I have been filling this in for so many years now and I do wonder if it’s time is nearing an end, after all, it is the only post on fifikins.com this year. It has been a challenging year for many, including me, but I have endured and 2021 is literally just around the corner. Oh well, here goes nothing…

1. What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before?

Woke up in ICU intubated- basically a tube was shoved down my throat that was breathing for me. This was after almost 14 hours of spinal surgery.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I honestly cn’t remember. Not making any.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Colleagues and friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My lovely father-in-law, Tony, adorable colleague, Alison and several people who succumbed to complications arising from SARS-CoV2.

5. What countries/states did you visit?

None! Not even before lockdowns and too scared to travel interstate now. I will not be able to sit for 2 weeks in hotel isolation because of my back.

I did spend a week on the Sunshine Coast with my mother in February and it was lovely to catch up with Tess.

6. What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020

Mobility, but with 13 fused vertebrae, this will probably be challenging. I am mobile in the sense I can walk (short distances still at present) but things like getting out of bed is really hard.

7. What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Specific things happened on different days- return to work, deaths and further surgery.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Returning to work was huge, even though it was only for 3 days, 3 ours per day. I also completed my Grad Cert in Infection Prevention.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I still don’t think I believe in failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

You could say that!

11. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

The way MIML™ has cared for me post accident has been beautiful and has really shown us both how much we mean to each other and what an amazing team we are. (Same goes for this year!)

22. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The usual suspects…

13. Where did most of your money go?

Bills

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Being able to walk the length of The Esplanade without stopping. It seems a long way off again now.

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

a) happier or sadder?
Happiness is a state of mind I’ve chosen for sometime now.

b)thinner or fatter?
I think I found some Coved kilos, but I am back to healthier eating patterns and hydrotherapy and physiotherapy as tolerated.

c) richer or poorer?
Compared to many I’ve been fortunate to have a guaranteed income through Workcover.

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

Cooking- it’s still hard, but I’m finding workarounds- preparing veggies early afternoon before a rest and the like.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Of all things- sleeping. Although I know my body needs it, I am still sleeping 10-12 hours/night.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Just Crawford and I grazing on oysters and prawns. It was lovely!

19. What was your favourite TV program?

Just finished Bridgerton which I loved!

20. Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year?

Probably

21. What was the best book you read?

I got multifocal and reading glasses this year so have been able to read more. The best book I read by far was Fourteen: My year of darkness and the light that followed, by the amazing Shannon Molloy.

22. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Hildegard von Blingin’ on YouTube!

23. What did you want and get?

A Grad Cert

24. What did you want and not get?

Not sure of this.

25. What was your favourite film of this year?

I saw Emma during my week on the Sunshine Coast and it’s still one of my favourite Austen’s!

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 48. Ate cake and dined at C’est Bon!

27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Covid Vaccine!

28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020?

PJs and pants free days on the recliner

29. What kept you sane?

MIML™ and mindfulness..

30. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I think the country fell for Victoria’s CHOttie!

31. What political issue stirred you the most?

Pandemic management

32. Who did you miss?

The kids- only saw Immy yesterday for the first time this year.

33. Who was the best new person you met?

A new psychologist has been helpful. I also did some psychometric testing which surprised me.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020.

It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen, probably…

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Monty Python

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best
And

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life

If life seems jolly rotten
There’s something you’ve forgotten
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you’re feeling in the dumps
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that’s the thing
And

Always look on the bright side of life
(Come on)
Always look on the right side of life

For life is quite absurd
And death’s the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin
Give the audience a grin
Enjoy it, it’s your last chance anyhow

So always look on the bright side of death
A just before you draw your terminal breath

Life’s a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke, it’s true
You’ll see it’s all a show
Keep ’em laughin’ as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
And

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
(C’mon Brian, cheer up)
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life

Always look on the bright side of life

I mean, what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
You’re going back to nothing
What have you lost? NothingAlways look on the right side of life

Nothing will come from nothing, ya know what they say
Cheer up ya old bugga c’mon give us a grin
(Always look on the right side of life)
There ya are, see
It’s the end of the film
Incidentally this record’s available in the foyer
(Always look on the right side of life)

Some of us got to live as well, you know
(Always look on the right side of life)
Who do you think pays for all this rubbish
(Always look on the right side of life)
They’re not gonna make their money back, you know
I told them, I said to him, Bernie, I said they’ll never make their money back
(Always look on the right side of life)

I’m not sure if this is the best way of chronicling the year that was. It was definitely a year in two halves- before and after accident. I look back on the videos I did daily whilst in hospital and can see how far I’ve come and yet I have a long way to go still. My brain is still experiencing Post Concussion Syndrome meaning I have issues finding words at times and I’m perhaps not as sharp as I used to be. I keep being assured this will heal give it time. Time. Sigh.

