Year's End, 2012

Another year, another questionnaire...

This one is copied from Kath at Blurb From The Burbs, with thanks.


1.What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Broke a bone.


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any last year. Will be making some this year (will post them separately).


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My sister had her beautiful second baby, a daughter, this month.


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. My aunt passed away earlier this year, which was a shock to us all. I still can't quite believe it.


5. What countries did you visit?
Greece.


6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A laundry, but I won't have it in 2013 either.


7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
10 June - my aunt passed away. Two days before I travelled up to the NSW Central Coast with my dad to bring my grandfather down to see her, and we didn't make it back in time. It was a very difficult time.

18 June - we arrived in Greece and I broke my arm.

10 December - my niece was born.

25 December - Christmas - lovely this year.



8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Changing my job, working style and personal equilibrium (small part achievement, greater part luck).


9. What was your biggest failure?
Sorry to be boring, but failing to lose weight.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, I broke my arm. A bad spiral fracture in June that ended up needing surgery, and is still not fully healed.


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Time off, and tickets to Greece - both with my redundancy money.


12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I was very proud of A, who had a difficult year at school. Starting Grade 1 without any friends in her class, she was anxious and upset for much of the first half of the year, but gradually turned it around. I heard her a few times giving herself a pep talk or talking herself out of being sad or worried, and she learned to approach new people and join in their games. I was very, very proud of her.


13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mine - couple of times while my arm was broken I cried/got tantrumy in front of the kids.


14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage; financing a few months off work; overseas holiday.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to Greece. My first trip overseas in more than ten years, first time back in Greece since 2000, Y's first time back since 2003, and the girls' first overseas trip and first time meeting their Greek relatives. I was excited and very nervous/worried. But I needn't have worried, it was all wonderful.


16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
What else: Gangnam Style!


17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
(a) Happier
(b) Fatter
(c) Poorer
What a funny correlation.


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercise


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry


20. How will you spend New Year's Eve?
At home, in front of the TV or reading a book. Excellent!


21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Nah, I'm married!


22. What was your favourite TV program?
Homeland.


23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. Who hates?


24. What was the best book you read?
Traffic: Why we drive the way we do and what it says about us by Tom Vanderbilt. Fascinating.


25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Adele. Yep, I know I'm a year or so behind.


26. What did you want and get?
Part-time work!


27. What did you want and not get?
An extension and a spruced-up deck.


28. What was your favourite film of this year?
You know, I quite liked Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
On my actual birthday, home with Y and the kids. A few days later, dinner out with a couple of friends. Both lovely. I'm now 43. *sobs quietly*


30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Part-time work.


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Expedient.


32. What kept you sane?
Part-time work.


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well, there was something about Damian Lewis in Homeland...


34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Syria. WTF.
Gay marriage. Just legalise it already.


35. Who did you miss?
My aunt. Even though we didn't see her often, I loved her and she was a big personality and I still can't believe she's gone.


36. Who was the best new person you met?
This one stumps me. I don't know. Did I not meet any new people all year? I guess it's possible.


37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Global roaming really is very, very expensive. Set your phone to wifi only when overseas. Learned this one the hard way...


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I love that famous song about the woman who switches to part-time work, goes to Greece and breaks her arm, learns to relax and take things slower, wishes she had more money, and watches her kids grow into pre-tweens. What's it called again...?