2015; 2014; 2000-2009
I did actually write this at the end of the year, but it's been sitting in my drafts folder waiting to be posted since then...
Was 2016 a good year for you?
Personally, yes. Lots of the good stuff from 2015 got consolidated. I feel like I spent much more of the year doing and learning interesting things. I am, unsurprisingly, worried about the state of the world, but so far none of it has had much direct impact on me, and I'm fortunate enough to find it quite easy to feel serene about the things I can't change.
What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Accompanied people on the piano, ran a half marathon (er, kind of by accident), did a barbell squat with more than my own body weight, and an unassisted pull-up.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do New Year's resolutions per se, but I had a list of goals for the year, and I succeeded in most of them - I'm comfortably in control of my alcohol intake, exercising regularly, getting much more sleep, reading more new to me books, especially non-fiction, and making music regularly. I managed to keep track of my spending for the entire year for the first time ever, but missed my goal for how much to spend by a wide margin, so my primary focus in early 2017 is going to be getting that under control.
Did someone close to you give birth?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shreena
Did anyone close to you die?
Not personally close, no. I think I'm less affected by the deaths of artists I admire than many people, but I wasn't unmoved when Rickman and Bowie died.
What countries did you visit?
France, Scotland
What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Political sanity
A house which we own rather than renting (I put this last year and said it seemed very likely, but it turns out buying a house can take a really long time. I don't want to jinx things, but we're quite close to exchanging now, so all being well we should have this by January) [Update - we now have a house! We haven't moved in yet, but we have keys and everything]
What events from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Brexit and Trump
What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
I don't think there's been one big achievement, but lots of little ones have added up.
What was your biggest failure(s)?
Forgetting that recruitment agents are scum, and thereby failing to get a contract which would have been a significant promotion.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. I've had a lot of tension in my shoulder for a while, which continues to niggle, and I had some planned surgery in June, but I don't think either of those really count as injury.
What was the best thing you bought?
A piano!
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Everyone who has managed to stay charitable in these troubled times, with prize of honour going to Brendan Cox.hjdoom. Also mine, I think.
Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
An awful lot of politicians and their supporters
Where did most of your money go?
Charity, rent, restaurants (in that order, for the first time this year! Quite pleased about that.)
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Francegour, playing the piano, Hamilton.
Compared to this time last year, are you...
i. Happier or sadder? Happier, although not by quite such overwhelming leaps as the last couple of years.
ii. Richer or poorer? Richer
iii. Healthier or iller? Healthier
What do you wish you'd done more of?
For the last two years I said spending quality time with Ramesh and cooking. I've done considerably more of both this year, but I think would still say the same.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Last year I said faffing on the internet and being hungover. I'd still prefer to spend less time faffing on the internet, but the trajectory is in the right direction.
How did you spend Christmas?
In Yorkshire with my parents, one of my sisters, and Ramesh. It was quiet and lovely.
How was your religious year?
Very good. Towards the end of last year I started seeing a confessor/spiritual director, and that lead to some really helpful insights in the first half of the year. Since I moved to Northampton I've not been able to make as much progress, but I'm feeling a lot more comfortable in the way faith fits into my life. I'm now firmly part of the furniture at St John's, having joined the PCC and been roped into being treasurer as well as managing and training the serving team. It takes quite a bit of my time and effort, but it's rewarding and fun, and I feel appreciated and loved as part of the community.
Did you fall in love in 2016?
No.
How many one-night stands?
None.
What is the best thing you created in 2016?
The Francegour feast! Also quite a lot of music (if playing things written by other people counts as creation)
What was your favourite TV program?
I continue to be hilariously behind the curve, but I enjoyed the first season of Orange is the New Black quite a lot.
What was/were the best books you read/listened to?
God of Surprises by Gerard Hughes, Better Angels by Steven Pinker, The Jesuit Guide to Nearly Everything by Fr James Martin SJ, Hamilton by Ron Chernow
What were your favourite musical discoveries this year?
Hamilton! Akala. clipping. Hip-hop generally. Bach's inventions & sinfonias.
What did you want and get?
Continued stability and improving health, a contract with a non-evil client, a wonderful holiday in France,
What did you want and not get?
Political sanity, a particular contract I interviewed for, permission.
What was/were your favourite film/s this year?
I saw Arrival recently and liked it a lot. I'm sure I've seen other films this year, but nothing is standing out.
What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I was 35. Ramesh took me out to dinner, although I'm not sure if that was on the day itself.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Purple, swooshy.
Who and what kept you sane?
I think I mostly kept myself sane.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daveed Diggs.
What political issue(s) stirred you the most?
I wasn't really stirred enough - too much burying my head in the sand and not knowing what to do.
Who did you miss?
Lots of people a little bit. Ramesh and Robert whilst I'm in Northampton.
Who was the best new person you met?
I haven't really met anyone new and got to know them, but it's been great getting to know![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
vyvyan better whilst I've been living in Northampton.
Have you changed your hairstyle?
Yes. I got it cut short for interviews. I was really really pleased with the first haircut, which had a long fringe so I could make it look respectable and serious by combing it back, but still look really queer and androgynous by styling it forwards. Since then every time I've had it cut they've done the fringe shorter and shorter, which I'm not terribly happy about, so will be very stompy about it not getting cut at all for the next few cuts.
What are you looking forward to most in 2017?
Game of Thrones Camp, actually living in a house we own, joining a choir, Hamilton coming to the West End.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?
Making music makes me happy, and I should do lots of it.
I did actually write this at the end of the year, but it's been sitting in my drafts folder waiting to be posted since then...
Was 2016 a good year for you?
