year in review meme
I always seem to do this around December 6th, so why change it this year? 5th year in a row of doing it, or summat like that.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Went blue-water sailing (and got seasick!), learned a lot of metalworking techniques, got to play with the SEM :)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wrote this last year:
- Keep the diary up
- Keep playing rugby, even if I never make the 22
- Do a six-mile charity run in March!
- Become at least mildly fluent in Welsh.
Well, I still keep a private diary, but I'm not very good at it. I'll come back to it every month or so. I did play rugby up until March, and did actually make the starting 22 a few times, and I have to say, I do not particularly miss playing, though it was fun at the time. I did not do the charity run, because I suck at running. I'm getting better at the Welsh :)
Next year:
- Keep going to the gym, aim for twice a week.
- Cycle from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff in one day!
- Start sailing in the UK.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
An ex-coworker's wife and the wife of my internship supervisor both did.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
Just other parts of the UK and the US. boooooo :(
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A bit more peace of mind and happiness, which will come when I graduate. A job!
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Honestly, I can't think of one in particular.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through my second year, by far. Going from zero to cycling almost 80 miles a week for a month was quite something too, I think.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know; nothing really stands out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did something absolutely HELLACIOUS to my back on Saturday night, and it still aches? Other than that, nothing remarkable. I think I dislocated my thumb back in the spring, but that healed after a few days.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Lots of vintage clothes! I got a matched set of costume jewellry that I'm in love with.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Basically, anyone who had to deal with me between about April and mid-June.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I had a friend who recently became one of the few people I've had to bluntly and expressly tell that I was not going to be speaking to him again, due to the fact that he treats everyone around him as players in his own personal sexual psychodrama. He appeared shocked that I would judge him for his actions.
Also, I am over my father and his drinking. Beyond over.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and tuition, hooray
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Blue-water sailing, Philly Folk Fest, one of the objects I'm working on, the legendary Christmas party I went to over the weekend :)
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
This year's obsessive song was Richard Thompson's '52 Vincent Black Lightning. Also, I suddenly listen to Sigur Ros a lot, and Hoppipolla is a delightful song :)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder? Sort of? Very tired and stressed, which usually translates as not particularly joyful.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same.
iii. richer or poorer? More in debt!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Being outgoing, and inviting friends over for dinner/tea/whatever.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Nothing much, really. I think this year was a good balance.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Cold, mildly bored, kind of blah. Family Christmas is unbelievably dull.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
hahahahaha!
24. What was your favorite TV program?
SHERLOCK. Followed closely by Doctor Who. Stephen Moffat is like unto a god.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I'm getting damn close with above ex-friend, and with my ex-flatmate. In general, I think I have less patience with people. I am not sure this is a bad thing.
26. What was the best book you read?
Uh. Um. I'm reading the report on the Spitalfields excavations in the 80's and absolutely loving it?
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Richard Thompson, Sigur Ros, Pat Metheny, Butch Ross.
28. What did you want and get?
To work at Nantgarw. To get a good flatmate who doesn't drive me crazy. To get a respectable overall mark for second year :) To get to go to Hay Festival!
29. What did you want and not get?
I don't think there was much I really, deeply desired -- see above about being kind of drained :)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I finally saw "Let the Right One In" and OH MY GOD so good! so, so good!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28, and honest to God, I cannot remember. I really can't. I must have gone out for a drink with friends? Maybe?
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not being on the course, frankly. I'll be good at what I do when I graduate, but this is not fun.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Very 1950's/early60's-flavoured. Lots of skirts and dresses, suddenly, and I'm staring to play with kind of a 20's look.
34. What kept you sane?
Rugby, knitting, friends, countless cups of tea, spending five days lying in the sunshine in Hay-on-Wye!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tommy Bowe is once again this year's recipient of the Lee Byrne Memorial 'I'd shag them' award. Honourable mentions go to Benedict Cumberbatch, most of the French rugby team, and Alun Wyn Jones.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Student fees and teaching cuts, and the LibLab coalition.
