Here's to 2006

It's started raining again. It's a great time to be indoors and curled up on the couch with a fat book and some tea. I'm listening to Louis Armstrong.

I bought myself a Moleskine 2007 diary and wrote down my contact details and transferred all the stuff from my 2006 diary to the new one. The process helps remind me of the things I didn't manage to do in 2006 that I had planned at the beginning of the year...but also of the things that I did do, without planning to. So I guess it evens out.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? There were quite a few 'first's'...where do I start? I moved to Shanghai (and back), and I got engaged. :)

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Yes to one, no to the other. And yes, I have to learn how to cook, spend more time at volunteer work and do something "creative".

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Quite a few friends had babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No. Thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit? Lemme think...United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? I want to be fitter. And I want to go out more.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Sigh. That was such a blah year. Nothing major happened, except that event on Dec 8.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Quitting Shanghai and getting my new job.

9. What was your biggest failure? Quitting Shanghai.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Sore muscles don't count, right?

11. What was the best thing you bought? I don't buy a lot of stuff and I don't get excited by stuff.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? His.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mine.

14. Where did most of your money go? Books and food. And bags. I don't know why I bought so many bags.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Coming home. I couldn't wait.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Anything by Jay Chou.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? happier
thinner or fatter? thinner...or so everyone says.
richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercising. And spending time with family and friends.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Feeling depressed and hopeless.

20. How did you spend Christmas? With friends and family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006? I'm still in love. That counts.

22. How many one-night stands? Um.

23. What was your favorite TV program? Scrubs.

24. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year? Yes.

25. What was the best book you read? Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. It's about two magicians. I love fantasy.

26. What did you want and get? I came home.

27. What did you want and not get? Too personal.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? I watch too many movies to rem! But how about The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? A lovely dinner with the family. I was 30.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Too personal.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? I wore brighter colours, more prints. And I didn't wear heels as often.

32. What kept you sane? My family.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Johnny Depp. It's him every year.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Violence against women.

35. Who did you miss? A couple of girlfriends I met in Shanghai.

36. Who was the best new person you met? See above.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Always, always, always follow your heart.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "Everybody's changing and I don't feel the same."

Xmas "hangover"

I hope everyone had a great Xmas weekend. I did. Played games, ate a lot, didn't drink any alcohol (yay), saw friends, drove around a bit and saw bits of Singapore I never knew existed. It was really nice and easy, just the way I like it. I just wish it wasn't so wet.

Anyhoo, I am now between jobs, and I can't wait for the new year to begin. It's gonna be great. And I only have a couple of things I wanna do next year: learn to cook, brush up on my Japanese, and possibly, play the piano again. I have one at home that I never touch. That's a little sad.

So if I don't write again before that (oh but I'm sure I'll have an obligatory ""Here's what I learnt in 2006"" note...), here's a great 2007 to everyone. CHEERS!!

Celebrations

Where it happened 12.06

It's hard not to be affected by the Xmas mood. Even our newsroom has an artificial tree decked out in red holly and lights.

Work has been a little manic this week so I haven't really been able to sit down and think about what all this means. A home, a fiance, a partner for life. Man, I have a friggin' fiance. It's overwhelming, innit? I mean, I've had some sort of fuzzy notion of our being together for a very long time, but tis' summink else altogether, rite?

In any case, we have decided that the wedding - or preparations for it - is not going to take over and become our lives. There's always a danger of that. We are not going to have a dinner banquet. All we want is a simple solemnisation party with friends and our immediate families, followed by a luncheon for relatives. I'm not one of them frazzled brides. I just don't understand it. I'm not even going to be wearing a fancy gown. I already know what I'll be wearing.

And that's just fine by me. :)

After one and a half years...

Ok, I don't know quite how to put it (elegantly or romantically or calmly) so I'm going to come right out and say it.

Folks...

I'm getting married.

Yes, I'm getting married.

I'm friggin' getting married!!!!

I still cannot believe it, but it was a lovely, lovely ring (in the classic Tiffany setting) and I'm happy.

I would have said "Yes" without the ring. :)