1. What did you do in 2019 that you’d never done before?

Spent two months in hospital as an impatient inpatient.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I will update the craftolusions after this. I’m not a big one for resolutions, preferring to take each day as a new day and am willing to start changes when I see they need to be made.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Colleagues and friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Aunt Esther, my last remaining close relation on my mother’s side. She was my Step-Great-Grandmother’s niece and my mother’s godmother. I was unable to get to the funeral and still ponder how the year would have been different if I had made it down as I would not have been travelling to work the following day…

5. What countries/states did you visit?

I went to Melbourne three times in the end- to settle Jasper into college in February, to go to the Dean’s Dinner in April and then for Imogen’s graduation in December. I’m still sad I missed Bendigo, but was totally spoilt by the ladies and still cry when I see my blanket!

6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?

More endurance so I can walk more than 100m without needing to sit down and can get back to work.

7. What dates from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June was a month of highs and lows- A and A’s wedding at the start and the accident at the end.

For those unaware, on 29 June I was travelling to work at a small Emergency Department in an Aboriginal Community near home. As I came around a bend, I lost control of my motorbike- it was slightly damp and I probably hit some oil or gravel, and I came a cropper- I fractured 7 vertebrae, my right radius and my left shoulder we think became dislocated and I tore ligaments and tendons requiring a lot of physiotherapy. My back has metal rods in two places and my wrist has pins and a plate.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving. I literally came about 2mm from death. If I had rolled down the embankment after my accident I would almost certainly have severed my spinal cord either at my neck or lower end of my ribs.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I don’t believe in failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just a bit! See above!

11. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

The way MIML™ has cared for me post accident has been beautiful and has really shown us both how much we mean to each other and what an amazing team we are.

22. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The usual suspects…

13. Where did most of your money go?

Bills

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I really loved the varied nature of my job in the first half of the year. I adored working all around the local hospital and out at the Aboriginal Community.

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

a) happier or sadder?
Happiness is a state of mind I’ve chosen for sometime now.

b)thinner or fatter?
After the accident I have focussed on becoming healthier and with a damaged back that has meant shedding some fat. I still have a bit to go, but am proud of how far I’ve come so far (over 42kg).

c) richer or poorer?
It’s been a challenge not getting penalty rates, however I am grateful for WorkCover and receiving at least part of my wage.

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

Knitting

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

I’m not sure on this one…

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Jasper was home and we ate very well out on the deck.

19. What was your favourite TV program?

Game of Thrones was slightly disappointing, but I still liked it!

Also found some gems on Netflix- Umbrella Academy, Brooklyn 99, The Good Place…

20. Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year?

Lots of new colleagues and friends in special Facebook groups.

21. What was the best book you read?

I have not been able to read since the accident- I have trouble focussing on large portions of text. I have been enjoying Audible books though and loved ‘Embrace Yourself’ by Taryn Brumfitt and ‘Any Ordinary Day’ by Leigh Sales, especially in the light of my accident.

22. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Not sure really on this…

23. What did you want and get?

Discharged from hospital

24. What did you want and not get?

To return to work

25. What was your favourite film of this year?

I doI haven’t been to the cinema this year- I don’t know if I could physically sit through a movie, but have enjoyed watching all sorts of films on Netflix.

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 47 and I was in hospital in excruciating pain from a pseudo-blockage in my intestine. Liquid diets meant no birthday cake!

27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I would love to have travelled more

28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?

Nighties and PJs

29. What kept you sane?

MIML™ and mindfulness and talking with friends.

30. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I’ve still got a soft spot for Colin Firth!

31. What political issue stirred you the most?

So many! I am trying to sit back though and act in a way I would like others to act- practicing kindness.

32. Who did you miss?

It’s strange being empty nesters, but I still miss I&J!

33. Who was the best new person you met?

My back surgeon?

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.

You are not invincible!

