End of Year Survey 2020
I’ve just reread a bunch of these and I am really glad I have them, so I will keep doing them. Even if I am the only person to read them. ๐
Previously:
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018| 2019
1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before?
Not go to Paris. Like, before this I’d been every year since I was five years old. And not go on holiday in general. I’d also never lived through a pandemic. I feel like I should mention this here, because it is what dominated the entiiiiiiiiiiiiiire world, but it actually didn’t impact my life all that much, apart from the not-Paris thing, and missing a Placebo concert, and gyms closing. So, other things: proper weightlifting. Wear a chest binder. Learn (a bit of) Portuguese. Cycle nearly 12,000km in a year. Cycle a GPS art. Probably a whole host of other cycling things. Oh, and buy a gravel bike. Yes, that’s also a cycling thing. *lol* Freelance for a Lux media org that shall not be named? Buy an electric car, oh and buy a new car, full stop.
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?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My uncle died, but I was not close to him. I feel like there was a celeb… oh, Chadwick Boseman kinda touched me, but I was not exactly interested in him while he was alive. Just my age, and hot.
5. What countries/cities did you visit?
Only hops across the border(s) cuz pandemic.
6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020?
(Last year I wanted to live in Brighton, which I don’t so much anymore, tho I still miss it. But man, no Stausรฉi and no Grรผnewald. And I wanted a gravel bike, which I got. I did not get fixed up for running again, but learnt to cycle in shitty weather instead.)
So in 2021 I’d like a backup gravel bike. ๐ I’d also like a Paris trip, which should be feasible, and finally an NYC trip again, which….. seems about 50/50 now. Maybe in October?
7. What date from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
As you know I suck at dates. First lockdown mid-March? But I don’t remember the date even now. ๐
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This is where I should probably say confessing my crush. It was certainly scary as heck.
Also lots of cycling.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t know. I can’t think of one.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My knee did great until almost the end. My foot is fucked tho. I did not catch Covid, so go me. I did have a few minor, but annoying health things that kept me off the bike at times. But it could’ve been worse.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Gravel bike, gravel bike, gravel bike. Very probably the best thing I bought ever in my life (which is why I need a backup). Also bought a pretty hot flat.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Hm. I’ll get back to you on that. (Or I won’t.)
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I’ll switch it up from my previous three rants about “half the world” to add all the conspiracy theorists, Covid deniers, QAnon morons and so on. I know, there is a large overlap with ones mentioned in previous years. It’s just depressing all over again.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Um. I guess I should say on the flat I bought. *lol* Other than that, bike stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Tristan trips. ๐
16. What song will always remind you of 2020?
(Okay let me first say that the song that invariably reminds of 2003 is Where is the Love by the Black Eyed Peas. But did I list it that year? I did not! So I reckon this exercise is mostly pointless.) Nevertheless, I’ll say Mountains (we met) by Christine and the Queens (or any of the ones from that EP). But I don’t think it will. ๐
17. Compared to this time last year, are you…
i. happier or sadder?
I’d say happier!
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner, cuz I have inexplicably lost a bunch of weight, after trying unsuccessfully for months. Tho I’ve already put some of it back on. ๐
iii. richer or poorer?
About the same, tho my wealth is distributed differently now. *lol*
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
(Previously: SO I’ve had “Listen to music!” on the list for a few years, and this year I finally did. I’ve almost completely cut podcasts out of my life. IT IS THE BEST!!! My God, how did it take me so long. Music music music music. ๐๐๐
I still don’t do enough proper yoga. But I’m over wanting to do more creative stuff. No time, must cycle!!!!)
I think I’ll say “met friends” here maybe, tho with Covid this was maybe the wrong year for it. Still, I could’ve made more of an effort. It has been a VERY antisocial year, in an already antisocial life.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
(Previously: I’ve also stopped playing mindless iPhone games so much!!! I still play some, but wayyyy less.)