Personally, yes. Lots of the good stuff from 2015 got consolidated. I feel like I spent much more of the year doing and learning interesting things. I am, unsurprisingly, worried about the state of the world, but so far none of it has had much direct impact on me, and I'm fortunate enough to find it quite easy to feel serene about the things I can't change.
What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
Accompanied people on the piano, ran a half marathon (er, kind of by accident), did a barbell squat with more than my own body weight, and an unassisted pull-up.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do New Year's resolutions per se, but I had a list of goals for the year, and I succeeded in most of them - I'm comfortably in control of my alcohol intake, exercising regularly, getting much more sleep, reading more new to me books, especially non-fiction, and making music regularly. I managed to keep track of my spending for the entire year for the first time ever, but missed my goal for how much to spend by a wide margin, so my primary focus in early 2017 is going to be getting that under control.
Did someone close to you give birth?
shreenaDid anyone close to you die?
Not personally close, no. I think I'm less affected by the deaths of artists I admire than many people, but I wasn't unmoved when Rickman and Bowie died.
What countries did you visit?
France, Scotland
What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Political sanity
A house which we own rather than renting (I put this last year and said it seemed very likely, but it turns out buying a house can take a really long time. I don't want to jinx things, but we're quite close to exchanging now, so all being well we should have this by January) [Update - we now have a house! We haven't moved in yet, but we have keys and everything]
What events from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Brexit and Trump
What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
I don't think there's been one big achievement, but lots of little ones have added up.
What was your biggest failure(s)?
Forgetting that recruitment agents are scum, and thereby failing to get a contract which would have been a significant promotion.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. I've had a lot of tension in my shoulder for a while, which continues to niggle, and I had some planned surgery in June, but I don't think either of those really count as injury.
What was the best thing you bought?
A piano!
Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Everyone who has managed to stay charitable in these troubled times, with prize of honour going to Brendan Cox.
hjdoom. Also mine, I think.Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
An awful lot of politicians and their supporters
Where did most of your money go?
Charity, rent, restaurants (in that order, for the first time this year! Quite pleased about that.)
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Francegour, playing the piano, Hamilton.
Compared to this time last year, are you...
i. Happier or sadder? Happier, although not by quite such overwhelming leaps as the last couple of years.
ii. Richer or poorer? Richer
iii. Healthier or iller? Healthier
What do you wish you'd done more of?
For the last two years I said spending quality time with Ramesh and cooking. I've done considerably more of both this year, but I think would still say the same.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Last year I said faffing on the internet and being hungover. I'd still prefer to spend less time faffing on the internet, but the trajectory is in the right direction.
How did you spend Christmas?
In Yorkshire with my parents, one of my sisters, and Ramesh. It was quiet and lovely.
How was your religious year?
Very good. Towards the end of last year I started seeing a confessor/spiritual director, and that lead to some really helpful insights in the first half of the year. Since I moved to Northampton I've not been able to make as much progress, but I'm feeling a lot more comfortable in the way faith fits into my life. I'm now firmly part of the furniture at St John's, having joined the PCC and been roped into being treasurer as well as managing and training the serving team. It takes quite a bit of my time and effort, but it's rewarding and fun, and I feel appreciated and loved as part of the community.
Did you fall in love in 2016?
No.
How many one-night stands?
None.
What is the best thing you created in 2016?
The Francegour feast! Also quite a lot of music (if playing things written by other people counts as creation)
What was your favourite TV program?
I continue to be hilariously behind the curve, but I enjoyed the first season of Orange is the New Black quite a lot.
What was/were the best books you read/listened to?
God of Surprises by Gerard Hughes, Better Angels by Steven Pinker, The Jesuit Guide to Nearly Everything by Fr James Martin SJ, Hamilton by Ron Chernow
What were your favourite musical discoveries this year?
Hamilton! Akala. clipping. Hip-hop generally. Bach's inventions & sinfonias.
What did you want and get?
Continued stability and improving health, a contract with a non-evil client, a wonderful holiday in France,
What did you want and not get?
Political sanity, a particular contract I interviewed for, permission.
What was/were your favourite film/s this year?
I saw Arrival recently and liked it a lot. I'm sure I've seen other films this year, but nothing is standing out.
What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I was 35. Ramesh took me out to dinner, although I'm not sure if that was on the day itself.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Purple, swooshy.
Who and what kept you sane?
I think I mostly kept myself sane.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daveed Diggs.
What political issue(s) stirred you the most?
I wasn't really stirred enough - too much burying my head in the sand and not knowing what to do.
Who did you miss?
Lots of people a little bit. Ramesh and Robert whilst I'm in Northampton.
Who was the best new person you met?
I haven't really met anyone new and got to know them, but it's been great getting to know
vyvyan better whilst I've been living in Northampton.Have you changed your hairstyle?
Yes. I got it cut short for interviews. I was really really pleased with the first haircut, which had a long fringe so I could make it look respectable and serious by combing it back, but still look really queer and androgynous by styling it forwards. Since then every time I've had it cut they've done the fringe shorter and shorter, which I'm not terribly happy about, so will be very stompy about it not getting cut at all for the next few cuts.
What are you looking forward to most in 2017?
Game of Thrones Camp, actually living in a house we own, joining a choir, Hamilton coming to the West End.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?
Making music makes me happy, and I should do lots of it.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-02 10:43 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2017-02-02 11:29 pm (UTC)From:I was aiming for 14k, which was about 3k more than I'd done before, but towards the end I was still feeling fairly energetic, so I did another lap of Finsbury Park, and after that I thought I still had another lap in me, and after that I was only about 3k away from a half marathon, and sheer bloody-mindedness took over until I finished it. It seemed like a good idea at the time... not so much the next day.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-06 09:18 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2017-02-04 12:24 am (UTC)From: