For many years I have done the end of year meme on LiveJournal about how the past year went. This year that meme has been promoted to the blog as I slowly let me LJ wither and die. Here is my review of 2011 in the form of the same 40 questions I have answered year in, year out for the past decade or so.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I commentated on a live football match for radio. That has to be up there. I went and stayed in a hotel on my own for the first time too. Also y’know interviewed the Deputy Prime Minister. That was pretty cool.
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never do I’m afraid.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. Several people who I used to go to school with from my old social group have got their partners pregnant but no-one close to me any more has given birth.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Happily not.
5. What countries did you visit?
I stayed in the UK for the whole of 2011.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Good question. As 2011 continued I became more content with how life was playing out. There are obvious things that don’t need pointing out here that would be good but things are good. Possibly some more travel and good times.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don’t think I have one. The two major moments of 2011 were the radio thing and Nick Clegg but I can’t recall the date of either of these events off hand. Early August and mid-September.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving it? I suspect in all honesty my biggest achievement was being nominated for Blog Post and Blog of the Year by Lib Dem Voice.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I can’t think of anything I set out to do that I failed at. I suppose there are many small things but nothing major.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Apart from a cold and a quite nasty infection that has still left me with blurred vision is one eye then no. Although that is quite major.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I don’t think I bought anything that amazing or life changing in the whole of 2011. I am a saver not a spender. If I buy something it is likely to be for need not want.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Most people that I know?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People that aren’t encompassed by my previous answer?
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, Tax. Boo.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Football commentary and Nick Clegg interview. Yes I think that is a fair answer to many of these questions. I had (and I’m not joking) about eight hours sleep in the three days I was in Birmingham for Lib Dem Conference.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Not sure there is one to be honest.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. Quite considerably so.
ii. thinner or fatter? Not sure. I’m fatter than I was in the summer. I suspect fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Believing in myself. Writing. Exploring more avenues for future happiness on both a professional and private front.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Opposite to the first answer above.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Alone. How I spend it every year.
21. How will you be spending New Year’s?
Alone. I actually was watching the Top Gear India Special when the calendar ticked over.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program(s)?
Two words. Masterchef. Australia. Boom.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. I don’t hate anyone.
26. What was the best book you read?
I think it was Buster Olney’s Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
No-one from 2011 has really made a huge impression on me musically speaking.
28. What did you want and get?
Not sure anything really falls into this category.
29. What did you want and not get?
A lottery win. A book publishing deal. Neither of these were terribly likely anyway.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I suppose Senna although not seen many films this year. I saw the original version of The Unforgiven which was good.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I was at my sister and brother-in-laws, she fed us well and we watched the British Grand Prix. Then I had a lovely three hour train ride home.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having a more positive influence on those around me.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Jogging bottoms and Jeans are locked in a long-time war for my affections. Jeans are slowly gaining the upper hand.
34. What kept you sane?
Who said I’m still sane? They only let me out of my straitjacket so I could write this. In all seriousness I keep myself sane. Not sure how but I do.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
In a huge upset Sophie Ellis Bextor will be named here. Zooey Deschanel is quite wonderful too. Scarlett Johansson has to be mentioned. So no real newcomers to the celebrity runners and riders here.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I have been caught up recently in my small voice media crusade but politically many issues stir me but few make my blood boil. My main gripe at the moment is how Labour are acting like they know better and won’t acknowledge or actively help the government. We are in a economic mess that needs to be cleaned up but they have very publicly washed their hands of it and are blaming everything on the government and the bankers. This I find pretty abhorrent.
37. Who did you miss?
I do miss certain people but life and people move on.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I have met some interesting people in the past year. The term ‘best’ troubles me but I think it would be remiss of me not to mention Matthew Gibson, who I think is very interesting and may very well be a very able voice for the Lib Dems in the future. Also Nu…
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Trust your instincts and don’t over-think everything.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Not sure there is one but ‘It’s my life, take it or leave it’ sums up my attitude towards the future.
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