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Time, time time, see what’s become of me
While I looked around for my possibilities

I was so hard to please
Don’t look around
The leaves are brown
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter

Hear the Salvation Army band
Down by the riverside’s, there’s bound to be a better ride
Than what you’ve got planned

Carry your cup in your hand
And look around
Leaves are brown, now
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter

Hang on to your hopes, my friend
That’s an easy thing to say
But if your hopes should pass away
Simply pretend that you can build them again
Look around
The grass is high
The fields are ripe
It’s the springtime of my life

Seasons change with the scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won’t you stop and remember me
At any convenient time?
Funny how my memory skips while looking over manuscripts
Of unpublished rhyme
Drinking my vodka and lime
I look around
Leaves are brown, now
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter
Look around
Leaves are brown
There’s a patch of snow on the ground
Look around
Leaves are brown
There’s a patch of snow on the ground
Look around
Leaves are brown
There’s a patch of snow on the ground

– Paul Simon

So today in Melbourne a man, who apparently was disgruntled with the legal system, mowed down people in the centre of Melbourne with his car. Apart from the fact that I am glad he did not have access to firearms, I find the discourse surrounding the incident intriguing.

The calls predominantly seem to be around tougher sentencing laws, ‘doing something about the ice epidemic’ and domestic violence. To me, the most baffling is that also today we see reported a man gaoled for four months for raping a women. Not a lot of discourse about this case- I would hate to think it was because it involves an Aboriginal woman. Last year we saw Eddy McGuire in lukewarm water for laughing at a colleague who suggested a female journalist should be drowned. We still see men receive lenient sentences for crime because of the way a woman was dressed, how much alcohol she had consumed or how alluring she looked to a perpetrator. And women speak out about this and are labelled misandrist and told they should shut up and they don’t really understand what is going on.

It was abhorrent that a man ploughed through busy footpaths today trying to run down people in order to exact some personal revenge for a court matter that didn’t go his way and it is right that we are calling for justice, however I also feel we need to remember that until we can identify examples of everyday sexism and call them out then we are fighting a losing battle. Eddy Everywhere laughing at comments that a colleague should be drowned does not show respect to women in the same way men who abuse partners, girlfriends and wives with their fists and words does not show respect. And if you question whether or not something is sexist, substitute Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, someone who identifies with being LGBTI or any number of religions. If it is racist then it is probably sexist too. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

I have been filling out this meme for over 10 years and it is still something I find worthwhile. 2016 has, on the whole, been a great year, espeically after the few years before it. I suspect the big difference is how I have chosen to deal with setbacks.

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?

Visited Nepal with CQUni

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I am not a resolution maker, however I have made some craftolutions (see previous post to this!)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

I knit two baby blankets for friends :)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

It was sad being at the funeral of a uni colleague. Cancer sucks.

5. What countries/states did you visit?

Melbourne for Mum’s 70th and to settle Immy into college/uni life; Bendigo for Spendi wool show, Nepal with CQUni!

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

2016 has not really lacked in very much at all!

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

No dates as such but some wonderful memories were made on my trips to Melbourne, Bendi and Nepal

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Achieving great marks at uni, getting a casual job as an AIN at the hospital and being awarded champion item in the Cairns Show!

9. What was your biggest failure?

I could have eaten better and walked more.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had the occasional cold and came back from Nepal with a intestinal bug, but nothing serious, no!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I didn’t buy a lot this year really. There will always be skeins of yarn that enter my stash that I feel I can’t live without!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

I have amazing kids and an amazing partner.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

I’m trying not to talk politics on here!

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Nepal!

16. What song will always remind you of 2016?

I think I have reached an age where I could not tell you any song that was released this year!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:?

a) happier or sadder?
happier

b)thinner or fatter?
probably fatter

c) richer or poorer?
richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Walking. I felt the healthiest in Nepal when I was walking 15-20,000 steps per day and eating unprocessed foods.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Stressing over assignments!

20. How did you spend Christmas?

The kids were home for the first time in a few years! I worked Christmas Eve, came home, put the turkey in the oven, went and slept and then cooked for us. Cooking does put me in my happy place!

21. Did you fall in love in 2016?

Over and over again with the gorgeous MIML™

22. How many one-night stands?

None! I think I might actually remove this question…

23. What was your favourite TV program?

Game of Thrones, Outlander, Call the Midwife… I also watched all of Gilmore Girls including the November special!

24. Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year?

I am still meeting some wonderful nursing students, especially those who came to Nepal :)

25. What was the best book you read?

Fight like a Girl

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I have just seen the discovery I made last year- I thought I had made it this year! I still love listening to random 70s and 80s hits!

27. What did you want and get?

A paid job!

28. What did you want and not get?

More hours in said job- however it is swings and roundabouts and some weeks there are lots of shifts going and others not so many- it is what it is!

29. What was your favourite film of this year?

I did enjoy the Ghostbusters remake!

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 44. It was not that memorable!

