End of Year Survey 2019
As long as I keep these up my blog can stay, right? And it’s interesting to read old ones. So. I’ll be glad of them when I’m old and retired. 😄
Previously:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018
1. What did you do in 2019 that you’d never done before?
Finally do the entire South Downs Way, even tho I don’t live in the country anymore! I don’t know that I’ve done much else that’s remarkable. I did a lot of cycling (over 8000km, which is 2k more than last year), but I broke no records or anything. Oh, I guess I hosted a housesitter to look after my cats? She was great! And I got a colour tattoo, tho originally I said I never would. I think I also took out my first library book since uni. *cough*
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t make NY’s resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yeah, old Lux friend, tho we’re not that close these days.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my beloved Judith Kerr. 🙁 I had dreaded that for a long time (she was 96!), but it was still painful and sad.
5. What countries/cities did you visit?
Same as last year: I went to Paris once, and to Brighton once, and to France, Germany and Belgium all the time cuz I live in a tiny country now. *lol* Actually, I went to Brighton twice I think.
6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?
(Last year I wanted uninjured cats, and tho there were still some issues, they were much better than last year.) I don’t know. I would like to be living in Brighton again, but not in Britain as it is now. I’d like a gravel bike, but I basically just need to decide on which one to buy. I’d also like Achilles tendons and ankles and knees that allow me to run long distance again. But that is pretty unlikely.
7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The non-happening Brexit? The non-happening Brexit mark II? The disastrous general election? Nothing in my personal life.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Doing the SDW? Also standing up for myself in my job, demanding good pay rates and calling their bluff when they wanted to underpay me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I was meant to go to a volunteering training thing, and then cancelled. But my cat was injured. 😬
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Cysts and ankles and knees… *lol* Also a fair amount of headaches.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New PC? That’s the only big thing I bought, that I can remember. Not that exciting tho. Didn’t buy anything else of consequence.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Meh. Greta Thunberg? *lol*
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I repeat for the third (?) time: Oh my God. Half the fucking world. The entire British political class. All the idiots (yes, fucking idiots!) who voted Leave, and who voted for the orange fascist, and who are making the world a darker, crueller place. in addition to everyone who has made stupid decisions and voted evil people into power since.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Hm. I dunno! No big expenses. Probably just every day stuff like health insurance. *lol* I made good use of it tho!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Brighton trip and the SDW I guess?
16. What song will always remind you of 2019?
Probably none, but I listened to a lot of Billie Eilish and P!nk this year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you…
i. happier or sadder?
Same.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Fatter! I need to do sth about that.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer cuz the inheritance was finally resolved. (see “did anyone close to you die” in 2016!)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Listened to music! (which was also in last year’s list) Proper yoga instead of half-arsed yoga. Creative stuff? Maybe, but it’s okay if I’m not feeling it.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Play mindless iPhone games, listen to depressing news podcasts, eat chocolate. *lol* I’ve not said that in a while!
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Filling out this survey, apparently! I spent Xmas Eve with mum, aunt & uncle, and today I ran, cleaned the flat, fixed a puncture, did Duolingo Spanish, and various other things.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
Dunno, probably at home with my cats.
22. Did you fall in love in 2019?
Only with Saša Stanišić. Aw man, was that in 2018? I was gonna use that this year! 😂 No one then I guess.
23. How many one night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
I really liked Atypical on Netflix. The Good Place is also okay, I guess. But I preferred Atypical. Just finished the new Mrs Maisel and it was kinda… eh.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
Let me consult my oracle, er, logs. Oh! Zsuzsa Bank’s Die Hellen Tage. I gave that 5.5/5, haha. It really was quite extraordinary. I also gave 5/5 to:
Aravind Adiga – The White Tiger
Yann Martel – Beatrice and Virgil
Ali Smith – Winter (but not Spring)
Hanif Kureishi – Something To Tell You
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Billie Eilish, I guess. I know, I was late to the party. When the Party’s Over…. hehe.