I did freak out / experience needless anxiety spirals a lot this year. It was a bit scary at times and reminded me of the old days. Didn’t know I still had such ups and downs in me. ๐
That said, my mental health was generally pretty good considering… *gestures at everything*
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Xmas Eve with mum, Xmas morning working, Xmas afternoon on the bike in Germany.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
New Years Eve at home with the cats, midnight in bed. New Year’s morning working, afternoon on the bike… somewhere.
22. Did you fall in love in 2020?
Yes. ๐ถ
23. How many one night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Queen’s Gambit was pretty great.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes, my neighbour’s landlady. She’s a scheming, greedy, criminal bitch and I wish I could denounce her but my neighbour won’t let me. *sigh*
26. What was the best book you read?
Fleishman is in Trouble, I think.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I think I only discovered Joy Crookes this year. She’s great tho!
28. What did you want and get?
A fucking fantastic gravel bike!!!! And everything that entailed. *whistles*
29. What did you want and not get?
A second gravel bike. ๐ I wanted that Trek Checkpoint!
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 went for a bike ride to the South of the country! I was 43.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing, honestly. My year was pretty great compared to most people’s around the globe. Even the lockdown was great! ๐ (You know I used to say “unfathomable wealth” here in the early years. I don’t think that anymore.)
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?
Wear whatever the fuck you want.
34. What kept you sane?
Exercise, sunshine, nature.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Edsun! He’s so beautiful (I know he’s a baby, shush). Also still Saลกa Staniลกiฤ, tho to a lesser degree.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Yeah. Same as you. (Is the pandemic political? Yes, it’s fucking political!)
37. Who did you miss?
I didn’t really miss anyone. I missed Paris and New York, though. Generally, diffusely, and also frequently acutely, with an ache in my heart.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
So technically I can’t say Tristan here cuz I did meet him briefly in 2019. But I’m still gonna say Tristan.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.
Be like the seaweed in the current. Mhm. Still not implementing that very successfully, tho. But working on it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my biiiiike… ๐
41. Was 2020 a good year for you?
Yeah!
42. What were your favourite moments of the year?
Many many amazing bike rides. Almost all the Stausรฉi ones. All the Tristan ones.
43. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Some anxiety spirals, maybe? I also didn’t enjoy my uncle’s funeral much. Man, my bar is pretty low. ๐
44. What was your favourite month of 2020?
*checks cycling logs* I dunno, most of the summer was great except August where I had to take a health-related break.
45. What was your favourite song from 2020?
My top scrobbled songs in 2020 are still from The Gift Lion King companion album. I dunno that I’ve actually listened to a 2020 album.
46. What was your favourite record from 2020?
Oh, I guess the La Vita Nuova EP (Christine and the Queens) is 2020. So that!
47. How many concerts did you see in 2020?
I managed to squeeze in a Mika show before the pandemic! I didn’t go see Edsun in August cuz… um. I am lazy and it would’ve potentially been awkward.
48. Did you have a favourite concert in 2020?
The Mika show! ๐
49. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2020?
Nope.
50. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2020?
Nope.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
No. Well maybe one thing. But not hugely ashamed.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2020?
*shrug*
53. Did somebody treat you badly in 2020?
Not really, tho I suspect my upstairs neighbours are being loud on purpose. They are assholes.
54. Did you treat somebody badly in 2020?
No, at least not deliberately.
55. How much money did you spend in 2020?
An average amount. Unless you count the flat, then a lot.
56. What was your proudest moment of 2020?
๐ค I dunno. Pride cometh… *lol*
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2020 and change something, what would it be?
*shrug* No idea.
58. What are your plans for 2021?
Plans for 2020 were:
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?
This is interesting! I certainly managed the non-aspirational ones (minus running cuz fucked up foot). Of the aspirational ones, I did get a PT, which was a good choice. I spoke to someone about podcasting, but didn’t get any further. The end.
Plans for 2021:
Man, where do you go after a year like this? Everywhere, of course. I am definitely going to Paris, Brighton, and hopefully to NYC (all of which will involve cycling, of course). I need to work on those cycling route articles I promised someone. And I for sure promise I will do a proper multi-day bikepacking tour. Even if I don’t have a Trek Checkpoint. ๐