A year in ten questions #2

Tuesday, January 03, 2017


Prompted by reading a similar post by Harriet a few years ago I decided to ask myself the same 10 questions at the end of each year.

I used some questions from Harriet's post and added a few of my own. I think it'll be interesting to look back over these in years to come to see how my answers change. See my 2014 answers here.

1. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
2015 - Spending more time with my husband
2016 - Having those difficult conversations sooner rather than later

2. When have I felt the most alive?
2015 - Our wedding day. The day was full of so many lovely moments.
2016 - A night away in Aldeburgh with Andy, we had a lovely meal, a beautiful view out to sea, a bracing walk on the beach, and a game of chicken with the sea.

3. What countries did I visit?
2015 - Zurich and Paris with Andy, and Morocco
2016 - None

4. What event from the year will remain etched upon my memory, and why?
2015 - Shopping for and finding my wedding dress with my Mum, our wedding day, and sleeping under the stars in the Sahara
2016 - The result of the EU referendum in June. I was shocked that, with so little evidence or truth, so many people where convinced it would be better for the country and voted to leave.

5. Best beauty buy of the year?
2015 - Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel, The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Velvet Stick, and Sanctuary Spa Deep Cleanse Facial Blemish Serum
2016 - Rimmel eye liner - soft smudgy and doesn't budge until you want it to. Burt's Bees mango butter lip balm, and The Body Shop Aloe soothing rescue cream mask.

6. What did I try for the first time this year?
2015 - Needle felting and scuba diving
2016 - Making rose hip syrup, and blackberry gin. Crochet, picking walnuts, shooting a 12 bore shotgun

7. What song will always remind me of the year?
2015 - Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor, Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, When I Need You by Leo Sayer, Hold My Hand by Jess Glynne, Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) by Mark Ronson (all unashamedly wedding related).
2016 - A Head Full of Dreams by Coldplay, and Ex's and Oh's by Elle King

8. What did I do to celebrate my birthday?
2015 - My birthday fell on the same day as A Photo An Hour. I had an early breakfast with Andy (it's tradition) and then spent the day with Mum and her husband, mostly eating, before Andy came home and we watched Paddington.

But my birthday was celebrated over a few weekends. I also went to Go Ape with my best friend, where we faffed around in the treetops like loons. And I also had a family BBQ with garden games and the most delicious sausages from our local butcher.

2016 - I had several celebrations - I visited Harry Potter with my sister in law, went to the cinema with Dad after supper at Ask to see Bourne, had a pizza and film night (The Lost Boys) at home with my brother and his family, watched The Tempest at an outdoor theatre with two friends, had our traditional Little Chef breakfast with Andy, visited Southwold with Mum, and had coffee with friends. It's safe to say I like to make my birthday last.

9. What did I learn this year?
2015 - You have to create opportunities for yourself, and make positive steps towards the changes you wish to see in your life
2016 - You change over time, what worked in life last year - or two, five, ten years ago - doesn't necessarily work for you today, but sometimes it takes you a while to realise the change has occurred. Also looking after yourself should be a daily priority, and 'me time' is not selfish but essential.

10. My hope for the coming year?
2015 - Lots of home improvements, and more time with Andy, family, and friends.
2016 - Same as last year, a little trip abroad too, and lots of taking care of myself.

What questions would you ask yourself?

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8 comments

  1. This is a really nice idea, and like you, I think this will be great to look back on as the years move forwards. The EU Referendum results shocked me as well. I've always been someone who has loved being a part of it so when the country voted to leave I felt quite upset about it, and I am worried about how the next couple of years will go, but I try to remain positive! I adore Coldplay, and A Head Full of Dreams is a gorgeous song. They're probably one of the few bands I've had on repeat all year long. Happy New Year Hazel! - Tasha

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    1. Happy New Year!
      I really enjoy looking back on these, it seems I never travel as much as I'd like ;)
      The referendum, ugh, what a mess, and it still hangs over us. For the first time in my life I am genuinely concerned about the future of our country. Don't even get me started on Trump.
      Going to pop A Head Full of Dreams on iPlayer and forget about the rest of it for a while...

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  2. This is such a clever idea!

    Ugh, the EU referendum will definitely always define 2016 for me. And Trump being voted in. Politically 2016 was awful :-(

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    1. Trump? *runs away and hides under the duvet* 2016 shocked me from start to finish

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  3. I'm not surprised that the EU referendum results shocked you. It shocked me too, and I'm Belgian, even though I was in the UK at the time. But at least you created some lovely memories as well, like your night in Aldeburgh and making rosehip syrup, which will probably turn into a tradition. Of course, 2016 was a horrible year in a lot of ways (I'm thinking of the terrorist attacks) and for me personally it was the year I lost my dad. We can only look forward to the future and hope that 2017 will be a better year ... xxx

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    1. Looking forward with hope is the very best we can do for ourselves. Wishing you a wonderful 2017 xx

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  4. What a great read. I'm sad you didn't get to travel in 2016 but your night away with Andy looked very special.
    2016 was memorably awful for both Brexit and the Trump debacle, the dreadful terrorist attacks and losing our beloved Polly Piglet.
    Here's to a fabulous 2017. xxx

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    Replies
    1. Getting away, even not very far and not for very long, is so precious. I do have a serious bout of wanderlust at the moment though, it's the weather and the need to feel the warmth of the sun!
      Hope you have a great year xx

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