37. Who did you miss?
Emily while she travelled. Lots of Gazela people. A certain mildly-insane family some hours south of here :)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the Archaeology grads I now hang out with, and make eggnog for!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
You begin to reflect that which you surround yourself with.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Went blue-water sailing (and got seasick!), learned a lot of metalworking techniques, got to play with the SEM :)
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wrote this last year:
- Keep the diary up
- Keep playing rugby, even if I never make the 22
- Do a six-mile charity run in March!
- Become at least mildly fluent in Welsh.
Well, I still keep a private diary, but I'm not very good at it. I'll come back to it every month or so. I did play rugby up until March, and did actually make the starting 22 a few times, and I have to say, I do not particularly miss playing, though it was fun at the time. I did not do the charity run, because I suck at running. I'm getting better at the Welsh :)
Next year:
- Keep going to the gym, aim for twice a week.
- Cycle from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff in one day!
- Start sailing in the UK.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
An ex-coworker's wife and the wife of my internship supervisor both did.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
Just other parts of the UK and the US. boooooo :(
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A bit more peace of mind and happiness, which will come when I graduate. A job!
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Honestly, I can't think of one in particular.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through my second year, by far. Going from zero to cycling almost 80 miles a week for a month was quite something too, I think.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know; nothing really stands out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I did something absolutely HELLACIOUS to my back on Saturday night, and it still aches? Other than that, nothing remarkable. I think I dislocated my thumb back in the spring, but that healed after a few days.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Lots of vintage clothes! I got a matched set of costume jewellry that I'm in love with.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Basically, anyone who had to deal with me between about April and mid-June.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I had a friend who recently became one of the few people I've had to bluntly and expressly tell that I was not going to be speaking to him again, due to the fact that he treats everyone around him as players in his own personal sexual psychodrama. He appeared shocked that I would judge him for his actions.
Also, I am over my father and his drinking. Beyond over.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and tuition, hooray
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Blue-water sailing, Philly Folk Fest, one of the objects I'm working on, the legendary Christmas party I went to over the weekend :)
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
This year's obsessive song was Richard Thompson's '52 Vincent Black Lightning. Also, I suddenly listen to Sigur Ros a lot, and Hoppipolla is a delightful song :)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder? Sort of? Very tired and stressed, which usually translates as not particularly joyful.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same.
iii. richer or poorer? More in debt!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Being outgoing, and inviting friends over for dinner/tea/whatever.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Nothing much, really. I think this year was a good balance.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Cold, mildly bored, kind of blah. Family Christmas is unbelievably dull.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
hahahahaha!
24. What was your favorite TV program?
SHERLOCK. Followed closely by Doctor Who. Stephen Moffat is like unto a god.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I'm getting damn close with above ex-friend, and with my ex-flatmate. In general, I think I have less patience with people. I am not sure this is a bad thing.
26. What was the best book you read?
Uh. Um. I'm reading the report on the Spitalfields excavations in the 80's and absolutely loving it?
27. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Richard Thompson, Sigur Ros, Pat Metheny, Butch Ross.
28. What did you want and get?
To work at Nantgarw. To get a good flatmate who doesn't drive me crazy. To get a respectable overall mark for second year :) To get to go to Hay Festival!
29. What did you want and not get?
I don't think there was much I really, deeply desired -- see above about being kind of drained :)
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I finally saw "Let the Right One In" and OH MY GOD so good! so, so good!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 28, and honest to God, I cannot remember. I really can't. I must have gone out for a drink with friends? Maybe?
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not being on the course, frankly. I'll be good at what I do when I graduate, but this is not fun.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Very 1950's/early60's-flavoured. Lots of skirts and dresses, suddenly, and I'm staring to play with kind of a 20's look.
34. What kept you sane?
Rugby, knitting, friends, countless cups of tea, spending five days lying in the sunshine in Hay-on-Wye!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tommy Bowe is once again this year's recipient of the Lee Byrne Memorial 'I'd shag them' award. Honourable mentions go to Benedict Cumberbatch, most of the French rugby team, and Alun Wyn Jones.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Student fees and teaching cuts, and the LibLab coalition.
37. Who did you miss?
Emily while she travelled. Lots of Gazela people. A certain mildly-insane family some hours south of here :)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the Archaeology grads I now hang out with, and make eggnog for!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
You begin to reflect that which you surround yourself with.