2010 Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Ate Chestnuts roasted on an open barbecue *ahem* flame,

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I seriously cannot remember my resolutions for 2010. I don’t think I actually had any. I don’t want to make any formal resolutions for 2011, then feel a sense of epic fail when I don’t keep them, instead I’m making a list of things I will try to do/be better at (more thoughts on that in a later post).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes my sister-in- law gave birth to my gorgeous niece in January and in October my cousin gave birth to her 3rd child Euan.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No but this year it seemed that a lot of my close friends lost someone.

5. What countries did you visit?
I mostly travelled around within England this year

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
focus towards future stability (to feel less like an eternal teenager while all my friends ‘grow-up’)

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
18th January My niece was born
3rd July Yen (and the hubster’s) wedding-the wedding was beautiful, meaningful and simply perfect. There was practically everybody I loved in the same room, and me running around like a kid in a sweetshop MADE OF FRIENDS;

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This year has been one of little victories rather than big achievements

9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing major but I wish I’d taken up an opportunity to explore a bit more of the world (although I didn’t because of very sensible ‘grown-up’ decisions).

10.Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Train tickets/petrol money to visit friends

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The older siblings of the babies mentioned in my answer to question three. Little Man, my nephew, despite initially being a little unsure about the idea of having to share mummy “forever” now loves being a big brother (and the adulation he gets from aforementioned baby sister). Similarly the twins, baby Euan’s siblings, have adjusted very well to their new arrival. A whilst very proud to be a big brother to his new playmate, lost some interest once he realized Euan couldn’t play cars with him yet. Twin sister E however, whilst initially unsure about having another brother, soon realised she had a supportive role to play in helping to keep baby happy and shower with kisses!

13. Whose behaviour made you depressed?
A lot of the things I read about in the newspapers. Not sure I’d say depressed but I was certainly perturbed by Julian Assange’s. Good intentions on paper, strange egotistic execution.

14. Where did most of your money go?
It never leaves a note. If I were to hazard a guess …this curious business of living, I reckon

15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
My niece’s birth, my wonderful nephews 3rd birthday.
Yen’s wedding
Lots of visits and visiting- my social life keeps me sane

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i.happier or sadder? Happier (last year was ‘the- year -which –shall- not- be- named’)
ii.thinner or fatter? thinner
iii.richer or poorer? Poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Taken more pictures and written more down

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
fretting and its nasty little synonyms

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas day was spent at my aunt & uncles house with the family.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? Tan

22. Did you fall in love in 2010? no

23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
New in 2010 favourites included Sherlock, Downton Abbey, & Glee. Oh and Misfits- yes I know late to the party but better late than never ey? I also thought Matt Smith made an excellent Eleventh Doctor

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. I try not to hate anyone

26. What was the best book you read?
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer- thanks Rach

27. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
Mumford & Sons, Cee Lo Green and a beautiful musician called Kerri Arista

28. What did you want and get?
opportunities to spend time with the people (family and friends) I love most in the world

29. What did you want and not get?
to be at least a little further on the Planning My Future aspect of things

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
I didn’t get to the cinema much this year but I enjoyed ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1’ and saw it twice in the same day which I think makes up for my lack of attendance at other times.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I had a lovely weekend of celebrations including a tea party with friends and a birthday meal with family

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I seem to give this answer a lot but it’s still true- having my nearest and dearest a little nearer in geographic terms

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Layers as a wise friend pointed out to me it’s all about the layers. Tres fashoinable for the snowseason don’t’cha know!’
During the heavy snowfall at both the beginning and end of this year I have abandoned all hope of glamour and sophistication in an attempt to not catch hypothermia.

34. What kept you sane?
The immeasurable support of my friends and family. Oh also tea, wine and chocolate.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least in 2010?
The usual suspects, can’t think of any 2010 specific crushes off the top of my head although Eoin Macken /Gwaine (I still want to type Gawain) in ‘Merlin’ wasn’t too difficult on the eye.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Liberal Democrats’ magnificent political u-turn, also a host of cuts to public services and the effect that will have on my friends is enough to make me want to rage.

37. Whom did you miss?
my grandparents

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My coffee morning conspirator (and fellow new pcc-er) J. I technically already knew her as an acquaintance but got to know her as a friend this year.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Adulthood is not a prize to be conferred for being a good child; it’s not a merit badge to be earned once and then you can coast forever. It’s a process that never ends…something I knew in theory but seem to keep being reminded of.

40. Sum up the year in a song lyric/quote:
“Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen." - Conan O'Brian