End of Year Survey 2022
Yes, I know, my last post saying I should blog every month is from March. Maybe with the demise of Twitter I will blog more? Ha ha ha!
Previously:
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018| 2019 | 2020 | 2021
1. What did you do in 2022 that you’d never done before?
Fly over Luxembourg in a little Cessna! Well, fly in a little Cessna full stop. And fly over (most of) Lux full stop. It was sooooooo great! 😍
Own a SUP? Cribbing from last year (where I got a kayak). I’m actually not sure if this was a year of many firsts. I am very comfortable in my routine. I did cycle more than 12,000km for the first time. Have and use a “home gym”? I got the squat rack in Sept ’21, but I’ll let it count. Oh, and I actually sold a bike. I don’t think I’d ever done that before, usually gave them away (or lent them to someone who got them stolen 😐), and once I just left one in the street until someone took it – which took a few days cuz it was old and rusty, haha. Sorry, Billy!
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?
No. My other uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer tho, so who knows, maybe 2023. 😶
5. What countries/cities did you visit?
Belgian Ardennes (bike trip with Tristan), Brighton, and Alsace (bike trip with Tristan, heh).
6. What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022?
(Last year I wanted bike trips with Tristan, which I got, see above, tho not enough IMO. And no concerts, tho I had tickets for two (Georgia Train and Placebo), but I skipped both cuz of Covid and my cat was ill. Better weather I definitely got – it was a historically hot and dry summer! Hottest ever, I just read.)
I don’t think I have any wishes for stuff I didn’t have. More of the same please – bike trips with Tristan and good weather! 😄
7. What date from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None, I think. Was the start of the war in Ukraine 26 February? 24. There you go… 😶
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Like last year, nothing major, but I think I made improvements on the psychological (therapy and self-work) and physiological (working out more consistently) level. Both a work in progress tho! I also got a big job in July and worked a lot for a while – but still found time for cycling, hehe.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to kick an old, unhealthy habit a few times…
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing huge. No Covid! *lol* I have recurring knee and foot niggles, but they are under control.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
It’ll be weird if I say the 2nd hand Trek MTB I bought, but I use him a lot more than expected! And I did not buy much else. Oh, the cheap shiatsu massager I got has also been fantastic. 😂
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Still Tristan. I dunno if you want me to say Zelenskyy here or sth, he’s obvs doing a pretty good job, but I am also loath to comment on world events. Otoh, I do wanna mention Putin on the next question, so Zelenskyy it is.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
So the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the senselessness of all that murder and destruction, makes me incredibly angry every time I think about it, but I actually don’t know if I want to say “Putin” as if he’s a unique problem and not just the latest representation of something eternally recurring in human history. “Why can’t we all just get along” seems so trite and yet, why can’t we all just get the fuck along?! What is it with small, frustrated men (almost always men) needing to inflict pain and suffering, needing to conquer and expand, what is it with nationalism and jingoism and zero sum game thinking… why are people driven by these base instincts when they are so provably destructive? Are we really not better than that? (But then I also realise, if I could get my hands on Putin, physically, if I met him in a dark alley, I totally would wanna kill him too for the little sadistic shit that he is, so the impulse is in me, too, and so I should keep my mouth shut.) So, you see, it is all pretty depressing and appalling.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bikes and vets! 😶 (Oh, it’s 2021 redux! Yeah, there were sick cats and massive vet bills again. No huge bike purchases, but expensive upkeep.)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The flight in September was great! The trip to Brighton was nice, tho very short notice, so I didn’t get very excited.
16. What song will always remind you of 2022?
My top played song is L’Enfer by Stromae which is amazing, but dunno if it’ll remind me of 2022. I play the same Spotify playlist over and over on bike rides, so all those songs will remind me of this general time later, I’m sure. Miley Cyrus especially.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you…
i. happier or sadder?
Around the same.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Also around the same. Currently trying to get a bit thinner cuz it’d make cycling easier!
iii. richer or poorer?
Probably poorer due to inflation and some investment losses.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
(Last year I said “maybe” read books, and creative stuff. I definitely don’t do enough of the latter!)
Creative stuff? 😂 I’m not too torn up about it tho.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
(Previously: “needless freaking out.” I have been getting better at this!! I think mostly I feel more secure in my relationship. Which is a weird feeling in itself, and comes with its own dangers.)
This year I’ll say play Bejeweled, cuz wow, what a pointless timesuck. 😅 I should uninstall it, really. But it is so satisfying!
