I feel a little bad about abandoning my blog last year but there's not a great deal I can do about it now except attempt to write more often this year. It was a pretty incredible year which saw my Dad getting remarried and three new family members as a result. Here's hoping they'll actually be able to join us in Oz on a more permanent basis soon!
Otherwise I spent a lot of time looking after myself as I'd gotten run down. This meant baking, lots of tea, some knitting and the rediscovery of sketching and jewellery making. So I have many reasons to look forward and now seems as good a time as any to start moving ahead with some projects.
2011 is being touted as the "year of legs". So in celebration of that I've decided to make it a year of sock knitting. So far so good!
I cast on the left sock of Twisted on Christmas day using a skein of my stashed Araucania Ranco Solid yarn in green which is looking gorgeous so far. The tiny 2mm needles have been proving a bit hard on my hands so it's been slow going. I've just gotten to the heel flap which I made a slight error on due to misreading the pattern but having solved that I seem to have discovered that I need to start over anyhow as the sock is a little too tight. ARGH!
Dad's Thuja socks, also cast on on Christmas day, are flying along. The 4mm needles are bliss to work with and Panda Magnum Soft is truly as it's named (soft that is, not a panda). Just turned the heel of the first sock and am a quarter of the way through the foot.
I also found the socks I had started to knit out of my pretty yarn from Norway. For the last two years they showed up around the house, I'd look at them, think how pretty they were and then lament the loss of the pattern and the broken needle. Finally the day after Boxing Day last year I decided that I could reverse engineer the pattern from what I had done already. After all I had one completed sock and 13 years of knitting experience. Armed with a stitch book and a new set of needles it took me a grand total of half an hour to work out the chevron pattern.
The final sock pattern that I currently have on the go is the Adirondack Socks which are my current crochet project. I'm making this out of a ball of Moda Vera Noir that's been in my stash as well.
Phew, that is a lot of socks! I do like working on several though as I find it easier on my hands and my interest levels. at this point I'm working on a different pair/pattern each day and it's entertaining me marvelously. I'm also really looking forward to making socks with Fi as we embark on some KALs this year.
Here's hoping I have a wonderful collection of socks by this time next year!
Showing posts with label year in short. Show all posts
Showing posts with label year in short. Show all posts
Monday, January 03, 2011
Friday, January 01, 2010
39 Q & A on 2009
My annual, where-did-my-year-go post. Happy New Year all!
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Saw more live theatre performances, that I wasn't working on, this year than ever before.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Honestly can't remember this year's resolutions so perhaps I'll just skip them for this year. Oh wait, I still can't juggle three balls.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
America, Macau SAR, Hong Kong
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More work!
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Saturday 7th Feburary because it felt like the city was burning down around us.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working out what I wanted in life, what's important to me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting sensible amounts of sleep.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not too badly this year. Except for slipping down some stairs and even that wasn't so bad.
11. What was the best thing you bought in 2009?
My Muppet!!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Clio & Zeus for being far more sociable than expected.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Can't think of anyone so it must have been a good year...
14. Did you do to any weddings?
Yes, three in fact.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My Muppet, my new camera, traveling and the amazing shows I saw, not necessarily in that order.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"I'm Alive" from "Next To Normal"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
---happier or sadder? Much happier
---thinner or heavier? Heavier
---richer or poorer? My life has been more enriched this year
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Baking and reading. Can never bake or read enough.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Euro Christmas with my adopted family on the eve, Christmas Day at home with the pugs trying to learn how to draw, Christmas night
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
:)
22. Were you rejected by anyone?
Not per se
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I'd have to say Battlestar Galactica, but I'm a bit behind in my TV viewing.
24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
Nope.
25. What was the best book you read?
The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doige, MD
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I still remember how to play the violin
27. What did you want and got?
A digital SLR
28. What did you want and did not get?
To go to the Merrell store in Hong Kong
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I enjoyed most of the films I saw this year. Maybe "Up".
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had the day off work and I'm still 26
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing, it was a pretty good year all round.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Blue jeans, black top.
33. What kept you sane?
My wonderful friends. They know who they are :)
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one really.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage.
36. Who did you miss?
My Mum and I still miss her.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
The lady in Washington Heights who showed me what berries to pick in the park.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Time is the most precious gift you can give.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you."
