Goodbye 2012

This is the third year I've done this meme on New Years Eve. Strange to think that I've been blogging that long. But thank you to Kath at Blurb From the Burbs, The Plastic Mancunian and JK for keeping me on track with this.

So here we go. 2012 in a nutshell.

1.What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Learned to be a lot kinder to myself. Thoroughly enjoyed Christmas. I've learned to love my body for what it is, warts and all.

These three things are huge.

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

 I've just looked at what I said last year for this.

The marathon remains elusive. That is still on my resolutions list.

I'm getting better with sunscreen. I still have this one on the list - and I include the back of my hands as a place to put sunscreen - it's a must.

A holiday is on the cards, but I am still to get the passport renewed, though I've got the photos done for it. I reckon April is when I will shoot myself off to somewhere with beer and a pool where all I have to do is read a book.

Weight lost - I've shoved another five kilos on - but I am still very strong and very fit.

Rather than resolve to get skinny, I am making the resolution to remain strong, very fit and very healthy. If this means losing some weight in the meantime, so be it. I may be obese, but I'm the fittest, strongest obese person that I know.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Remained in Australia - this needs to be sorted and sorted soon.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

The bum glue needed to write that novel. A partner. International travel. A tidy flat.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 20 - Gloria's 60th birthday party. I've not witnessed such love in a very long time.

April 3 - Watching the Manly Ferry skating into Circular Quay from the Shangri-La hotel in Sydney

May 20 - Running along a 23 kilometre section of the Great Ocean Road with Gaynor.

October 14 - The Melbourne Marathon 10 km run with Bobbie - showed me the joy of unexpected friendships.

December 25 - Christmas was just lovely this year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finding a job I loved in the second half of the year - knowing that I'd bitten off a lot, I appear to have thrived in my current job. Keeping my headspace in a calm and positive place for the most part of the year. Nearly paying off my car - should be off the books by the end of January.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I could have saved more money. I could have kept my sweet tooth under control better. I don't see these as failure - more being human.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Thankfully nothing too serious - a really bad cold that had me floored for a week in July and I strained my back putting one of Blarney's boys in his cot in December. Other than a few other minor muscle strains - all good.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My iPad. Love it. Use it more than I ever thought I would.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

I've been incredibly proud of a number of friends overcoming some really major hurdles in life. Not mine to share, but their integrity and bravery have left me speechless.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Anything that comes out of Tony Abbott's mouth fits this bill. Horrible man.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent, car payments, my lifestyle (running, gym, eating out)

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

Dinner at Libertine earlier in the year. Strangely, I got rather excited about Christmas. And seeing my friend Geetangeli in Sydney in May - hadn't seen her or or husband in four years.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?

Instead of that awful Taylor Swift song or Gangnam Style ditty, I'm going to have to say that an acoustic version of Reckless will always remind me of this year. The song has always been a favourite, but it came full circle this year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?

(a) Happier
(b) Fatter
(c) Better off in many, many ways

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

Spent time with friends. Ran. Travelled. Kept my flat tidy. Read books.

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

Fretted over work. Spent money on useless crap.

20. How will you spend New Year's Eve?

I'm catching an early movie with a friend from the gym then going on to continue my Mad Men Fest with a gin and tonic or two.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?

No. Maow Maow is still the love of my life. Next.

22. What was your favourite TV program?

Who Do You Think You Are?, The Hour, Masterchef (though the lustre is fading)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No. Who hates? I still really, really, really dislike Tony Abbott - and the American Rifle Association are up there too - non-sensical twats.

24. What was the best book you read?

Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" - and I'm reading, and loving Hermann Koch's, "The Dinner". Did not do enough reading this year.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Yann Tiersen and Philip Glass. I work with them in my ears regularly.

26. What did you want and get?

An iPad and a new computer. I also found a substitute to my favourite lipstick, the colour was discontinued and tried as I might, could not found it (Nars Fire Down Below is doing nicely as a substitute for MAC X-treme)

27. What did you want and not get?

A rich husband who is loving, affectionate, incredibly good in bed who bought me two story town house in Richmond. A cat or two of my own to live in the house with us. A flat stomach - but I take responsibility for that one)

28. What was your favourite film of this year?

I have to mention a couple.

The Intouchables was spectacular.
The Sessions touched me unlike any other film in a long time.
Hugo was absolutely phenomenal - and should have got the Oscar in my humble opinion.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

On my actual birthday a couple of friends took me to Cafe Vue at the Heide. It was lovely. I turned 44. That was the only unpleasant thing about the day.

30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having the money to do what I want, when I wanted to.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Flowing. Comfortable. I tried to get away from black - and failed.

32. What kept you sane?

Exercise
Regular weekends away
Good food
Friends

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

Clive Owen is still my celebrity boyfriend but Tom Hardy found a place in my "phwoar files". Still wondering how and when Damian Lewis and Rhys Ifans got so hot. Strange that.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Gay marriage. Just get on with it.
I wish our politicians would stop slating each other and get on with effectively running the country.

35. Who did you miss?

I still miss Reindert, but we talk regularly. There are times I've missed my aunt who passed away last year - particularly around Christmas. After meeting up with Kath Lockett for breakfast a few weeks ago, I realise that I miss having her about Melbourne. It was lovely rekindling that friendship.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I met Larry and Magdalena at my second stint at Bastard Bank earlier this year. They both mentored me and their support and friendship on a professional level has been priceless.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Persistence, enthusiasm and optimism can get you just about anywhere.

And in the words of Tom Cruise in 'Risky Business', "Sometimes you just have to say what the f*ck."

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

From Josh Pyke's "The Lighthouse"

So we are moving to a lighthouse, you and I
While seas drown sailors, we'll be locked up safe and dry
And though our doors may knock and rattle in the wind
I'll just hold you tight and we'll not let those fuckers in

From Ben Lee's "Ripe"

"For once in our lives, we saw what we wanted and took a bite.
We picked the fruit from the tree and it was ripe."

2012 was a good year. Here's to an even better 2013.

Happy new year.