Time for a meme, becaues all the cool kids are doing it!

1. What did you do in 2004 that you’d never done before?
I let myself live and experience life a little more than ever before.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I half-heartedly made two last year but didn’t realise either of them.  I will wholeheartedly make the same two for this year… And I suspect I will realise them both.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two of my best friends gave birth this year; Vicki in Tennessee and Beth in Scotland. I wish I could have been closer to them, geographically, to hold and snuggle their babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?
America, Scotland (several times), Ireland and France very breifly.

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
More peace, grace and common sense.

7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, I’m not good at remembering exact dates, but I remember a few events that are etched on my mind. 
Visiting my family homestead.
A Vespa ride.
The sale of a place that was my parents home for 20 years.
The loss of a dream any hope I had placed in that dream.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My children are happy, healthy and generally have clean clothes on. I am closer to my husband than I was one year ago today.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being sensitive to the unspoken.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I sprained my wrist putting up my Christmas tree.  Had bronchitis or 8 weeks, the odd tummy bug, had an acute infection in the glands in my neck, and a UTI. (I’m sure you wanted to know that)

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Contacts. And my new leather suite.  Oh, and our house.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My own.  Hehehehehe!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own. *sigh*

14. Where did most of your money go?
The friggin’ tax man. And the new house.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our new house, Rosie and Daniel starting to speak French, Going to America for 3 weeks on my own, the blog meet in Denver, seeing my grandmother and my aunt and uncle again, watching my children playing with their cousins this summer, kissing.

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
“Hey yah” by Outkast (Thank you very much Hannah and Heidi!!!)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier, but more stressed.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
c) richer or poorer? Richer but with a worse cash flow.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent more quality time with my husband and children.  Budgeting.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Waiting for motivation.  Focusing on the wrong things. 

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it very sweetly and quietly with the 5 most important people in the world to me.

21. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Fall in love? No, walk in love… yes.  I love and am loved more deeply than anyone else I know.

22. How many one-night stands?
To date, I have never had one.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Spooks

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No,I have no hate in me. 

25. What was the best book you read?
The Birth of Venus

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I discovered I can enjoy the same music as my kids… If I turn it up really really loud whilst driving.

27. What did you want and get?
Lots and lots and lots of hugs, snuggles and kisses.

28. What did you want and not get?
This certain hair clip.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Cold Mountain, and The Incredibles. 

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was going to go to London with my mom and sisters, but due to mitigating circumstances, we ended up in Glasgow and had a wonderful time.  We spent 4 days talking, shopping, eating out and going to the movies.  I turned 34.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being a more loving, more patient and more generous person.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Fashionable enough, even if it was a fashion of my own making.  I always try to have a pretty necklace and lip gloss on. 

33. What kept you sane?
Knowing I was responsible for 4 little lives other than my own.  And knowing I was stronger than I felt most days.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I am reserving a place on my ‘list’ for Jude Law for when he grows into himself a little more.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US election.

36. Who did you miss?
My family, the times I was away from them.  And my mother and sisters on a weekly basis; they are too far way for my liking. My far flung friends.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
I was fortunate to meet a lot of wonderful people this year.  Two that stand out at the time of writing this would be, Mindy and Mary (my friend’s wife; talk about insta-family!)

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
There is nothing missing from my life.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Norah Jones - Sunrise
Sunrise, sunrise
Looks like mornin’ in your eyes
But the clocks held 9:15 for hours
Sunrise, sunrise
Couldn’t tempt us if it tried
‘Cause the afternoon’s already come and gone

And I said hoo…
To you

Surprise, surprise
Couldn’t find it in your eyes
But I’m sure it’s written all over my face
Surprise, surprise
There was something I could hide
When I see we made it through another day

And I said hoo…
To you

Now good night
Throw its cover down
On me again
Ooh and if I’m right
It’s the only way
To bring me back

Hoo…
To you
Hoo..