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Saw more live theatre performances, that I wasn't working on, this year than ever before.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Honestly can't remember this year's resolutions so perhaps I'll just skip them for this year. Oh wait, I still can't juggle three balls.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
America, Macau SAR, Hong Kong
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More work!
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Saturday 7th Feburary because it felt like the city was burning down around us.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working out what I wanted in life, what's important to me.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting sensible amounts of sleep.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not too badly this year. Except for slipping down some stairs and even that wasn't so bad.
11. What was the best thing you bought in 2009?
My Muppet!!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Clio & Zeus for being far more sociable than expected.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Can't think of anyone so it must have been a good year...
14. Did you do to any weddings?
Yes, three in fact.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My Muppet, my new camera, traveling and the amazing shows I saw, not necessarily in that order.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"I'm Alive" from "Next To Normal"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
---happier or sadder? Much happier
---thinner or heavier? Heavier
---richer or poorer? My life has been more enriched this year
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Baking and reading. Can never bake or read enough.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Euro Christmas with my adopted family on the eve, Christmas Day at home with the pugs trying to learn how to draw, Christmas night
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
:)
22. Were you rejected by anyone?
Not per se
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I'd have to say Battlestar Galactica, but I'm a bit behind in my TV viewing.
24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
Nope.
25. What was the best book you read?
The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doige, MD
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I still remember how to play the violin
27. What did you want and got?
A digital SLR
28. What did you want and did not get?
To go to the Merrell store in Hong Kong
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I enjoyed most of the films I saw this year. Maybe "Up".
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had the day off work and I'm still 26
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing, it was a pretty good year all round.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Blue jeans, black top.
33. What kept you sane?
My wonderful friends. They know who they are :)
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one really.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage.
36. Who did you miss?
My Mum and I still miss her.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
The lady in Washington Heights who showed me what berries to pick in the park.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Time is the most precious gift you can give.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you."
Saturday, January 03, 2009
39 Questions on 2008
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Flew a helicopter. Watched the Melbourne NYE fireworks live in the city. A few work related things. A couple of things that I shall keep to myself.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Still haven't achieved the juggling. Admittedly haven't really tried for a couple of years. Resolutions for 2009? Take better care of myself.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousins and one of my work friends.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Mum lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in December. My grandma (Mum's Mum) lost her battle with cervical cancer in November. Interesting to note there is not previous history of cancer on Mum's side of the family.
5. What countries did you visit?
Singapore.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More travel.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
15th December - a day filled with coloured cranes and my nearest & dearest.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Saying no to work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Unfinished projects largely knitting & crochet.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. The had the flu, and an ear infection that's it.
11. What was the best thing you bought in 2008?
Three lego kits. A train, a crane and a forklift/car.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents again but this time for their inspiring final 18 days & nights together. Anyone who can find romance in the face of death and in a hospital is truly amazing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'd rather not say.
14. Did you go to any weddings?
No
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Mum being in remission at the start of the year. I said it was "great" when I got the call and then an hour later was crying on the tram home.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Look Mummy, No Hands by Dillie Keane
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
---happier or sadder? same same
---thinner or heavier? thinner :(
---richer or poorer? same same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Lived a little and travel
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
(over)think
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Eve was spent watching Carols By Candlelight with Matt. Day was spent with family.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Perhaps
22. Were you rejected by anyone?
No?
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men for a new show. Got a little suckered into Grey's Anatomy & Private Practice too... oh and House
24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
Yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
The Name of the Wind closely followed by The Widow Clicquot and possibly Growing Up Asian in Australia
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Death Cab For Cutie & Gotye
27. What did you want and get?
More time to get to know Mum. An iPhone & the most amazing wool from Germany.
28. What did you want and did not get?
Overseas travel.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Madagascar 2 - I like to move it move it....
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to the supermarket. Did some laundry and French homework. Still 25.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More challenging work. Or more helicopter flying.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
More colourful than most years. More feminine in Brisbane because it was warm and I was in an office for 3 months.
33. What kept you sane?
Large quantities of tea. Nick.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Samuel Barnett. Always have a soft spot for Johnny Depp & Clive Owen though.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Couldn't say.
