End of year meme 2023
Dec. 30th, 2023 11:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lokifanThe plagiarism saga rolls on but I don’t have the energy! So an end-of-year meme. Every year I read other people’s and vaguely mean to do it myself and don’t. But this is the year!
1. What did you do in 2023 that you'd never done before?
Go to Florence and Puerto Rico! And take part in a Hindu wedding ritual; my favourite cousin Terrible (nickname is a joke, lol) married a wonderful woman whose mum is Indian, and they invited me to take part in a ritual where the older women bless the marriage. Which was so lovely - I was so happy to welcome her into the family.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
That’s gonna be its own post.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
‘Close’ might be a bit of a stretch, but one of my Aussie cousins just had a baby. They named the baby Tallow, which I find extra weird given his wife is vegan.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but my Grandpa turned 100 in the spring, faced a serious illness in August, and is now in “terminal decline” as per the doctor. My mum’s godparents are also struggling. I suspect 2024 of being a difficult year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy and Puerto Rico. Florence was amazing - a long weekend with my mum (who likes art and architecture and churches, so the perfect person to visit Florence with). We’d been planning it since 2020, when we were meant to go to celebrate my 30th birthday.
Puerto Rico, also amazing, though I didn’t get to see much of the island.
6. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?
Financial stability/predictability; I did okay financially, and even managed some savings, but it felt uncertain and worrying at times, especially in the last few months. Honestly I’m not likely to do too much better on this front in 2024, but hopefully it’ll be a bit of an improvement; I’ll still be an hourly worker with changeable hours, but I’ve learnt the rhythm of my college now. Plus they’ll very likely rehire me again since they did in September - my original contract was Jan-May, then got extended to the summer.
7. What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’d have to look up the actual dates, which is cheating. But Florence as my first time out of the country since 2016, PR at the end of July and Terrible’s wedding, and my ADHD diagnosis in early October.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting an ADHD diagnosis.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not writing fic or going on dates (as I’ll come back to in the new year’s resolutions post!) Or participating in DW/fandom!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Theatre tickets. I saw lots of great musicals and plays this year; some highlights were the one about Section 28, Medea, Julie! about the bisexual sword-fighting opera singer from French history, Lizzie which is a rock opera about Lizzie Borden, and ofc the random magic of finding outrionaleonhart and I were going to the same performance of the Death Note musical.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Lots of people! My family for coming together and managing to have someone with my grandpa 24/7 while he was in hospital in August.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various politicians, again: Sunak, Braverman, Jenrick. Netanyahu.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Theatre, decorating the flat/my room more, and honestly lots of ‘I’m exhausted and M&S is right there’ food decisions.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Being in my first zine, especially since I’m so quiet otherwise on the fandom side. Oh, and my photo was in Diva! Which needs to be its own post.
16. What song will always remind you of 2023?
Lavender Haze or Anti-Hero, I think. I’ve been a Taylor Swift fan for years (though in an ‘I’ve listened to most of her albums’ way, so do I dare claim the title!), but like, this year she was so dominant in pop culture, as well as my sisters getting super, super into her.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
About the same I think. I get sad when I think about my grandpa’s situation, but I’m also taking vitamin D religiously!
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner but I’m trying very hard not to see that as the goal in any way.
iii. richer or poorer?
A bit richer I guess, because this time last year I hadn’t quite started this job so I was still technically unemployed.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise; I did some, more than in 2022, but it’s something to work on. IDK, I was so painfully exhausted in the spring and much of the summer this year, but I’m hoping that was mostly down to starting a new job and I’ll feel better this time round, and better able to go to the gym.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Indulging in M&S lunches rather than bringing leftovers. But ugh executive function.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The usual way: with my family, doing church then turkey then presents. It was lovely. Over the next few days we hung out and cooked and watched films, along with my dad’s former PhD student who’s become one of the family. I taught them the game Seven Wonders and Middle Sister taught us Matchmaker, a fun Jane Austen based game with incorrect opinions.
21. Did you fall in love in 2023?
No; single.
22. How many one night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV programme?
Kevin Can Fuck Himself, hands down.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hmm. The virulence of my hatred for certain people (specific politicians) has certainly increased.
26. What was the best book you read?
Either The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, or Unraveller by Frances Hardringe. Hardringe is my favourite living writer, and Unraveller is definitely the better book imo, but Golden Enclaves had some great twists and recontextualised the first two books of the trilogy it concluded.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oooh. Tons of options; I’d been sleeping on Lucy Dacus, for one. Fletcher, Flamy Grant, Paris Paloma. But I’ll go with MILCK. I’d heard one song of hers and loved it for years and 2023 was the year it actually occurred to me to go and see what else she’d done.
