Meme of the Year - 2010

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Became a grandma. Do a reunion tour.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Never do them and don't intend to start.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. Which countries did you visit?
Canada, Wales and briefly passing through, the USA

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A book contract...

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
27th October. My grandson's birthday

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Delivering my first book to my agent. Doing the Artisan 5 year reunion tour.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not delivering my second book by Christmas (but hopefully by New Year)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. Just long term ongoing things that are manageable.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
An eeePC (for travelling) and a new (large) flatscreen TV and books (lots of books)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My Zulu friends (traditional South African dance and song group called 'ZULU') who got out from under a bad business relationship and set up in business for themselves.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My Zulu friends' ex-employer

14. Where did most of your money go?
Household bills... and books.

15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
My grandson.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Spirit of the Word. It's one of Brian's that we sang on the reunion tour.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
Same

b) Bigger or smaller?
About the same

c) Richer or poorer?
A little bit less poor due to a one-off collision of circumstances that won't happen again next year.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Dieting.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Um... nothing really.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home, with family

21. What was your favourite month of 2010?
August was good, so was September and October, all for slightly different reasons. None of them was particularly bad.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No. I've been in love for 43 years

23. What was your favourite TV programme?
Can I have more than one? Doctor Who is still at the top of my list though I like Matt Smith less than either Tennant or Eccleston. Being Human was good. Merlin was the best season yet but  still has room for improvement. Recently I've really been enjoying the re-run of Glee season one. I also loved Lost -  I saw the final season on DVD 'cos we don't have Sky. My all-time favourite is still Firefly. Thanks to the boxed set DVDs it is always current.

24. How did you see in the New Year?
I worked until 11.55 and then watched telly for five minutes - hugged husband and mother - and went back into the office.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. But there's one person whose business methods I strongly disapprove ofand will not work with again

26. What was the best book you read?
In 2010? Well I re-read lois McMaster Bujold's 'Warrior's Apprentice' which remains brilliant, but of the new books I very much enjoyed: some of Elizabeth Chadwick's hostoricals; Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs and I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. New-to-me authors verfy much enjoyed include Sherwood Smith, Ilona Andrews and Anne Aguire. If I had to pick a best it would have to be 'Warrior's Apprentice' even though it was a re-read.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hmm... I don't think I discovered anyone very new however my longtime friend Al Parrish from Tanglefoot is now doing solo stuff and it's lovely.

28. What did you want and get?
Um... I dunno

29. What did you want and not get?
A book contract, but it's early days yet with my agent.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I should keep a film log like i keep a book log and then I'd remember what I've seen. Was Sherlock Holmes this year or last? It was good, anyway... much better than I expected, as was Iron Man 2. Inception was good, but my brain exploded. Red was great fun and against all expectations, so was Knight and Day, Prince of Persia and Robin Hood. Percy Jackson was quite sweet. Avatar was pretty. Alice in Wonderland was disappointing as was Clash of the Titans, Harry Potter was OK, but being a part one and covering all the boring bits of the final book means I can't really judge it objectively.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Had an at home day for friends and family. It was lovely.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling a book.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Loose and layered as usual. Long tops and trousers. Waterfall jackets. Fashion is coming round to my way of thinking at last, but I'm sure it will soon leave me behind again.

34. What kept you sane?
Me

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Err, that's not changed much in several years. It would be (still) Patrick Stewart, Michael Praed, Sean Pertwee, Paul Darrow... but it would be more fancying the characters they play rather than the actors they are, and it would depend on me picking them out of a specific production at a specific time, if you see what I mean.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Stupidly brutal financial cutbacks, especially the student fees issue.

37. Who did you miss?
My son J, who is studying in America. My daughter, G, who lives in London and couldn't travel much while she was pregnant. Steve Ritchie and Al Parrish who no longer tour here with Tanglefoot on an annual basis, though we did go visit them this summer.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't meet that many new people, except in passing.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
That when I really have to stand up for what's right I'm quite capable of doing it.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
On the road again.