36. Who did you miss?
I miss my Lisa who's in Paris and Tamsin who's about to leave for the UK.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Natalie, she's like a long lost sister :)
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don't be afraid of living. There's always time for the little things and romance is not dead.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Flew a helicopter. Watched the Melbourne NYE fireworks live in the city. A few work related things. A couple of things that I shall keep to myself.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Still haven't achieved the juggling. Admittedly haven't really tried for a couple of years. Resolutions for 2009? Take better care of myself.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousins and one of my work friends.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Mum lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in December. My grandma (Mum's Mum) lost her battle with cervical cancer in November. Interesting to note there is not previous history of cancer on Mum's side of the family.
5. What countries did you visit?
Singapore.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More travel.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
15th December - a day filled with coloured cranes and my nearest & dearest.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Saying no to work.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Unfinished projects largely knitting & crochet.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. The had the flu, and an ear infection that's it.
11. What was the best thing you bought in 2008?
Three lego kits. A train, a crane and a forklift/car.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents again but this time for their inspiring final 18 days & nights together. Anyone who can find romance in the face of death and in a hospital is truly amazing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I'd rather not say.
14. Did you go to any weddings?
No
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Mum being in remission at the start of the year. I said it was "great" when I got the call and then an hour later was crying on the tram home.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Look Mummy, No Hands by Dillie Keane
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
---happier or sadder? same same
---thinner or heavier? thinner :(
---richer or poorer? same same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Lived a little and travel
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
(over)think
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Eve was spent watching Carols By Candlelight with Matt. Day was spent with family.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Perhaps
22. Were you rejected by anyone?
No?
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men for a new show. Got a little suckered into Grey's Anatomy & Private Practice too... oh and House
24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
Yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
The Name of the Wind closely followed by The Widow Clicquot and possibly Growing Up Asian in Australia
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Death Cab For Cutie & Gotye
27. What did you want and get?
More time to get to know Mum. An iPhone & the most amazing wool from Germany.
28. What did you want and did not get?
Overseas travel.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Madagascar 2 - I like to move it move it....
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to the supermarket. Did some laundry and French homework. Still 25.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More challenging work. Or more helicopter flying.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
More colourful than most years. More feminine in Brisbane because it was warm and I was in an office for 3 months.
33. What kept you sane?
Large quantities of tea. Nick.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Samuel Barnett. Always have a soft spot for Johnny Depp & Clive Owen though.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Couldn't say.
36. Who did you miss?
I miss my Lisa who's in Paris and Tamsin who's about to leave for the UK.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Natalie, she's like a long lost sister :)
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don't be afraid of living. There's always time for the little things and romance is not dead.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Wrench yourself from your demons
For far too long you’ve believed them
When they told you you were weak
Take a step in the tunnel
With the light ’round the bend
In the end
You can start to make amends
Who knows where you’ll go, baby
So much you could do!
Haven’t you heard, baby?
All will be well
If you want it to
Sunday, May 04, 2008
April Reading List
April started strong with plenty of reading done in the first few days. Then three and a half seasons of Grey's Anatomy coupled with some serious knitting & crochet proved to be formidable distractions.
1. The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort
2. Call Me Elizabeeth by Dawn Annandale
3. Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn
4. The Ages of Lulu by Almudena Grandes
5. The Encyclopedia of Crochet Techniques by Jan Eaton
Not sure how May's going to go... I still have several books I'm catching up on or finishing off but there are already other books catching my fancy and I'm hoping to finish knitting my jumper in the next week or so... Not to mention the French homework & reading I have to add to the list...
1. The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort
2. Call Me Elizabeeth by Dawn Annandale
3. Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn
4. The Ages of Lulu by Almudena Grandes
5. The Encyclopedia of Crochet Techniques by Jan Eaton
Not sure how May's going to go... I still have several books I'm catching up on or finishing off but there are already other books catching my fancy and I'm hoping to finish knitting my jumper in the next week or so... Not to mention the French homework & reading I have to add to the list...
Monday, March 31, 2008
March Reading List
Far less falling apart this month, much more normal levels of crazy in my head. Sadly this hasn't translated to the number of books read.
1. A Child's True History of Crime by Chloe Hooper
2. Small Gods by Terry Pratchett (re-read)
3. Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett (partial re-read, started but hadn't previously finished it)
4. Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett (partial re-read, as above)
5. Odd & The Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
6. The Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel
So who guessed that I'd just finished unpacking my Pratchett collection this month?
I'm interested to note that I've consistently read six books per month for the first quarter of the year. It's not a conscious goal but seems to be my average for times when I'm not spending weeks on end being a book hermit.
