My Big Fat Review Of The Year
2012-01-01 - 8:32 p.m.
So, 2012 is upon us, which is is a fact that blows my mind I remember when the UK won the Olympic bid years ago and everyone was talking about 2012. A quick Google search tells me that year was 2005; so I was fourteen years old. 2012 seemed SO far away then, and I specifically remember thinking that it would be so exciting because I would be 21 years old, and at uni living in a different city, and be a total badass adult. What a massive lol. I was probably more mature and sorted in my life back then than I am now. Though I do have much better hair.
I haven’t done one of these for years and years (seem to have been too busy having fits/having my heartbroken/getting drunk during the last few Decembers) so I think it will make a refreshing change! Also, yes, I am still avoiding essay-writing...
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
If we’re talking quite small scale then I guess the answer is millions and millions of things: went out dressed as an egg, fell down some stairs in Mechu in Birmingham, bought bedsheets from Argos, tried the chicken and chorizo pasta in Wetherspoons, wore a pair of espadrilles, experimented with a darker shade of Rimmel lipgloss, watched ‘American Beauty’, put my hair in a side plait, realised the ridiculously high calore content of dried fruit and vowed just to stick to biscuits... the list of things I have done for the first time could truly be endless. If we’re talking large scale though then... er, pretty much nothing new has happened.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As far as I recall I didn’t keep any. I know myself too well by now, if I’m not arsed to do something one day, then I still won’t be arsed the next day just because one of the numbers in the date has changed. HOWEVER, I do have some things I would hope to have achieved by the end of the year, such as started driving lessons and getting through a year without losing and/or breaking a mobile phone.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my bestest pal and homegirl Katy gave birth to a little boy in March. Despite some less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding the birth (i.e. the fact his dad is a knobhead), Katy did amazingly and the baby is a beauty. I am honoured to have been asked to be his godmother in January.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, and a big THANK FUCK for that. That’s an answer I don’t ever want to change.
5. What countries did you visit?
I abandoned cold England and went to sunny Tenerife with my friends in summer for the annual ‘fools abroad’ holiday. It was brilliant.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I’m trying, but I honestly cannot think of anything at the moment which I am lacking. How surprisingly pleasant a feeling this is!
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
In a year where nothing big really happened, no one date stands out for me.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I finished second year at uni with a high 2.1 average, but was especially proud of my First in one of my modules. I also got a promotion at work, which was pretty nifty.
9. What was your biggest failure?
The obvious answer is my ever-so-foolish decision to ‘get back together’ with R at the start of the year. What possessed me I honestly don’t know; it was an utter mistake. However, I’m reluctant to call it a failure because we all learn from our mistakes etc etc.
Oh wait, I’ve thought of a good one though – losing my phone and camera on a night out after too many Jagerbombs and vodkas. MASSIVE failure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had two lots of flu last winter which was very unusual and quite a ballache (as well as a headache, limbache, brainache etc).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My holiday and my ticket to V Festival, which was a BRILLIANT weekend I had over the summer. They were the only two extravagant purchases of the year because I am of course a resident of a Skintville. I had some great things bought FOR me though as it was my 21st; I got a new netbook computer from my mum, an amazing big internet TV for my bedroom from my dad (we still haven’t quite got round to sorting out the internet side of it yet though; such a productive family), a Tiffanys necklace from my sister and my first ever pair of Topshop heels which my friends all chipped in for.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My dad and sister, for saying I could move in with them when I was throwing a tantrum over my mum moving house; my lovely new housemates for welcoming me with open, vodka-laden arms; my friends merely for humouring me in my day-to-day life; Obama because that Lion King thing was hilarious; the list could go on...
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The fucks who robbed the TV from my uni house. Luckily for them, my sister replaced my ‘Moulin Rouge’ DVD which was in the telly when they stole it, or I would still be hunting them down Liam Neeson-style.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills, aeroplanes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My holiday, V Festival, my birthday, SEEING BRITNEY SPEARS IN CONCERT (how have I thus far forgotten to mention that?) ,the release of the new ‘Twilight’ film...
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
It’s very difficult to answer that yet; I could think of songs I’ve loved or played a lot, but who knows what strange thing could conjure up nostalgia in the future – could be Rebecca Black ‘Friday’ (though hopefully not).