28. What did you want and get?
Work at the kind of college (in the UK sense) that allowed me to do some interesting new stuff, and may with time get me a better-paying uni gig.
29. What did you want and not get?
A cat or two.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
…I think I’m gonna have to go with It’s A Wonderful Life. I hardly saw any new-to-me films this year, but I saw this one for the first time and it was great, obviously.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
Nothing that special; I was exhausted. I have to change that this year.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
No idea. Canon poly on Ted Lasso?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?
Aging into my funky jumper era, though miniskirts still happen.
34. What kept you sane?
Don’t accept the premise of the question, heh.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Janelle Monae, no question. (Though Sofie Hagen and Ncuti Gatwa are coming in strong to round out the top three.)
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Ummmm. Prejudice and cruelty against those you see as other. (Transphobic and queerphobic stuff, refugee and immigration stuff, Gaza.)
37. Whom did you miss?
My friend Dee, who lives in Chicago. They lived here in London years ago and usually visit annually, but hadn’t made it since 2019 what with covid etc. It was wonderful to see her, we had a great time, but ofc I ended up missing her much more intensely once she’d gone home again.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably one of my new colleagues - maybe R, a delightful semi-pro comedian, gay and Welsh and absolutely filthy. Or one of my lovely students from the Jan-August cohort; I hope they’re all doing well and enjoying uni now!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023.
I don’t know that I’d exactly say I’ve learnt about the importance of asking for help, but I’m getting there!
40. BONUS QUESTION: What were your best meals of the year?
I recently went to a fancy Indian restaurant (with a wildly colonial concept, lol, it’s called Colonal Saab) and had aubergine in tamarind sauce and a gorgeous chana masala. And on the first day of 2023, me and my flatmate realised we weren’t going to make it to a lovely Bangladeshi wedding, and consoled ourselves by ordering an outstanding Indian takeaway.
Less locally - I had an insanely good fish and chips in Whitby, the Gothic seaside town that’s famous for Dracula. One of the most fun meals was going for Chinese with my mum when we were in Florence, and comparing British Chinese food with Italian Chinese food. Water chestnuts didn’t seem to feature, but gnocchi did.
41. Other new question: What are you looking forward to in 2024?
Meds! I got my diagnosis in early October, but there’s a seven-month waiting period to start meds.
1. What did you do in 2023 that you'd never done before?
Go to Florence and Puerto Rico! And take part in a Hindu wedding ritual; my favourite cousin Terrible (nickname is a joke, lol) married a wonderful woman whose mum is Indian, and they invited me to take part in a ritual where the older women bless the marriage. Which was so lovely - I was so happy to welcome her into the family.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
That’s gonna be its own post.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
‘Close’ might be a bit of a stretch, but one of my Aussie cousins just had a baby. They named the baby Tallow, which I find extra weird given his wife is vegan.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but my Grandpa turned 100 in the spring, faced a serious illness in August, and is now in “terminal decline” as per the doctor. My mum’s godparents are also struggling. I suspect 2024 of being a difficult year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy and Puerto Rico. Florence was amazing - a long weekend with my mum (who likes art and architecture and churches, so the perfect person to visit Florence with). We’d been planning it since 2020, when we were meant to go to celebrate my 30th birthday.
Puerto Rico, also amazing, though I didn’t get to see much of the island.
6. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?
Financial stability/predictability; I did okay financially, and even managed some savings, but it felt uncertain and worrying at times, especially in the last few months. Honestly I’m not likely to do too much better on this front in 2024, but hopefully it’ll be a bit of an improvement; I’ll still be an hourly worker with changeable hours, but I’ve learnt the rhythm of my college now. Plus they’ll very likely rehire me again since they did in September - my original contract was Jan-May, then got extended to the summer.
7. What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’d have to look up the actual dates, which is cheating. But Florence as my first time out of the country since 2016, PR at the end of July and Terrible’s wedding, and my ADHD diagnosis in early October.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting an ADHD diagnosis.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not writing fic or going on dates (as I’ll come back to in the new year’s resolutions post!) Or participating in DW/fandom!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Theatre tickets. I saw lots of great musicals and plays this year; some highlights were the one about Section 28, Medea, Julie! about the bisexual sword-fighting opera singer from French history, Lizzie which is a rock opera about Lizzie Borden, and ofc the random magic of finding out
rionaleonhart and I were going to the same performance of the Death Note musical.12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Lots of people! My family for coming together and managing to have someone with my grandpa 24/7 while he was in hospital in August.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various politicians, again: Sunak, Braverman, Jenrick. Netanyahu.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Theatre, decorating the flat/my room more, and honestly lots of ‘I’m exhausted and M&S is right there’ food decisions.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Being in my first zine, especially since I’m so quiet otherwise on the fandom side. Oh, and my photo was in Diva! Which needs to be its own post.
