1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Spoke at a conference (two in fact). Wrote a novel (for NaNoWriMo).


2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember making New Year's resolutions in 2006 actually, my New Year was pretty shitty. It might have been to be more self aware, and I definitely have been. Next Year I resolve to flee.


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.


4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.


5. What countries did you visit?
Australia.


6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Less material possessions. More self confidence and less defensiveness.


7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
That's an interesting question because I used to absolutely remember dates. I would always remember other people's anniversaries for example, where they would forget them. I don't really remember any dates from 2006. There were certainly memorable occasions though, but they're not etched in my mind with timestamps.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Definitely writing a novel. That was huge.


9. What was your biggest failure?
My inability to correctly recognise and identify my own and other people's motives.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing too serious. The throat ulcer was pretty awful.


11. What was the best thing someone bought you?
Probably the best thing was the introduction to Haruki Murakami - it was Kafka on the Shore for my birthday.


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Too many to name. There have been many amazing people in my life this year.


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I can't really name those people. There have been two people whose behaviour has had a serious direct negative affect on my life this year, both male.


14. Where did most of your money go?
Stupid consumerism.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Everyday life. Seriously. I think I bounce 99% of days.


16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Damn the River, Phoenix Foundation.


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Definitely happier.
b) fatter or skinner? About the same.
c) richer or poorer? I earn more, but probably have less in the bank.


18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Nothing really, I think this year has been pretty balanced. Maybe written more perl.


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


20. How do you plan to spend Christmas?
With my family.


21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes. Horribly.


22. How many one night stands?


23. What was your favorite TV program?
Scrubs and Veronica Mars and Lost. I tend to boycott shows on TV until I can devour at least two seasons back to back and then I can't do anything else for a week except watch them.


24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.


25. What was the best book you read?
Oh god that's hard. Every single book I have read by Haruki Murakami.


26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Phoenix Foundation.


27. What did you want and get?
To live by myself.


28. What did you want and not get?
As always, a pony.


29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I still love Amelie. I found Hero to be incredibly moving though and that was new this year, whereas I have been in love with Amelie for years. Oh god, and Howl's Moving Castle.


30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a joint birthday party with Chris, and we played the Amazing Pentastic Chrissariffic Super Happy Fun Boardgame of Doom which we loved and everyone else got sick of after 3 hours or so. I was 26.


31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know really. Being more in control of the things that happen. Not being so susceptible to the whims of other people. Not that that was directly unsatisfactory, but it had a causal effect on my overall satisfaction of the year, I think. Although I suppose I could say I learnt a shitload this year about the way I interact with people. That's fairly satisfying.


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


33. What kept you sane?
Mojo. Talking to people. Having headphones at work.


34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't really get crushes on celebrities. This year I seem to have had a streak of crushes on barmen I don't know. I guess I had a bit of a thing for Logan from Veronica Mars.


35. What political issue stirred you the most?
That's hard to answer, I generally follow New Zealand politics quite closely but I don't think one event has stood out as particularly more emotive than any others.


36. Who do you miss?
Displaced friends: Megan. Friends I have lost. This year has been quite the year for that.


37. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't know if I've really met new people this year, I have become closer friends with many older acquaintances though, which is lovely.


38. What was the best thing you ate?
I don't know about best but I have certainly had addictions. Including: fizzy lollies, jetplanes, nougat (this is just being formed now), miso soup, raw peas. Nothing new really there.


39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005?
Words are easy and often meaningless and dangerous. This borders on paranoia and cynicism, rather than a life lesson unfortunately. But it stands out as the thing that I've come away with the most this year. That's a bit sad really, this year has taught me to trust people less.


40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
There is no way I can do this in one so here are lots:

She's walking into walls with her heartbeat in her ears
I'm done with all this thinking
Fall on your face in those bad shoes
All in an afternoon I throw my temper round the room
Thinking every single faux-pas once seemed like a good idea.
Got hips like cinderella