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I have had a satisfying year. This is the first year in ages I can say this!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Comfortable.

33. What kept you sane?

Knitting.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Ewan McGregor still does it for me!

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Asylum Seekers, US election.

36. Who did you miss?

It was lonely with Immy in Melbourne- I hope to visit more often next year.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Hard to single anyone out specifically, however Caitlyn and I had such a blast as roomies in Nepal!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.

It is hard to listen when your mouth is open!

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Roll on 2017!

In years past I sent out Christmas Cards, usually with a ‘newsy letter’ included. One of the joys of the digital age is the ease at which I can produce an epistle, and put it up for those who want to read it to read it and those who don’t can skim over it or ignore it altogether!

Overall 2016 has been a great year and this is the first year in a while I can actually say this. I am not sure how much is me choosing or being able to ignore the not so pleasant parts or if I deal with them in a different way, but the good seems to certainly outweigh the bad. My studies are going really well and I am achieving great grades. I know it is not all about the grades so it is also great to have amazing placements and to receive some very positive feedback from this work based practice. In April I started working as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) for Queensland Health. Usually I sit with high acuity patients who need someone with them to ensure they are safe. I have met some amazing people in this work and I really love it. I think that one of the things I will miss as a Registered Nurse is being able to sit with the same patients for 8 hours and listen to them.

In February the four of us travelled to Melbourne to celebrate Mum’s 70th birthday. Only three of us returned home! Miss 18 stayed in Melbourne as she was accepted into Melbourne Uni to study Arts. She is majoring in Communication and Japanese and would like to become a journalist. She has had an amazing year. She received a scholarship to the same residential college her parents attended and has taken to college life like a duck to water.

Mr 15 has also had a great year. He has just finished year 10 and is ready to start his senior years. He will be glad to be rid of science subjects and taking Maths A which is the life application maths stream that looks at interest and budgets and has more practical application in his life. He is yet to look for a part-time job but had an amazing week’s work experience at a local web design company. He fluctuates in his ambitions, however he is determined to head to uni. Whilst he loves his drama still he is not sure he wants to pursue an acting career and is now wavering on game design instead looking at following his sister to Melbourne to study Arts majoring in creative writing. He is yet to secure a part-time job, however has had some acting/entertaining gigs that have boosted his bank account a little! In September he went with school to the USA for a fortnight for Space Camp at NASA. He had a wonderful time, despite his so called disinterest in science. Go figure!

MIML™ has spent a great deal of this year restoring an old 1970s Landrover Series II. I keep being told about it and I nod, but really am none the wiser about the diff and the gaskets! After joking that I would prefer it to have power steering and air-con, he has found a wreck that has some form of power steering which he is going to try and fit. Air-con is a fair way off I think!

Ninja the black lab is getting older but still acting like a puppy. She enjoys her evening walks with MIML™ and I and every so often we think she has stopped digging. Alas I don’t think she has yet to extinguish this trait! Max and Leo the ragdolls still lounge around the house and occasionally disgrace themselves believing someone’s bed is the litter tray. Bad kitties!

Both spawn are home for the holidays this year which will be lovely. I am not sure if I am working yet so will see if we have Christmas lunch or dinner! Miss 18 has a job at a local hotel in the food and beverage department so she may be working Christmas Day too.

So there you have it. A brief update on where we are at and so much easier than printing things out, stuffing envelopes, finding addresses and mailing them! Wishing you and yours a happy and safe Christmas and an awesome 2017!

So it appears I have been MIA on this blog for a while. Life has been good. Actually it’s been great! My mental health has been fairly stable, I have been excelling at uni still and now I am working as an AIN at the hospital which I just love. I get to sit with high acuity patients who need someone with them to ensure their safety. One of the joys of this is I get to knit (or spindle spin) when I am on shift so I can kill two proverbial birds…

I set some craftolusions last December and thought I should check in on them…

Finish or frog 10 current WIPs

Hmmm… I believe I am sitting at 8- 4 frogged and 4 finished. I hope to finish two more before the end of the year!

Have a negative stash balance at the end of 2016 (more used than purchased!)

I started a spreadsheet for this and I think I am in front. Well I like to tell myself I am, but I think I would be lying! I have not spun a lot so my fibre stash is really in the black, and yarn is probably about 60/40…

Spin and knit some 3 ply socks for me

Not even started… This may be a 2017 craftolusion, but never say never!

12 self-striping projects completed (can include current WIPs)

I am at 9. Need to cast on and finish some socks this month!

Knit a Baa-ble hat

Done! It even took out second prize at the Cairns Show!

