2016 evalution questionnaire
From the same LJ-meme I did this time in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
As strange as it might sound: change jobs on my own volition. Pretty much all of my other job-changes were started due to special situations and circumstances (family death, redundancy, failing company, moving overseas), and voluntarily leaving Aussie Disposals due to nothing else but my own volition as a first.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes, I kept my New Years resolution, and as usual, will only be making one for next year. *
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, I'm an uncle again. :D
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year, thankfully. *
5. What countries did you visit?
Ready? .......none. Stayed in this one all year. Yeah, big change from the usual. *
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Financial security. Thankfully a new job that pays decently half-way through the year started me off on that particular road, but next year I hope to better consolidate things.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
11 March, when I got my head shaved for the first time in my life....all that luscious hair, gone! And 11 May, my final day at the previous job. A shame, as things started there so well, but damn I was glad to walk out of there for the last time that day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Actually finding a job with a company that seems to appreciate me and my job-skills. See a pattern here?
9. What was your biggest failure?
I think this year has been pretty damn successful, considering. I can't think of any one, devastating failure, to be honest. *
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fucking hayfever. A nasty bout of thunderstorm asthma later this year certainly didn't help either.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Building a brand new computer system for personal use, the first rig I'd built in over a decade (using just laptops while I was living in the UK). It was great to hunt down parts, get the hands dirty (so to speak) and turn it on for the first time. :D
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
No one I can immediately think of: with all the highs and lows of my particular life currently, I wouldn't single mine out specifically for praise. *
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Like I'd name anyone for such in a journal. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
Further establishing myself in Australia. With the old job, I was just keeping my head above water. The new job and better income meant I was able to deal with more, put more away and be slightly more financially comfortable (earning more also meant I was spending more to do so, if that makes sense).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
No one big thing this year, to be honest. Just a few small victories and experiences to keep me going.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
D.D Dumbo's "Satan".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Difficult to say: re-adjusting to life in Australia hasn't been as easy as I thought, but that hasn't made me any sadder. *
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably fatter: comfort eating for the first half of the year, a new job that mostly has me sitting down, and a lack of exercise and travelling to combat a slightly-wider waistline. *
iii. richer or poorer? Eventually richer. Still in a badly-paid job in the first half of the year wasn't helping, but switching to a far-better paid job halfway through the year and being able to recover financially certainly helped things.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, of course! It's an addiction! There's never enough time to go and see everything you want to! *
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Second-guess myself. A few situations this year would not have been as difficult if I'd just followed my instincts more. *
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family. Still trying to get used to a warm Xmas again, though. *
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
No. *
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Australian terrestrial TV isn't nearly on the same level as European TV, so I tend to watch a lot more imported TV than I used to on ABC and SBS (it's getting to the point I can't stand the shrill drek Australian commercial television dishes out), and relying still on downloads. Mostly "Game of Thrones", "Doctor Who", "QI" as usual, "Catastrophe", and new series "Westworld" and "Spotless".
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. *
26. What was the best book you read?
Sad as it is to say, nothing really sticks in my memory: I appear to be listening to far more music in my down-time than I am reading this year. *
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not so much a 'what' as a 'group of whom': I've been catching up with far more Australian local music talent you just don't get to hear in Europe, mostly from JJJ radio. *
28. What did you want and get?
As silly as it sounds, I bought a new washing machine just recently, the very first time I've bought a brand new one! The old one (second-hand, naturally) has been steadily grinding its way into oblivion to the point I never know - by the noise it's making - if that load is its last one. At least this one is programmable, and is highly rated for energy- and water-consumption.
29. What did you want and not get?
Meh, too much to ramble on about here again; scroll back through my journal and you'll get an idea. *
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Two films: Star Wars VII and The Hateful 8. Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Kung Fu Panda 3, Star Trek Beyond also rate a mention (Hail Caesar!, X-Men: Apocolypse and Suicide Squad were disappointing). Looking forward to see Star Wars: Rogue One early next year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Back to travelling, for a change, even though it was within the same country. With a week between finishing the old job and starting the new one, I was interstate in Sydney this year, turning 37.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Besides one or two things, I've had a pretty good year this year, compared to most. *
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Pretty much boringly practical, with no travel, and a work shirt. Not even the kilt saw the light of day, although the leather pants did get out once. *