Update
Knew I should have kept a running list as I read... I actually made it to 7 books (ten if you want to be accurate but I'm counting Lost Girls by Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie as one book broken into three volumes.
1. A Child's True History of Crime by Chloe Hooper
2. Small Gods by Terry Pratchett (re-read)
3. Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett (partial re-read, started but hadn't previously finished it)
4. Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett (partial re-read, as above)
5. Odd & The Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
6. The Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel
So who guessed that I'd just finished unpacking my Pratchett collection this month?
I'm interested to note that I've consistently read six books per month for the first quarter of the year. It's not a conscious goal but seems to be my average for times when I'm not spending weeks on end being a book hermit.
Update
Knew I should have kept a running list as I read... I actually made it to 7 books (ten if you want to be accurate but I'm counting Lost Girls by Alan Moore & Melinda Gebbie as one book broken into three volumes.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
February Reading List
Well, I've been slack with the blogging but life fell apart a little (at least in my head) so I've been taking some time to re-group.
Anyhow, books read in February were:
1. Thud by Terry Pratchett
2. Where's My Cow by Terry Pratchett (re-read)
3. The Black Crusade by Richard Harland
4. Green Eggs & Ham by Dr Seuss (re-read)
5. Shadowfall by James Clemens (re-read)
6. Hinterlands by James Clemens
Not a great deal of reading done and most of it happened on the 28th February but hopefully I'll manage to get a few more in. After all there's a medium box of books that have been waiting patiently for me to read them for almost 2 years now.
Anyhow, books read in February were:
1. Thud by Terry Pratchett
2. Where's My Cow by Terry Pratchett (re-read)
3. The Black Crusade by Richard Harland
4. Green Eggs & Ham by Dr Seuss (re-read)
5. Shadowfall by James Clemens (re-read)
6. Hinterlands by James Clemens
Not a great deal of reading done and most of it happened on the 28th February but hopefully I'll manage to get a few more in. After all there's a medium box of books that have been waiting patiently for me to read them for almost 2 years now.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Books Read in January 2008
January
1. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
2. Blind Lake by Robert Charles Wilson
3. Signal to Noise by Dave McKean & Neil Gaiman
4. Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
5. Grass for his Pillow by Lian Hearn
6. One Red Paperclip by Kyle MacDonald
1. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
2. Blind Lake by Robert Charles Wilson
3. Signal to Noise by Dave McKean & Neil Gaiman
4. Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn
5. Grass for his Pillow by Lian Hearn
6. One Red Paperclip by Kyle MacDonald
Monday, December 31, 2007
39 Questions on 2007
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Traveled to Darwin and lived there for three months. Traveled to Norway (yay for the Arctic Circle), Belgium, Germany and Spain. Had the chicken pox (and as a result had my first doctor's appointment in French). Called a dance show. Baked pound cake, lebkuchen and vast quantities of shortbread. Went dog sledding, tobogganing and horse sleigh riding under the Northern Lights. What a year of firsts!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I think I achieved same same, but different however the three ball juggling still needs practice.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I'm aware of or recall.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.
5. What countries did you visit?
France, England, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Singapore, Qatar.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Direction.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
2nd Feb - Gene & I celebrated our 5th anniversary in St Flour and Nick gave us the most beautiful gift of a script.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting to make life decisions and learning (still learning) to life with the repercussions.
9. What was your biggest failure?
not working hard enough on my relationship
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Chicken pox, minor joint damage to my left shoulder and a rather nasty case of tonsillitis. All in all a good year...
11. What was the best thing you bought in 2007?
my laptop!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents for both taking the news that Mum has pancreatic cancer in their stride. For their strength and determination and solidarity through the treatment so far and for the serenity that they seem to have found in this difficult time. I applaud them and hope that one day I will find a similar serenity in the face of challenge.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably my own but that's more depressed than appalled.
14. Did you do to any weddings?
nope.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Cookies! Armed with 500 Cookies and the internet the baked goods world is my oyster. On a more serious note, hearing that Mum's cancer seems to be gone.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Intermission by The Scissor Sisters
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
---happier or sadder? sadder
---thinner or heavier? *sigh* thinner
---richer or poorer? poorer financially, richer in life experience
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
reading, knitting/crochet, baking
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
being unproductive
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Eve was spent singing carols in the dark to entertain Mum (we had a black out) and handing out cookies to people in the court we live in. Day was spent partially at Grubby's and at home cooking roast for my folks.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
no
22. Were you rejected by anyone?
no
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Had a big Gilmore Girls thing going mid year but seem to have taken a real shine to Grand Designs. Oh and the Green Wing ("She's your schmoo too!", classic...)