Meme of the Year - 2010

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Became a grandma. Do a reunion tour.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Never do them and don't intend to start.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. Which countries did you visit?
Canada, Wales and briefly passing through, the USA

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A book contract...

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
27th October. My grandson's birthday

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Delivering my first book to my agent. Doing the Artisan 5 year reunion tour.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not delivering my second book by Christmas (but hopefully by New Year)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really. Just long term ongoing things that are manageable.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
An eeePC (for travelling) and a new (large) flatscreen TV and books (lots of books)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My Zulu friends (traditional South African dance and song group called 'ZULU') who got out from under a bad business relationship and set up in business for themselves.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My Zulu friends' ex-employer

14. Where did most of your money go?
Household bills... and books.

15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
My grandson.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Spirit of the Word. It's one of Brian's that we sang on the reunion tour.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder?
Same

b) Bigger or smaller?
About the same

c) Richer or poorer?
A little bit less poor due to a one-off collision of circumstances that won't happen again next year.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Dieting.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Um... nothing really.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home, with family

21. What was your favourite month of 2010?
August was good, so was September and October, all for slightly different reasons. None of them was particularly bad.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
No. I've been in love for 43 years

23. What was your favourite TV programme?
Can I have more than one? Doctor Who is still at the top of my list though I like Matt Smith less than either Tennant or Eccleston. Being Human was good. Merlin was the best season yet but  still has room for improvement. Recently I've really been enjoying the re-run of Glee season one. I also loved Lost -  I saw the final season on DVD 'cos we don't have Sky. My all-time favourite is still Firefly. Thanks to the boxed set DVDs it is always current.

24. How did you see in the New Year?
I worked until 11.55 and then watched telly for five minutes - hugged husband and mother - and went back into the office.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. But there's one person whose business methods I strongly disapprove ofand will not work with again

26. What was the best book you read?
In 2010? Well I re-read lois McMaster Bujold's 'Warrior's Apprentice' which remains brilliant, but of the new books I very much enjoyed: some of Elizabeth Chadwick's hostoricals; Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs and I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett. New-to-me authors verfy much enjoyed include Sherwood Smith, Ilona Andrews and Anne Aguire. If I had to pick a best it would have to be 'Warrior's Apprentice' even though it was a re-read.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hmm... I don't think I discovered anyone very new however my longtime friend Al Parrish from Tanglefoot is now doing solo stuff and it's lovely.

28. What did you want and get?
Um... I dunno

29. What did you want and not get?
A book contract, but it's early days yet with my agent.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I should keep a film log like i keep a book log and then I'd remember what I've seen. Was Sherlock Holmes this year or last? It was good, anyway... much better than I expected, as was Iron Man 2. Inception was good, but my brain exploded. Red was great fun and against all expectations, so was Knight and Day, Prince of Persia and Robin Hood. Percy Jackson was quite sweet. Avatar was pretty. Alice in Wonderland was disappointing as was Clash of the Titans, Harry Potter was OK, but being a part one and covering all the boring bits of the final book means I can't really judge it objectively.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Had an at home day for friends and family. It was lovely.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling a book.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Loose and layered as usual. Long tops and trousers. Waterfall jackets. Fashion is coming round to my way of thinking at last, but I'm sure it will soon leave me behind again.

34. What kept you sane?
Me

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Err, that's not changed much in several years. It would be (still) Patrick Stewart, Michael Praed, Sean Pertwee, Paul Darrow... but it would be more fancying the characters they play rather than the actors they are, and it would depend on me picking them out of a specific production at a specific time, if you see what I mean.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Stupidly brutal financial cutbacks, especially the student fees issue.

37. Who did you miss?
My son J, who is studying in America. My daughter, G, who lives in London and couldn't travel much while she was pregnant. Steve Ritchie and Al Parrish who no longer tour here with Tanglefoot on an annual basis, though we did go visit them this summer.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't meet that many new people, except in passing.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
That when I really have to stand up for what's right I'm quite capable of doing it.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
On the road again.