the year in review
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?I can't drive, nor can I swim, but I can drive/steer (are those the right verbs?) a boat - a Boston whaler if I'm not mistaken, and correct me if I'm wrong - off the shores and around the island of Bermuda. I also managed to get back to the dockyard alive. Miracles do happen!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I make them, and subsequently forget what they are once February rolls around. As such I am unable to answer the first bit of the question because, well, I can't remember what my resolutions were.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I don't think so.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy, Vatican City, France, the principality of Monaco, Bermuda, England, and Wales.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Some more actuarial exams under my belt and a job wouldn't hurt.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day that it became 'official'. Acting like teenagers during the Summer Ball. Discovering that I would be graduating with a First Class degree. The entire period during which we were Italy, France, and Bermuda. The graduation ceremony. Sitting the actuarial exam in September and finding it incredibly difficult. My first night in Oxford. The day when my allergies were at their worst (I'll spare you the details). Discovering that I had passed the actuarial exam, and surprisingly, not just marginally. And any time I got to see D after a prolonged period of not being able to see him.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Passing the first actuarial examination.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to sit the second actuarial examination as I'd originally planned. It wasn't a 'failure' in the traditional sense of the word, but I dislike taking a few steps backward when I have a goal in mind. Having said that, if I had taken the exam I would have been guaranteed to fail. In that sense, I'm relieved that I didn't take it, but it might have been my own bloody fault that I wasn't prepared for it in the first place.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Injury, no. Illness, perhaps. The bout of hives/urticaria is something that I am terrified of seeing a recurrence of - so much so that I lost weight from not eating as much as I usually do, for fear of triggering another unknown allergic reaction.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My cropped wool Club Monaco blazer and Shu Uemura Basic Mascara.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Probably mine after one too many champagne cobblers at The Player in London. I don't think my boyfriend will ever let me forget about the walk back to our flat thereafter.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My mum's, when she was at her worst.
14. Where did most of your money go?
To Selfridges - some things never change.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travelling to Italy, France, and Bermuda - as well as starting a degree at Oxford.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Coldplay's Speed of Sound and The Magic Numbers' Forever Lost as they both bring back memories of long lie-ins with D during springtime in London.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner, marginally.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, undoubtedly.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Kept in touch with my grandmother, aunt and uncle more than I ended up doing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
'Oh, I'll revise that tomorrow instead...'
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home in Toronto for Christmas brunch with the whole family, and then leaving for Bermuda on Boxing Day.
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
I fell deeper in love.
23. How many one-night stands?
None. But I did learn a lesson: never snog anyone you've only just met for a few hours, just because you're young, single, and drunk, and you have the capacity to do stupid things like that. I wish it had never happened.
24. What was your favourite TV program?
I don't watch TV.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
I didn't read many books, but spent the summer finishing all of Dan Brown's books. I have to say that The DaVinci Code was still the best one.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not so much of a discovery, per se, but I think I rediscovered Air.
28. What did you want and get?
To spend more time with D.
29. What did you want and not get?
See above.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I'm trying to remember what I actually saw in the cinema (not very much). I guess it would have to be Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 22. D held a party at his flat (very chic - French lounge music, candles, low lighting, cocktails galore) and invited all of our friends from uni and we all got embarrassingly sozzled.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting into fewer rows with my mum, but this isn't likely to change over the course of my life, I imagine.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Sleek, polished, and sophisticated - lots of fitted cuts, pointy flats or court shoes, gorgeous handbags. I paid a lot of attention to tailoring.
34. What kept you sane?
My boyfriend in general. And my iPod otherwise.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I had a crush on Rachel Weisz (no, don't start wiggling eyebrows at me please) because she was Cambridge-educated - I like people who are intelligent and well educated - and I wish I looked like her. She has the most gorgeous clothes and I would love to raid her wardrobe.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hurricane Katrina, its aftermath, and the associated lack of response from the government.
37. Who did you miss?
My parents, boyfriend, family, and friends. Such is inevitable when studying overseas.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Any of my housemates in Oxford who happen to be some of the kindest, most intelligent and well-rounded people I have ever met.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
I find myself repeating this one over and over again - that everything happens for a reason, and sometimes you simply have to let fate do the rest.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've felt so low
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
Last year's responses here. Happy holidays!
L'Esthete @ 17:18
