I did a meme, as snagged from wilky_wit. You probably know most of this already - though there are a few snippets of Kelza factdom that you probably don't. Anyway, this is my year summarised. I've had a deliriously good 2010, and I hope you'll have the same for 2011. As always, great to talk to you guys on here! I don't know where I'd be without you lot! (Alone on the Internet, I suppose...)

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I organised a trip to Ireland all by myself, and it happened to be my very first flight as well. I went to my very first writer's group, and got my very first job. I listened to my first ever vinyl and had my first concert. I also got drunk for the first time.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make a resolution, because I'm not a fan of them. All the people making and breaking promises puts me off a little, I suppose. Plus I don't think resolutions should be kept to the new year. So I won't be making any this year, either.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nobody very close; I think the closest to give birth was my cousin, Natalie, who had her second daughter not too long ago.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My little second cousin (on the Irish side of the family) Eva, who was sadly stillborn.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just Ireland, which is good enough for me.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Some skills at playing guitar/saxophone, a completed first draft and an A3 hardback sketchbook, filled with drawings and awesomeness. Also, a new place of abode in Ireland. The chance to give Zurie her records! Tickets to see Caravan, should they gig in these parts!

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The It's a Knockout Roadshow, and how I should have gone to Ireland that day.
Finishing Sixth Form.
Finally visiting Mum.
Getting my A-Levels.
After a long, tense wait, getting my place at Queen's University.
The start of NaNo '10, and the Kick-Off Party.
Biffy Clyro, my first ever concert.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Most of the above; I had a great many achievements academically and creatively. I've also made huge leaps in regards to my social skills, thanks to my volunteering job - I can stand behind the counter and banter with complete strangers now!

9. What was your biggest failure?
You know, I don't think I've had a failure this year. I'd say missing out on visiting Mum in April, but that was really a fail on RyanAir's part.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the usual colds, headcolds, migraines, a few random panic attacks and blood pressure troubles.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I've bought so much stuff, it's hard to say. Probably my flight to Ireland in the summer. Seeing my Mum again after so long was the best gift I could ever have.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
I'm mightily chuffed with Holly, for doing so well in Sixth Form and carrying it on to Uni - and Sian's motivation to keep going, even when it's difficult, makes me feel damn proud to be her friend.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The local louts, naturally, and the government - particularly the Lib Dems, who went back on every promise they made.

14. Where did most of your money go?
CDs, vinyls, books, stationery, clothes, then transport, then food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Caravan ITV Legends gig - which I never got to in the end. The new season of Storm Chasers on Discovery. The saxophone which I'll hopefully be receiving in the new year. My discovery of Kaleidoscope Records, a vinyl shop in St. Helens. Queen's University getting back to me on whether I'd been accepted.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
'Memory Lain, Hugh/Headloss' - Caravan. This is my theme for 2010. :)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much, much happier. Though I miss my college friends :(
ii. thinner or fatter? Oddly enough, thinner. I was size 16, now I'm fitting size 14 jeans :D
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. I'm getting more each week; not much more, but it's better than nothing.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Drawing, painting and practicing guitar. Oh, and sleeping as well. The amount of times I had to go to college/work/get through my day feeling absolutely wrecked...

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

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It was just another day. No present-opening, we didn't even have a tree. The day before, I went to a friend's to watch some Christmas films. I gave a lot more than I received this year, but it made me happy to have things that way :)

21. How will you be spending New Years?
Doing this quiz - and sleeping! C:

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Do my novels count? Because I love them both dearly.

23. How many one-night stands?
None that I'm aware of.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
I'm not a big telly watcher, but I'd say my TV highlight of 2010 was definitely Doctor Who. Matt Smith's first series, and it was EPIC.

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

26. What was the best book you read?
The Rotters' Club by Jonathan Coe.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Oooh. There are so many brilliant bands I've discovered this year. Hatfield and the North, Yes, Steeleye Span, ELP, Barclay James Harvest, Hawkwind, The Steve Miller Band... the list goes on and on, and I've quickly become a huge fan of a lot of them.

28. What did you want and get?
A camera, a record player, books, CDs, vinyls and clothes. Oh, and a new computer, because we all know how reliable my old one was...

29. What did you want and not get?
Tickets and transport to the Caravan ITV Legends gig. That's the only thing I was left coveting this year, even after the gig had been and gone.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Favourite film? Did I even watch any films this year...? I can't remember them, if I did.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
It was my eighteenth. On the day itself, I slept at Holly's. The day after was also Sian's so I went to her party and got more drunk than I ever have been.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Going to the several-times-aforementioned Caravan gig.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Flared jeans and colourful canvas shoes on bottom, usually with quirky striped socks. Tops, usually paisley/floral blouses, sometimes with waistcoats, sometimes not. Lots of bead necklaces and bracelets, and a vast collection of scarves - paisley, pashmina, some long, some short. I rarely go out without a hat; it's usually a beret, a trilby or the weird bowler-but-not-a-bowler that I recently bought.

34. What kept you sane?
My writing, my music and my friends.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No-one, really. I just have a great deal of admiration for the writers/artists/musicians I squee about.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The expenses scandal, the government cuts and the tuition fees faffery.

37. Who did you miss?
My Mum, and then people from college.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met Zurie in person - does that count? Greg from Kaleidoscope Records is pretty awesome, and I absolutely love my fellow volunteers in the ExtraCare shop.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
In order to move forwards, persistence is the key.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Singing a song in the morning, singing it again at night, I don't even know what I'm singing about but it makes me feel I feel alright, yeah yeah, makes me feel I feel alright!"


