Living for Disco

My sister has tagged me, and although I’ve done a meme recently, I thought it might be rude not to oblige her, seeing as I’ve been so rubbish at keeping in contact so I’ve done it. This is the last one though.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you hadn’t done before?

Ooh, 2005 has been a veritable cornucopia of new experiences. However, sitting in a bandstand eating a dried caterpillar has to come top of the list.

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A staggering number of people. My friend Mel, to the lovely Jack, my sister in law to my gorgeous nephew, my ex-boyfriend’s wife-to-be, a colleague at my last job, the list goes on. It seems like every other day someone is sending me photos of babies looking adorable having been posed in various amusing ways. But it doesn’t make me feel reproductively inadequate in any way, I’d like to stress. Not at all.

3. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no. I’ve placed an embargo on people close to me dying. No more for me, thanks.

4. Did you travel? Where did you go?

I travelled a great deal between Cambridge and London, and so got to know the carpets on the floor of the 18.15 out of Kings Cross with an intimacy I hadn’t thought was possible.

5. Best thing you bought?

My iPod. All hail the iPod. If it ever left me, I’m not sure I would get over it.

6. Where did most of your money go?

You’ve no idea how sincerely I wish I could answer that.

7. What do you wish you had done more of?

Sitting in front of crappy daytime TV, eating fish finger sandwiches with a glass of cold milk.

8. What do you wish you had done less of?

Smoking. And picking my nose. Although I have to say that the dry climate of Namibia makes for very agreeable crusty bogeys, and nose-picking doesn’t seem to be taboo here so I think I’ll just continue with that revolting, but terribly satisfying habit.

9. What kept you sane?

I’m not sure anything did. The jury’s still out.

10. What drove you mad?

My friend Dan insisting on trying to get out of the car in the middle of Etosha National Park, because ‘there are more animals in Whipsnade’. I had just persuaded him not to, when a lion walked past the car door. His response? “Stop bleating at me, woman”.

11. What made you celebrate?

All of the planes I travelled on in 2005 not crashing. Oh, and the birth of my nephew of course.

12. What made you sad?

Snow Patrol. Could a successful band be any more boring?

13. How was your birthday this year?

I’ve also put an embargo on birthdays. I’m not having one in 2006 either. They seem to insist on hurtling me closer to forty at a speed that would challenge Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

14. What political issue stirred you the most this year?

The supply of drinking fountains for London’s thirsty pigeons. I can’t understand why it’s not more of a priority with the Labour government.

15. Were you in love in 2005?

Oh, gosh. Yes.

16. What would you like to have in 2006 that you didn’t have this year?

A flat stomach. And a little wooden house on a tiny Malaysian island, where I can pick fresh mangoes from the tree outside my bedroom, eat spicy food all day, and lie in the hammock on my veranda, counting exotic birds.

17. What date from 2005 will be etched in your memory and why?

July 7th, I think. My shoe broke, I seem to remember, on the way to work. That kind of thing will tend to stick in the memory.

18. What song will remind you of 2005?

K T Tunstall’s Other Side of the World. Apt, and yet not.

19. Compared to this time last year are you happier?

Yup.

20. Biggest achievement this year?

Hey, I’m living in Namibia. What more do you want?

21. Biggest disappointment this year?

Not meeting Bill Murray at the premiere of Broken Flowers. Bastard didn’t show up.

22. What is the one thing that would have made you more satisfied?

The Criminal Records Bureau not being a bunch of bureaucratically obsessed, postally challenged, lying, mendacious wankers.

23. Best new person you met this year?

Oooh. Now there’s a question. I’ve met loads of brilliant people this year, mostly through VSO. But it would have to be one I’m in love with. Because he’s a bit of alright, really.

24. A valuable life lesson you learnt this year?

Chocolate biscuits are good for the soul.

25. A question you made up yourself?

Penguins?

Feel free to do it if you fancy. Let me know if you do though, because I’m a nosey old cow.