24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
nope
25. What was the best book you read?
Close call between His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, Lost Girls by Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie (comics count as books in my library) and The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oedo Sukeroku Taiko
27. What did you want and got?
many things with many outcomes
28. What did you want and did not get?
the location of a missing box of my favourite books from when my folks moved about 5 years ago!
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Honestly didn't see much film this year so I don't feel I can answer this one!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Mourned the loss of Percy the pinata, spent the day with Gene & my folks before dinner at my favourite Japanese restaurant to celebrate both my birthday and my family's 21 years of being in Australia before catching up with my ever wonderful friends at the Bystander Bar for Comedy at Trades. I'm still 24.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
it would take more than one thing (yes I want to eat the damn cake too)
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
fashion concept you say...? umm same as last year although possible more summer oriented given the three months in Darwin. Still largely black though.
33. What kept you sane?
My ever patient friends and family.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm still happy to watch Johnny Depp, Clive Owen and Cillian Murphy at this point but to be honest I haven't really followed the celebrities much this year either.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
probably the abortion debate although I acknowledge that climate change is a rather important issue too.
36. Who did you miss?
no one in particular, I've managed to keep in touch with quite a few people even if it hasn't been face to face.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't pick! The team I worked with up in Darwin and most of the people I worked with the the last half of the year are all pretty amazing.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
See below.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
... getting your dreams it's strange, but it seems a little - well - complicated. There's a kind of a sort of cost. There's a couple of things get lost. There are bridges you cross you didn't know you crossed until you've crossed. And if that joy, that thrill, doesn't thrill you like you think it will. Still... Who wouldn't be happier? So I couldn't be happier, because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true. Well, isn't it?
Traveled to Darwin and lived there for three months. Traveled to Norway (yay for the Arctic Circle), Belgium, Germany and Spain. Had the chicken pox (and as a result had my first doctor's appointment in French). Called a dance show. Baked pound cake, lebkuchen and vast quantities of shortbread. Went dog sledding, tobogganing and horse sleigh riding under the Northern Lights. What a year of firsts!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I think I achieved same same, but different however the three ball juggling still needs practice.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I'm aware of or recall.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.
5. What countries did you visit?
France, England, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Singapore, Qatar.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Direction.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
2nd Feb - Gene & I celebrated our 5th anniversary in St Flour and Nick gave us the most beautiful gift of a script.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting to make life decisions and learning (still learning) to life with the repercussions.
9. What was your biggest failure?
not working hard enough on my relationship
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Chicken pox, minor joint damage to my left shoulder and a rather nasty case of tonsillitis. All in all a good year...
11. What was the best thing you bought in 2007?
my laptop!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My parents for both taking the news that Mum has pancreatic cancer in their stride. For their strength and determination and solidarity through the treatment so far and for the serenity that they seem to have found in this difficult time. I applaud them and hope that one day I will find a similar serenity in the face of challenge.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Probably my own but that's more depressed than appalled.
14. Did you do to any weddings?
nope.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Cookies! Armed with 500 Cookies and the internet the baked goods world is my oyster. On a more serious note, hearing that Mum's cancer seems to be gone.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Intermission by The Scissor Sisters
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
---happier or sadder? sadder
---thinner or heavier? *sigh* thinner
---richer or poorer? poorer financially, richer in life experience
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
reading, knitting/crochet, baking
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
being unproductive
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Eve was spent singing carols in the dark to entertain Mum (we had a black out) and handing out cookies to people in the court we live in. Day was spent partially at Grubby's and at home cooking roast for my folks.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
no
22. Were you rejected by anyone?
no
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Had a big Gilmore Girls thing going mid year but seem to have taken a real shine to Grand Designs. Oh and the Green Wing ("She's your schmoo too!", classic...)
24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
nope
25. What was the best book you read?
Close call between His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, Lost Girls by Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie (comics count as books in my library) and The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oedo Sukeroku Taiko
27. What did you want and got?
many things with many outcomes
28. What did you want and did not get?
the location of a missing box of my favourite books from when my folks moved about 5 years ago!
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Honestly didn't see much film this year so I don't feel I can answer this one!