Also maybe eat chocolate, cuz wow, I do eat a lot of chocolate.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve with my mum at Tristan’s (with his mum & friend). It was very nice! Christmas Day I did some chores, went on a short bike ride with Tristan, and then again for dinner at his house. 🥰
21. How will you be spending New Years?
If it’s not too rainy, I wanna go to the lake with my SUP (12°C forecast!). Then evening at home with the miaows.
22. Did you fall in love in 2022?
No.
23. How many one night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Veronica Mars! How did it take me that long to find out how great that show is.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah.
26. What was the best book you read?
Wow, apparently I read only 9 books this year?! That can’t be right tho. I’m slow, but not that slow. But those are the ones I remembered to log on GoodReads, and there was no 5 stars, and only War Trash by Ha Jin and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia got 4 stars. Oh, and Un Appartement à Paris by Guillaume Musso.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lizzo? Also took me too long, but she’s so fun! (As is Miley Cyrus, but I already knew that.)
28. What did you want and get?
A hot summer!! A lot of Tristan. Not sure what else I wanted… thinking of buying an ebike conversion kit tho. 😄
29. What did you want and not get?
Trips? I do miss NYC, but I also… could go if I wanted, you know. I think other stuff is more important to me right now, like my cats and bike rides with Tristan.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Everything Everywhere All At Once, which is the only film I did see, but it was also pretty damn amazing. (Have also now seen Glass Onion, which was also great, but EEAAO still wins.)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 45, and I didn’t go on a bike ride apparently, and probably spent the evening at Tristan’s, but I don’t remember what else I did.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less war, more climate action (my personal life can’t be much improved on, haha).
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2022?
Wear whatever the fuck you want.
34. What kept you sane?
Exercise, happy pills, therapy.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one new I don’t think.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
All the usual, plus see above.
37. Who did you miss?
I dunno. No one? 😶
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don’t think I’ve met anyone new. Maybe Tristan’s new housemate? She’s cute.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022.
Ummm…. you can teach an old dog new tricks? But you can’t make her remember them. 😂 This makes no sense I know.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my biiiiike… 😂 (same as the last two years, I am lazy)
41. Was 2022 a good year for you?
Yeah!
42. What were your favourite moments of the year?
Oesling bike rides. Tristan moments. Tristan Oesling rides and SUP rides. I am sickening, I know.
43. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
The whole time my boy kitty was poorly and I felt powerless and also worried again he would die and also the wole decision you may have to make one day about when to let them go… I don’t like any of that!!!
44. What was your favourite month of 2022?
All of summer!!!!!! ☀️
45. What was your favourite song from 2022?
My playlist doesn’t play Rainbowland often enough. It is so great and happymaking. (If it has to be new, L’Enfer I guess.)
46. What was your favourite record from 2022?
I’ll say Stromae again, by default. Christine and the Queens has a new album too, but I am not too taken. And ashamed to say I still haven’t taken the time to get into Renaissance. I did not like it on first or second listen.
47. How many concerts did you see in 2022?
Zero. *lol*
48. Did you have a favourite concert in 2022?
Nope. Would’ve been Placebo tho, had I gone!
49. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2022?
Nope.
50. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2022?
Nope.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Maybe that annoying habit… tho “ashamed” may be a bit strong.
52. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2022?
*shrug*
53. Did somebody treat you badly in 2022?
No.
54. Did you treat somebody badly in 2022?
No.
55. How much money did you spend in 2022?
Not that much. Just… living costs plus vet costs. *lol*
56. What was your proudest moment of 2022?
I dunno.
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2022 and change something, what would it be?
I honestly don’t know. Maybe wear different shoes on our Ardennes trip, and adjust the saddle, so my bum and feet would hurt less. 😂
58. What are your plans for 2023?
Plans for 2022 were:
Honestly I don’t think it’s a good idea to plan anything at this point. 😄 I am hoping to be less sick and cycle more than this year. And be kinder. Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. Except antivaxxers. They can go fuck themselves. 🤣
I was less sick and cycled more! Was I kinder? I think I am generally more patient with my mother and her dementia. I do find I get easily irritated by small things still tho and wish I could change that. It’s all part of focusing on the negative / most annoying thing, rather than seeing the positive.
Plans for 2023:
No plans except “more of the same”. Bit torn between real bike trips and maximising time with my elderly kitties, but hopefully I can find a balance. Write a book? Ha ha ha ha ha ha…