2014 Restrospective

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?

I took part in the running of a car rally.  I did paint-balling with friends.  I went to a demolition derby.  I hit a few balls at the batting cage.  I took a few ballet classes.  I started taking ice skating lessons.

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

Haha! It's always a work in progress!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Heaps of people had babies this year.  My friend Craig has a little girl, my friend Steve also had a little girl, my cousin had a little boy, my nephew had a little boy and my niece also had a little boy.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My cousin.

5. What places did you visit?

The Zoo, Hobbiton, Whangarei, Ohakune, Rotorua, Warkworth, Woodhill Paint-balling.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

I'm pretty lucky in that I don't feel like I lacked anything in 2014.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
We have done so many fun things this year and celebrated a number of things this year.  Our friends Sharon and Gerard got married.  Our friend Jude celebrated her 40th birthday.  Kane came first in a race.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year

I'm not sure.  I'm pretty proud of decorating the entrance-way and also of the public speaking duties both of us had at the Scottish night at Lions Club.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Last years success was the garden, but this year it has been my failure.  I'm putting it on my resolutions list!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had more that one bought of eye infections and I also had a few months of anxiety which I hadn't experienced before.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

It's a tie between my le Creuset shallow casserole dish and my beautiful new bike.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Kane kept an amazing attitude during his recent redundancy and subsequent contract role.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

During the Scottish Independence referendum, I was greatly saddened by a few peoples attitudes.

14. Where did most of your money go?

I think I ate it :(

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

I got really excited for autumn because I had lots planned - road trip, ghost train, haunted house, toffee apples, spiced apple cider, demolition derby.  Yeah, I'm getting excited for it again!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2014?

Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood, Blue Jeans by Lana Del Rey, Paris Norðursins by Prins Polo, If I Could Change Your Mind by Haim.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Same

b) thinner or fatter? Same

c) richer or poorer? Same

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

Gardening.  The weeds are trying to take over!

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

Watching repeats on TV and eating junk food.

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2014?

In our home with good food, Pimms cocktail, wine and Christmas movies

21. Did you fall in love in 2014?

Still in love with my husband.

22. What was your favourite TV program?

Psych, Fargo, Grimm, True Detective, Grays Anatomy, Orange is the New Black, Castle, Agents of Shield - I could go on.

23. What did you do for your birthday in 2014?

It was a bit of rainy day so we went to the cinema and watched 2 movies back-to-back! I've never done that before.

24. What was the best book you read?

I particularly enjoyed Enders Game, the Maze Runner, Ready Player One and The Man Who Came Early.

25. What did you want and get?

A fun bike.

26. What did you want and not get?

A dala horse.

27. What was your favourite film of this year?

I think Gone Girl was probably the best, Guardians of the Galaxy was definitely the most fun but watching The Hobbit: Battle of the 5 Armies in IMAX HFR on Christmas Eve was the best experience.

28. Did you make some new friends this year?

I think I was especially antisocial this year so I guess that's something else to add to the resolutions list!

29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I have had an awesome year, I'm not sure it could have been any better.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?

Too frumpy!  That's another one for the resolution list!

31. What kept you sane?

Clonazepam and therapy haha!

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

No one.  I was admiring outfits worn by the character Meredith Gray in Grays Anatomy.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

I got caught up in the Scottish Independence Referendum although I was unable to vote.  I did vote in the NZ elections.

34. Who did you miss?

No one really.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

It's never too late to learn something you always wanted to.  I love my ice skating lessons!