34. What kept you sane?
Steady work (in the last half of the year at least), and my family to distract me when the former got too engrossing.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really, they were too busy dying this year. I know people die every year - that's nature - but 2016 was a shocking year for it! David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Terry Wogan, Umberto Eco and Harper Lee (both on the same day!), Prince, Muhammad Ali, Anton Yelchin, Gene Wilder, Leonard Cohen, Robert Vaughn, Andrew Sachs, Fidel Castro, George Michael and Carrie Fisher. Jesus, 2016! o_O
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Australia's "new" PM went the way of the others Australia tends to eventually ditch: starting with a swell of hope after getting rid of the last hopeless clod, only to sink dismally with more political indecision and dithering (barely winning a double-dissolution election, which made the cross-bench more hostile to him, hardly a victory). Internationally, this year saw Iran and Cuba re-join the international community, ISIL finally having the fight brought to it with attacks regaining land in eastern Syria and northern Iraq, but continuing bombings on Brussels and Istanbul (and claiming the deaths for trucks driven into crowds in Nice and Berlin); Britain voted for Brexit (why?!); the Mossack Fonseca papers leak revealing offshore funds for all sorts of people; North Korea being even more reckless than usual with nuclear missile testing; China and the US, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both ratified the Paris global climate agreement; and the punch in the face that was the outcome of the least-dignified US presidential election I've ever seen.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my Australian family and friends, who I've slowly been catching up with since I arrived back in the country late last year. But that doesn't mean I don't think about all my British and European friends I left behind: I've missed you all! *
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a few new people this year, I don't want them to regret doing so if I rank them here! *
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
I could have stayed in a dead-end job, with shit pay and other detractors, and stubbornly put up with it....like I have in other jobs. But this time I saw something better and had the guts to go for it, and it actually paid off, to my complete surprise.
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2016 began?
A quiet intro to the year, watching fireworks off my balcony at home with the TV and a glass of claret as company.
41. Where will you be when 2016 ends?
Yet to be decided. Anyone doing anything they wouldn't mind me gate-crashing? Left it too late again this year. :)
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2016?
Not really. *
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2016?
Not really. *
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2016?
Heh, now that would be telling. ;) *
45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Not that I can recall. *
46. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2016?
"What accent? You sound Australian."
47. How much money did you spend in 2016?
Pinching my pennies in the first half of the year nearly had me as careful as last year. But then a better-paying job allowed me to spend a little more, so definitely more than last year. I'm having to spend more (expenses, one-off things I need for the new job) to earn more too, but most of that I can claim off tax in the middle of year. :)
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2016 and change something, what would it be?
I'm fairly happy with the way this year went, nothing really much I can think to change! *
49. What are your plans for 2017?
Nothing much, for a change, as I continue to settle down in Australia. *
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I pray for everyone, as a godless sapien / As the zoo impounds us all.
They don't eat people, they don't watch TV / or worship Satan, or read astrology."
This entry was originally posted at http://mnemonia.dreamwidth.org/346328.html. Comments may be left on either entry.
NOTE: Those answers marked with an asterisk have not changed since last year.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
As strange as it might sound: change jobs on my own volition. Pretty much all of my other job-changes were started due to special situations and circumstances (family death, redundancy, failing company, moving overseas), and voluntarily leaving Aussie Disposals due to nothing else but my own volition as a first.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes, I kept my New Years resolution, and as usual, will only be making one for next year. *
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, I'm an uncle again. :D
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year, thankfully. *
5. What countries did you visit?
Ready? .......none. Stayed in this one all year. Yeah, big change from the usual. *
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Financial security. Thankfully a new job that pays decently half-way through the year started me off on that particular road, but next year I hope to better consolidate things.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
11 March, when I got my head shaved for the first time in my life....all that luscious hair, gone! And 11 May, my final day at the previous job. A shame, as things started there so well, but damn I was glad to walk out of there for the last time that day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Actually finding a job with a company that seems to appreciate me and my job-skills. See a pattern here?
9. What was your biggest failure?
I think this year has been pretty damn successful, considering. I can't think of any one, devastating failure, to be honest. *
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fucking hayfever. A nasty bout of thunderstorm asthma later this year certainly didn't help either.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Building a brand new computer system for personal use, the first rig I'd built in over a decade (using just laptops while I was living in the UK). It was great to hunt down parts, get the hands dirty (so to speak) and turn it on for the first time. :D
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
No one I can immediately think of: with all the highs and lows of my particular life currently, I wouldn't single mine out specifically for praise. *
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Like I'd name anyone for such in a journal. ;) *
14. Where did most of your money go?
Further establishing myself in Australia. With the old job, I was just keeping my head above water. The new job and better income meant I was able to deal with more, put more away and be slightly more financially comfortable (earning more also meant I was spending more to do so, if that makes sense).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
No one big thing this year, to be honest. Just a few small victories and experiences to keep me going.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
D.D Dumbo's "Satan".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Difficult to say: re-adjusting to life in Australia hasn't been as easy as I thought, but that hasn't made me any sadder. *
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably fatter: comfort eating for the first half of the year, a new job that mostly has me sitting down, and a lack of exercise and travelling to combat a slightly-wider waistline. *
iii. richer or poorer? Eventually richer. Still in a badly-paid job in the first half of the year wasn't helping, but switching to a far-better paid job halfway through the year and being able to recover financially certainly helped things.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, of course! It's an addiction! There's never enough time to go and see everything you want to! *
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Second-guess myself. A few situations this year would not have been as difficult if I'd just followed my instincts more. *
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family. Still trying to get used to a warm Xmas again, though. *
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
No. *
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Australian terrestrial TV isn't nearly on the same level as European TV, so I tend to watch a lot more imported TV than I used to on ABC and SBS (it's getting to the point I can't stand the shrill drek Australian commercial television dishes out), and relying still on downloads. Mostly "Game of Thrones", "Doctor Who", "QI" as usual, "Catastrophe", and new series "Westworld" and "Spotless".
