Me: So what did your mum get for Christmas?
Small child: Perfume
Me: And how about your dad?
Small child: Oh, he got bum cream
Me: ………. bun cream?
Small child: No! Bum cream!
Me: ……….
Small child: He puts it on his bum when he rides his bike so it doesn’t hurt
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Lived alone, turned thirty, lost two and a half stone.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, last year was declared the Year of Decisiveness because I has gotten into a cycle of spending endless, torturous hours debating every decision I ever had to make. It didn’t matter whether it was as small and inconsequential as where to go out for dinner, or as huge as ending relationship. I would mull over all conceivable consequences and then, well, freak the fuck out over not knowing which option was best.
I wasn’t always like that. I used to be a risk taker and get accused of never thinking things through. I’ve made some mistakes along the way which resulted in me swinging to the other extreme. So this year was all about finding the middle ground and trusting myself to make the best decisions I can. It took till about August to get into the swing of things but right now if you were to ask me what I wanted to eat I’d say Chinese. Definitely Chinese. Or Pizza. Or maybe a curry. Fuck it, lets toss a coin. A three sided coin.
I have declared 2010 the Year of Driving. So I’d better start by learning to, er, drive.
Other things I’d like to do:
- Achieve a better work/life balance
- Complete the national SENCO accreditation course
- Get to a healthy BMI
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Amy and Mike gave birth to the beautiful Sophia. Congratulations again.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Luckily, no
5. What countries did you visit?
I went France in April and The Czech Republic and Hungary in the summer. All thanks to some great friends who arranged for me to be put up so that I could get away, despite being poverty stricken. A thousand thank yous xx
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More visits with family and friends who are scattered all around the country.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can’t even remember my phone number so there is no way I can remember specific dates.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This question makes me feel like a massive underachiever. Hmmmm. I officially completed my NQT year in January. Survived Jan to Aug and …errrr…. became a brunette. Wow. That is totally shameful.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Ha ha. Do you want to start with the relationship (although technically that ended in 2008) bank account or the being a real grown up and living alone?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Whilst on holiday in Budapest I was struck down by some horrible bug. Some people have suggested it was swine flu but I’m not sure about that. What I am sure of is that it resulted on me lying face down in a stranger’s hallway, trying to press my eyeballs into a cold marble floor in an effort to soothe the worst headache I have ever had in my life. Not sure I’ll be getting an invite back to Budapest in a hurry. On the plus side I also lost more than half a stone from other side effects.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A plain ticket to Prague.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I don’t remember his name but that young student who donated his sizable reward for giving evidence in a rape case to the victim.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Hmmm. I’ve indulged in some regrettable drunken behaviour. But then that happens every year
14. Where did most of your money go?
For most of the year it went on rent, council tax and bills so that I could live in a damp, mouse infested, noise polluted, one bedroom flat. In fact so much money went on it that at several points I ate nothing but pasta and tinned tomatoes for almost 2 weeks (at least I could pretend I was an 18 year old student again. A student with crow’s feet)
15. What did you get really excited about?
Oh gosh lots of things.
-The two trips I took abroad because travelling is still my absolute favourite thing to do.
-Seeing my nephew grow from baby to a toddler and develop an absolutely corking personality.
-Hearing the gossip as Lauren and Lucy fell in love (with two boys, not each other. Which is shame because now I now I might have to buy two wedding presents)
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. It seems to have been EVERYWHERE this year yet, somehow, I still like it
And Death by White Lies. I used to walk home to this and imagine I was in the closing credits of a John Hughes movie because, well, it sounded like something that would be at the end of a John Hughes movie. Then John Hughes died and I was sad. The end.
And this has not been off my iPod for the last few months. Beyoootiful.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? way happier
– thinner or fatter? way thinner
– richer or poorer? way richer (well, not richer but definitely financially sorted)
This time last year I was absolutely miserable, living in a flat with a very recent ex and wondering how the hell I was going to afford to move out. Apparently I tried to make myself feel better by eating 2 stones worth of chocolate (it didn’t work). What a difference a year makes.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Dancing
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. It never solves anything.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent a great week and a half in London with my sister, her husband Lee and my very cute nineteen month old nephew Jed.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No. And that is most definitely a good thing.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
From January to August I didn’t have a TV. I would like to claim that this is because I am all intellectual and high brow and that but really it was really because I couldn’t get reception in my shitty flat.
Since then, in celebration of being able to stare at a magic box with moving people in it, I have watched a lot of crap. There has been nothing that’s made me refuse a night out but have to admit to getting sucked into X-factor again.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. Peace and luuuuuuuuurve to all.
24. What was the best book you read?
The Vagrants by Yiyun Li. Just gorgeously written
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Danielle Ate the Sandwich. She is a thousand shades of amazing. See! You can download her stuff from itunes.
26. What did you want and get?
To spend some time with Jed.
27. What did you want and not get?
Can’t think of anything. Rich beyond my wildest dreams would have been nice.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
500 days of Summer. Great dialogue, great soundtrack, truthful, funny and has Joseph Gordon Levitt in it.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Oh dear. I turned 30 in April and have to say I didn’t handle it well. My best friends did an incredible job of making it great. They got me 30 really thoughtful presents and took me to the Body Worlds exhibition. But on the eve of the big day I ungratefully face planted into the sofa, bum in the air, face in cushion and cried (and I NEVER cry in front of people). So instead of going indie dancing in Camden we stayed in and sang Karaoke. Luckily by the next day I had come to my senses and we went out and got drunk on cocktails.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Ummmm. Bread.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I have worn a lot more dresses and fewer pairs of jeans. This is less to do with me developing any sense of style and more to do with the fact that as I lost weight my trousers fell down to my ankles. The dresses still fit if I belt them in the right place.
32. What kept you sane?
My iPod
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Keanu Reeves of course. I am nothing if not loyal. Some would say predictable but I prefer loyal.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably the criticism of the NHS, drummed up during the debates about American health care reform. I strongly believe that one of the best things about the UK is that everyone can access good quality health care regardless of income.
35. Who did you miss?
My friends and family. Very few of whom live in Hull.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve been really lucky to work with some fab people this year. Emma and Sue have made this year at work so much fun! Thank you so much.
I’ve also got some new housemates, Ben and Kelly, who I hope to get to know better this year,
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
One that I have learned before but always seem to forget in the middle of a crisis. The bad times don’t last forever, you just need to get your head down and fight your way through them.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There are lots of lyrics that I’ve loved but none I can think of that sum up my whole year. This comes fairly close.
“It’s true I have my regrets, we never danced on rooftops
And I have found some fake words to say when a stranger asks about our death
It won’t be long before I
Forget just what it felt like
To know that I did not know anything”
