Another year (almost) over, a new one’s just begun…

(insert obligatory apologies for absence over stress-laden build up to festive season here!)

Hey! A belated Merry Christmas everyone! Ours was spent at Marc’s parents’ and was relatively quiet and traditional. How was yours?
Linda posted her yearly meme about the year that was, so here goes:

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
 Well, there’s the getting pregnant thing of course. And then I had a bike accident that wasn’t my fault and broke my elbow. I’m sure there are other little things too, like new dishes I cooked etc. Oh, and I learned how to do proper bookkeeping over the past few days, and founded a company with Marc.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
 Do you know, I’m not sure I made any. Possibly to do more sport, which I kept up quite well until the accident, which was then followed by the pregnancy, and now I do next to nothing, which I would quite like to change a bit, by, for example, taking longer walks. This would be easier if I wasn’t crippled with joint and round ligament pain after the first 10 minutes. As for resolutions for this year, I doubt I’ll be making any.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
 Well, a colleague gave birth last February and I’ve become quite close to her over the past year. Other than that, a ton of people I am close to got pregnant and will be giving birth over the next couple of months.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
 Thank heavens, no. I mean, one of my budgies died, but that doesn’t really count, because she hated me.
5. What countries did you visit?
 No where overly exciting this year. I live in Germany, and visited France, Spain, Britain and probably Austria at some point. That’s about it.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
 A longer temper. And one of those thermos mug things that I asked for for Christmas and didn’t get.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
 Well, the 25th July was the aforementioned accident, and I filled that out on so many claims forms that I am not likely to forget it in a hurry. Apparently, the 15th July was also our conception date, although we were helping friends move house on that day, so who knows. Other than that, I mainly have dates for next year to remember (25th February, the day I stop work, 16th February, Marc’s cousin’s due date, 8th March, my schoolfriend’s due date, 8th April, my due date, must I continue?…)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 Erm… I feel kind of bad about saying getting pregnant, because it all happened so easily and we were so lucky. I’m pretty proud of how well I am doing with the bookkeeping thing, although I’d always thought it was totally not something I’d be good at.
9. What was your biggest failure?
 Not getting back into at least some sort of sport after the accident I think. Obviously, there were a lot of things that made it difficult, but I do feel that I could have done more.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
 Apart from the broken elbow thing, I did quite well this year and was hardly ever ill at all.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
 I love my new bike. And my maternity jeans with the full panel. And my new winter boots that I have worn every day for the past month. I also love my apple slicer – it’s the little things you know.-
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
 Marc’s definitely. Pregnancy does not always make me an easy person to live with. As always, my father in law’s, because of the way he takes care of my mother in law. My brother Daniel’s, because he just up and moved to South Korea, putting my emigration to Germany somewhat in the shade.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
 My own, quite often. Various politicians and celebrities. Britney Spears depressed me a lot this year, as she quite clearly needs help.
14. Where did most of your money go?
 To the taxman, sadly. Of the money I spent, most likely on food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
 Being pregnant is a bit of a no-brainer on this one.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
 Sadly, that ridiculous Umbrella song by Rihanna
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
 about the same, definitely fatter and maybe slighly richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
 Exercise!
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
 Monging about doing nothing
20. How did you spend Christmas?
 At the in-laws, Marc’s mother’s side on Christmas Eve, his dad’s side on Christmas Day
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
 I guess you could say I fell in love with the baby who is currently kicking the living daylights out of my colon, yes. I don’t think I’d let anybody else get away with that at all hours of the day and night, so I guess this is love ;o)
22. What was your favorite TV program?
 Grey’s Anatomy, definitely. And of course, my soap from back home, Coronation Street.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
 Do you know, I don’t think I hate anyone at all on a serious long term basis.
24. What was the best book you read?
 I got very excited over Harry Potter, didn’t we all?
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
 Here’s a confession, I couldn’t really care less about music. Marc is always listening to something, and I don’t mind most of what he listens to, so he generally choses. I listened to a fair bit of Gwen Stefani at the beginning of the year, but I couldn’t really call it a discovery.
26. What did you want and get?
 Pregnant?! And of course Christmas presents, like my voucher for the beauty salon so I can get my legs waxed when I stop being able to see my feet, and my Chanel mascara, and my bike and my new warm socks etc etc.
27. What did you want and not get?
 One of those thermos mugs I linked above
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
 hmmm… my first thought was Harry Potter again, but actually, I didn’t think it was all that, and just loved it because it was Harry. I saw so many films on DVD this year, but there isn’t really one that sticks in my minds as being the greatest…
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
 Not much, I don’t think. I was at work, then Marc and I went out for dinner at our favourite Italian, and I had a glass of wine, which is about as exciting as it gets when you’re 3 months pregnant. I was 27.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
 I really don’t know. I would have liked to spend more time with my family, especially my brother before he went to South Korea, and I wish I was better at keeping in touch with all of my amazing friends.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
 First half of the year: Serious attempt at casual/elegant, second half of the year: If it fits and is comfortable, hand it over.
32. What kept you sane?
 Chocolate. Hot baths. My Seabands.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
 Patrick Dempsey.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
 The public smoking ban here in Germany. 35. Who did you miss?
 My family, as always. My Nanna, who died 2 years ago.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
 Erm… Nicki was last year, right? Who did I meet this year? Emil, my friend’s son is very cute…
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
 Cycling on the cycle path does not necessarily mean you will not get knocked of your bike by a car. And it is always worth going home to collect your cycle helmet.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I’ve never even heard this song, but Google informs me a person/band called Tobymac once said “Welcome to the Quiet before the Storm”. That’s kind of this year for me. Next year is going to be full of so many changes, careerwise and with the baby, that I just feel like this year has been pretty uneventful leading up to next year… Bring it on!

Happy New Year everyone!!

---