1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?
Got pregnant! Well, I could’ve been pregnant before but not known about it. It stuck this time.
Also moved into a house that I’m co-owner of.
2. Did you keep your new year resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Eh. Who needs them?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My team lead had a gorgeous baby girl in September.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit?
None. Sigh. And it’s going to be awhile before I get to go anywhere overseas.
6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
Less stress? Hah! As if that’s going to happen once the baby is born.
7. What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 17 – the day I got hit by a car riding to work. I couldn’t tell you what day I discovered I was pregnant (late July I think or maybe very early August) but I can tell you roughly what time I had my accident – somewhere between 8 – 8.30am.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Walking up a flight of stairs at the hospital so I could go home after being there for four days. I was so weak, in so much pain but so freaken determined to go home that I did it. My knee had only started working properly the day before and I probably should’ve stayed in the hospital for longer but I couldn’t hack it any more.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Blaming myself for the accident because I felt strongly that I could’ve/should’ve done more to avoid it. Which is stupid because the car driver ran a red light.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
See question seven.
Oh… I think I got a cold early in the year. Can’t really remember.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My girly, pinky-red Allegro step-thru. Having it means I can still ride a bike because it forces me to slow down and ride at a level I can actually sustain. Also means I’m way more up-right. One of my xmas presents was a cherry-wood basket for the rear rack so I don’t have to worry about carrying a backpack.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The two guys who sat on the road at my side while I was lying there after my accident. One faced towards me so I could see his face and quietly talked to me while the other sat behind me and let me hold his hand and squeeze the bejesus out of it when I needed it – especially when the ambos had to splint my arm to get me off the road.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
It’s a tie between Tony Abbot for all his appalling sexist behaviour (yes, I’m so much better off because he got the carbon tax repealed), Scott Morrison for disgusting behaviour towards asylum seekers and refugees and Chris Pyne who I just want to punch in the face every time he opens his mouth. Oh… and there’s his higher education reforms which I’m hoping never get through.
And then there’s always smokin’ Joe Hockey too and his endless gaffes and idiotic statements that would be funny if it wasn’t our federal treasurer saying them.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Erm… not so sure this year. I know I’ve bought a fair bit of cycling gear when I don’t really need it. But Rapha finally introduced their women’s city riding range and it was too nice to not buy something…
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Well, I pretty excited when I discovered I was pregnant. I had some trouble getting down the stairs whilst clutching the test in my hand because my legs didn’t want to work.
16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
Hhmm… none?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? probably about the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? Well, I’m definitely bigger around the middle at the moment but that would be because I’m growing a whole new human being!
iii. richer or poorer? about the same.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Loads more riding! Now that I can’t, I really miss it. I hate the fact that my bikes are sitting there waiting for me and I can’t just jump on them and go for a ride. It’s been a slow recovery from the broken arm which means it’s been a long time between rides.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Broken my arm? Does that count? It was something that was done to me so maybe not.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home. We had two friends come over for lunch. Lunch was so yummy.
21. What was your favorite month of 2014?
To be honest, this year has kinda all blurred together. It’s a been a year of ups and downs.
22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
Can’t do that if you already are 😉
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Vikings. We used to watch it and Game of Thrones to see which would be more violent and/or bloody. I think it ended up being a tie.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. Hate is a pretty wasteful so why put any energy towards it?
26. What was the best book you read?
The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer. I just finished reading it and it was really good. I found it to be really thoughtful and she put forth some really interesting ideas whilst challenging the idea that asking for help means that you’re weak and incapable of taking care of yourself – which patently isn’t true.
It was also far more personal than I thought it would be and I felt like I learnt a lot about her that I didn’t know.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There wasn’t one.
28. What did you want and get?
Pregnant! LOL
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Guardians of the Galaxy. It was really good fun and dancing baby Groot was the most adorable thing I’ve seen all year.
However, we’re off to see Birdman on NYE and I hear it’s very good.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Is it terrible that i can’t remember what I did on my birthday? It was on a Monday so I know I wasn’t at work. Richard took me to Ezard for dinner on the Saturday night before which was lovely. I turned 42.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
We were told in April that we’d be moving into our house in May. Then it was “another month” every time we asked for six months. I was getting pretty anxious when it got to November and we still hadn’t heard anything – I really didn’t want to contemplate having to move after I’d had the baby.
Then Richard got a phone call saying everything was finally sorted out and that we’d be able to settle on the house and move in. It was incredibly frustrating though.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
I spent $400 on a pair of grown-up heels. (Now I’m worried that they won’t fit me – apparently your feet can increase a size whilst pregnant and not return to their original size once you’ve given birth!)
34. What kept you sane?
Having a stable home life. Having a place were you feel secure and happy makes all the difference in the world.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Meh…
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The changes to higher education got me quite angry and I was very relieved when they got voted down. But apparently they’re going to persist with them which is depressing.
37. Who did you miss?
I’ve really missed my co-worker Julia who moved to a new job in July. Sigh.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Is it terrible that I can’t think of anyone who really stands out?
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014
That you can never say never. Only a few years ago I was swearing black and blue that I’d never get married and that I’d definitely never have kids. Uh huh… right.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I can never think of anything for this one.
