I hope the relevant Shimuras won't mind me borrowing this survey for myself:

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?

I got married. Yep, that was certainly a new one.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I never make them. There's enough free-floating guilt in my life as it is.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes. In the most shocking way imaginable.

5. What countries did you visit?

The Netherlands.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?

Slightly more money, ideally.

6. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory forever?

There are two, just a few days apart. 2 July, which was our wedding day and everything I could ever have hoped for. And 7 July, which was the day Liz was killed and the world started to look like a dark and terrifying place.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Reaching the final stretch of my masters. And the wedding.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Nothing major, though a disastrous job interview in November does come to mind.

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?

Spent a fun day in A&E when a muscle in my neck went ballistic. It still gives me grief every so often. And I had an evil chest infection in October. But that's about it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A laptop, probably.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Everyone who helped, financially and emotionally, with making our wedding so great.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The Metropolitan Police. Bush. Blair. Suicide bombers.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Wedding wedding wedding. And food. And Amsterdam.

15. What thing did you get really, really, really excited about?

Oh dear, this is becoming rather predictable, but... THE WEDDING!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2005?

One Love by Horace Andy (first wedding dance). I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany (dancing with Liz).

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier. But it hasn't been a steady upward curve.
b) Thinner or fatter?
Thinner than I was last January but still fatter than I was two years ago :(
c) Richer or poorer?
About the same, or maybe a bit poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Writing. And good works.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Worrying. Eating junk.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

We hosted my dad and my sister for Christmas day. I cooked my first ever Christmas dinner and we played Cranium.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?

All over again :)

22. How many one-night stands?

None.

23. What was your favourite TV program?

The West Wing. Peep Show.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.

25. What was the best book you read?

It wasn't a mind-blowing year for books. But I really liked A Box of Matches by Nicolson Baker, and On Beauty by Zadie Smith.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I suppose Kanye West. And I developed a slight obsession with Neil Young towards the end of the year, for some reason.

27. What did you want and get?

Laptop, new flat. And Matt as a husband :)

28. What did you want and not get?

A better-paid job.

29. What was your favourite film of this year?

Probably Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

30. What did you do on your birthday?

I think it was the hottest day of the year. I watched tennis in Eastbourne, had a meal at Cafe Nia, and swam in the sea.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Possibly getting a proper job. But I can't be sure.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?

Oxfam meets Primark.

33. What kept you sane?

Matt. Crosswords.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Nobody really. Oh alright, Rob Lowe.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Infringement of civil liberties in the name of security.

36. Who did you miss?

Liz, almost every day. Assorted travelling friends: Anna, Wags, Tim and Fiona...

37. Who was/were the best new person/people you met?

I don't seem to meet new people very often. It was probably my sister's boyfriend, who is wholly deserving and cool.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.

Keep your friends close, and don't bother making enemies.

Tags: memes

16:33

. . .

Have just returned to work after a long weekend in which Matt and I did unspeakable things with our washing machine, which was proving resistant to being plumbed in. The whole terrifying process made me realise that while I have friends who are good at computers, friends who can drive vans, even friends who know how to sweep a chimney, I don't have a single friend who knows anything about plumbing. So if you would like to be my friend and you are a plumber (pro or am), get in touch. Free cups of tea guaranteed.

We also got broadband, so that's my social life up the spout for the forseeable.

Tomorrow all three of my colleagues go off to Belfast for a conference, and I'll be flying solo for three days - meaning that everything that can go wrong, will. So although right now I can laugh at the email-related trials of library bloggers Miss Information and Loki, I will quite possibly be crying in empathy come Friday.

Tags: domesticity work gripes

11:12

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