End of Year Survey 2025
Ironically, last year I deleted the “unused” questions, one of which was “what are your new year’s resolutions”, and for once, I have one: doing a first aid course, which I’ve just registered for. So I’m bragging about it in the intro. 😆 Onwards!
Previously:
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
1. What did you do in 2025 that you’d never done before?
Have an ex-boyfriend. My Tristan and I decided to recategorise our relationship as a friendship. But not much else changed, so I don’t wanna call it “break up with someone” or “end a relationship”. It’s all just semantics.
Boring one: sign up to become a Luxembourgish tutor. Starting to move on from translation work… so “wrestle with AI changes” could be another one. I don’t (actively) use AI tho except where forced to. Proud Luddite!
Also, Geoff finally came to visit, so “having Geoff visit” is a first that may not sound dramatic, but it took long enough.
Look for a house in the Oesling for a while, tho I think I’ve stalled that search for now.
Fly somewhere and back in a day (bad, I know. But I barely travel, so FU.)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Well, a friend’s cat was run over, but I didn’t even know him (the cat. I know the friend), so I don’t think that counts.
5. What countries/cities did you visit?
Paris and Amsterdam. Old cats require constant care. I don’t mind.
6. What would you like to have in 2026 that you lacked in 2025?
Last year I wished for “less sickness and injuries”. I think I managed! I had a few (stupid fall on my knee which still hasn’t fully healed). I had one really nasty bout of gastroenteritis, but I think that was all.
Wishes for 2026: honestly, apart from mild job insecurity, my life is pretty good, so I’ll make more generic wishes: less awful in the world. Not getting my hopes up tho.
7. What date from 2025 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None. This year has been pretty unremarkable. I don’t want to complain. It’s all good. But there weren’t a lot of Big Things.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hum. None? The signing up for tutoring? I’d really not made much of an effort to plan for post-translation income, and this kinda fell in my lap. They contacted me via Linkedin! You can hate on LinkedIn all you like, but I got most of my jobs through it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Maybe not pushing myself enough to do new things. But it’s okay to keep life safe and boring sometimes. I feel like there’s so much unrest and scariness that this routine is kind of nice.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
See above, injured my knee, got gastro.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Another bike? 😅 It’s second hand and the same one I had as a teenager. Also a great jumper just the other day. Overall I didn’t buy many new things. Tho I discovered Barilla pesto with lemon and basil and it is so good.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Deliberately kept this question last year, even tho I’m often “eh”. And I am eh again!
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
All the awful Nazis, billionnaires and other asshats.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Cat medication? Tho not as an absolute amount. Some savings. Some boring life stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The tram going all the way to the airport (which means close to here) <– this happened in March, finally, and I DID get excited about it and still do. It is so great and convenient.
Also, the Anselm Kiefer exhib in Amsterdam, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I love him so much.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you…
i. happier or sadder?
Happier I think. This is the first year in a while that I didn’t have an end-of-summer depression. I attribute it to my regular gym visits. Working out really is good for me. More than cycling? Not sure. It’s less fun in the moment, but probably more effective long term.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Around the same, tho currently on a diet again. I did go up to 73.4kg, which is the heaviest I’ve been since 2012 or so.
iii. richer or poorer?
I guess richer, tho probably not if you take inflation into account.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Last year: Cycling, running, yoga. I did run more (268km so far vs 200km last year). I’ll hopefully come out just ahead of last year for cycling (7765km now, 7896km last), and I think I did more yoga? It comes in waves. I wish it were more consistent. It’s soooo good for me.
This year: I won’t say “same”, because I’ve decided not to get bogged down by numbers. Gone on Tristan rides tho. Decidedly not enough of those. I will endeavour to improve.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Previously: Fretted about old cat, dumb iPhone games and unhealthy foods. The latter two were repeats. I am fretting less!! Sometimes I am amazed that he’s still alive judging by how much I worried in 2024. He’s doing fine these days, for his age and conditions (CKD and gastric stuff). I still play games and love chocolate. Eh. My cardiologist said it’s okay. The chocolate. I didn’t ask her about the games.
This year: If I “retire” games and sweets, then… not sure! I don’t have big regrets. 😄
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
This year I will volunteer on Christmas Eve, and then probably visit mum and aunt on Christmas Day. The rest will depend on the weather.
21. How will you be spending New Years?
At home with the miaows (same as every year).
22. Did you fall in love in 2024?
No, excluding some shelter cats.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
The Residence! I loved that, it was grrrreat. A Man on the Inside was also very fun and heartwarming. And Wednesday? Super hot.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No. Just the same old fuckers.
26. What was the best book you read?
Educated by Tara Westover was really powerful.
Diana Wynne Jones, Howl and the third in the series was cute and fun.
Also gave Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín five stars.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
OMG! First off, Dua Lipa. Took me way too long to find her. She’s so cool.
And Ndlovu Youth Choir, which I’ve only just discovered, but their music is my happy place.
28. What did you want and get?
Cat still alive! A short Paris visit.
29. What did you want and not get?
… dunno. 😶 A house in the Oesling? But I don’t want it anymore, so… good! 😅
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 48 and I don’t remember. I only cycled to some shops, so maybe I baked something afterwards? No idea. 😆
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less stupid and less outright evil.
34. What kept you sane?
Exercise, happy pills, my cats. <– same as last year!! But I really did not struggle with mental health much this year. Or at all? Definitely not since the summer. Good stuff!!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably still Gaza. Also climate change, and all the inaction and even backwards bullshit happening. Sigh.
37. Who did you miss?
No one. 😃
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don’t know if I met anyone new. Well, some people at the cat shelter, but haven’t spent that much time with them. Also some cool people on Mastodon.
41. Was 2025 a good year for you?
It was fine, nothing more.
42. What were your favourite moments of the year?
Bike rides, no doubt. Smelling my cats’ fur, too.
43. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Dunno.
44. What was your favourite month of 2025?
Whichever was warmest.
45. What was your favourite song from 2025?
Oh I dunno.
46. What was your favourite record from 2025?
New Lily Allen? I don’t hugely love it, actually. It’s nice enough. And I still haven’t listened to the new Bitter Ruin. Embarrassing. I bought it the day it was released!! Okay, I’ll do that right now.
51. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Nah.
53. Did somebody treat you badly in 2025?
No.
54. Did you treat somebody badly in 2025?
No.
55. How much money did you spend in 2025?
A normal amount.
56. What was your proudest moment of 2025?
I dunno.
57. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2025 and change something, what would it be?
I would not cross that stream where I slipped and stupidly injured my knee. 😆
58. What are your plans for 2026?
Plans for 2025 were:
NO PLANS! So there is nothing I can fail at!!!!
Hahahah I WIN! 😂
Plans for 2026:
Do that first aid course, and hopefully find new income. Finally write the Great Luxembourgish Novel. 😝
