6th Annual Year End Meme

[askygoneonfire]

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? Decided to go 'med-free' with the knowledge that I wasn't cured and it wouldn't be easy - that may sound silly but it was a big and scary step and continues to be a decision I strongly feel to be the right one. Also, long term financial planning, which of course led me right back to where I started in the East Midlands. Oh! and I did an exhibition for the first time (two in all this year!), although I didn't sell crap!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 
For 2010 I am hoping for a new job and direction. Done, but, as is a theme with these resolutions, not in the way I intended. Nonetheless, here we are.
By the end of the year I would also like to be living in a nicer flat or getting very close to moving out. Moved out, not to a flat, but my parents. It is nicer, so again, I guess that's a net win.
Ideally, I would also like a relationship - but not just any relationship, something really special. - this one, not so much. Not even a little bit actually.

For 2011 I resolve;
>To put myself out there and get dating again. It's getting to be an embarrassingly long time since I got close to someone and I don't want to let that side of myself atrophy to the extent I have to relearn it if I do ever meet someone.
>To make a career decision - be it stick with this job and do the qualification being offered to me on a plate or play a risker game for short term happiness/contentment. Either way, make the decision.
>Pay of the overdraft and save £2000 for the move-to-Brighton fund.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No

4. Did anyone close to you die? No

5. What countries did you visit? Again this year it is a depressing 'zero'

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? Intimacy and romance.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August the 7th was Brighton Pride and I got to be in the parade with THT and that was one hell of a kick.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? There's not a single thing that springs to mind, but getting myself about the country; moving house and visiting people, being off meds, splitting up with someone and remaining friends with them, and finally reading a reasonable amount of books - meaning my number 18 isn't what it has been the last 5 years!

9. What was your biggest failure? I guess not getting off my ass enough to actually find a new job, I tried but my heart wasn't in it - I just didn't believe a job was out there after a LOT of rejections.  So that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Stomach thing of DOOM

11. What was the best thing you bought? The rat boys! They gave me stability when I needed it and continue to be a source of much joy.  Also, my new tattoo! 

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? Becky, as always.  The student protestors who made an impression on the government and press.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? The Lib Dems.

14. Where did most of your money go? Drinking.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Seeing the Manics in December, although it was cancelled and then the one I did see wasn't so brilliant, so....I guess it was Pride!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Hey, Snow White by the New Pornographers.  For whatever reason I became obsessed with that song and listened to it incessantly for a while there.  Melancholy joy, I think that describes my connection with it/how I feel it could be categorised.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? Sadder
ii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Applying for jobs

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Sitting in silence.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? With parents and brothers and brother's girlfriend at my parents house; the site of every Christmas I have been alive to see barre 2. There'll be drinking and food and drinking and probably that vague dissatisfaction every Christmas Day afternoon brings.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010? No.

22. How many one-night stands? Just 1

23. What was your favourite TV program? Glee

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nobody springs to mind.

25. What was the best book you read? Time to link you to my 2010 Reading List!  My books per month got kinda screwed by Moby Dick and then life got away with me towards the end of the year but feel happier about actually getting stuff read this year.  Next year = more.  Anyway, best read this year is probably Moby Dick -books/month rate at least decreased for good reason.  It has captured my imagination and Ishmael has insinuated himself into my consciousness for life.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? In terms of 'bands that have existed forever' I guess it would be Bright Eyes who have become really important in how I listen to music, also, Dusty Springfield. In terms of 'reasonably current/I just heard them for the first time' it's Bombay Bicycle Club.

27. What did you want and get? Respite. From crushing financial difficulties and certain pressures of life in a city.

28. What did you want and not get? Love, financial security, a job I love/would have allowed me to stay in Brighton.

29. What was your favourite film of this year? Metropolis is probably the one which has had the greatest impact on me this year. Yes, I know it's from 1927 but as the re-release was this year, it definitely counts.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Inexplicably I was 26 (in my head I'm stuck as being 23) and I spent it in Brighton with a big group of friends drinking at Becky's, getting refused entry to a gay club because apparently we looked straight and then getting into the very same club where we danced the night away.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Confused. Or perhaps eccentric. All the usual culprits with the added enhancements of some vintage styles (40s and 50s). Also; out of place. Nobody dresses extravagantly up here.

34. What kept you sane? Leaving Brighton. Visits to Brighton.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Nicky WIre

36. What political issue stirred you the most? The top-up fees increase.

37. Who did you miss? Becky, Harley.

38. Who was the best new person you met? A friend of Becky's who came along to my birthday this year, and is also an Elizabeth, was a very welcome addition to my social circle.  

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010: Sometimes, running away is just running away, and not the clever change you think.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Pointless jobs just lead to pointless lives/Breaking up our bones, breaking up our minds