I saw Doug answered these questions (from Steph Ango, CEO of Obsidian) on his blog and it seemed like a nice exercise to close out the year – though it turns out my answers were all pretty dull!
What did you do this year that you’d never done before?
Keynoted at a ‘proper’ conference (Camp Digital) in front of 500 people.
Did you keep your new year’s resolutions?
A mixed bag but not too bad really.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
Did anyone close to you die?
No
What cities/states/countries did you visit?
Quieter year than usual – visited Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Brussels and Paris. Spent a lot of time in Wolverhampton and Manchester for work with the usual amount of London.
What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year?
Travel more.
What date(s) from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 3rd. The aforementioned keynote.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Again the keynote talk…maybe getting my new job.
What was your biggest failure?
Not exercising – again.
What other hardships did you face? + Did you suffer illness or injury?
These are both the same – I had some health travails again with my diabetes at the start of the year and then a bunch of dental problems in Autumn that proved costly.
What was the best thing you bought?
Comic/Books. Or maybe these Christmas lights!
Whose behavior merited celebration?
The Lionesses and Red Roses. What a year for women’s sport – found myself totally sucked in.
Whose behavior made you appalled?
Pretty much every big tech CEO.
Where did most of your money go?
Well, as of this week it went on my trip to Japan next year!
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The talk again…or maybe Superman!
What song will always remind you of this year?
Not Like Us – Kendrick
Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner and a little poorer.
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travel.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work.
How are you spending Christmas?
Spent it with my family as per.
Did you fall in love this year?
No.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
What was your favorite show?
Stick with Owen Wilson.
What was the best book you read?
King Sorrow by Joe Hill.
What was your greatest musical discovery of the year?
What was your favorite film?
Superman….(or maybe Sinners now I’ve watched them both a couple of times).
What was your favorite meal?
The Birria Tacos from Bad Haus Mex at Newport Food Market.
What did you want and get?
My incoming new job with the National Data Library.
What did you want and not get?
Honestly cannot think of anything.
What did you do on your birthday?
Spent the morning on a stand at a Digital Gov exhibition at ExCel London for GDS on the last day of my contract!
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
There are definitely a number of major political/societal things that could have happened that would have made for a better year!
How would you describe your personal fashion this year?
Aging Beastie Boy by Uniqlo.
What kept you sane?
Sane?
Which celebrity/public figure did you admire the most?
This is not really my thing.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The rise in right-wing nonsense polluting society.
Who did you miss?
I wish Rihanna would release new music.
Who was the best new person you met?
I met some absolutely lovely folk at my MHCLG gig.
What valuable life lesson did you learn this year?
That I am too young to be thinking so much about retiring and I still have a bit to contribute!
What is a quote that sums up your year?
Digital by Default 