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2021 in review
(2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
1. What did you do in 2021 that you'd never done before?
Had a story accepted by Uncanny!
Like everyone else, prior to this spring I had never done Virus Science on my kitchen table, and now I just accept that I'll be sticking a stick up my nose at least twice a week...
Been actually for reals vaccinated against covid (my first Novavax jabs, in Nov 2020, turned out to be placebo; I got the real thing in the crossover phase in April 2021).
Got recruited to a convention committee (oh dear) (as of this week I'm co-chairing the Programme committee which in turns means I am on the concom proper). (I turned down a different request from a different con earlier in the year, too!)
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My not-resolutions-more-aims hit rate this year: definitely achieved 16/24, mostly/partly achieved 4/24, didn't achieve 4/24 (one I chose to cancel) (0.67 : 0.17 : 0.17)
Last year: 0.65 : 0.22 : 0.13
Last year: 0.58 : 0.24 : 0.17
2018: 0.72 : 0.17 : 0.11
2017: 0.7 : 0.2 : 0.1
Not bad. Trying to cut down this year (though I said that last year).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
doop's sister.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My elderly neighbour Virginia, who I'd been doing shopping for since March 2020, died in the summer. In the end I was the last non-healthcare-person to see her alive, which is a bit weird tbh.
5. What countries did you visit?
Spain! L & I took a ferry to Spain in September, and went to Madrid, Moraira (little town between Alicante & Valencia, where my parents were spending their 50th wedding anniversary), and then back via Barcelona. In other circs we might have taken the train but a) France wouldn't let me in because my vaccination was Novavax, and b) adding an extra country to the list of travel regulations to manage seemed suboptimal. Anyway, it was lovely, and we saw ALL THE GAUDI in Barcelona, and Mum & Dad were really happy that we could make it.
6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?
An agent. L vaccinated against covid. [redacted]
(Last year I wanted: Everyone vaccinated against this damn thing (doing pretty well actually in the UK, absent the 5-11s; really not well enough at all in the world at large :( ). The ability to see friends in person (I have done some of this in suitable distanced ways but further-afield friends not at all) and hug them (obv have not hugged anyone I don't share a household/bubble with since March) (yes! I have done some of this!).)
7. What date from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I remain terrible at dates. Things I'll remember: parental 50th wedding anniversary in Spain, I guess!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Self-publishing my cute festive SF novella, at very short notice when I suddenly decided that would be a good idea. Finishing Marek III and (with Elsewhen, who did a splendidly rapid job) getting it out into the world.
As last year and the year before: I think that keeping L happy and educated and all that is an ongoing good achievement. (And I think that extra this year.)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Last year I had not got Marek III finished. This year, I haven't got Marek IV's 2nd draft finished. I am hoping to have it all done & off to Elsewhen by Easter, though (backup goal: May).
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. (I did however have a proper cracking fever for almost exactly 12 hrs, 12 hrs after both my 2nd Novavax jab and my Pfizer booster.)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
NEW LAPTOP (MBP) it is so shiny and lovely. (The old one was 7.5 yrs old so it had done well -- and it went off to a new owner on eBay so it's not even done yet!)
Year's membership to the climbing gym, although I have yet to establish whether that will definitely work out cheaper than just paying on the door (but I'm pleased to have saved up for it).
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Pete, doop, L. My other lovely friends (both those I know in person and those I only/mostly know on the interwebs).
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Last year I said: Oh god politics and politicians ARGH ARGH ARGH ARGH. And lots of horrible transphobic people.
And it is still true. Fuck the Tories. Fuck covid.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Therapy. The new laptop. Books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
New laptop. Am terrible geek.
Vaccine rollout (I have even helped steward a couple of times!).
16. What song will always remind you of 2021?
No idea.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Almost exactly the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Very slightly richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Being able to focus on things. Other than that, apart from, you know, all the *pandemic stuff*, it's not been a bad year in many ways.
(Last year I wanted to do more climbing, which I have done! And seeing people at <2m, and going dancing, both of which I have also done.)
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being anxious, especially over things I cannot control (which is...most of the things I'm anxious about).
Social media.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
As per usual, spent it in Bermondsey, with Pete and Marna (for the morning, before they went off to the boat) and doop and L. My parents & sister came over on Boxing Day. All very pleasant.
