Thursday 8 January 2009

One more time for the cheap seats in the back...

It's that time of year once again, albeit a few days late (ahem). Yep, time to look back on the year that was and pen some wise old owl words about what was up in 2008. As before I stole this particular idea from Librarian Girl. But she nicked it from someone else so it's more about sharing than thieving.

Are we all sitting comfortably? Then let us begin:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Might as well start with the hair. This time I went for purple chunks. No-one told me this would require bleaching the hair first. And that my eyebrow would get bleached in the process. It's all a learning curve I guess. I also repaired a shed room. And painted a yard wall, never done that before until last year. Went to a Thai cookery class and made lots of yummy food. There's a few other things I'd not done before either but they're for me to know and you lot to be endlessly curious about...

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
They're not resolutions as such, more like a new life philosophy. This year I've decided to practice the well known "nyeh" followed by the shrug of the shoulders to all things work related that I believe should be filed under the petty umbrella, and possibly the duuuurrrr umbrella too. And the other is to try to reign in my oh-so-opinionated self. I am wisely beginning to see that often it is better to keep schtum than say something hurtful.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep! Two of my beloved uni friends had babies, baby girl was up first and she be just smashing. I haven't met baby boy yet but I will have in a week, so exciting! And I should also mention baby New Zealand who, although not close by, was born in December. So many babies. Tis truly bonkers. Stolen blatantly from Wavey whose just joined me, the question should probably be, who do I know who doesn't have a baby!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No and for this I am always grateful. I'll be beyond sad when I have to write something different in this box.

5. What countries did you visit?
Absolutely none. Just good old Grande Bretagne. My house needed a lot of repairs this year so no jollies for me.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I'm being uber cheeky in this question cos last year I said I needed some shoes and I got them. So this year I'm going to up the ante and say that what I really needed in 2008 was this:
Photobucket
Just to clarify, that's a Mini. Cooper. Black. Cheers guys!

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
There might be one weekend in September that will always remain very special...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It's got to be work again I reckon. It was a tough year, there was a lot of horrible times but there were also some incredibly rewarding times. And knowing that people I respect have respect for me, well, that's just big stuff.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not saving the extra that I was being paid for acting up for 16 months. Now that the recession is biting...hindsight's a beautiful thing.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Does the devil's cold count? That was pretty hideous. I haven't felt that rotten in ages. And people all around are still suffering. Take your germs elsewhere please.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
This is a very tricky question. Cos I muchly love everything that I buy or I don't buy it at all. I do like my uber short floral dress. But then again I also like my navy and cream stripey cardie. See? Tricky!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm a bit of a newshound at the moment so I'm going to say Obama. His victory speech was amazing and I'm really hoping that some of the bad choices and decisions will be fixed by him. Plus, when he was Torso of the Week in heat magazine he really was pretty fine! Yay!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Sadly the answer to this is probably still the work colleagues. I work with some real sucky people and they make other's lives a misery. This both appalls and depresses me cos they've gotten away with it for so long and they still never get pulled up about it. Sucks. Big style.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Still the house. And big upkeep this year. My old house decided last year would be the time when LOTS of things would go wrong. Eeek! Luckily the Dizz Dad and Wavey have proved super useful in all things housey, yay!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Christmas! I really did. There were so many exciting things happening. I had an open house for all my friends and family that was just super. Tizz was home for a whole week. Wavey and I spent our first Christmas together as a couple and it was utterly lovely and delightful and soppy and I'll stop there before you all reach for your sick buckets.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Kings of Leon: Revelry. I just love it. And when I watched them perform it live right in front of me I was quite simply in music heaven.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Dizz is always a smiley girl
b) thinner or fatter? Probably about the same I would imagine. The jeans still fit anyhoo
c) richer or poorer? Poorer. Cos I've gone back to my old job. But then I thank god that I have a job to go to at all in this current climate.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Save money. Then I could have gone on holiday. Maybe.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Two jobs at the same time at work. Horrible. Hated it both times. It made me feel stressy and anxious and bordering on teary and that is not a happy Dizz.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
This year it was a very busy one! Started off with Wavey and did the whole opening presents thing. As he went to his family I went to mine, before we met up again at my family mansion for Christmas dinner with the parentals. Many many hours and several alcoholic drinks later, we meandered back up the village to Wavey's where we were joined by Tizz, who enjoyed the open fire, the free flowing snacks and alcohol, and the crap TV. You can't ask for much more than that!

21. For some reason this question is AWOL.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I could skirt around this issue but to be honest I don't want to. The simple answer is yes. And if I could shout it from the rooftops I would. Tis truly a fabby thing and I am a very happy girl.

23. How many one night stands?
Nosy!

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Lost in Austen. LOVED IT! I did. So much so that I bought it on dvd. And have watched it since then lots of times. Oh and Pushing Daisies. And Skins. Bring back the good tv.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yikes. I truly try not to hate anyone. Horrible question.

26. What was the best book you read?
Can I tell you the worst instead? Little Men by Louisa May Alcott. It was the most sugary barfworthy morality-forcing piece of tripe that has ever fallen into my lap. I finally finished it (for defeat would not be admitted) but it was rubbish. Don't do it peeps!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
They're not really new as such but Kings of Leon rocked my world this year. As did Aerosmith. And I do like Alphabeat too. Oh and Kitty, Daisy and Lewis...as per usual, the list is long.

28. What did you want and get?
Drum lessons!

29. What did you want and not get?
Money. Lots of money. Nah not really. But a wee bit extra wouldn't go amiss.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Pursuit of Happyness :o))


31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33. And in order to celebrate I had a right old shindig. It was utterly marvellous. Old friends found on facebook came and I loved it. Didn't go to bed til 5.30 in the a.m. Bad hangover next day. Nice one!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Seeing more of my loved ones who live far away.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Tchah! Goes without saying. Utterly fabulous.

34. What kept you sane?
Oh come on. Who wants to be sane?

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I still adore David Tennant. But I reckon it has to be Lee Pace, the piemaker. Oh those eyes. Seriously, you could melt.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gotta be Obama. He's the man!

37. Who did you miss?
My loved ones who don't live just round the corner where I really want them to be. Sometimes you just really really want to see them but it's not so easy when they're a few hundred miles away. Everyone should live in Norton!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
The wee babies are always a pleasure. They're just so cute. And funny. And they all love my hair. And try and win at staring contests but they really should know better.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
That being brave and saying what you feel can lead to wonderful things.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Dreaming of revelry....

Final thoughts:
Not sure how to end it now. As before it's been another amazing year. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and all that jazz. I will say that I wish everyone a very happy and very healthy New Year and let's hope we kick this recession in the arse without any of us falling at its feet.

Happy New Year! xx

Tuesday 6 January 2009

Naughty Naughty

Oops. I bought something I shouldn't have today. I splashed out and bought a Wii. I've wanted one for ages but have managed to resist until today. I haven't got it yet - if I had I wouldn't be writing this, I'd be playing tennis or bowling or surfing.

The problem with me and computer games is that I won't stop. Ever. I keep going even if I'm freezing and starving and desperately need the loo and the phone is ringing off the hook. I would probably keep going as my flat burned to cinders around me and hunky firemen tried to rescue me. So as Dizz said, "See you next year."