I know it has been a while since I did one of these (2008 to be exact) but I consider this a good time to start them again. Bit late as far as roundups go, but better late than never.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Get married, buy a house and lose my job.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As is the norm for me, I didn’t make any. That said, I have drawn a line in the sand this year regarding a pension. We have decided by the end of this year we need to both have them sorted.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Having said no to this question for years I can finally say yes. Elkanah, a friend from school did to a lovely little girl called Lena who we went to see over Christmas.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Again, thankfully not.
5. What countries did you visit?
Greece for our honeymoon (we were there between their recent financial issues so it didn’t have any effect on our trip thankfully).
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Well the last time I answered this question we were not engaged… and I said I would like to spend more time with my girlfriend and spend more time travelling. It has to be said I would still like to spend more time with my now wife and I would still like to do more travelling. We have had a very expensive year (house and wedding not cheap) and I think for now I will just consider this year to be the “recovery year”. We are still planning on going out to France with my family for a week or so but that is it.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I would be a nutter if I didn’t say our wedding (June 4th)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think actually buying the house and at the very least doing some more grown up things. I still don’t think I’ve grown up, although I have got older. The house buying required me to understand and enter a world I have never got before with odd legal proceedings etc and generally I think I came out on top. Getting married I don’t actually consider to be an achievement. That was just a set of things that we set in motion. The achievement there is the couples who have been together for 30 or 40 years and built a life together. Also starting to show myself as having learnt something from years of woodworking classes and doing DIY with my Dad.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I’m not sure… There is no stand out thing if I’m honest. If I had to pick I think perhaps it would be being not prepared enough for the twists and turns the current economy may throw at us.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
As per usual, colds and alike, but nothing interesting.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
House… clearly. We also bought a new bed which while not that exciting, is a proper solid wooden piece of furniture which represents the beginning of moving away from tat and onto things that should last a lifetime.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Well, I normally become political at this point, so I see no reason to change that. I’m going to say something odd… I’m going to say for once the government deserves some kudos. While no shining light in the darkness and while still doing some pretty stupid things, I feel like there is considerably more common sense coming from Westminster this last year. Maybe in a year of hard times it is hard to say something wrong for them, but that is the general feeling I get. In an equally unusual measure I also want to see that our friend who made huge effort to come all the way down here for our wedding also deserve some recognition.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I’m going to hark back to my normal the media industries. SOPA and PIPA are stunning examples of an industry that has sat on its arse for a long time, not innovated and now seeks to protect its failing business model through overpowered laws. Long may they fail and they learn the error of their ways. Also, stop trying to peddle 3D content… we are not interested.
14. Where did most of your money go?
A sodding house… Also, yes weddings are expensive, but it amazed me how much money gets spent on little thing that all add up that you never see coming.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Wedding, house and honeymoon (see the pattern?).
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Ellie Goulding – Your Song and Alexi Murdoch – Breathe. I’m special, I can have two… (Also, that is two times in a row I have done this and there have been songs with “breathe” in the title).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. Happier or sadder?
Happier. This time last year we were just in the middle of our moving out of our flat and into Demelza’s parents and all the stress that came with it.
b. Thinner or fatter?
I think about the same.
c. Richer or poorer?
So much poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I normally say slept and that is always true. I think I wish I had saved more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying about things like job etc.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Between two families. Starting in Demelza’s parents and ending at mine. We also saw a huge number of friends when back at my parents which was nice.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No, I stayed there.
22. How many one-night stands?
None. Still not removing this question simply for the numbering.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Still the legend that is Top Gear. That said, love Big Bang Theory and Terra Nova is interesting too.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Don’t think so.
25. What was the best book you read?
Don’t think I have read anything this year… well, not that most people would consider a book anyway.
26. What did you want and get?
Again, married and a house.
27. What did you want and not get?
A stable job.
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
So many to pick from this year, Probably In Time. Didn’t see that many this year.
29. What was your favourite game of this year?
Didn’t really play many. I did very much enjoy playing Portal 2 with Jonners.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25 and I went out for a meal with Demelza. I did then have my stag do down in Brighton and alike around the same time so that sort of counts.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
All of my projects being done. Not that that is possible given as soon as one is done another takes its place, but would still be nice.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Same as the year before with less t-shirts and actually a couple more nice shirts. Still a walking North Face advert though.
33. What kept you sane?
As always, Demelza. She also still makes me a little less sane, but generally net effect is positive.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy/respect the most?
I’m sure there was one from the year, but I just can’t remember who it was. That in itself is sad enough.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I think the whole pension crisis got to me when the whole of the public sector decided it had a right to a not only a better pension than the private sector, but some private sector money to prop it up.
36. Who did you miss?
A lot of my friends from the South East as always but I’m fairly used to that and actually they are pretty good at coming to see us now.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I am going to say baby Lena for being the first baby that I managed to stop crying instead of start crying.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
The best thing about a honeymoon is it gives you a break from smiling at the millions of people at your wedding.