2013 year end meme
Dec. 31st, 2013 03:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
julietHow can it already be New Year?
(2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Not sure there's anything much. Stayed in a tipi at Glastonbury. Leon did lots of stuff for the first time and I watched him do that. Started my Permaculture Diploma. Stayed away from Leon overnight (in November; it all went fine and it was a nice weekend but it was quite odd).
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't exactly have resolutions, but I had aims. Achieved a little over half of them, another couple were deliberately ditched. I have some more for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Richard & Alison (to Nora Juliet).
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't think so.
5. What countries did you visit?
Scotland. N Ireland. Italy (Venice).
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A coat cupboard.
A grape vine that hasn't been eaten by slugs/snails/aliens (never caught them at it so cannot be sure).
More focus on my writing.
More sleep. Specifically, more uninterrupted sleep. People keep telling me that 2 yrs old is a turning point for getting better at sleeping, so thumbs crossed (currently L still wakes for milk 3-4 times a night, sometimes more).
(Last year I wanted a stair carpet (tick), time for fiction writing (tick, and have even sold a few stories), and more non-tech non-fiction writing commissions (tick, but not in sufficient quantities or sufficiently lucrative to be very worthwhile, sadly).
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Um. Can't think of anything right now.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Leon seems happy.
Also I knit a really (really) complicated shawl, which I am very proud of. It took 8 months of nearly-daily knitting.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sure I have anything, really. I would still like to be doing more fiction writing; but I have made some changes in the way I organise my time that has helped that (and has been generally a Good Thing).
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing that I recall as standing out.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2 x Roterfadens (one A5, one A6; the A5 one was actually a birthday present fromdogrando).
Alsodogrando got me a new sewing machine for Xmas this year which is awesome; and doop an iPhone which I am liking very much so far.
The kingsize mattress for the floor of Leon's room made a big difference to the restfulness of my sleep, if not to actual wakings-up.
My ticket for the Permaculture Diploma weekend was well worth it.
The Roomba kind of rocks.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Just like last year: P, d, & M all continue fabulous, and Leon is awesome and generally very co-operative.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
angelmine has come through another tough year with flying colours and continues to awe me.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
As last year and the year before: lots of politicians. ARGH ARGH ARGH.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Er. Not sure tbh. Misc expenses, and fabric/yarn, I think.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Glastonbury! With Leon! It was fantastic and a splendid time was had by all. We even still managed to get there by bike despite extra small person who cannot yet cycle. (He was on the back of my bike, and thoroughly enjoyed careering down a massive hill at 25mph.)
Leon learning to walk (at Glastonbury :) ) and talk (also started about the same time, but it's the language explosion over the last couple of months that has been most exciting).
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
The Grow Grow Grow song by Nick Cope which is Leon's favourite song and for a while was his word for "music" or "CD".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same. Maybe a little happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Not sure. Possibly a bit fatter, but my clothes still fit.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, though not by much.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Other than that I think I have done a lot and could not do much more without going BANG in the head. I would still like to do a bit more socialising, but evenings are still difficult atm :/
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ha, last year I said "Maybe slightly fewer night feeds? That's just kind of where things are at right now, though, so I'm not *all* that bothered about it. (Ask me this time next year...)". This year: definitely fewer night feeds. I'm still not bothered enough to deliberately do anything about it, though. In due course he'll stop.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
As per usual, in Bermondsey, with Pete & doop & Leon, and my family visiting on Boxing Day. Quiet but nice.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I am not sure I have watched anything on TV that isn't on CBeebies. Whilst I can bang on at length about CBeebies and the merits or otherwise of various programmes, I do not think I would describe anything on there as "favourite".
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Don't think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
No idea. Can never remember anything I've read. Some more good/helpful parenting books, I guess. Fiction-wise I have mostly been reading stuff that is not that mentally challenging. However, I've had a subscription to Beneath Ceaseless Skies (SF-ish magazine) which has been fab, and a couple of other SFF magazines which I've also enjoyed.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pass.
27. What did you want and get?
To sell some stories. More time for craft stuff. A new sewing machine.
28. What did you want and not get?
Sleep. Though Leon is still a reasonable sleeper in comparison to other toddlers of my acquaintance.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Not sure I have seen a film this year. Oh yes, P & I went to see Roman Holiday and it was great. But not exactly "of this year". I would like to see Hobbits 2: Even Hobbitier Than Before, but haven't yet.
I did see a PLAY -- Macbeth in Manchester with Kenneth Branagh and it was utterly brilliant.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 35, and I had a party here, and it was much fun.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Can't think of anything. It feels like I have had a pretty good year.
Making there be more hours in the day, perhaps, but absent that...
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Tunics/long tops that I can feed Leon in.
33. What kept you sane?
Partners. Self-belief (rational or otherwise). Being realistic about what I can achieve (a fine balance between this and pushing myself a bit). Tea & toast & chocolate during Leon's nap.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Assorted CBeebies presenters, probably (where "most" isn't a particularly high bar). Helps improve the watching experience :)
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Cuts.
36. Who did you miss?
Maia. Richard.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Kathryn, & Eddie (both local parents). Nora was pretty cool too though only 3 weeks old when I met her.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
Chill out.
Default to saying yes to Leon; default to saying no to other things unless they are genuinely exciting (I have enough interesting stuff in my life already).
