2006-in-review

[juliet]

(2003, 2004, 2005)


1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Sailing. Cycled 100 miles. Rode my first Audax. Baked bread. Split up with someone amicably (thumbs crossed).

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Hrm. Mostly not, it would appear. Did manage to clear my 0% credit card, & have done more sewing, and kept a mood diary all year. Knee-exercises I haven't done but the cycling seems to have done the trick instead so I shall count that anyway. I shall make a couple, but I think last year's were overkill / unrealistic in part.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Uncle Jackie & Uncle Tommy. Ash.

5. What countries did you visit?
The Czech Republic, and Poland (with Pete).

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
As per usual: more time. Less stress. Health has been tolerable this year, though.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
17 April (first date with uon :-) )

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Dunwich Dynamo. Learning to sail. Getting a 1st (I think... am slightly confused about marking system) on first year of psychology course.

This is going to sound slightly odd to many people, in the circs, but: my relationship with kitty_goth, which I'm feeling much more positive about since Friday.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sure, actually.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Some. Knees much better (touch wood...) although I was finally informed this year that what's wrong with them is permanently wrong & not fixable. The other stuff I've been handling isn't "illness", as such; but I finally have a referral for it, at least.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The lovely lovely Cheviot! (new bike, for those not paying attention at the back)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Many people have been enormously supportive this year, & I am very fortunate to have lots of lovely people in my life.

But especially dogrando, uon, & marnameow, who have all of them gone well above & beyond, & without whom I wouldn't have got through the very bad patches this year. They are all truly splendid & lovely individuals.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No comment.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Cycle kit from Minx

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Glade! Which was fantastic! Also the Dun Run which was also v good fun indeed & has led to further contemplation of cycling ridiculousness... Buying the Cheviot. Silly baby psytrance festival in Plymouth. Buying bikes for other people :-)

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
DOG DOG DOG DOG DOG!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but not by much.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
As for the last 3 years: time with good friends; socialising generally; making an effort to meet up with folk I've met briefly & would like to know better. Also, time doing creative stuff as opposed to work. I'm still working on getting my life to where I want it to be in that regard (viz: not doing full-time work) & it's actually starting to look like it's getting closer.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Dealing with shit not of my making.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With Pete, Marna & Sean in Bermondsey on Xmas Day (& hopefully seeing Ben later on); my parents & sister are visiting on Boxing Day; Marna's on Boxing Day evening.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes!

22. How many one-night stands?
Define "one-night stand".

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Didn't really have one. Dr Who wasn't as good this year, bah.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Don't think so. Try not to hate people.

25. What was the best book you read?
As last year (& the year before): I have read many good things. I remember basically none of their names. I am rubbish.

Oh! No, I have thought: the Boudicca books (Dreaming The...)! Bloody fantastic! Also Bob Flowerdew on gardening.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
REX! Various other stuff.

27. What did you want and get?
A payrise. New bike. Much fun.

28. What did you want and not get?
Less badness.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
No idea. Not seen that much this year.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28 & I had a party at our place.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More time in the day.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Skirts. And stuff I've made myself. (sometimes skirts I've made myself!) I have gone off trousers, this year. Also: cycling lycra, oh yes.

33. What kept you sane?
See above re: Marna, Pete, & doop.
Also: Friends. Space to rant in. Cycling. Knitting/sewing. The allotment. The ratgirls. Time to myself. My room - which I haven't been using as much as I might, & I've just started using more, and it really really does help. The Treo for brain-management. Brain-journal.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
NFC. Can't offhand think of anyone, actually.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The S Dakota abortion stuff.

36. Who did you miss?
fernasto, although we've caught up a couple of times & it's always exceptionally top fun. Many people I don't see enough of cos we're all ridiculously busy.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Cannot remember who I met when!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006
The Cash Economy is the only way I'm ever going to successfully manage my money.
Cycling is among the Best Things Ever.
Relationships change, sometimes in ways you didn't expect; and changes that on the surface might look bad can actually be good. On the same lines: you never know what's coming up next, & sometimes it is very surprising.
Repressing what you want never works well. Standing up for it instead leads to feeling much better & functioning much better, as well.
Do things that scare you.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
NFC, I'm afraid.
DOG DOG DOG DOG is tempting, though.

40. Did you enjoy this year?
Yes. Despite the horrendous patches, much of it was very good indeed.