It’s one of those memes that force you to think about your year a bit. So here is my year in words. How was yours?
1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?
I saw whales in their natural environment. I biked the Golden Gate bridge.
Both very memorable experiences. And both very recommended too.
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?
USA, Ireland, France, the Netherlands
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Peace of mind. Less worries. Inspiration. Passion. More real life friends in London.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Script read by BN.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not writing a single thing all year after that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had an ear operation which resulted in weeks of dizzyness, not the highlight of the year. Minor skin operation.
And food poisoning. And apparantly I sat close to a person who got infected with tuberculose in the
plane to LA in September so I need to be checked for that next week.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
That might be my HP wireless printer/scanner. It is so convenient.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Apart from to paying my rent: Travelling. I intend to do the same in 2010.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Boat That Rocked. Glorious 39. Witnessing the film shoot of Statuesque. Statuesque as a film. I know, a pattern is emerging.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
I’m all over it now – Jamie Cullum
Good Luck – Sondre Lerche
Both kept me going while frantically sending out job applications and ducking trying to not get hit by rejections.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Probably a tiny bit sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? I have no idea.
iii. richer or poorer? Same.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing. And travelling.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. It’s a total waste of time and energy.
20. How will [did] you be spending [spend] Christmas and New Years Eve?
Home in the Netherlands with my mum – nice and quiet.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Wallander. And don’t let me choose between Krister and Ken.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a big word. But there are some people who have hugely disappointed me this year.
26. What was the best book you read?
I don’t think I have read that many books last year, as I can’t come up with a single title.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I am changing this to greatest musical event I attended – Snow Patrol in the Royal Albert Hall.
(And I didn’t even want to go as I had just lost my job then)
28. What did you want and got?
A kiss on the cheek from the man.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Last Chance Harvey. Closely followed by The Proposal.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had a great English cream tea with my mum in Maida Vale. 43.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
That’s a difficult one. I don’t think one thing could have changed that much. Well winning the lotto could perhaps, but that didn’t happen.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Converse Sneakers and Jeans. Here’s a scoop for you: it will be my fashion concept for 2010 too!
34. What kept you sane?
My mum. Friends. Cycling. Traveling. BN. Tea the milky way.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Doh! It starts with a B.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Everything will be alright. Believe it or not. I didn’t always believe it myself but in the end everything was alright.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I will have to think about that. In the mean while, here is one of the most beautiful songs I discovered in 2009:
1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?
I climbed a mountain (M’Goun in Morocco, 4,071 metres!). And I bought my first and brand new car (a Toyota AYGO).
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.)
It’s one of those memes that force you to think about your year a bit. So here is my year in words. How was yours?
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.
Is it me, or are there questions missing from this questionnaire?
*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)
@Pedro – yes I removed a couple of questions, as I either did not have an answer or thought they were not appropiate :)