1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Got married!
2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Meh. Who needs them?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yup. Sister-in-law and a friend both welcomed little boys into their families. A work colleague had twin boys! And another one had a little girl. Wow… lots of babies!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No thank god!
5. What countries did you visit?
France.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I think I’d like for 2014 to be a bit quieter on the whole. 2013 was pretty intense, lots of things going on. Moving house and acquiring a mortgage will be enough for next year.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 31. Getting married tends to be a stand out.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finally wiggling out of my old job that I really didn’t like (but was stuck in). It’s not just my doing obviously but it made my life so much better and I did have to do an interview – which I am very bad at.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being prepared enough to ride up Mt Hotham. I really wanted to do it this year but I was utterly underdone for it. Mt Buffalo and Fall’s Creek will have to do. (And Donna Buang a week later because two mountains wasn’t enough apparently.)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
2013 will go down as the year of sickness. Had colds, gastro, a migraine but the big one was getting listeria poisoning two weeks before the wedding and having to go the E.D. so I could be put on a drip. That sucked.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My BMC. And then the new wheels to go on him. Awesome bike! Love him to death!!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
There are two people who’s professionalism and behaviour made my life better because they made my experiences on the bike better.
First one is Chris from Bike Now. He did a bike fit for me and all he cared about was making sure I was in the best possible position I could be. I’ve been back to see him three times since the initial bike fit in March. The last visit was on Monday. He really listened to everything I said and asked all sorts of questions to make sure he was clear about what I was experiencing on the bike and what I wanted to get out of my riding.
Second on is Dan from Shifter Bikes. He’s a freaken genius. Richard and I went to see him because it was time for Richard to get new wheels. However, after a very frightening experience during the descent on Lake Mountain (speed wobbles at 70km/h) I decided I needed some different wheels as well. We talked for about 10 minutes, I explained what I had experienced and he immediately came up with a solution. The wheels he built are brilliant. I feel better on the bike because I know I can trust what’s rolling underneath me. Plus, I was really flattered when he instragram’ed my bike.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
So much for the promises from our politicians that they’d be better behaved. The Victorian lower house descended into an absolute farce this year with several motions of no confidence in the Speaker. And it’s not much better at the federal level. It really does seem that the politicians are all in love with with their own bloated sense of power. But we elect them so who’s to blame?
14. Where did most of your money go?
Bike, bike, bike, WEDDING! Good lord weddings are expensive.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ummm… this will sound awful but I was way more excited about picking up my BMC than I was about the wedding. I’m talking feelings on the day, not the overall experience. The day of the wedding I was so grumpy. It took until me actually getting the venue before I started to enjoy myself. But the BMC had immediate rewards! Except the bit where Richard forgot it was on the roof rack and nearly drove under the carport before I screamed STOP, STOP, STOP!! Not a good memory!
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Clair de Lune. It was my entrance song for the wedding played so beautifully by my friend Louisa. Every time I hear it, I always think of the moment of standing outside the door to the hall with my dad, waiting for the right moment to make my grand entrance.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? pretty happy
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner!
iii. richer or poorer? about the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Really should’ve done more riding. I didn’t meet a goal (conquering Mt Hotham) because of lack of preparation.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying about the wedding. Including the weather. Stupid to worry about the weather. You have absolutely zero control over it so you have to let it go. But I got lucky. We had the most amazing day. It was about 10°C warmer than it should’ve been and it was a beautiful sunny day.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Really late putting this up so it’s already passed. Spent the day with Richard’s extended family. It was nice.
21. What was your favorite month of 2013?
September. Who wouldn’t enjoy tootling around France for three week and basically having the entire month off work?
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Can’t do that if you already are 😉
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Masters of Sex. Such a good show! Loved Castle and A Game of Thrones too. Oh… and Sherlock. The last ep of that was extraordinary.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.
26. What was the best book you read?
Raising Steam – the latest Terry Pratchett novel. I wasn’t sure about it at first but thoroughly engrossed by the end.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I”m so boring. I don’t really listen to new music any more. I’m sticking with what I know. And besides, Nine Inch Nails released a new album in 2013.
28. What did you want and get?
A new camera. I bought one as a birthday present to myself. Been wanting one for ages.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Nothing immediately leapt to mind but that’s because I haven’t really gone to the movies that much this year. Kept meaning to but other things kept getting in the way – namely the wedding. But I did really enjoy Iron Man 3. Won’t deny it was flawed (because it certainly was) but it was fun. I also really enjoyed Star Trek: Into Darkness. Benedict Cumberbatch was awesome as Khan.
Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing is still on my absolutely must watch list.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Umm… nothing. I was recovering from listeria poisoning and we were getting married a week later. I turned 41.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I actually don’t know. I’m very content with how my life is at the moment. I’m finally with someone who I love being with and we’re planning out a life together. It’s pretty cool.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Same as always but now with added dresses!
34. What kept you sane?
Richard. Awful amount of pressure to put on him *lol* But seriously, his presence in my life has got me on an even keel finally. I’ve finally worked out that a less complicated life is a better one. Something quiet and not that extraordinary is good. I don’t know why we’re all supposed to have extraordinary lives and do great things with them. Maybe it’s better to have a simple, quiet life and do what you want to rather than doing what you think you should to make others happy.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Meh…
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politicians just make me angry so I’m trying to stay away.
37. Who did you miss?
As always, my American peeps.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My workmate Julia. She’s a little ray of sunshine every day. I know that sounds twee and annoying but she’s always smiling, always positive and a freaken amazing cook!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013
Focus on the stuff that makes you happy. Worry less about everything else. And that life is always, always surprising.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Nary a song lyric is coming to mind.