28. What did you want and get?
Not a bike cuz I couldn’t decide! Or an iPad, but turns out I didn’t really want that. The summer was okay, last year was better. I didn’t really “want” anything other than sunshine. Enough work? I always had (more than) enough work, which is pretty important I guess.
29. What did you want and not get?
See above. That said, there are some TV shows that aren’t on our Netflix or Amazon Prime. It is an outrage! *lol*
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I have not seen a single film this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I spent it in hospital waiting for my mum who had dizzy spells and wanted to be taken to A&E. Bleh.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
No rain, ever. (but no drought, either. I dunno. Rain just magically falls at night or sth)
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?
Wear whatever the fuck you want. COLOURFUL!!!!!!!!!!
34. What kept you sane?
Exercise, sunshine, cats.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Amandla Stenberg and Saša Stanišić. 😀 (yep, exactly the same as last year)
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I mean, it’s always the same, too, right?
37. Who did you miss?
I missed Brighton and Britain sometimes. Mostly an idealised version of it tho that doesn’t exist.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Did I only meet Nikki and Mike this year? Maybe? They are great. Two digital nomad Mefites.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.
Stand up for yourself. I stood my ground a few times demanding better pay or conditions, and I always got what I wanted.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I dunno, sorry.
41. Was 2019 a good year for you?
It was perfectly fine. I think I need to switch it up some. *lol*
42. What were your favourite moments of the year?
Very likely something cycling–related. I had some great bike rides in the summer. I did 3000km in June-July-August alone!
43. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
A few cat worries, for sure. Also a few work worries or stressors (the final few months were way too busy for my liking).
44. What was your favourite month of 2019?
July-August which included Brighton, but was also nice and hot here. (Brighton actually not that hot *lol*)
45. What was your favourite song from 2019?
when the party’s over, something something P!nk (I actually played her new album a lot, but I dunno if there’s a standout song). Same with Mika. Good album, no standout song. Also The Gift (Lion King companion album) is amazing. Spirit and Bigger might be my faves.
46. What was your favourite record from 2019?
Ummmm, The Gift? I might be biased cuz I am very obsessed with it right now.
47. How many concerts did you see in 2019?
None. Argh. I went to a reading by Bela B! And Mika this coming January. Come on Placebo, go back on tour!
48. Did you have a favourite concert in 2019?
No.
49. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2019?
Nope.
50. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2019?
Nope.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
No.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2019?
*shrug*
53. Did somebody treat you badly in 2019?
I had a tiff with our gardener, and he was a petty arsehole who did shit intentionally to annoy us. But then we argued and he resigned, so I win. (Okay, and then I had to sweep leaves all autumn, but I didn’t mind doing that half as much as I hated HIS FUCKING LEAF-BLOWER ON SATURDAY MORNINGS.)
54. Did you treat somebody badly in 2019?
No. The gardener deserved it.
55. How much money did you spend in 2019?
Not that much, but I also didn’t save much, apparently. Everything is so expensive here.
56. What was your proudest moment of 2019?
Finishing the South Downs Way, for sure!
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2019 and change something, what would it be?
*shrug* No idea.
58. What are your plans for 2020?
Plans for 2019 were:
More cycling, there’s more to see!!!
If/when my main client fizzles out, do some proper promo and marketing and find new jobs and clients. Maybe some additional qualifications
Maybe do a podcast about Luxembourg, but maybe not.
Enjoy life and take it easy. *lmao*
I sure did more cycling. I never did do much promo cuz I pretty much immediately got a new client and then didn’t have time/energy. I bought a fun logo tho and really very much need to redo my site so I can finally use it. Well, I still have a whole week of holidays!! Didn’t do a podcast but it’s still on my “maybe” list. 😂
Plans for 2020:
So this is tricky cuz I just wrote further up that I need to switch it up some, but what I really want to do is more of the same. Cycling & running, enough work to survive, cuddle cats. I do need to buy a flat or something.
More aspirational, and less likely, goals include:
- find some volunteering opportunities
- maybe get a PT again cuz I’m in a gym rut
- write a novel
- record a podcast. At least a pilot!
- maybe study something?
We’ll see how it goes!