Knit 6 projects out of handspun

That is sitting at two. I want to cast on a couple more…

1 washcloth a month for Women’s Shelter (ABC Christmas appeal)

This hasn’t gotten off the ground. I still want to knit some…

Podcast every fortnight

I thought long and hard about this one. I don’t have the time or energy to do this. There are plenty of amazing podcasts out there and I don’t think I will be adding to them.

 

So with 2 and a bit months to go I should reach a goal or two… And to be honest, I am not worried that I have not met all these goals and probably won’t. That to me is a huge change of mindset!

This is probably the 10th year I have answered these questions. 2015 contained some highs, but many, many lows. The 12 months July 2014-15 were probably the worst of my life. I hope I have learnt from it- the future will tell.

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?

I enrolled in nursing at CQUni. Best decision of the year!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t tend to make resolutions, although I note last year I said I was going to be kinder to myself.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not close friends, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Husbands and fathers of friends.

5. What countries/states did you visit?

I had several visits to Melbourne which was lovely- school reunion, Bendi and Melbourne Uni open day for Immy. I also went to the Sunshine Coast (Noosa) and Rockhampton for res school for uni.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

Some income would be nice.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

MIML™ moving in was huge and has been just wonderful!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving. I was also awarded Fibrecrafter champion at the Cairns Show.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I think this answer is clouded by my PTSD. I have to stop taking other people’s failures as my own.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

An official PTSD diagnosis, and I had my gallbladder out.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The car fiasco that I hope will be resolved in 2016. But the car has been amazing!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

The way Immy completed her High School education with such amazing and wonderful results and the way Japs has turned his study habits around really make me smile, as does the wonderful MIML™.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

I still do not know why a former close friend suddenly cut me off from her life. It has taken much therapy for me to realise that unless she can show me otherwise, it is not something I have done. It still hurts greatly however.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Textbooks

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The election result in January was pretty exciting. My grades at the end of first term also got me excited.

16. What song will always remind you of 2015?

Probably Hello, even though I am not a fan!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:?

a) happier or sadder?
overall happier, but it has taken lots of therapy!

b)thinner or fatter?
thinner

c) richer or poorer?
poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Travel, but that is in the medium term goals now. I would also love to start podcasting again sometime.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Procrastinating

20. How did you spend Christmas?

MIML™ and I together again- long sleep in, brunch then a late lunch of seafood! It was delightful!

21. Did you fall in love in 2015?

Over and over again with the gorgeous MIML™

22. How many one-night stands?

None!

23. What was your favourite TV program?

Game of Thrones, Vikings, Scandal, Outlander, Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife…

24. Did you make a friend with anyone that you didn’t know this time last year?

I am meeting some wonderful nursing students :)

25. What was the best book you read?

Simply Nigella

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I have loved using Pandora in the car. This cover is just hauntingly beautiful…

27. What did you want and get?

A full-time job- for a few weeks at least.

28. What did you want and not get?

A regular income

29. What was your favourite film of this year?

The Martian and Suffragette were both awesome.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 43. I was discharged from hospital after having my gallbladder out.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A different February-July! The rest of the year has been spent trying to catch up from those dreadful months.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?

Comfortable.

33. What kept you sane?

Therapy.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Ewan McGregor still does it for me, and I wish Justin Trudeau was Australia’s PM!

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Asylum Seekers, proposed cuts to penalty rates.

36. Who did you miss?

Friends who I used to chat with regularly and now haven’t spoken to in months :(

37. Who was the best new person you met?

My new therapist!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.

I can start my life over no matter what my age.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

It’s hard not to say the same as last year (Everybody Hurts), but…

I am a rock (Paul Simon)

A winter’s day
In a deep and dark
December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I’ve built walls,
A fortress steep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don’t talk of love,
Well I’ve heard the words before;
It’s sleeping in my memory.
I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Here’s to 2016!

Oh hai! Do you remember me? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t.

Back last December I had this cool blog. Except I had kinda lost my mojo. And then a funny thing happened on the way to the server. See it was being hosted by this really awesome dude who had a friend of a friend with some space. And then a new boss came along at this friend of a friend’s work and he said no hosting. So they just took it down. It may also be that someone got in and sprinkled smelly dust around and borked everything.

But when they took it down they kinda deleted everything. I suspect I could go back and find it all with some something or other, but I am just going to start again. Lots and lots of thanks to the wonderful Cody for setting this up again- you rock!

So sit back, fix yourself a drink and get ready for the ride… Ms Fifikins has a (new) blog and she’s not afraid to use it…