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Mourned the loss of Percy the pinata, spent the day with Gene & my folks before dinner at my favourite Japanese restaurant to celebrate both my birthday and my family's 21 years of being in Australia before catching up with my ever wonderful friends at the Bystander Bar for Comedy at Trades. I'm still 24.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
it would take more than one thing (yes I want to eat the damn cake too)
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
fashion concept you say...? umm same as last year although possible more summer oriented given the three months in Darwin. Still largely black though.
33. What kept you sane?
My ever patient friends and family.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm still happy to watch Johnny Depp, Clive Owen and Cillian Murphy at this point but to be honest I haven't really followed the celebrities much this year either.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
probably the abortion debate although I acknowledge that climate change is a rather important issue too.
36. Who did you miss?
no one in particular, I've managed to keep in touch with quite a few people even if it hasn't been face to face.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't pick! The team I worked with up in Darwin and most of the people I worked with the the last half of the year are all pretty amazing.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
See below.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
... getting your dreams it's strange, but it seems a little - well - complicated. There's a kind of a sort of cost. There's a couple of things get lost. There are bridges you cross you didn't know you crossed until you've crossed. And if that joy, that thrill, doesn't thrill you like you think it will. Still... Who wouldn't be happier? So I couldn't be happier, because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true. Well, isn't it?
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Hallas 2006, bring on 2007!
Last year was amazing. It was so fantastic that I can barely believe how well it went!
I'm not sure if I mentioned this at the start of 2006 and I'm not online so I can't go back and check but I started the year with two resolutions.
1. 2006 was going to be a better year (than the last 22)
2. Be able to juggle three balls comfortably
I can say that I well and truly achieved resolution one. Resolution two? Well, there's always 2007! I can vaguely juggle three balls... just not very long...
It was a rocky start to 2006 for me as I saw then New Year in through teary eyes but things only improved with each passing day. 2006 saw me travel to Japan & England, two places that I've dreamt of going since I was little. In fact I'm still in England as I type this. I was lucky enough to work on and watch four ceremonies in the space of eight months not to mention the incredible people I've met along the way.
My last day of 2006 was spent visiting Stonehenge with Gene & Nick. Gene's Aunt Jackie kindly drove us there despite the weather forecast for galeforce winds and allowed us to roam about the fields observing the rather ancient stones. My brain is still struggling to comprehend how old everything is over here. I took several photos but was distracted at one point by the rather stunning road that was just over the hill from Stonehenge. I was momentarily transported to my childhood weekends spent driving around regional Victoria hunting good roads for filming (preferably no powerlines). This was an awesome road. I mentioned this to Gene and he pointed out (rightly so) that he was more fascinated by the big rocks in front of us that had been there much longer than the road and that we'd just paid six pounds to see. Did I mention I was struggling with how old things are over here?
Actually, I think my brain is just struggling in general. I can't even remember what I posted last. I'm dying to write something and share how fantastic this trip is but I'm just lost for words. It's a little sad because everytime I manage to find Internet access I totally lose the ability to write anything. Typical!
Anyhow, after Stonehenge we had lunch in a pub and I started to send my first round of New Year well wishes via SMS to some of the folks in Australia. Not sure if all the messages made it though as I did get a couple of error messages but the thought was there! It was really great to hear back from so many people. Sending the messages made me miss home a bit. It made me realise how many people were back in Melbourne who I wouldn't see for quite some time.
After lunch we went back to Aunt Jackie's house where we were kindly allowed to use the Internet and laundry facilities. We all checked our emails and most importantly finances while making sure that we had some clean clothes for the New Year. Multi-tasking is a beautiful thing!
Once we were sorted out Tom drove us back to Guildford with Jamie and we had dinner at Dragon Phoenix. At long last we were able to enjoy the delights of char siew. We've only been searching all of France and most of Aldershot/Guildford for the last two weeks for this BBQ pork dish. It wasn't as good as Dad's cooking but it'll tie us over until mid-Feb! Along with our other Chinese restaurant staples (salt & pepper squid etc) we sampled some of the wine... Great Wall of Peking was less palatable than we thought it would have been but the slightly cheaper muscodet was an improvement.
I headed back to the flat after dinner because I didn't really feel up to a big night. I just want to knock off this stupid cold that I've carried here from Paris. Didn't think a long night of whiskey in a smokey pub was going to help things. Gene & Nick headed back with Jamie & Tom to a pub in Aldershot where they apparently saw the New Year in and made sure of it by celebrating until 8am.