21. Did you fall in love in 2021?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV programme?
Staged 2. It's A Sin.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I think all the people (public figures, largely) I've felt strong dislike towards this year I already disliked.
25. What was the best book you read?
Uhhh I am so rubbish at remembering things I've read. Lots of books! Many of them good!
Possibly The Witness For The Dead, by Katherine Addison?
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I have been rather enjoying Taylor Swift, though obviously I am a long way behind the times there.
27. What did you want and get?
New laptop.
28. What did you want and not get?
The pandemic being done with. Fuck off, Omicron.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I have only seen one film this year, I think. (Dune. It was very good, although I cannot recommend sitting right in the front row of the IMAX. I got a lot of closeups of Atreides nostrils, though.)
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 43, and a) I could not have a party (it was in January), b) I could not, as planned, go and sulk on my own in a hotel room (because, again, it was in January, and hotels were shut again), therefore c) I think I had takeout and watched a film with doop. Which was pleasant and all, but. BUT. I did eventually get my hotel stay, in April (at the Tower Hotel up the road, who were doing very cheap rooms at the time).
Actually also the next night Marna came over (she was in our bubble) and she and Pete had made me a playlist of Revolutionary Music, so that was excellent. We drank a bit too much wine :)
Sneaking suspicion this year's party might not happen either... :(
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Pandemic being over. Other than that it's been (for me personally) basically pretty decent.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
Still trackie bottoms.
33. What kept you sane?
Writing. Friends. Climbing. Being able to go out and see people again.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not really doing fancying people much atm.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Transphobia. Covid.
36. Who did you miss?
maia. Richard (though I did get to go up & visit him in Manchester & that was great!). Jess. Fred (visiting in a month!).
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Don't think I've met any new people! To the extent that 'meeting people' has been a thing, I've been meeting the people I already knew & liked.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021
Actually going climbing properly regularly does pay off. (I climbed a V3 again! haven't done that since before Leon was born! Also I have arm muscles!) This probably applies to other physical exercise too, maybe even other things, who knows.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
???
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Despite All The Things, yes, I have enjoyed significant parts of it.
1. What did you do in 2021 that you'd never done before?
Had a story accepted by Uncanny!
Like everyone else, prior to this spring I had never done Virus Science on my kitchen table, and now I just accept that I'll be sticking a stick up my nose at least twice a week...
Been actually for reals vaccinated against covid (my first Novavax jabs, in Nov 2020, turned out to be placebo; I got the real thing in the crossover phase in April 2021).
Got recruited to a convention committee (oh dear) (as of this week I'm co-chairing the Programme committee which in turns means I am on the concom proper). (I turned down a different request from a different con earlier in the year, too!)
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My not-resolutions-more-aims hit rate this year: definitely achieved 16/24, mostly/partly achieved 4/24, didn't achieve 4/24 (one I chose to cancel) (0.67 : 0.17 : 0.17)
Last year: 0.65 : 0.22 : 0.13
Last year: 0.58 : 0.24 : 0.17
2018: 0.72 : 0.17 : 0.11
2017: 0.7 : 0.2 : 0.1
Not bad. Trying to cut down this year (though I said that last year).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
doop's sister.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My elderly neighbour Virginia, who I'd been doing shopping for since March 2020, died in the summer. In the end I was the last non-healthcare-person to see her alive, which is a bit weird tbh.
5. What countries did you visit?
Spain! L & I took a ferry to Spain in September, and went to Madrid, Moraira (little town between Alicante & Valencia, where my parents were spending their 50th wedding anniversary), and then back via Barcelona. In other circs we might have taken the train but a) France wouldn't let me in because my vaccination was Novavax, and b) adding an extra country to the list of travel regulations to manage seemed suboptimal. Anyway, it was lovely, and we saw ALL THE GAUDI in Barcelona, and Mum & Dad were really happy that we could make it.
6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?
An agent. L vaccinated against covid. [redacted]
(Last year I wanted: Everyone vaccinated against this damn thing (doing pretty well actually in the UK, absent the 5-11s; really not well enough at all in the world at large :( ). The ability to see friends in person (I have done some of this in suitable distanced ways but further-afield friends not at all) and hug them (obv have not hugged anyone I don't share a household/bubble with since March) (yes! I have done some of this!).)
