(no subject)
Where did you begin 2011?
Can't remember. Which probably means at home, not doing a great deal, with Val, the telly and the computer.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
- Lose weight.
Annoyingly, I put on during 2011, thanks to driving to work instead of cycling (and too much takeaway), but that what I put on over the rest of the year, I've dropped off during the autumn.
- Spend more time in the gym and at Slimming World meetings.
I cancelled the gym, but did start a swimming habit, which has stalled again. I have, however, been going to Slimming World regular since October.
- Cut more sugar out of the diet, as the diabetes will fuck me up properly if I don't.
I've not had any alcohol since mid-October, so that's a big source of sugar gone away, right there.
- Learn more IT stuff.
Yeah. Did that. Got back into coding, and learned a lot from those who's code I'm now working on.
- Finish decorating the house and sort out the garden.
Partial success. We've started working on the house again, after a year of fail, but aren't done yet. Garden hasn't been touched.
- Do more painting, selling, and playing with toy soldiers.
Yes, yes, and just about.
I think I'll keep the same ones for 2012.
What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Quite a lot of job related things.
Got married.
Ended up in hospital being operated on. And then ended up in hospital with an infected wound.
Visited Whitby and Cornwall.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. I met Dunk a couple of times, but wasn't close to him.
What countries did you visit?
England.
What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Fitness. A fully decorated house. More discipline. A sensible night's sleep.
What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
14th May. Got married.
(There's an Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio song, 'When We Murdered the World on the 14th of May', which makes it an easy date to remember. Which is important, as we both forgot our anniversary in 2010.)
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting married.
What was your biggest failure?
Not doing more exercise.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Testicular cancer. The follow-up monitoring they're doing has given me the all clear though.
Sleep apnoea. Stopping breathing when you're asleep. Buggers up your REM sleep and leaves you feeling broken. Only way to fix it is to lose weight...
What was the best thing you bought?
Wedding ring.
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Val. Parental units. Rob Lane for giving me a job. Anyone who contributed to the wedding.
Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
People on the roads, in vehicles, on bikes and on foot. The clowns who rioted. An individual who goes by the name of Moist.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, bills, keeping the car on the road, toy soldiers, getting married.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Excitement is very difficult to generate when you're knackered all the time...
What song will always remind you of 2011?
Foo Fighters - Everlong. (Used as part of the wedding ceremony.)
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i - happier or sadder?
I'm in a very good place in terms of living arrangement, job and relationship, and my finances are nice and stable. But, I'm battered to hell by the sleep apnoea, which knackers up my energy and my happiness.
ii - thinner or fatter?
About the same. I put on a load over 2011, but then started on the dieting again with a bit more seriousness, and taken it back off.
iii - richer or poorer?
Richer, by virtue of a years worth of mortgage repayments.
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Painting, decorating, the garden, exercise, gigs, selling spare possessions, spending time with friends, being intoxicated.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating. Feeling rotten cos I've not slept properly.
How will you be spending Christmas?
In Macc, with t'wife, me mum and the brother.
Did you treat somebody badly in 2011?
Don't think so. Maybe Stu at work. But that's just for comedy value.
Did somebody treat you badly in 2011?
Nope.
Did you fall in love in 2011?
Nope.
How many one night stands?
Nope.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
Who did you miss?
Didn't have the energy to miss people.
What was your favourite TV programme?
We watch a lot of telly, but I'm really not sure what I'd say was a specific favorite.
Did anyone close to you get married?
Val.
What was the best book you read?
Probably a Horus Heresy book (one of Games Workshop's lines). I've always had a book on the go, but I can't remember which ones I did read...
What was your greatest musical discovery of 2011?
I listened to very little new material in 2011. So I'll say Django Reinhardt. Or at least the bits that were used in Bioshock.
What did you want and get?
Married. A new job.
What did you want and not get?
Thinner. Fitter.
What was your favourite film of this year?
No idea. We watched plenty of films, but mostly from DVD or ones that happened to be on telly, not that many new ones.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Not a lot. Took the bulk of the week off work. Went up to Macc to see me mum and brother. Didn't have any alcohol at all. 36.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better sleeps.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Sarcastic.
(Black, sarcastic or random tshirt, olive hiking trouser or black shorts, black trainers. Band hoodie and/or army surplus coat depending on weather.)
What kept you sane?
Val.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Rachel Weisz, Dawn French, Kelly Brook, Tamaryn Payne. Ron Killings.
What political issue stirred you the most?
Toss up between the riots and the Occupy lot.
Who was the best new person you met?
Wasn't a big year for meeting new folk. The staff at the new job, I already mostly knew from being a customer.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Carrying too much weight will catch up with you as time goes on.
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
If you can understand the lyrics, it's not proper music.
What gigs did you go to this year?
Sonisphere.
Flogging Molly (Notts).
Nile/Melechesh/Dew Scented (Derby).
earthtone9/The Ocean/Maybeshewill (Birmingham).
earthtone9 (Manchester).
Twightlight's Embrace (Nottingham).
Mick Foley (Nottingham).
(I managed to pass on Bad Shepherds, Kyuss Lives, more earthtone and Damnation thanks to the sleep thing.)
Best gig of the year?
earthtone9 in Birmingham.
Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Me mum. I dislike phones in general, but that's my main way to communicate with my mum.
Biggest question of the year?
"Do you take this woman to be your awful wedded wife?"