f4f3 | Dec. 29th, 2011

[1.] What did you do in 2011 that you have never done before?

Started counselling.

Worked in Edinburgh Park for a year.

[2.] Did you keep all of last year's resolutions?

I’m not sure I made any – I don’t tend to. But I kept the beard, and, in general, I did what I said I’d do.

[3.] Have you any resolutions for next year?

To do the right things. Not talk about doing the right things, or agonise over what they are, just do them. If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that living the right life is about doing the right things. It doesn’t matter what you say you want to do, or think you ought to do, it’s doing it that counts.

[4] Did anyone close to you give birth?

Close personally, but not geographically – my friend Radka had a baby in December. Lots of Mooneys and Muches and Cassidays. My dad’s side of the family would shame any Hobbiton clan.

[5] Did anyone close to you die?

Without trivialising, because it isn’t trivial, Merlin. He’d been in my life for 15 years, and I still miss him every day.

[6.] What countries did you visit?

The USA. I don’t think I made it to England this year. Or Prague. Bad Michael.

[7.] What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?

Peace of mind. A job that rewards me in more ways than financially.

[8.] What date in 2011 will remain etched in your memory?

I don’t think I want to talk about that.

[9.] What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Making hard decisions for the right reasons, and then acting on them as much as I could.

Keeping it together when it would have been much easier to let it fall apart.

Realising that I can’t carry everything (and everyone) on my shoulders, and then realising that no one ever asked me to.

[10.] What was your biggest failure?

I’m stuck on level 59 of Zuma.

[11.] Did you suffer any illness or injury?

Nothing that I can complain about. My diabetes and blood pressure both seem under control. I think it’s fair to say that I suffered from stress (a lot) and maybe depression (not sure about that) but both seem under control now.

[12.] What was the best thing you bought?

A holiday in New York and Chicago.

[13]. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

unblinkered, for setting up The Yarn Cake last year and making it a success this year. Bill and Radka, for extending their family. Everyone who has taken a stand against injustice, whether they changed anything or not.

[14.] Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The Liberal Democrats. They actually do know better, and they are going along with it anyway.

[15.] Where did most of your money go?

Rent, taxes, commuting. Which left enough for some really good meals and a really good holiday.

[16.] What did you get really, really, really excited about?

You know, that’s a depressingly hard question to answer here.

[17.] What songs will always remind you of 2011?

“This City” by Steve Earle

[18.] Compared to this time last year are you:

[A] Fatter or thinner? About the same.
[B] Happier or sadder? Sadder, if wiser.
[C] Richer or poorer? A little richer. I’ve replenished my FU Fund up to about 3 months, and by the end of March it will be pushing six months. The mortgage on the cottage is also down to the level where I could probably clear it off in a year.

[19.] What do you wish you'd done more of?

Meditation. Counselling. Writing.

[20.] What do you wish you'd done less of?

Unproductive commuting – I wish I’d started writing on the train sooner, and taking the train sooner, too.

[21.] How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas Ever with unblinkered, Christmas day with parents. As low stress as a Christmas could be.

[22.] How will you see in the New Year?

At the cottage, with a glass of whisky in my hand.

[23.] Which LJ users did you meet for the first time?

anthrokeight, properly, and Amelia_Eve.

[24.] Did you fall in love in 2011?

Every day.

[24.] How many one night stands?

None, thankfully.

[25.] What was your favourite TV show?

Possibly “Justified” which is as good a cop show as I’ve ever seen. Also loving that fable of my people, “The Big Bang Theory”.

[26.] Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Nope, I still don’t hate anyone.

[27.] What was/were the best books you read?

Development as Freedom by Amaryta Sen, and for fun, Neal Stephenson’s Reamde.

[28.] What was your greatest musical discovery?

Phil Campbell’s new band, The Temperance Movement.

[29.] What did you want and get?

A MacBook Air.

[30.] What did you want and not get?

World Peace. Peace.

[31.] What was your favourite film this year?

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

[32.] What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I was 47, and had a party at the flat. Some of my favourite people made it, some of them couldn’t. But it was a full week, and I haven’t enjoyed a birthday so much for years. It also snowed on the 12^th of March, for the first time I can remember.

[33.] What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?

Better behaviour from my son.

[34.] How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

The one professor that the hipsters secretly dig. Think Donald Sutherland in Animal House.

[35.] What kept you sane?

Counselling, to some extent. Great support from the people around me. Realising that it’s ok to put things down, and that I don’t have to control every outcome. Actually, realising that I can’t control every outcome.

[36.] Which celebrity did you fancy the most?

Nobody, really. Have never seen the point.

[37.] Which political issue stirred you the most?

The Lib Dems complicity in persecuting vulnerable people. They should know better. They do know better. The Tories actually believe that it’s right to punish people for being poor, or unemployed, or disabled. They believe that if it’s not hurting it isn’t working. The LD’s have a century old heritage of knowing better, and they’ve ripped it up for a few ministerial boxes and an office in Whitehall. Shame on them.

[38.] Who was the best new person you met?

I don’t award marks.

[39.] Who did you miss?

More than one person. Merlin.

[40.] Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year?

That doing right is what counts. Not convincing yourself that what you do is right.

[41.] Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Out on the street I was talkin' to a man
He said there's so much of this life of mine that I don't understand

You shouldn't worry yes that ain't no crime
'Cause if you get it wrong you'll get it right next time, next time

You need direction, yeah you need a name
When you're standing in the crossroads every highway looks the same
After a while you get to recognize the signs
So if you get it wrong you'll get it right next time.