1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I started studying towards a degree (at last!), I appeared (briefly) in a TV series, I hosted my own drama workshops, and I finally finished writing my first play.
2. Did you keep your 2009 resolutions? Will you make more for 2010?
I’ve never made resolutions at New Year as a rule, I prefer to set my goals and check my objectives as life ticks along. I did, however, resolve this year to take part in Project 365 in 2010 by uploading a photo from my life every day, and to make a better effort at blogging.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nobody in my immediate inner-circle, but a few friends and colleagues did.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Again, nobody in my immediate inner-circle, but I did lose two acquaintances who had always been supportive and kind to me.
5. What countries did you visit?
I only made it as far as neighbouring England, but I did get to visit several places I’d never been to before.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
I’d like feel a bit more secure financially, feel a bit healthier and generally improve my all-round wellbeing and happiness. Not too much to ask for! I’d also like to spend more time with friends and see more of my family.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
I’m going to cheat and say the first two weeks of August as a whole. The two summer schools I attended were inspirational and life changing; I learnt great things, worked with wonderful tutors, spent quality time with friends and met new people who will stay friends for life. I also had great experiences performing and had a real boost in confidence and ability. Happy days. 🙂
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making it to 2010 without losing my marbles!!
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t think in terms of failure, I see everything as a lesson or an opportunity to improve. I know I compromised my wellbeing by taking too much on in 2009, and will try to stay more focussed next year so that I still have “me” time.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, I had several hospital visits and surgery to contend with. The big lesson: stop ignoring “minor” complaints and get checked out, we have a free health service in the UK for a reason!
11. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
This is an amazing question, and I’m really annoyed that I can’t think of a brilliant answer as lots of people have done great things this year for me. My friend Bec did a wonderful thing for me this summer, and I will genuinely treasure her kindness forever.
12. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I felt a bit let down by a couple of people who dropped off the radar despite me trying my best to make contact, only to find out later they’d done it purposefully based on things they believed that sadly weren’t true. I’m a talker and a fixer, and not being given the chance to give my side of a story disappoints me, especially when it means losing friendships. I hope they’ll see through it eventually and come around. I was appalled by the behaviour of my appointed loss adjustor during my home insurance claim; I’ve felt ignored, mistreated and cheated in equal measure throughout the year, and I’m depressed that it’s still not fully resolved.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Almost entirely on the mortgage! I invested what I could spare in uni courses and theatre-related training activities, and hope the universe will pay-it-back soon. The rest of my money went on fixing up my property and emergency repairs – sadly this happened several times. It wasn’t a good year for my bank balance.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My summer school trips! Two weeks locked away in theatre-enthused training with like-minded actors and creative people. I also got really excited about performing in the musical Rent, and being cast in the lead of A Chorus of Disapproval.
15. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Seasons of Love: the highlight of appearing in Rent, the highlight of several concerts, and the lyrics to which describe my year succinctly.
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier. Things are moving on.
b) thinner or fatter?
Hmm, I *was* thinner but have probably arrived back where I was, sadly.
c) richer or poorer?
Slightly poorer in pocket, but slightly richer in capital.
17. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Relax and recuperate. I work so hard on so many things that I really don’t devote enough “me” time, as I said earlier. I’m fixing that in 2010.
18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Running after people – and I don’t mean that ungraciously. It would be nice to feel wanted without having to invest my entire soul in the pursuit of happiness. Friendships and relationships should be two way streets, not life pursuits.
19. How will you be spending Christmas?
I imagine back home with my family, as we do traditionally. It would take something very out of the ordinary for us not to have Christmas together. 2009 was slightly different as we spent it at my sister Helen and her partner Steven’s new house for the first.
20. Did you fall in love in 2009?
The person I borrowed these questions from wrote this, and it applies to me too: “I am constantly falling in love. With people, with things, with places, with my life.” Did I let my heart get broken in 2009? Yes, a bit – silly schoolboy crushes. You’d think I’d have learnt by now!
21. What was your favourite TV program?
I had several: Heroes, The Inbetweeners, Skins, Big Bang Theory, Gary: Tank Commander, Two and a Half Men, The Mentalist, True Blood, Misfits, and 8 out of 10 Cats. 2009 was the first year I’d really enjoyed TV again in a long time, thanks to having Sky+ installed – I spend so little time at home during a week that I rarely got to see things in the past, now I get home and my favourites are all waiting for me to watch when I’m actually free.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate anyone. I feel let down by a few people, but hope they’ll make their way back in to my life eventually.
23. What was the best book you read?
I read so many books that it’d usually say it’s too hard to single out just one – but this year, without a doubt, the one that had most impact on me was Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
King’s of Convenience, discovered after Last.fm gradually got to know what I like. I’m so pleased I found them.
25. What did you want and get?
To be the leading man in a play. An autoharp (which I’ve wanted since I was 10).
26. What did you want and not get?
To direct or produce my first play.
27. What was your favourite film of this year?
This is hard to pin down as I saw a lot of really good pictures this year. I’ll cheat and make categories instead:
Best adaptation – The Time Traveler’s Wife
Best sci-fi – Star Trek
Most unexpected – (500) Days of Summer
Most touching – The Soloist
Most (Hmm, what’s the word? Different? New? Inspirational?) – District 9
Best animated film – Up (Yes, I did cry, within the first 5 minutes.)
28. What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?
I was 28 on my birthday. I insisted I wanted no fuss when plans I’d started to make for a day out were hijacked then went pear shaped, but my workmates surprised me with a buffet and a cake, and I got the chance to review some theatre at night and saw the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Peer Gynt with my dear friend Beth.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not having my mind so persistently on money matters. I have so many dreams I’d like to achieve, and would like to support so many others to achieve their goals too, but sadly not the funds to finance them. At the most basic level, my year would have been immeasurably more satisfying if my house hadn’t kept falling down around me.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Oh dear. I have absolutely no sense of fashion at all. 2009 was no different to 2008 as far as things went for me, I’m afraid I live in a fashion-less bubble. You’ll usually find me in jeans and black t-shirts: I’m afraid I’m not that adventurous.
31. What kept you sane?
Having lots of exciting projects to concentrate on and not dwelling on 2008!
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh dear, I get crushes all the time. I spare my blushes by not listing them all. I think Fearne Cotton topped the list, and probably still will next year. God bless Twitter for bringing us closer together! 😉
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
The whole MP salary and expenses issue made me boil. I also got very heated over the same scandal within the banking sector.
34. Who did you miss?
I miss lots of people, and think I felt it more this year living on my own and not having company around. I particularly missed my family, I didn’t get to see them as regularly as I would like as I had no car from January onwards, and my travel budget took a nose dive. I probably most miss my Aunt Anna in Australia for her companionship and advice.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
I wish I had answered this every year so as not to do an injustice to the wonderful people in my life. 2009, though, probably goes to Andy Reiss, who inspired me, educated me and has kept in touch and motivated me.
36. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2009?
That money is not the be-all-and-end-all in life; but while we live in a capitalist society, it helps.
37. What song lyrics sum up your year?
I’m going to say the lyrics to Seasons of Love for all the reasons at number 15 – and oddly it was the same song the person I pinched the questions off picked. That’s synchronicity. 🙂