The New Year's Questionnaire
Total radio-blog silence since July... Possibly a new record!
Anyway. Let's see how things stand. What kind of year was 2015 in the Magic27 house?
I feel kind of obliged to admit that 2015 was, without doubt, a better year than the previous...euh...6. That doesn't, of course, mean that it was a good year, just a better one. But progress is progress; let's hope 2015 was just the start of a decidedly upward trend!
Thanks again to Linda for this...
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
I'm really not sure about this one. I have no idea. So, probably nothing I suppose...
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't really make any resolutions last year. As a result, I'll probably try and think up something vaguely attainable for 2012 (say, eating less crap or going to bed earlier) and hope I fare better
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. But my lovely upstairs neighbour is due to do so in March this year...
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
England, Italy and Scotland.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
This never seems to change, from one year to the next: a better financial situation. But I'm going to add to that a second thing: a better relationship with my 14-year-old daughter, C. Because that area of my life is a disaster!
7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
I'm getting the impression that 2015 was a fairly bland year - there aren't any dates that jump out at me.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Staying financially afloat, staying out of a psychiatric establishment.
9. What was your biggest failure?
By far, my relationship with C.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Horrible allergies as usual, starting in late January and lasting till around June (a record), plus the usual psychiatric problems, but thankfully nothing else.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Nothing in particular, but buying a new dress always fills me with a ridiculous amount of joy...
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Can't think of anyone in particular.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
No one in particular that I know in real life. In CelebWorld, I'd have to say Donald Trump.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying off my debts (that never changes), paying all the official crap I have to pay and...pretty dresses probably!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I really don't think I have the ability to get wildly excited about anything... I was moderately excited at the prospect of going to Rome.
16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
Mostly songs L listens to - Taylor Swift's Blank Space is one I certainly seemed to hear about a million times a day!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? About the same.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner (because I went cold turkey on all the medication the shrink prescribes (he still prescribes because I haven't dared tell him) and thus don't take anything at all any more).
c) richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel, laugh, feel happy.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The girls and I travelled to see my dad in Scotland. We arrived late on 22 December and came home on 30December. It went OK, though my relationship with my dad is a bit strained. It also rained a LOT, which meant we didn't leave the house very much...
21. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No. I'm still with Y, but (and I've never said this "out loud" before) it's not love. Not on my side, anyway.
22. What was your favourite TV programme?
I enjoyed Better Call Saul, and (for some inexplicable reason) I love watching the French equivalent of Bake Off, called Le Meilleur Pâtissier.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
There were several times during the year in which I hated my ex, D, but it would be unfair to say it was true all year.
24. What was the best book you read?
I enjoyed Grady Hendrix's Satan Loves You. It was deliciously irreverent and very funny!
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I am definitely too old to be making musical "discoveries"!
26. What did you want and get?
I asked for Adele's new CD, 25, and got that from my dad, and I asked for a couple of books (the latest Asterix album and the latest Largo Winch album) and got both of them from Lydie.
27. What did you want and not get?
Jewellery from my favourite jeweller here in Montpellier - I left hints, even said it out loud, but no one listened...
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
I don't think I saw a single film at the cinema this year that wasn't a kids' film...
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 46 (God help me) in May. To be honest, I can't really remember much about it. It was a little tense because C was here and so was Y, and they barely speak to each other.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less financial stress.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Hardly a fashion concept, but I do like wearing dresses...
32. What kept you sane?
My private, secret, only-exists-in-my-head world.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Pat Monahan - still. Plus Johnny Depp, as always.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I find politics in general depressing. But the presidential campaign in the US, and in particular the Republican primaries, are worse than anything...
35. Who did you miss?
An unfortunate incident with my friend J in 2014 (an incident involving L, revealing her many "issues"), plus a lot of difficult situations in J's own life, have meant that J and I have had almost no contact, and that breaks my heart...
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I joined a group of English-speaking women back in 2014, and many of them are great and have become friends. In 2015, I met one in particular with whom I feel a real connection: we have a lot of things in common! So yes, R is the best new person I met in 2015.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015
That I really do need to make an effort to leave my comfort zone (i.e. my sofa) and get out there, amongst (carefully selected) people...
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Same as every year: it's from Train's early hit, "Meet Virginia":
"She pulls her hair back as she screams, "I don't really want to live this life!"
So there you have it. A slightly more positive review than in recent years, but there's still an awful lot that could be improved. Do I dare to hope that 2016 will continue in this upward vein?!