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Can't right now; will consider the matter.
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Yes.
(2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Not sure there's anything much. Stayed in a tipi at Glastonbury. Leon did lots of stuff for the first time and I watched him do that. Started my Permaculture Diploma. Stayed away from Leon overnight (in November; it all went fine and it was a nice weekend but it was quite odd).
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't exactly have resolutions, but I had aims. Achieved a little over half of them, another couple were deliberately ditched. I have some more for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Richard & Alison (to Nora Juliet).
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't think so.
5. What countries did you visit?
Scotland. N Ireland. Italy (Venice).
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A coat cupboard.
A grape vine that hasn't been eaten by slugs/snails/aliens (never caught them at it so cannot be sure).
More focus on my writing.
More sleep. Specifically, more uninterrupted sleep. People keep telling me that 2 yrs old is a turning point for getting better at sleeping, so thumbs crossed (currently L still wakes for milk 3-4 times a night, sometimes more).
(Last year I wanted a stair carpet (tick), time for fiction writing (tick, and have even sold a few stories), and more non-tech non-fiction writing commissions (tick, but not in sufficient quantities or sufficiently lucrative to be very worthwhile, sadly).
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Um. Can't think of anything right now.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Leon seems happy.
Also I knit a really (really) complicated shawl, which I am very proud of. It took 8 months of nearly-daily knitting.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sure I have anything, really. I would still like to be doing more fiction writing; but I have made some changes in the way I organise my time that has helped that (and has been generally a Good Thing).
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing that I recall as standing out.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
2 x Roterfadens (one A5, one A6; the A5 one was actually a birthday present from
dogrando). Also
dogrando got me a new sewing machine for Xmas this year which is awesome; and doop an iPhone which I am liking very much so far.The kingsize mattress for the floor of Leon's room made a big difference to the restfulness of my sleep, if not to actual wakings-up.
My ticket for the Permaculture Diploma weekend was well worth it.
The Roomba kind of rocks.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Just like last year: P, d, & M all continue fabulous, and Leon is awesome and generally very co-operative.
angelmine has come through another tough year with flying colours and continues to awe me. 13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
As last year and the year before: lots of politicians. ARGH ARGH ARGH.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Er. Not sure tbh. Misc expenses, and fabric/yarn, I think.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Glastonbury! With Leon! It was fantastic and a splendid time was had by all. We even still managed to get there by bike despite extra small person who cannot yet cycle. (He was on the back of my bike, and thoroughly enjoyed careering down a massive hill at 25mph.)
Leon learning to walk (at Glastonbury :) ) and talk (also started about the same time, but it's the language explosion over the last couple of months that has been most exciting).
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
The Grow Grow Grow song by Nick Cope which is Leon's favourite song and for a while was his word for "music" or "CD".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? About the same. Maybe a little happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Not sure. Possibly a bit fatter, but my clothes still fit.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, though not by much.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Other than that I think I have done a lot and could not do much more without going BANG in the head. I would still like to do a bit more socialising, but evenings are still difficult atm :/
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ha, last year I said "Maybe slightly fewer night feeds? That's just kind of where things are at right now, though, so I'm not *all* that bothered about it. (Ask me this time next year...)". This year: definitely fewer night feeds. I'm still not bothered enough to deliberately do anything about it, though. In due course he'll stop.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
As per usual, in Bermondsey, with Pete & doop & Leon, and my family visiting on Boxing Day. Quiet but nice.
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I am not sure I have watched anything on TV that isn't on CBeebies. Whilst I can bang on at length about CBeebies and the merits or otherwise of various programmes, I do not think I would describe anything on there as "favourite".
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Don't think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
No idea. Can never remember anything I've read. Some more good/helpful parenting books, I guess. Fiction-wise I have mostly been reading stuff that is not that mentally challenging. However, I've had a subscription to Beneath Ceaseless Skies (SF-ish magazine) which has been fab, and a couple of other SFF magazines which I've also enjoyed.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Pass.
27. What did you want and get?
To sell some stories. More time for craft stuff. A new sewing machine.
28. What did you want and not get?
Sleep. Though Leon is still a reasonable sleeper in comparison to other toddlers of my acquaintance.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
Not sure I have seen a film this year. Oh yes, P & I went to see Roman Holiday and it was great. But not exactly "of this year". I would like to see Hobbits 2: Even Hobbitier Than Before, but haven't yet.
I did see a PLAY -- Macbeth in Manchester with Kenneth Branagh and it was utterly brilliant.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 35, and I had a party here, and it was much fun.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Can't think of anything. It feels like I have had a pretty good year.
Making there be more hours in the day, perhaps, but absent that...
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Tunics/long tops that I can feed Leon in.
33. What kept you sane?
Partners. Self-belief (rational or otherwise). Being realistic about what I can achieve (a fine balance between this and pushing myself a bit). Tea & toast & chocolate during Leon's nap.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Assorted CBeebies presenters, probably (where "most" isn't a particularly high bar). Helps improve the watching experience :)
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Cuts.
36. Who did you miss?
Maia. Richard.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Kathryn, & Eddie (both local parents). Nora was pretty cool too though only 3 weeks old when I met her.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
Chill out.
Default to saying yes to Leon; default to saying no to other things unless they are genuinely exciting (I have enough interesting stuff in my life already).
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Can't right now; will consider the matter.
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Yes.
