Hello 2013!

First things first though, let's do this right and say goodbye to 2012 by trotting out these questions and answers...

 1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I challenged myself several times in the kitchen but I think my biggest thing was only a matter of days ago when I stuffed and baked a whole salmon that was essentially the size of a whale. Somehow it fit in the oven. Somehow I managed to make it taste delicious (so I've been told) even though I had the biggest stinker of an evil cold and felt like death warmed up. Sadly I couldn't really taste how nice it was so I'll just have to do it all over again to enjoy the full yumminess.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I stopped making resolutions a long time ago. If you're going to grab life by the horns and make it yours it's kind of an all year round thing, not just a first few days of the year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep, right at the end of the year! On 31st December, the second baby M was born, hello little boy! I've not been to see the family yet due to aforementioned stinker of a cold which will not go away (mutha-effer) but once I'm all perky and chipper I'll be there with bells on for my cuddle!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Towards the end of the year was not such good times sadly. One of my work colleagues and friends lost her fight with cancer. She was 40. It was beyond sad and I spent a lot of time welling up when I least expected it. I don't really know how to put into words how sad I am for her family...

5. What countries did you visit?
We returned to France and had the most wonderful of holidays in a beautiful house that was miles from anything, where you had to drive across a bridge with no sides over a river, along a twisty turny path. When I close my eyes I can still see my steps where I sat basking in the sunshine, admiring the most amazing view. Definitely a holiday never to be forgotten.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
The jury is still out on this one. I'm really really hoping for something but I'm not saying too much in case it doesn't happen...

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory?
I know it's a little shallow but probably the France holiday in September. I've never before felt like I needed a holiday so much as I did this year. The summer was so tough at work and I was counting down the days desperately until we went. When we finally arrived on 1st September I knew it was going to be something special and for 2 weeks it truly was just amazing and unforgettable times.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Surviving yet another year in the hole that is my work. I think it's safe to say that I'm almost at breaking point and if something doesn't happen soon...well I may not be responsible for my actions...

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting the work stuff get to me. Every day I vow to myself that I'm not going to let it get to me, yet every day I come home and spend a good proportion of the evening talking about it. If I make any resolution for this year (and as you've read I don't really do that) it will be to amend this situation. It will not get the better of me, it really won't! 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
This year I was broken! I had a hairline fracture of one of my metatarsels. It doesn't really sound much but it really really hurt! There's still times now, months later when it twinges a little bit and I'm really not convinced that it has straightened out correctly. But it hasn't affected the shoe buying too much which is good news.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A really cool, retro looking docker for my ipod. It's ace! And the sound is amazing and I love it lots!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My work colleague and friend who finally lost her battle with cancer. Right up until the end she fought that fucker with determination and humour that never ceased to amaze me. It was truly inspiring and so brave.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Nick Clegg. Sell out. Judas. Dick. I could go on but it would just descend into name calling. Whenever he comes on the tv I shout at him. Rude words that would make my mam blush.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Insurance. I really don't like insurance companies. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My car! I've been able to drive since I was 17 but until I was 37 I had never ever had my very own car. On 4th January 2012 Zippy came into my life and he's just the best! I love walking out of the house into my warm and dry car. I love that it takes me 8 minutes to drive to work instead of sitting on a stinky bus with stinky people for anything from 50 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic. I know that cars are not very green. But you know what? Cars rule! At least they do when you get your very own for the first time ever!

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
"Obsessions" by Marina and the Diamonds. I don't think it came out last year but I spent a lot of time listening to it and singing along to it and dancing to it and blasting it out of my new ipod docker speakers. Great song! 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Probably about the same. I'll be really happy when this evil cold and cough are gone from my life!
b) thinner or fatter? No doubt fatter. Wavey and I ate a box of matchmakers between us one day over Christmas. We're not proud but we did it. Bananas are my new friend...
c) richer or poorer? For the first time ever I can say richer. Selling a house will do that for you.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
More holidays! Normally we aim for about 5 a year with short breaks but we only really crammed in a couple which is way under my requirements. More holidays this year for definite!

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Moaning. Whining. No more!

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We went up to my folks which was lovely. Well it would have been if Wavey hadn't been feeling like death with the evil cold and cough which I then got...Christmas was illness for us this year and it was rubbish!!

21. For some reason this question is AWOL.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Over and over again...

23. How many one night stands?
A good girl never tells...

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Oooh tricksy! There's been a lot of good stuff that I've really enjoyed. Revenge was surprisingly good, series 2 starts tomorrow, exciting! For consistently making me laugh I'm going to go with The Big Bang Theory. I just love it!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Can I say Nick Clegg again...?

26. What was the best book you read?
Sometimes, because I read so much, the books tend to roll into one but there have been some stand outs. I've just finished "A million little pieces" by James Frey which was very hard to read, as in the subject matter, but I love his style and it left me thinking and keeps popping into my head every now and then.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
It's been quiet on the old music front this past year. I did go to a pretty special gig that was labelled as Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, but was actually Sam Duckworth (the lead singer) and he was amazing and a really interesting guy. There was only a handful of people there and I felt priviledged to be one of them.

28. What did you want and get?
Great and memorable times with my special peeps. They know who they are and I hope that 2013 will see more.

29. What did you want and not get?
A way out of my job hole.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Another tricksy question! I always find this hard to answer. I can tell you that my least favourite film of the year was Silver Playbooks Lining or whatever it was called. Don't see that. It was grim. 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 37 and we had a cocktail party! Peeps got dressed up like lay-deez and gents in dresses and suits and we pretended like we were in Mad Men!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less time whining / moaning / wanting to strangle people. I'm working on it...

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
A never ending search for funky boots. I found a couple of pairs but never really did find a replacement for my knee high purple suede boots that will always be my most beloved pair of boots ever.

34. What kept you sane?
A lot of ranting and whining and moaning. Also saying what I really wanted to say with my thinking voice whilst something else entirely came out of my mouth.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Bradley Cooper. He is definitely hot. And Nigella. Girl crush central. 

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I found myself deeply interested in the US election and was very relieved when Obama was re-elected. On the home front I am often "stirred" by the Clegg / Cameron nightmare and by stirred I mean shouting at the tv and calling them very bad names. I have also been appalled to read in several places now how many people in the UK are so poor that they can't afford to eat. This makes me very sad and often finds me considering opening a soup kitchen from my front garden. Seriously. It just might happen one day soon.

37. Who did you miss?
This may sound a little feeble but my answer here is Wavey. He was away a LOT last year and it will probably be the same this year. I really really really miss him when he's away and do a lot of the bravado thing. I freely admit that I'm a total puff.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I'm not sure I did meet anyone new who left a lasting impression, that's kind of sad. But we did start spending more time outside of theatre with a couple of people and we go for regular brunch and we laugh and laugh and talk about really interesting and creative stuff, I love it!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012:
It is possible to actually make yourself smaller when you're stuck in a room and really don't want to hear what someone is saying soooo much. If you start to slide down your chair and tuck your head into your body your ears become kind of muffled. It might look a bit odd but it works a treat at blocking out unwanted noise.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Lose your dreams and you could lose your mind...ain't life unkind. The Rolling Stones. I'm thinking of getting it tattooed on my body somewhere. 

Final thoughts:
2012 - survived. 2013 - bring it!