End of Year Survey 2024
Okay, this year I will radically cut all the questions I find uninspiring / I answer the same thing or “I dunno” every year. I will not update the question numbers tho. π
Previously:
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023
1. What did you do in 2024 that you’d never done before?
Back in January I resolved to do one new thing every month. Sadly, it lasted only until March. π
But in those months, I: was threatened to get sued, bought and practiced with a unicycle, and… I can’t remember the third thing. πΆ There were some other firsts tho. Oh yeah, have cancer!!! π€ “Only” skin cancer tho, and all went well, except my pretty bike tattoo got disfigured.
I’ve also started volunteering at a cat shelter. Oh, and in summer I did some “guide for a day” bike rides, but I won’t do that again. Eh, people.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yeah, cancer uncle! Not of cancer tho, but of… a heart attack. Following an aneurysm. Or sth. But I’m sure the cancer had sth to do with it. (Okay, it’s cruel to call him cancer uncle. He was my mum’s favourite brother. But now my aunt comes without him, there is much less arguing at the dinner table. πΆ) Also, my friend’s lovely cat had to be put down. Also cancer. Fuck cancer.
5. What countries/cities did you visit?
Brighton and Paris. I travel less and less, and I don’t mind.
6. What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024?
Last year I wished for “More of the same please – bike trips with Tristan and good weather! π” a second year in a row, and I got even less of it. π Apparently Tristan and I only did like 37 rides together in total. I’ve been ill and injured a lot, and had a sick cat a lot.
So for 2025: less sickness and injuries.
7. What date from 2024 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, I still remember 7 October, last year’s date. And for 2024 I’ll probably say Trump’s reelection, 5 November. Even tho I expected him to win (cuz I’m a pessimist, and cuz Americans are sexist and racist), I guess I was still hoping he wouldn’t, cuz it threw me for a loop when he did. Fuckers.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Erm… maybe finally motivating myself to volunteer? It’s not been a very satisfying year sports-wise. Still struggling with that back injury, and now have a wrist injury to boot! (To glove? *lol*)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Still not fixing my back, despite renewed efforts. π It IS manageable. But also because I’ve not been cycling big distances.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yeah, see above, stupid wrist. Also had Covid again in June. And a variety of other undefined ailments. And also, I still test positive for Lyme Disease, so who knows what THAT is. Oh, and cancer of course.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New bike? πΆ Replacing my beloved SaΕ‘a. What else did I buy… the airfryer was a bit eh. Oh yeah, super bright rainbow bedsheets and mattress cover. I looooove them, they make my room so bright and fun.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? (keeping this one. Here’s hoping)
I wish I could think of people for this question. I’m sure there are some. But I forget them cuz I tend to focus on the negative.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Trump voters.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Probably my savings account again, tho I did also buy an expensive bike again. π
My most expensive yet, but you know, inflation…
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The tram going all the way to the airport (which means close to here), but then it didn’t! I mean, not until next year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you…
i. happier or sadder?
Probably around the same again, tho I had an extended depressive/anhedonic phase which only ended a few weeks ago. Sorta autumn depression extended by the Trump slump. That fucker. But am much better now.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Also around the same, tho I’m around the top of my weight range. But also realised it’s better to have a few more pounds in winter cuz you’re not quite so goddamn cold.
iii. richer or poorer?
A bit richer, but not cuz my investments did well. π But been saving a fair amount. Which is pointless cuz we’re all gonna die or sth.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Last year: Creative stuff. Go on trips.
Only managed one trip to Paris and one to Brighton. But as the cats get ever older, staying home is more important. I have no such excuse for the creativity. Failed NaNoWriMo again, but was really busy workwise again. I do wish I had more (any) creative juice in me. I think it left with the alcohol.
This year: I might say cycling, cuz my distance this year will be quite sad, only around 2/3 of what I managed the two previous years. I’ve started running more concistently again tho. Oh, and yoga. I know it is so good for me, and I don’t do it nearly enough.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Previously: play Bejeweled and eat chocolate, two years in a row. I have replaced Bejeweled with other dumb iPhone games. I also still eat a lot of sweets and treats.
This year: Fretted about my old cat, maybe. Mum was like “I can’t believe he’s still alive judging by how you sounded last summer.” Also dumb iPhone games and unhealthy foods. But maybe I should “retire” those cuz they’ll always remain the same.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve with my mum and aunt (uncle gone πΆ), and Christmas Day running 10k and then volunteering at the cat shelter.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
At home with the miaows.
22. Did you fall in love in 2024?
No.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Um. I watched all of Golden Girls. It was okay. Can’t remember what else. π
Currently watching Cross, which is good but very stressful.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah. Maybe I hate Musk more than I did last year.
26. What was the best book you read?
I gave five stars to:
Min Jin Lee – Pachinko (very good)
Steve Martin – The Pleasure of My Company (really an unexpected little delight)
Jacqueline Benson – The Fire in the Glass (but then 4 to the next one in the series and then I gave up π
)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing new, sorry.
28. What did you want and get?
A new bike. My cat still being around. Only a week now until our 10th anniversary. π
29. What did you want and not get?
A hot summer. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great. Oh, and a Kamala Harris win.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 47 and unlike last year, I don’t remember what I did. Oh, Tristan and I went to collect my bike from the bike store, then to the Fouer, then back to mine, then to inspect the tram works. Exciting!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better weather, better health, fewer stupid elections with stupid people voting for evil people.
34. What kept you sane?
Exercise, happy pills, my cats.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hum. Dunno.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gaza if I let it, and Trump’s reelection.
37. Who did you miss?
No one. People are overrated. Maybe Joanne a bit cuz she’s so cute and so far away.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Have I met anyone new? Oh, the cat shelter people. The woman running it is pretty cool. She reminds me of my grandmother in some of her ways of speaking, but she’s also… very unique. Well, my grandmother was, too.
41. Was 2024 a good year for you?
It was fine, nothing more.
42. What were your favourite moments of the year?
Oesling bike rides. (Repeating myself.)
43. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Maybe when Mellow was put down? πΆ And there were also some scary Miaow episodes.
44. What was your favourite month of 2024?
Whichever was warmest.
45. What was your favourite song from 2024?
I’ll say Miley doing We Can’t Stop / Where is my Mind live. So good.
46. What was your favourite record from 2023?
Cowboy Carter by default.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Nah.
53. Did somebody treat you badly in 2024?
Oh, the syndic being a complete asshole and threatening to sue, and some of the rest of the copropriΓ©taires being complete hypocrites, but this was not surprising.
54. Did you treat somebody badly in 2024?
No. I mean, nothing huge. I’m sure there are some examples where I could’ve been nicer. I am not a very nice person.
55. How much money did you spend in 2024?
A normal amount.
56. What was your proudest moment of 2024?
I dunno.
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2024 and change something, what would it be?
I would not write the review that kicked off the syndic drama. Well, I’d write it differently.
58. What are your plans for 2025?
Plans for 2024 were:
Not write a book. Reverse psychology. π Keep up the Portuguese studies. Cycle more, fix back, go on at least a few trips.
I FAILED AT ALL OF THEM!! Boo, I suck.
Plans for 2024:
NO PLANS! So there is nothing I can fail at!!!!
