That Was The Year That Was 2016
Happy New Year, all. This complete bastid of a year is finally at an end!
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
After many years of saying I'd like to one day, I finally started learning German.
Visited Canberra, the nation's capital.
Had a) a publisher, and b) an agent, request more after querying them with my novel. (we have to celebrate our victories, no matter how small)
Received my first ever royalty payment. (we have to celebrate our victories, no matter how small)
Got a handle on my drinking for the first time, ever.
Built up something of an exercise regime and have largely stuck with it since July.
Had a frozen shoulder.
Had an injection right into the shoulder joint. (magic! everyone should get one!)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Don't make 'em. Can't break 'em.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
David Bowie and Carrie Fisher. (they were *too* close to me)
5. What countries did you visit?
Australia. Though got to spend time in a part of it I'd only ever passed through before, i.e. the Australian Capital Territory.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
More books out. More books finished.
7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day Bowie died, mainly. (talked about here)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
*shrug* Largely sticking with an exercise regime? Getting up to 25% fluency in German? Having at least 10 days alcohol-free every month for a year? (over a year now, actually)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing more writing.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Frozen shoulder. The doctor had to stop for a breather during giving me the injection into it. The nurse said "Wow. That is a REALLY frozen shoulder! How were you living with that?!" to which I could only give a Gallic shrug and say "Eh. High pain threshold, I guess. I just get on with things."
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Injection into my shoulder, I guess.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The rebels, the fighters, those refusing to be cowed.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
THERE ARE TOO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Living.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Um...
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
Blackstar by Bowie.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner - I'm down to what I weighed when we got married now, but more importantly, I think, I've been feeling a bit stronger.
iii. richer or poorer? slightlyslightlyslightly richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Finishing stuff. Meditating.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Losing focus.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
For the first time in a few years we were actually around people!
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
Nowt.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Maybe with some of the world building I'm trying out.
23. How many one-night stands?
Unless that swell of feeling for the Scraggers on Grand Final Day counts, nowt.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Did we watch Jessica Jones at the beginning of this year? Or in December last year? I can't recall. But that was good. And Hell On Wheels ended this year, which was sad, but they ended it at the logical place - that was a great series.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I used to say hate was too strong a word in this question...
26. What was the best book you read?
Nosferatu by Paul Monette.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
"All My Crushes" by Magic Dirt.
28. What did you want and get?
A better job for D! \o/
29. What did you want and not get?
Wads of cash. Somebody out there saying "Hey, we love this novel, we want to publish it RIGHT NOW!".
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Hm. We've actually seen quite a lot of rather average movies this year. But highlights include Ghostbusters and The Magnificent Seven remake, which were both very enjoyable. Far and away though, and despite its flaws, Rogue One was the best.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Pub drinks, it was. 46. And D & I went and saw The Force Awakens again, too, because that's what I'd said I wanted for my b'day. :)
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
see Q.29
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Same as it ever was.
34. What kept you sane?
Being better to myself. Observing gratitude and joy and birds. Geek Lunch. Brainstorming evenings with D.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Poe Dameron (and Oscar Isaac). Ben Griffiths. Dan Feuerriegel.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
*weary sigh*
37. Who did you miss?
EVERYBODY
38. Who was the best new person you met?
It's not been a terribly social-butterflyingly year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
Hope.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried:
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
--Blackstar, David Bowie
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
After many years of saying I'd like to one day, I finally started learning German.
Visited Canberra, the nation's capital.
Had a) a publisher, and b) an agent, request more after querying them with my novel. (we have to celebrate our victories, no matter how small)
Received my first ever royalty payment. (we have to celebrate our victories, no matter how small)
Got a handle on my drinking for the first time, ever.
Built up something of an exercise regime and have largely stuck with it since July.
Had a frozen shoulder.
Had an injection right into the shoulder joint. (magic! everyone should get one!)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Don't make 'em. Can't break 'em.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
David Bowie and Carrie Fisher. (they were *too* close to me)
5. What countries did you visit?
Australia. Though got to spend time in a part of it I'd only ever passed through before, i.e. the Australian Capital Territory.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
More books out. More books finished.
7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day Bowie died, mainly. (talked about here)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
*shrug* Largely sticking with an exercise regime? Getting up to 25% fluency in German? Having at least 10 days alcohol-free every month for a year? (over a year now, actually)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing more writing.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Frozen shoulder. The doctor had to stop for a breather during giving me the injection into it. The nurse said "Wow. That is a REALLY frozen shoulder! How were you living with that?!" to which I could only give a Gallic shrug and say "Eh. High pain threshold, I guess. I just get on with things."
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Injection into my shoulder, I guess.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The rebels, the fighters, those refusing to be cowed.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
THERE ARE TOO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Living.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Um...
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
Blackstar by Bowie.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner - I'm down to what I weighed when we got married now, but more importantly, I think, I've been feeling a bit stronger.
iii. richer or poorer? slightlyslightlyslightly richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Finishing stuff. Meditating.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Losing focus.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
For the first time in a few years we were actually around people!
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
Nowt.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Maybe with some of the world building I'm trying out.
23. How many one-night stands?
Unless that swell of feeling for the Scraggers on Grand Final Day counts, nowt.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Did we watch Jessica Jones at the beginning of this year? Or in December last year? I can't recall. But that was good. And Hell On Wheels ended this year, which was sad, but they ended it at the logical place - that was a great series.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I used to say hate was too strong a word in this question...
26. What was the best book you read?
Nosferatu by Paul Monette.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
"All My Crushes" by Magic Dirt.
28. What did you want and get?
A better job for D! \o/
29. What did you want and not get?
Wads of cash. Somebody out there saying "Hey, we love this novel, we want to publish it RIGHT NOW!".
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Hm. We've actually seen quite a lot of rather average movies this year. But highlights include Ghostbusters and The Magnificent Seven remake, which were both very enjoyable. Far and away though, and despite its flaws, Rogue One was the best.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Pub drinks, it was. 46. And D & I went and saw The Force Awakens again, too, because that's what I'd said I wanted for my b'day. :)
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
see Q.29
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Same as it ever was.
34. What kept you sane?
Being better to myself. Observing gratitude and joy and birds. Geek Lunch. Brainstorming evenings with D.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Poe Dameron (and Oscar Isaac). Ben Griffiths. Dan Feuerriegel.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
*weary sigh*
37. Who did you miss?
EVERYBODY
38. Who was the best new person you met?
It's not been a terribly social-butterflyingly year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
Hope.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried:
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
--Blackstar, David Bowie