What was Brewing in 2006? (Looking Back at 2006)

Member Name: tange

Product:	Looking Back at 2006
Date:	10/01/07 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good year on the whole.

Disadvantages: A couple of weak points.

2006 has been and gone and enough time has passed since New Years Eve for my liver to recover and my head to feel a little less addled by the hangovers the Christmas period seems to induce. I have now had time to reflect on the year that has gone and hopefully look forward to the year that is to come. I thought that the less painful way of summarizing my year would be to use the questionnaire that has been so ably answered by many other members of this site.


1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

This year has seen me have my first set of tasting notes, as Chairman of my local Beer Tasting Panel, published in a national publication. My words now appear in the Good Beer Guide; something that people actually pay for! I am quite proud of this and it a big achievement for me. We also helped to organise a Beer Festival for the first time. We have worked at Beer Festivals before but this was our first go at organizing the beer, venue, entertainment, etc. It was all a big success and we are almost ready for the next festival in February. We have also just brewed our first beer in a “proper” brewery and not just a Home Brew – we were invited by local Spire Brewery to help brew a Festival Special Porter and we had an excellent day in the brewery.


2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for this year?

I make a habit of not making any resolutions. They invariably get broken, so why put myself through all the hassle of feeling inadequate?


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

This year has been unusual in the fact that none of our huge family (huge in terms of numbers by the way) have had a baby this year. Two work colleagues went off on maternity leave earlier on this year though - one had a little girl called Sylvie and the other a little boy called Andrew.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I have a few hairy moments with sleeping customers in the library – some of them were quite deeply asleep and could very easily have kicked the bucket over a Mills & Boon. Thankfully, a good amount of noise has woken them and the panic has been over! On a more serious note – 2006 has been great in terms of the lack of any deaths among family and friends. I think we had our fair share in 2004 and 2005, so hopefully have earned a few years off!


5. What countries did you visit?

Only France, Germany, Holland and Belgium this year – we did however make a point of visiting a few places in the UK that we hadn’t been to before. I would recommend the Yorkshire Dales to anyone for beauty and friendliness.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

A baby would be nice! But….that isn’t going to happen whatever the year, so I must also learn to stop feeling inadequate!


7. What event from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

From a personal point of view I am proud to say I have managed to maintain an air of distraction and not become too scarred by any event – or maybe it just a testament to the power of alcohol!


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I think I’ve probably answered that to a major degree in question 1. Mind you – I did get interviewed by radio, tv and local newspapers too this year, so that was quite good!


9. What was your biggest failure?

Again – answered that one in question 6 and would prefer not to depress myself further.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Only minor aches, pains and sniffles, thankfully.


11. What was the best thing you bought?

I bought a fair few rounds in the pub if that counts. I also bought a smile to the faces of a few people. Buying anything else seems to be unimportant compared to that!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Alun (the long suffering hubby) for rising to the challenge of being the main Beer Festival Organizer. He has grown in confidence, ability and he makes me proud of him on a daily basis.


13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The bosses on high at work have once again tried to make us feel undervalued and unconsulted about things that DO concern us. Our numbers have been cut and our workload increased until we feel we are climbing a greasy pole on a daily basis!


14. Where did most of your money go?

On trips to Belgium and good living – sounds like and excellent way for it to go really.


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

Now that would be telling!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

I can’t think of just one song that sums up and reminds me of the previous year. If I had to think of a song then I will go for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – not new by any means, but it reminds me of the day at the brewery, drinking Sgt. Pepper Stout and chatting with friends.


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

Happier or sadder?

Happier at our achievements, but sadder inside….

Thinner or fatter?

Pretty much the same.

Richer or poorer?

Again pretty much the same. We will never be rich, but we tick along ok.


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

More traveling would have been nice.


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

Worrying about people who don’t give us a passing thought!


20. How will you be spending Christmas 2007?

Circumstances permitting, we will be with family eating turkey, pulling crackers and laughing until we feel sick!


21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

A little deeper!


22. How many one-night stands?

Absolutely none!


23. What was your favourite TV program?

Doctor Who has surprised me in being (and continuing to be) excellent!


24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Hate is such a strong word and I can safely say that on a personal level there is nobody I hate – just some people I don’t like quite so much as others!


25. What was the best book you read?

I laughed to myself merrily at Peter Kay’s The Sound of Laughter. For work I have mostly spent the year reading children’s literature – these have differed in length and target ages.


26. What was your favourite film of 2006?

Sadly I have been to see no films at all at the cinema in 2006. We did enjoy Tom Hanks in The Terminal, which we saw earlier on this year on Sky movies.

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Personal to me! Beer logo chic is SO 2006 darling!

28. Whom did you miss?

My niece Sarah who has been in Australia and seems set to remain there.

29. Who was the best new person you met?

Lots of new and interesting people – the new brewers at Spire Brewery have become good friends very quickly.


30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

You can’t always predict the actions of others – even people you thought you knew well.

Summary: A year with more ups than downs is always a bonus.