All About ... 2016 | Year in Review

What did you do in 2016 that you’ve never done before? Nothing major that I can think of.  It's been a year of going to new places, having a good social life, and meeting new people. From all of that, the biggie for me was going to see a professional production of Les Miserables in London.

Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?  Sort of. I achieved most of the improvements I'd decided on in the house but failed miserably with getting the garden sorted.  Yes, I will set more goals for 2017 but I'll write about them in a separate post.

Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

Did anyone close to you die? No.  

What countries did you visit? Travel wasn't part of my agenda for 2016 so, although I visited new towns and places, they were all in England.

What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016? I'm lucky enough to be able to write that I don't feel I lacked anything in 2016 .... nothing important anyway.  In 2017 I want to focus on quality time with family and friends.

What date from 2016 will remain etched in your memory and why? December 9th 2016, when I heard that my sister had breast cancer again.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting the work done on the house and starting to 'live' in my home. I love the new look kitchen, cloakroom and the music room but the best, and the change that's had the biggest impact on my day-to-day life, is the finished hobbies room.  I still have goodies to find and unpack, but I can now get on with so many of my interests - sketching, card making, the family tree research, sewing, watercolours .... the list goes on.

What was your biggest failure? I didn't get the garden sorted, mainly due to being let down by gardeners who accepted the contract and then either failed to turn up or wanted to alter the price.  

Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a bit of a scare with raised cholesterol levels - something which had never previously been a problem but which, combined with ongoing hypertension, required some remedial action. So it was a 'lose weight, exercise, eat sensibly' type of action plan, which at the first review, seems to have pushed things in the right direction. I have to see the doctor again in January but am not expecting amazing results this time - think, Christmas chocolates, mince pies and general excess!

What was the best thing you bought?  That has to be my new (to me) car, a Renault Clio. 

Where did most of your money go? On my social life and a belated 60th birthday trip to London.  Oh, and of course the new car and all the improvements in the house.

What did you get really, really, really excited about? I don't know! I've had a happy year, but not sure that I was really excited about anything.  If I have to, then I'd say that it will be the changes to the house. 

Compared to this time last year are you:

• Happier or sadder? Up until this month, I'd have said about the same ... still missing Ced but coping and getting out and about.  The news about my sister has changed all that and, at present, is all I can think about.
• Thinner or fatter? A little thinner!
• Richer or poorer? Slightly richer.

What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I'd spent more time with family, and I wish that I'd carried on with the decluttering. I also wish I'd spent more time 'living in the moment', but more about that in another post.

What do you wish you’d done less of? I wish I wasted less time on social media, something that I've already addressed.  

How did you spend Christmas? I was ill for most of Christmas with the cold from hell. I can't seem to get rid of it - I think I'm over the worst and then it comes back with a vengeance and I end up back at stage one.   

Did you fall in love in 2016? No.

What was your favourite TV show? I know I've watched a lot of TV this year but now I have to state my favourite shows, I can't think of anything! I watched Sherlock, Lewis, and for the first time ever, The Great British Bake Off.

What was the best book you read? This is a hard one to answer but I think I'll settle for 'The Gift of Rain' by Tan Twan Eng.

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2016? This won't be the answer you are expecting! My greatest musical discovery was teaching my great-niece, Little Miss C, to play the recorder and being constantly amazed by her ability and the speed at which she has progressed.

What did you want and get? I wanted to establish a happy and healthy lifestyle, and although there are aspects that I need to focus on, I have achieved that.

What did you want and not get? That would have to be the garden landscaping. It's been a big disappointment but, fingers crossed, I have someone starting in two weeks time on the first part. 

What was your favourite film this year?  I think that will have to be 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them', but close runners up are 'Jungle Book' and 'The BFG'.

What did you do on your birthday? I was tied up with the youth band all day on my birthday. The usual morning practices and then in the early evening, the start of our Christmas schedule, playing in the parish church for the Shoppers' Carol Service. The band presented me with a bouquet of flowers and I had gifts from some of the children - totally unexpected, as exchanging gifts is not something we usually do in the band. I also went out for a few meals with various groups of friends in the week leading up to the actual day.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I can't really thing of anything, or at least anything I want to mention on a public blog! 

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016? The same as always, anything comfortable. I'm not a fashion victim!

What kept you sane? Setting goals, enjoying the little things of life, keeping busy.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't say that I've really fancied any celebrity/public figures this year.

What political issue stirred you the most? Brexit, the Syrian conflict, and the US presidential campaign.

Who did you miss? Ced. Always.  

Who was the best new person you met? I can't single anyone out. I now have a small group of people living locally who I can call friends and who I meet with regularly.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016. Breath ... count to 10!

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.  I'm no good at lyrics!