1: What fandoms did you acquire in 2010?
Modern family, The Middle, Raising Hope, and I got into MythBusters as well :D

2: What fandoms did you let go of in 2010?
The Bill, but not of my own choosing - it got cancelled. :(

3: What fandoms did you mean to get into but didn't in 2010? Why?
The Mighty Boosh. I'm dying to watch more episodes - the ones I've seen are hilarious! I tried watching Supernatural but it just wasn't for me.

4: What fandoms do you intend on checking out in 2011?
Bugger if I know.

5: What fandoms do you think you might let go of in 2011 unless things significantly improve?
None - they're all good :D

6: What fandoms do you think you'll never let go of no matter how crappy they get?
If something gets crap and there's no chance of recovery, then I stop watching it. Thankfully, none of my fandoms are going that way.

7: What show impressed you most in 2010?
Doctor Who. I knew Matt Smith was going to be good, but I hadn't expected he'd be so utterly fantastic!

8: What show impressed you least in 2010?
None that I can remember. Like I said, if it's naff I don't watch it, and it quickly gets forgotten.


1.) Where did you begin 2010?
In bed, swearing at the fireworks like a grumpy old sod.

2.) What was your status on Valentine's Day?
Single, thankfully, because I don't have the patience for relationships.

3.) Were you in school (anytime this year)?
I was in college up until June, and then I completed my A-Levels.

4.) How did you earn your money?
From the good old government.

5.) Did you have to go to the hospital?
Thankfully, no.

6.) Did you have any encounters with the police?
Heh, yes indeed. The first was a stripper at one Smiller's eighteenth and the second were genuine police who helped me peel a friend off the floor after Mike's. But I wasn't arrested. The third incident was where the police came to my door in the middle of the night, because a stabbing had been mistakenly/prankingly reported at our address.

7.) Where did you go on vacation?
Ireland :D

8.) What did you purchase that was over $1000?
Nothing at all.

9.) Did you know anybody who got married?
My cousin Adam... or was it his twin Aaron?

10.) Did you know anybody who passed away?
My second cousin, Eva :(

11.) Was anyone born?
Er... my other second cousin?

12.) Did you move anywhere?
Nope! That's coming next year.

13.) How did you celebrate your birthday?
By getting utterly and royally sozzled on German wine.

14.) What concerts/shows did you go to?
Biffy Clyro, supported by Holy State and The Futureheads. As for plays, I went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream, a-la-Sixties. It was bloody marvellous!

15.) Are you registered to vote?
Nope. I turned legally old enough just after the general election.

16.) Who did you want to win Big Brother?
None of them. I was waiting for the house to flood with zombies.

18.) How did you spend your summer break?
Mostly in Ireland, walking on the beach, shopping and watching the good old Ulster version of ITV. After Ireland, it was a bit of partying on friends' birthdays, getting my A-Level results and waiting anxiously for Queens to accept me.

19.) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2010?
I wrote some poetry that I'm quite happy with and managed to get decent Art grades.

20.) What has been your favorite moment?
Arriving in Antrim airport, walking down into the arrivals lounge and getting that very first glimpse of my Mum - the look on her face at that moment was priceless.

21.) What's something you learned about yourself?
I'm a lot more stubborn and determined than I thought. I also share Dad's unfortunate tendency to have tunnel-vision when I set my sights on something. This, and my Mum's stubbornness.

22.) Any new additions to your family?
Eva, and other second cousin whose name eludes me.

23.) What was your worst month?
I'm not sure there was a worst month. Probably April, when the university applications had to be in and coursework deadlines loomed. Plus, there was the aforementioned incient with RyanAir.

24.) What music will you remember 2010 by?
Caravan's 'For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night'.

25.) Who has been your best drinking buddy?
Siaaaannnnifa <3

26.) Made new friends?
I'm sure these questions are being repeated. Ill go with the ExtraCare ladies - such a laugh!

27.) Made a New best friend?
Nope, I still have Laura, Holly and Sian :)

28.) Favorite Night out?
There've been a few good ones. I have to say, though, the crowning glory was February the 18th - me, Sian, Emma and Bec, outside with two bottles of vodka shots. Thankfully we didn't get caught as drinking outside's illegal in this country!

29.) What sporting events did you attend?
None.

30.) What was your best month?
Probably July/August. Ireland, parties, good grades and university winnage all rolled into two months.

Question 31 is dead.
Am I invited to the funeral, at least?

32.) Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
College, friends' houses, the ExtraCare shop when I got the job.

33.) Change your hairstyle?
Nope, nor have I changed it for going on six years.

34.) Have any car accidents?
Nope.

35.) How old did you turn this year?
Five million. And every one of those years, I answered this question twice.

36.) Did you have a New Year's resolution?
Not to answer any repeated questions.

37.) Do anything embarrassing?
I fell down some garden steps, fell asleep in someone's front and then back garden, urinated in public, fell over on an ice rink, fell over in a field... I basically did a lot of falling over.

38.) Buy anything new from eBay?
Nope.

39.) Get married?
No, that was last April, to Holly :)

40.) Get arrested?
Nope.

41.) Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
No, and I never will.

42.) Did you get sick this year?
I had a chronic case of deja vu, and I believe it related to the questions in a certain meme...

43.) Been snowboarding?
No, but it's on my to-do-before-I-expire list :D

44.) Are you happy to see 2010 go?
It was a good, satisfying year, but I want to take 2011 by the horns!

45.) Been naughty or nice?
Chaotic neutral, with a hint of lemon.