7. What date from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I remain terrible at dates. Things I'll remember: parental 50th wedding anniversary in Spain, I guess!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Self-publishing my cute festive SF novella, at very short notice when I suddenly decided that would be a good idea. Finishing Marek III and (with Elsewhen, who did a splendidly rapid job) getting it out into the world.
As last year and the year before: I think that keeping L happy and educated and all that is an ongoing good achievement. (And I think that extra this year.)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Last year I had not got Marek III finished. This year, I haven't got Marek IV's 2nd draft finished. I am hoping to have it all done & off to Elsewhen by Easter, though (backup goal: May).
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. (I did however have a proper cracking fever for almost exactly 12 hrs, 12 hrs after both my 2nd Novavax jab and my Pfizer booster.)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
NEW LAPTOP (MBP) it is so shiny and lovely. (The old one was 7.5 yrs old so it had done well -- and it went off to a new owner on eBay so it's not even done yet!)
Year's membership to the climbing gym, although I have yet to establish whether that will definitely work out cheaper than just paying on the door (but I'm pleased to have saved up for it).
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Pete, doop, L. My other lovely friends (both those I know in person and those I only/mostly know on the interwebs).
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Last year I said: Oh god politics and politicians ARGH ARGH ARGH ARGH. And lots of horrible transphobic people.
And it is still true. Fuck the Tories. Fuck covid.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Therapy. The new laptop. Books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
New laptop. Am terrible geek.
Vaccine rollout (I have even helped steward a couple of times!).
16. What song will always remind you of 2021?
No idea.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Almost exactly the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Very slightly richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Being able to focus on things. Other than that, apart from, you know, all the *pandemic stuff*, it's not been a bad year in many ways.
(Last year I wanted to do more climbing, which I have done! And seeing people at <2m, and going dancing, both of which I have also done.)
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Being anxious, especially over things I cannot control (which is...most of the things I'm anxious about).
Social media.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
As per usual, spent it in Bermondsey, with Pete and Marna (for the morning, before they went off to the boat) and doop and L. My parents & sister came over on Boxing Day. All very pleasant.
21. Did you fall in love in 2021?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV programme?
Staged 2. It's A Sin.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I think all the people (public figures, largely) I've felt strong dislike towards this year I already disliked.
25. What was the best book you read?
Uhhh I am so rubbish at remembering things I've read. Lots of books! Many of them good!
Possibly The Witness For The Dead, by Katherine Addison?
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I have been rather enjoying Taylor Swift, though obviously I am a long way behind the times there.
27. What did you want and get?
New laptop.
28. What did you want and not get?
The pandemic being done with. Fuck off, Omicron.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I have only seen one film this year, I think. (Dune. It was very good, although I cannot recommend sitting right in the front row of the IMAX. I got a lot of closeups of Atreides nostrils, though.)
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 43, and a) I could not have a party (it was in January), b) I could not, as planned, go and sulk on my own in a hotel room (because, again, it was in January, and hotels were shut again), therefore c) I think I had takeout and watched a film with doop. Which was pleasant and all, but. BUT. I did eventually get my hotel stay, in April (at the Tower Hotel up the road, who were doing very cheap rooms at the time).
Actually also the next night Marna came over (she was in our bubble) and she and Pete had made me a playlist of Revolutionary Music, so that was excellent. We drank a bit too much wine :)
Sneaking suspicion this year's party might not happen either... :(
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Pandemic being over. Other than that it's been (for me personally) basically pretty decent.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
Still trackie bottoms.
33. What kept you sane?
Writing. Friends. Climbing. Being able to go out and see people again.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not really doing fancying people much atm.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Transphobia. Covid.
36. Who did you miss?
maia. Richard (though I did get to go up & visit him in Manchester & that was great!). Jess. Fred (visiting in a month!).
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Don't think I've met any new people! To the extent that 'meeting people' has been a thing, I've been meeting the people I already knew & liked.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021
Actually going climbing properly regularly does pay off. (I climbed a V3 again! haven't done that since before Leon was born! Also I have arm muscles!) This probably applies to other physical exercise too, maybe even other things, who knows.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
???
40. Did you enjoy this year?
Despite All The Things, yes, I have enjoyed significant parts of it.
no subject
I am very much looking forward to seeing you.
Also, snap! Taylor Swift was my musical discovery too!