16. What song will always remind you of 2023?
Lavender Haze or Anti-Hero, I think. I’ve been a Taylor Swift fan for years (though in an ‘I’ve listened to most of her albums’ way, so do I dare claim the title!), but like, this year she was so dominant in pop culture, as well as my sisters getting super, super into her.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
About the same I think. I get sad when I think about my grandpa’s situation, but I’m also taking vitamin D religiously!
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner but I’m trying very hard not to see that as the goal in any way.
iii. richer or poorer?
A bit richer I guess, because this time last year I hadn’t quite started this job so I was still technically unemployed.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise; I did some, more than in 2022, but it’s something to work on. IDK, I was so painfully exhausted in the spring and much of the summer this year, but I’m hoping that was mostly down to starting a new job and I’ll feel better this time round, and better able to go to the gym.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Indulging in M&S lunches rather than bringing leftovers. But ugh executive function.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The usual way: with my family, doing church then turkey then presents. It was lovely. Over the next few days we hung out and cooked and watched films, along with my dad’s former PhD student who’s become one of the family. I taught them the game Seven Wonders and Middle Sister taught us Matchmaker, a fun Jane Austen based game with incorrect opinions.
21. Did you fall in love in 2023?
No; single.
22. How many one night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV programme?
Kevin Can Fuck Himself, hands down.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hmm. The virulence of my hatred for certain people (specific politicians) has certainly increased.
26. What was the best book you read?
Either The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, or Unraveller by Frances Hardringe. Hardringe is my favourite living writer, and Unraveller is definitely the better book imo, but Golden Enclaves had some great twists and recontextualised the first two books of the trilogy it concluded.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oooh. Tons of options; I’d been sleeping on Lucy Dacus, for one. Fletcher, Flamy Grant, Paris Paloma. But I’ll go with MILCK. I’d heard one song of hers and loved it for years and 2023 was the year it actually occurred to me to go and see what else she’d done.
28. What did you want and get?
Work at the kind of college (in the UK sense) that allowed me to do some interesting new stuff, and may with time get me a better-paying uni gig.
29. What did you want and not get?
A cat or two.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
…I think I’m gonna have to go with It’s A Wonderful Life. I hardly saw any new-to-me films this year, but I saw this one for the first time and it was great, obviously.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
Nothing that special; I was exhausted. I have to change that this year.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
No idea. Canon poly on Ted Lasso?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?
Aging into my funky jumper era, though miniskirts still happen.
34. What kept you sane?
Don’t accept the premise of the question, heh.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Janelle Monae, no question. (Though Sofie Hagen and Ncuti Gatwa are coming in strong to round out the top three.)
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Ummmm. Prejudice and cruelty against those you see as other. (Transphobic and queerphobic stuff, refugee and immigration stuff, Gaza.)
37. Whom did you miss?
My friend Dee, who lives in Chicago. They lived here in London years ago and usually visit annually, but hadn’t made it since 2019 what with covid etc. It was wonderful to see her, we had a great time, but ofc I ended up missing her much more intensely once she’d gone home again.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably one of my new colleagues - maybe R, a delightful semi-pro comedian, gay and Welsh and absolutely filthy. Or one of my lovely students from the Jan-August cohort; I hope they’re all doing well and enjoying uni now!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023.
I don’t know that I’d exactly say I’ve learnt about the importance of asking for help, but I’m getting there!
40. BONUS QUESTION: What were your best meals of the year?
I recently went to a fancy Indian restaurant (with a wildly colonial concept, lol, it’s called Colonal Saab) and had aubergine in tamarind sauce and a gorgeous chana masala. And on the first day of 2023, me and my flatmate realised we weren’t going to make it to a lovely Bangladeshi wedding, and consoled ourselves by ordering an outstanding Indian takeaway.
Less locally - I had an insanely good fish and chips in Whitby, the Gothic seaside town that’s famous for Dracula. One of the most fun meals was going for Chinese with my mum when we were in Florence, and comparing British Chinese food with Italian Chinese food. Water chestnuts didn’t seem to feature, but gnocchi did.
41. Other new question: What are you looking forward to in 2024?
Meds! I got my diagnosis in early October, but there’s a seven-month waiting period to start meds.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-01 05:07 pm (UTC)Lots of people do seem to see a huge difference with meds... fingers crossed!