*1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?
I started Twittering.

*2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope and nope.

*5. What countries did you visit?
Belgium, Switzerland

*6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Time to do other things than work.

*7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I think every day is special. Enjoy each day as if it’s your last one.

*8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I didn’t achieve anything special last year.

*9. What was your biggest failure?
No real failures last year.

*10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The occasional muscle ache and the common cold, but that’s no real illness in my book.

*11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Conceptronic media recorder.

*14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, car, insurance, food, travel. Not in that order.

*15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Wall-E robot I bought for friends as a gift and the Wall-E DVD my wife bought me for Christmas.

*16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
No special song.

*17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Same
ii. thinner or fatter? I think a bit thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Same.

*18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Excercising, visiting friends and family.

*19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work in the weekends.

*20. How will [did] you be spending [spend] Christmas and New Years Eve?
At home with my wife. Nothing special.

*24. What was your favorite TV program?
Life by David Attenborough. And Dr. Who.

*25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate anyone. Dislike is a better word. I dislike all my client who don’t pay on time.

*26. What was the best book you read?
The only book I’ve read in 2009: “On the edge: my story” by Richard Hammond. It’s about the crash he made with a rocket car.

*27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don’t know. Susan Boyle…? 

*28. What did you want and got?
The love from my wife.

*30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Up! And the 3D version of A Christmas Carol.

*31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went to Naturalis in Leiden. 39.

*32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don’t think there’s anything that important.

*33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Same as last year and years to come. I don’t care very much about clothes.

*34. What kept you sane?
My wife, my work and the prospect of vacation.

*35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy is a big word. I admire people who care about the environment.

*39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Make sure you stay healthy!

*40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Nothing comes to mind. (Which is not a song lyric)

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?
Sailed down the Grand Canal, Venice

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any and won’t make any new ones either.

5. What countries did you visit?
Italy

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Peace of mind and good health for my family.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No particular date.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Just getting through to the end of 2009

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being unable to help somebody I love

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just dozens of heavy colds

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Studio lighting kit

14. Where did most of your money go?
Housekeeping and photography expenses and theatre trips.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I don’t do excitement but Venice was pretty exciting..

16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
Can’t say I’ve really got into much new this year but any Springsteen song sungalong at Hyde Park in the Summer will do.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Probably a tiny bit sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter
iii. richer or poorer? poorer

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

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

20. How will [did] you be spending [spend] Christmas and New Years Eve?
Home Christmas day and worked New Year’s Eve

24. What was your favorite TV program?
pass

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Shouldn’t use the word hate but there have been plenty of people who have pissed me off.

26. What was the best book you read?
I enjoyed the Victoria Hislop book set in the Spanish Civil War but can’t recall the title!!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Don’t think I made any new ones particularly this year.

28. What did you want and got?
A holiday

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Last Chance Harvey, Dean Spanley, Imaginarium of Dr.Parnassus

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went out for a family meal, 56.

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

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
same old same old

34. What kept you sane?
Work, photography, the internet.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?Same old, same old;)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Beware of the yellow snow.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I get knocked down, I get up again.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. And nah. :)

5. What countries did you visit?
Belgium, Morocco and the United States.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Time to relax – or to go hiking. Inspiration. Peace of mind.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 25, when my sister-in-law was suddenly snatched from our midst. :*(

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
See also Q1. I broke my altitude record! :)

9. What was your biggest failure?
(Good one. I’ll have to think about that.)

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Only some minor ailments: the occasional cold and bruise, a mild case of gastroenteritis.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My ‘mystic blue’ Toyota AYGO! And 10+ kg of LEGO. ;)

14. Where did most of your money go?
My car. And my travels.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My car. And my travels. :)

16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
“Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver, “Hoppípolla” by Sigur Rós, “Here I am” and “Never let go” by Bryan Adams. “Little lion man” by Mumford & Sons.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? Same.

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

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. And working. ;)

20. How will [did] you be spending [spend] Christmas and New Years Eve?
Christmas with my family and New Years Eve at home – nice and quiet.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
None.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
There have been a few people who almost succeeded at making my life miserable at some points, but I have decided to either forget or just ignore them! :)

26. What was the best book you read?
“A thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Hosseini.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sigur Rós. Mumford & Sons. Josh Ritter.

28. What did you want and got?
A car. :)

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Up.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Eat cake. ;) 32.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Obviously, that my sister-in-law had not been suddenly snatched from our midst. :*(

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Now that I am 30+, I enjoy wearing skirts. But I still feel most comfortable in my hiking gear. :)

34. What kept you sane?
Outdoor activities: walking, running, bicycling, hiking. Travels. Music.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Bryan Adams. Shhh. :)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Carpe diem. Live your dreams, as life can be over before you know it.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
(Good one. I’ll have to think about that, too.)