Monthly Archives: December 2012

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2012 in 40 questions

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Was in the velodrome at Roubaix on Sunday 8th of April for the finish of Paris – Roubaix road race. It was amazing to be there and hear the crowd screaming as Tom Boonen got closer and closer and then finally appeared. It’s something I will never forget.

2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I usually fail to see the point of new year resolutions so therefore don’t make them. But this time I’ve decided it’s about time I did something the about 2.5kg I’ve put on in the last few months. Not sure if that’s really a new year resolution though, I would’ve done something about it regardless of what time of year it was, eventually.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two friends did recently – within a few days of each other but thousands of kilometres apart. One in America, one right here in Melbourne

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.

5. What countries did you visit?
America, France and Hong Kong.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
Umm… fewer injuries would be nice. I could’ve really done without dislocating my thumb at the start of the year. And seriously aggravating my back again really wasn’t fun.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 11. Getting engaged whilst wandering around the Luxembourg Gardens, 6th Arrondissement of Paris does tend to stick in the memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Riding up Falls Creek. Okay, it was only from Mt Beauty so a total of 30kms while I had friends who rode the whole way from Bright (which means riding up Towonga Gap twice). But I figured 30kms of climbing was enough for me. Also completing Amy’s Grand Fondo was a biggie too.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I must admit that I’m disappointed in how lazy I’ve become. Being lazy means I’ve put weight back on and I worked so hard to get rid off it in the first place. Feel like I’ve let myself down a bit with that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Dislocated my thumb. Really freaken hurt and I recommend not doing it.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Jayne – my CX bike. Makes commuting so much easier knowing I can come to a really rapid halt when I need to. Love those disc brakes.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Julia Gillard. Sure, she’s got a really annoying voice and I wish she’d quit it with the Botox (move your eyebrows Julia!!) but to hear her take Abbot to task when he tried to lecture her on sexist behaviour (!!!) and misogyny was awesome. Julia in full flight is impressive – she should get angry more often.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The majority of Australian politicians have been behaving like spoilt children who’ve had their favourite toy taken away. Really, if I hear Abbot bitching about how Gillard and the Labor Party is ruining this country, I’ll scream.

14. Where did most of your money go?
On Rapha cycling gear. Goodness, I spent a lot with them this year. I also bought a new bike. And I discovered the joys of ModCloth. However, I have managed to nearly pay off my credit card and am still saving some money.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Taking long service leave and nicking off overseas for three and a half weeks. It was great to see some (but not enough) of my American friends. New York was pretty incredible and we really should’ve spent more time there but that’s just the way it happened. But then there was Paris. What a wonderful city. Sigh.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Nothing springs to mind.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? about the same so pretty happy.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter 🙁
iii. richer or poorer? about the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Not been quite so anti-social. And of course – sleep!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eat bad stuff! But I always say this. It never changes. I have a sweet tooth. I understand that if I want to eat all the yummy stuff that I apparently do, there must be a good deal more exercise going on.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Bit late putting this up so Christmas has already passed. Spent it in Shepparton with my parents.

22. Did you fall in love in 2012?
Can’t do that if you already are 😉

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Doctor Who, Castle, Rake, Supernatural.

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

26. What was the best book you read?
Loved, loved, LOVED the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries series by Kerry Greenwood. Bought all of them for my Kindle. Also got stuck into the Song of Ice and Fire series after watching the first season of Game of Thrones.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Umm… there wasn’t one. Stuck with what I know.

28. What did you want and get?
Well, I did treat myself to a new bike.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Dark Knight Rises. I’m sure you’re all shocked by this. The Avengers was pretty good too.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Ran away to Freycinet Lodge in Freycinet National Park, just near Coles Bay in Tasmania. We overnighted in Hobart on our way back so there was a trip to MONA as well. I turned 40 (which should explain the running away to Tassie.)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Umm… not much. I achieved plenty on the bike so there’s something to be proud of there. But more than that, I actually feel like I have control over my life for once. I don’t feel like I’m bouncing from one disaster to the next which I did for such a long time. I feel so much calmer than I used to.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
The same as always but dresses have snuck in this year. What can I say? I discovered ModCloth.

34. What kept you sane?
Same as last year – my bike. At least it didn’t try to kill me this year.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Meh…

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
It’s been a pretty crappy year in Australian politics. As I said above, the majority have been behaving like a bunch of over-sugared spoilt children. Perhaps next year they’ll grow up and some civility will return.

37. Who did you miss?
I miss my American peeps. I write this every year but that’s because it’s always true. I do miss them.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Is it terrible that no one is springing to mind? Or does that make me really anti-social?

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012
Sometimes you take the twisty, long route to get where you’re going.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Can’t think of anything!

It’s that time of year

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family. I think it’s well known that I’m not a huge fan of xmas. To me it seems to to be all about selling crap we don’t need. But I guess there is another message to it – spending time with the people who love us for who we truly are (and sometimes in spite of it). Well, that’s one thing I try really hard to remember.

So without any more blathering, it’s time for my usual xmas song post: Tim Minchin, White Wine in the Sun.