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. *
26. What was the best book you read?
Sad as it is to say, nothing really sticks in my memory: I appear to be listening to far more music in my down-time than I am reading this year. *
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not so much a 'what' as a 'group of whom': I've been catching up with far more Australian local music talent you just don't get to hear in Europe, mostly from JJJ radio. *
28. What did you want and get?
As silly as it sounds, I bought a new washing machine just recently, the very first time I've bought a brand new one! The old one (second-hand, naturally) has been steadily grinding its way into oblivion to the point I never know - by the noise it's making - if that load is its last one. At least this one is programmable, and is highly rated for energy- and water-consumption.
29. What did you want and not get?
Meh, too much to ramble on about here again; scroll back through my journal and you'll get an idea. *
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Two films: Star Wars VII and The Hateful 8. Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Kung Fu Panda 3, Star Trek Beyond also rate a mention (Hail Caesar!, X-Men: Apocolypse and Suicide Squad were disappointing). Looking forward to see Star Wars: Rogue One early next year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Back to travelling, for a change, even though it was within the same country. With a week between finishing the old job and starting the new one, I was interstate in Sydney this year, turning 37.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Besides one or two things, I've had a pretty good year this year, compared to most. *
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Pretty much boringly practical, with no travel, and a work shirt. Not even the kilt saw the light of day, although the leather pants did get out once. *
34. What kept you sane?
Steady work (in the last half of the year at least), and my family to distract me when the former got too engrossing.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really, they were too busy dying this year. I know people die every year - that's nature - but 2016 was a shocking year for it! David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Terry Wogan, Umberto Eco and Harper Lee (both on the same day!), Prince, Muhammad Ali, Anton Yelchin, Gene Wilder, Leonard Cohen, Robert Vaughn, Andrew Sachs, Fidel Castro, George Michael and Carrie Fisher. Jesus, 2016! o_O
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Australia's "new" PM went the way of the others Australia tends to eventually ditch: starting with a swell of hope after getting rid of the last hopeless clod, only to sink dismally with more political indecision and dithering (barely winning a double-dissolution election, which made the cross-bench more hostile to him, hardly a victory). Internationally, this year saw Iran and Cuba re-join the international community, ISIL finally having the fight brought to it with attacks regaining land in eastern Syria and northern Iraq, but continuing bombings on Brussels and Istanbul (and claiming the deaths for trucks driven into crowds in Nice and Berlin); Britain voted for Brexit (why?!); the Mossack Fonseca papers leak revealing offshore funds for all sorts of people; North Korea being even more reckless than usual with nuclear missile testing; China and the US, together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions, both ratified the Paris global climate agreement; and the punch in the face that was the outcome of the least-dignified US presidential election I've ever seen.
37. Who did you miss?
Mostly my Australian family and friends, who I've slowly been catching up with since I arrived back in the country late last year. But that doesn't mean I don't think about all my British and European friends I left behind: I've missed you all! *
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a few new people this year, I don't want them to regret doing so if I rank them here! *
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
I could have stayed in a dead-end job, with shit pay and other detractors, and stubbornly put up with it....like I have in other jobs. But this time I saw something better and had the guts to go for it, and it actually paid off, to my complete surprise.
40. Where were you and who were you with when 2016 began?
A quiet intro to the year, watching fireworks off my balcony at home with the TV and a glass of claret as company.
41. Where will you be when 2016 ends?
Yet to be decided. Anyone doing anything they wouldn't mind me gate-crashing? Left it too late again this year. :)
42. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2016?
Not really. *
43. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2016?
Not really. *
44. How many people did you sleep with in 2016?
Heh, now that would be telling. ;) *
45. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Not that I can recall. *
46. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2016?
"What accent? You sound Australian."
47. How much money did you spend in 2016?
Pinching my pennies in the first half of the year nearly had me as careful as last year. But then a better-paying job allowed me to spend a little more, so definitely more than last year. I'm having to spend more (expenses, one-off things I need for the new job) to earn more too, but most of that I can claim off tax in the middle of year. :)
48. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2016 and change something, what would it be?
I'm fairly happy with the way this year went, nothing really much I can think to change! *
49. What are your plans for 2017?
Nothing much, for a change, as I continue to settle down in Australia. *
50. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I pray for everyone, as a godless sapien / As the zoo impounds us all.
They don't eat people, they don't watch TV / or worship Satan, or read astrology."
This entry was originally posted at http://mnemonia.dreamwidth.org/346328.html. Comments may be left on either entry.