looking back at 2008 (and here's to 2009!) (Looking Back at 2008)

Member Name: dogleggedhat

Product:	Looking Back at 2008
Date:	05/01/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: graduated and passed my driving test

Disadvantages: spent too much money on stupid things

2008 was a pretty great year for me, yes there were some lows but there were a hell of a lot of highs too and I really hope that things improve even more for 2009, so I'm totally jumping on the bandwagon by answering these questions...

1) What did you do in 2008 that you have not done before?
-Graduated with a 2.1 degree in Psychology
-Passed my driving test (it took 3 tries and a hell of a lot of trauma, but it was very much worth it

2) Did anyone close to you give birth?

No-one close to me but I do know of a lot of people who had babies this year

3) Did anyone close to you die?
My mums great aunt died in august-I wasn't particularly close to her but it was still sad, though she suffered senile dementia for many years, so there was a bit of relief for her that she wasn't suffering anymore-it's a really horrible illness

4) What countries did you visit?
Dublin was as far as I got this year, but it was amazing and I had a lovely few days there.

5) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008
Optimism, Money, Ambition, Drive, Energy

6) What days will you remember from 2008

1st July- my graduation day
5th September- the day I finally passed my driving test!
18/04 - Carlos 30th

7) Did you suffer any Illness or injury
Luckily all I got was the horrible bug that was going round recently(though I have to say I wasn't feeling particularly luck when my head was down the toilet! But I know that people were a lot worse off than me so I'm grateful that I was relatively healthy...)


8) What was the best thing that you bought
I bought myself a nintendo DS at the start of the year that I love, and some lovely lovely clothes in the Next sale

9) Who's Behaviour has Merited Celebration
My boyfriends-I truely believe that he's like a living angel-there's nothing that he won't do for me, or anyone else for that matter-he's kind and patient and generous and wouldn't see anyone stuck, even at great inconvenience to himself. His behaviour never ceases to amaze me, and he rarely gets acknowledged for his good deeds apart from by me, so I think it merits celebration.

10) Who's behaviour made you appalled and depressed
My boyfriends sister-the way she raises her kids makes me wish I could take them off her.

11) Where did most of your money go?
Really stupid things-I have nothing really to show for my money which is why 2009 is going to be a very tight year as I'm very keen to start looking after the pennies.

12) What did you get really excited about
Passing my driving test-I really thought that I was going to be one of those people who would never be able to drive, and then I passed and I was just walking on air for a while. I also got really excited about Christmas because I'm just a bit kid!

13) what song will you remember from 2008
far too many to list



14) Compared to this time last year are uou ... happier, fitter, more productive

Happier-definitely happier as I have new found motivation and I feel I have a vision of what I would like this year to bring.

Fitter - I'm a bit thinner than I was last year but I still couldn't run the length of myself!

Productive- I feel a bit more productive-i'm tackling money issues etc head on, as opposed to ignoring things and letting them fester, and I'm eating better so hopefully that will help me lose weight.

15) What do you wish you had done more of
Saving

16) What do you wish you had done less of
Complaining, getting upset over irrelevant things, letting things annoy me too easily, losing my temper, spending money on stupid things, putting things off out of laziness and/or fear.

17) What was your favourite television programme.
The X-Factor was amaaaazing this year :-) It's the first year I've been hooked-I usually just watch the auditions, but I didn't miss an episode this year.

18) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate last year
Nope-people really irritate me but hatred takes up too much energy.

19) what has been the best book of 2008
I've been reading a lot of Marian Keyes this year-she's great at using humour but talking about darker topics like alcoholism and depression. I've also become very interested in self-help books (sad as it sounds) so anything like that which I read was very interesting.

20) What was your greatest musical discovery

I don't think that I really discovered anything different this year, but it was lovely to listen to back catalogues of bands I only knew a few albums of (eg blondie)

21) What did you really want to get in 2008
I didn't go into 2008 wanting anything apart from getting through my degree and passing my driving test.

22) What did you want but didn't get
Nothing

23) What was your favourite film of the year
The Dark Knight (cliche perhaps, but true...)

24) What did you do on your birthday and how old were you.
I was 22 and the night before my boyfriend took me for a lovely meal at Zen restaurant in belfast, then we went for a walk and went on the wheel by the city hall-it was very romantic! Then on my birthday itself we went shopping and it was great!

25) Who was the best person you met
I didn't meet anyone particularly fascinating that I didn't know already...

26) Tell us a valuable lesson that you learned in 2008?
Nothing is as horrific as you think it's going to be, and also don't take anyone or anything for granted as you never know when it could be in jeapordy or just disappear...

Summary: I had such a good year and just hope this year is even better