression and motherhood. I didn't write about that talk because it cut so deep I couldn't process it enough to write about it, but having that talk with her was a small milestone in my journey as a mother. And knowing she is there for me to reach out to if the need arises is comfort enough.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
When someone rear-ends your car, for fuck's sake, just jump out and grab hold of the driver and don't let go!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh, I’ll settle down with some old story
About a boy who’s just like me
Thought there was love in everything and everyone
You’re so naive!
They always reach a sorry ending
They always get it in the end
Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then
With a winning smile, the poor boy
With naivety succeeds
At the final moment, I cried
I always cry at endings
~ 'Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying', by Belle and Sebastian.
Previous years here: 2010, 2009, 2006, and 2005.