My last couple of hours of 2006 were spent curled up in bed with my journal for some last minute musings before leafing through Fragile Things. The next thing I knew there were fireworks being let off and the cries of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... OI OI OI resounding in the street below. Apparently we're not the only Australians in Guildford... It was a quiet night but just what I needed. The rest of the night was passed in bouts of sleep interjected with listening to my iPod.
I woke up today and had a relaxing morning of stretching, reading, a bit more knitting (I'm making Gene a scarf so he doesn't have to pay thirty pounds for a bought one) and then a trip to the shops to check out the sales. I achieved my mission of finding a skirt. It's amazing how four months in steel caps, high vis vests and hard hats can make you want to wear a skirt and knee high boots. Maybe that's just me.
At about 4pm I got a message from Nick saying that they'd made it home and were wondering where I was so I headed back armed with some wine, cheese and bread to see how they were faring. Nick was well if a little sleep deprived. Gene was a little... fragile. The rest of our night was passed over a game of Scrabble before the lads decided it was bed time.
Right now I'm archiving my files having just sorted through about five years of photos on my computer. My laptop is screaming for more memory at the moment so I'm rather appreciating the hard drive that Dad sent me.
Transfer's almost complete so I should finish here.
We're (finally) heading back up to London tomorrow. If all goes to plan we'll be seeing Wicked tomorrow night. There is talk of seeing the Tate Modern tomorrow so we'll see how that goes.
Plenty of photos to be uploaded when I get the chance of Paris and Stonehenge. Will try and ramble less in the next post... maybe that should be part of this year's resolutions list... I'll work on it.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this at the start of 2006 and I'm not online so I can't go back and check but I started the year with two resolutions.
1. 2006 was going to be a better year (than the last 22)
2. Be able to juggle three balls comfortably
I can say that I well and truly achieved resolution one. Resolution two? Well, there's always 2007! I can vaguely juggle three balls... just not very long...
It was a rocky start to 2006 for me as I saw then New Year in through teary eyes but things only improved with each passing day. 2006 saw me travel to Japan & England, two places that I've dreamt of going since I was little. In fact I'm still in England as I type this. I was lucky enough to work on and watch four ceremonies in the space of eight months not to mention the incredible people I've met along the way.
My last day of 2006 was spent visiting Stonehenge with Gene & Nick. Gene's Aunt Jackie kindly drove us there despite the weather forecast for galeforce winds and allowed us to roam about the fields observing the rather ancient stones. My brain is still struggling to comprehend how old everything is over here. I took several photos but was distracted at one point by the rather stunning road that was just over the hill from Stonehenge. I was momentarily transported to my childhood weekends spent driving around regional Victoria hunting good roads for filming (preferably no powerlines). This was an awesome road. I mentioned this to Gene and he pointed out (rightly so) that he was more fascinated by the big rocks in front of us that had been there much longer than the road and that we'd just paid six pounds to see. Did I mention I was struggling with how old things are over here?
Actually, I think my brain is just struggling in general. I can't even remember what I posted last. I'm dying to write something and share how fantastic this trip is but I'm just lost for words. It's a little sad because everytime I manage to find Internet access I totally lose the ability to write anything. Typical!
Anyhow, after Stonehenge we had lunch in a pub and I started to send my first round of New Year well wishes via SMS to some of the folks in Australia. Not sure if all the messages made it though as I did get a couple of error messages but the thought was there! It was really great to hear back from so many people. Sending the messages made me miss home a bit. It made me realise how many people were back in Melbourne who I wouldn't see for quite some time.
After lunch we went back to Aunt Jackie's house where we were kindly allowed to use the Internet and laundry facilities. We all checked our emails and most importantly finances while making sure that we had some clean clothes for the New Year. Multi-tasking is a beautiful thing!
Once we were sorted out Tom drove us back to Guildford with Jamie and we had dinner at Dragon Phoenix. At long last we were able to enjoy the delights of char siew. We've only been searching all of France and most of Aldershot/Guildford for the last two weeks for this BBQ pork dish. It wasn't as good as Dad's cooking but it'll tie us over until mid-Feb! Along with our other Chinese restaurant staples (salt & pepper squid etc) we sampled some of the wine... Great Wall of Peking was less palatable than we thought it would have been but the slightly cheaper muscodet was an improvement.
