2014 in Review

I've got no bloody idea where January went. I wish I could say it was glamorous book promotion or naked skydiving, but it was mostly stomping around in the snow trying to hit my 10,000 steps per day. A very belated happy new year to you all!Here's my untimely annual review.

1. What did you do this year that you’d never done before?

• visited the most northerly public toilet in mainland Great Britain.

• got my eyebrows tinted. After a lifetime of invisible eyebrows and furious pencilling, you can't imagine the delights of 24/7 definition! Until they faded, then my eyeballs got sorta lost in my face again. Does anyone else have this problem? ;)

• my forearm said goodbye to Wally the melanoma.

• finally went full-time freelance as a writer/web marketing-y type of person (rubbishness at describing skill set no doubt contributed to taking so long to take the plunge).

• deadlifted 85 kilos (had set a goal of 100kg for 2014, but had to take five months off deadlifts after Wally!).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for this year?
I had a word of the year - consistency. It guided me sweetly through the first half of the year but in the second half I quite lost it. I didn't feel drawn to choosing a word this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Including my best mate Jenny on December 23. She said I could be an honorary Auntie so I plan to dote from afar.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Auntie Marg passed away, one of our beloved quartet of Great Aunts. Still can't believe her twinkly smile is no longer with us.

5. What countries did you visit?
Spain, France (for a day) and Italy.

6. What would you like to have next year that you lacked in this one?
I don't feel I lacked anything, except maybe for bargain cast iron pots. Sainsbury's makes these great Le Creuset-esque pots and they were on sale last January. I had a bunch of Nectar points saved up, so I ordered two huge casserole pots and a griddle pan for all of £40. Then I found out about the melanoma and in a fit of morbid madness, I returned the pots.

My reasoning was that since I didn't actually need the pots,keeping them would be tempting fate like I was arrogantly assuming I'd be around to use them. What use would Gareth have for a pile of cast iron pots if I died? Would he bury them with me, so I could make tasty slow-cooked casseroles with cheaper cuts of meat in the afterlife?

There was nothing logical at all about my thought processes during that period. And now that I'm currently alive and hankering for a hearty stew I really regret returning those bloody pots.

7. What dates from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

• 23 May - Melanoma all clear!

• 24 May - After seven fruitless visits, finally spotted dolphins at the renowned dolphin-spotting place Chanonry Point. There were twenty dolphins leaping around very close to shore, with the sun setting in the background. Pure magic! Especially since we went for chips afterwards.

The magnificent Neighbout Cat

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Watching all ten seasons of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix in an alarmingly short period of time.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Watching all ten seasons of Grey's Anatomy on Netflix in an alarmingly short period of time.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from Wally, a couple of colds but otherwise dandy!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Vichy Aqualia serum for dehydrated skin – a Sali Hughes recommendation. Lizard face, sorted!

12. Where did most of your money go?
Groceries? I laid low with the spending this year.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The visiting Neighbour Cat!

14. What song will always remind you of this year?
The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. Know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em. Great advice, K-Dawg.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
Happier

.b) thinner or fatter?
Same.

c) richer or poorer?
Slightly poorer but no worries.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Daily stepping.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Denial of reality through the medium of Netflix binges.(Have now cancelled the Netflix subscription for my own good!)

18. How did you spend Christmas?
In London with Gareth and my dear sister. Rum punch FTW!

19. Did you fall in love this year?
Definitely that Neighbour Cat.

20. What was your favourite TV program?
I finally watched Breaking Bad and loved it, and The Good Wife was a surprise favourite. But can't go past Friday Night Lights for pure love and obsession!

21. What was the best book you read?
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert.

22. What was your favourite film of this year?
The Possibilities Are Endless.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 37 and had a low-key day with a walk then lunch at the Dores Inn.

24. What kept you sane?
Bloody brilliant friends! Would not have got through it without you, THANK YOU! :)

25. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
A toss-up between Jesse Pinkman and a Coach Taylor, Tim Riggins, Matt Saracen combo. I'm sure they have real names!

26. Who did you miss?
The Mothership.

27. Who was the best new person you met?
Does Neighbour Cat count as a person? I love that grumpy nutter!