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I think I was pretty happy then but I am definitely happier now.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably a few pounds heavier due to the Christmas binging, but I’m sure once I’m back to my usual uni diet of dry cereal and Kit Kats then I will go back to hovering around the same weight I’ve been since I was 17.
iii. richer or poorer? Finally, FINALLY, my finances are sorting themselves out a bit.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
There’s always room for another holiday or two.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Whatever thought process led me to think giving R a second third millionth chance was a good idea.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In 2011 I spent it at my sister’s house wearing a comedy Christmas jumper.
21. How will you be spending New Year?
I spent last night working in a bar, selling shots to irritating people who think going out on New Year’s Eve is fun.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Hell. No. I fell OUT of love with the very idea of love. I’ve witnessed too much infidelity and downright fuckery to desire a boyfriend of my own any time soon.
23. How many one-night stands?
When you spend a year thinking every boy is a committer of the afore-mentioned fuckery, the last thing you want to do is bump uglies with them.
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
This year I discovered Miranda and LOVED it. Also enjoyed all rubbish scripted reality shows such as The Only Way Is Essex, Jersey Shore, Geordie Shore, Made In Chelsea and Desperate Scousewives. I really don’t care how low-brow I am. Does the fact that I loved Frozen Planet redeem me at all though?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not at all.
26. What was the best book you read?
Ahh, I struggle to remember. ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison was simply brilliant (though ironically it is an essay on that book that I am avoiding writing right now). When I actually had time to read a book not for a seminar and just for fun, ‘Submarine’ was enjoyed immensely.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t discover anything; I am painfully behind on music. This year I finally got around to listening to and enjoying the likes of Nicki Minaj and Drake (I suffer from embarrassing white girl syndrome), and Adele’s album was of course a corker. I went through a weird stage however of downloading R’n’B from the late 90s and early 2000s so TLC, Toni Braxton and Donell Jones frequented my speakers.
28. What did you want and get?
A better income, a better outlook, the continued good health of my family and friends (and apparently a lot of cheese...). Oh, and an iPhone (second hand but let’s not complain).
29. What did you want and not get?
A navy quilted hooded jacket from the New Looks kids’ section, aged 14-15 years. DID IT EVER COME BACK IN STOCK? No. No it did not.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Tricky question, mainly because I watch a lot of films and forget them, also because I’m very easily pleased. ‘The Fighter’ was very good, ‘Insidious’ was the best horror in my opinion, ‘Bridesmaids’ was hilarious, as was ‘The Inbetweeners, ‘Breaking Dawn’ was particularly enjoyable in the first five minutes where Taylor Lautner ran round half-naked in the rain, ‘127 Hours’ amazed me (though I realise I’m behind on that one) and‘Submarine’ was genius (and I was delighted to find the book equally so).
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was my 21st birthday. I went out the night before my birthday with all of my uni friends and got ridiculously smashed off free shots. I woke up on my birthday with sick in my fringe, but persevered like an athlete and after a sausage sandwich ventured home to see my family and indulge in cheap champagne and an Italian meal out. The following weekend me and my friends from home went up to Liverpool for a night out and had a brilliant time.
32. What is one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I maintain that every day would run a lot smoother if only I had somebody who would bring me a cup of tea in bed each morning.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Go into Primark and other cheap shops: there is your answer.
34. What kept you sane?
Watching Jeremy Kyle always keeps me grounded and reminds me that it could always be worse - I could always be the sort of person that thinks it’s acceptable to go on television wearing tracksuit bottoms.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Taylor Lautner, the beautiful boy from Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’ music video, four of the five members of One Direction, Russell Howard (I genuinely would).
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I think the summer riots, the racist tram woman and the Rhea Page incident made me think it is seriously time that people started to acknowledge the race issues which exist in this country.
37. Who did you miss?
Thankfully, nobody.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
My five brilliant new housemates.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
‘Hear no evil, speak no evil – and you’ll never be invited to a party’ – Oscar Wilde.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
This quiz has been far too long for me to be that creative. Erm. ‘Friiiiiiday, Friiiiiday, gotta get down on Friday’...