I headed back to the flat after dinner because I didn't really feel up to a big night. I just want to knock off this stupid cold that I've carried here from Paris. Didn't think a long night of whiskey in a smokey pub was going to help things. Gene & Nick headed back with Jamie & Tom to a pub in Aldershot where they apparently saw the New Year in and made sure of it by celebrating until 8am.
My last couple of hours of 2006 were spent curled up in bed with my journal for some last minute musings before leafing through Fragile Things. The next thing I knew there were fireworks being let off and the cries of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... OI OI OI resounding in the street below. Apparently we're not the only Australians in Guildford... It was a quiet night but just what I needed. The rest of the night was passed in bouts of sleep interjected with listening to my iPod.
I woke up today and had a relaxing morning of stretching, reading, a bit more knitting (I'm making Gene a scarf so he doesn't have to pay thirty pounds for a bought one) and then a trip to the shops to check out the sales. I achieved my mission of finding a skirt. It's amazing how four months in steel caps, high vis vests and hard hats can make you want to wear a skirt and knee high boots. Maybe that's just me.
At about 4pm I got a message from Nick saying that they'd made it home and were wondering where I was so I headed back armed with some wine, cheese and bread to see how they were faring. Nick was well if a little sleep deprived. Gene was a little... fragile. The rest of our night was passed over a game of Scrabble before the lads decided it was bed time.
Right now I'm archiving my files having just sorted through about five years of photos on my computer. My laptop is screaming for more memory at the moment so I'm rather appreciating the hard drive that Dad sent me.
Transfer's almost complete so I should finish here.
We're (finally) heading back up to London tomorrow. If all goes to plan we'll be seeing Wicked tomorrow night. There is talk of seeing the Tate Modern tomorrow so we'll see how that goes.
Plenty of photos to be uploaded when I get the chance of Paris and Stonehenge. Will try and ramble less in the next post... maybe that should be part of this year's resolutions list... I'll work on it.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
And so this is Christmas...
I was about to say that 2004 has been a big year, but I still haven't really decided whether or not it has.
I suppose my biggest achievement would be having made a decision about what I was going to do with my life, more specifically with respect to my studies. It's one of those significant decisions that will never seem quite as bad written/spoken as it was to make.
2004, the year of the Monkey, saw my:
- first secondment to a professional show (which was awesome and a great learning experience)
- first taste of daily "long" distance travel between two jobs and what it's like to live in a car
- first paid gig on a festival
- first three months of Spiegel
- first debit card
- first festive season without my family
- first full time job (which lasted all of two months before I had a minor epiphany and remembered that I didn't want to work in a call centre for the rest of my life, regardless of how great a place my work place is)
- second dispute (unsuccessful) with a university
- second discontinuation from a university course
- second house move with my better half and our first housemate
Looking back on that, it has been an eventful year, but no more eventful than any others really. It certainly isn't the most eventful year. that would have to have been four years ago when there were a few deaths in quick succession of people that I knew, some more surprising than others.
I'm ready for the new year, as ready as I ever am. Armed with my new organiser with its lovely blue ball point pen and the hope that I will achieve a few of my goals for the year. I'm looking forward to making the most of my year off study.
Having said that, we'll see how I fare when the year actually begins...
I suppose my biggest achievement would be having made a decision about what I was going to do with my life, more specifically with respect to my studies. It's one of those significant decisions that will never seem quite as bad written/spoken as it was to make.
2004, the year of the Monkey, saw my:
- first secondment to a professional show (which was awesome and a great learning experience)
- first taste of daily "long" distance travel between two jobs and what it's like to live in a car
- first paid gig on a festival
- first three months of Spiegel
- first debit card
- first festive season without my family
- first full time job (which lasted all of two months before I had a minor epiphany and remembered that I didn't want to work in a call centre for the rest of my life, regardless of how great a place my work place is)
- second dispute (unsuccessful) with a university
- second discontinuation from a university course
- second house move with my better half and our first housemate
Looking back on that, it has been an eventful year, but no more eventful than any others really. It certainly isn't the most eventful year. that would have to have been four years ago when there were a few deaths in quick succession of people that I knew, some more surprising than others.
I'm ready for the new year, as ready as I ever am. Armed with my new organiser with its lovely blue ball point pen and the hope that I will achieve a few of my goals for the year. I'm looking forward to making the most of my year off study.
Having said that, we'll see how I fare when the year actually begins...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
