Wrap Up The Year Meme

Since I came across this meme a couple of years ago, it's become something of an annual fixture.  So, as usual, here is my wrap-up-the-year meme --

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?


Track (via the fascinating realm of the medical ultrasound) the growth of the Little Inkslinger and anticipate his/her arrival in this great big wild world.  

2. What countries did you visit?


This question is beginning to mock me.  This year was yet another wash-out for travelling.  We'd intended on a trip down the east coast of the U.S., but events conspired against us.

3. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

What we lacked in 2011 was a Little Inkslinger.  Hopefully, if all goes well, we'll get to meet the Little Inkslinger in 2012.

4. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving a weird health episode and expecting the Little Inkslinger. 

5. What was your biggest failure?


Not recognizing what was wrong with my leg before it became much more complicated, contributing to an invalid-like existence for much of 2011 (a little too Victorian, if you know what I mean).

6. What was the best thing you bought?

An honest-to-goodness, made-out-of-real-wood splendidly healthy crib for the Little Inkslinger.  (Those cribs made from pressed boards and chemicals worry me).

7. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Mr. Inkslinger, again.  Supportive doesn't even begin to cover it. 

8. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Least said, soonest forgotten.  

9. Where did most of your money go?

a).Same answer as last year (I'll sing this tune til the song changes):
Student loans (and the subsequent trials related thereto) soak up a lot of time and cash (and had I known it was going to be like this I would have expected/demanded a great deal more from my university experience).


b).Oh, and preparing/buying for the Little Inkslinger.

10. What song will always remind you of 2011?

There are so many to choose from.  But I guess I'll go with Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal. A friend introduced me to this song earlier in the year.







11. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a). I believe I'm happier, if a little tired and cranky off and on from lack of sleep and general discomfort. b). Pregnant. 'Nuff said. c). Richer in every way except monetary. :)

12. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Writing. Hiking. 

13. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying. Fretting. Borrowing trouble . . . The usual.

14. What was your favourite TV program?

I don't think I had a favourite TV program this year. Oh, perhaps the BBC's Sherlock. 

15. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Still intending to keep hate out of the emotional diet. 

16. What was the best book you read?

See upcoming top five post.

17. What did you want and get?

We'll see . . . 

18. What did you want and not get?

If #17 comes through, there is very little to say to this question. 

19. Best Musical Discovery?


Mumford & Sons.  Or The Decemberists.

20. What was your favourite film of this year?


As usual, the films I watched this year ranged all over the place in terms of genre and year of release.  I'm not sure which was my favourite.  I did enjoy the following immensely:


Broken Flowers (2005)
The Girl in the Cafe (2005)
Drive (2011)
Barton Fink (1991)
TiMER (2009)

21. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

What did I do on my birthday?  I believe I had a low-key celebration with Mr. Inkslinger and my sister.  It involved eclair cake and a new piano.

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

Less anxiety and better health.  

23. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

'Will it fit over the baby bump?'  That's pretty much it.

24. What kept you sane?

Sanity is definitely overrated.

25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


This year? Hmm . . . Benedict Cumberbatch, perhaps. :)


26. What political issue stirred you the most?


I remain unstirred. But the American Republican race is nothing if not entertaining seen via Jon Stewart.

27. Who did you miss?

Still my mum. Even more as I get closer to becoming a mother myself.

28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.


Any control you think you have over your life is usually an illusion.