2017 resumé

This is the fourth time I will answer the following questions on my Schnickschnack blog. Here are 2014, 2015 and 2016

1. What did you do in 2017 that you'd never done before?

I went surfing. I don't even know of this counts, because it was only on the Citywave but it was definitely a lot of fun. (I'm the one on the right, the others are two of my students)

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

I finished the 30 days yoga challenge and a few other yoga challenges as well. Though sometimes I didn't have time to do daily yoga, I found my way back to the mat again and again. I quit my journaling again but at least I started a yoga journal where I write down what I did, stuff that inspires me and I even started planning my own practices. I tried to enjoy life and I tried not to fight stuff I couldn't change. Sometimes I managed that better, sometimes less so, but I tried.

My resolutions for next year: Say no to more work as often as possible, do yoga wherever I can, actually do nice things for others instead of just thinking of doing it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My friend Anja had her second baby boy. As you can see she was very excited (it was such a muggy day when we took these photos and we had a lot of fun trying not to melt)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately it was a more quiet year and nobody I knew closely died.

5. What countries did you visit?

In January I went to Germany for a day to have a late birthday lunch with my parents.

In April we went to California and did a road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I loved driving along the coast for two weeks and stopping in so many beautiful places.

In July Yannick and I went to Hamburg and to the North Sea. The tide and the wadden sea and all the ships were so beautiful. 

In October I went to Portugal again and did lots of yoga and daily walks along the Atlantic. 

Being close to the sea was definitely very important for me this year. I am glad that I will be spending two weeks at the Mediterranean Sea next April.

6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

Finding better connection to Yannick again. I hope it's just a long intense teenager-y phase that we have been going through for the last few months. We had our good moments, but they were few and far between.

7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Walking / sledging down the Üetliberg with Y&A and my brother.
Sitting outside in the winter sun at Furgglis with Y&A.
The Yoga Retreat in Feldis.
Giving my mom an iPhone for her 70th birthday.
The sunrise at the pool at Twenty-Nine Palm Trees.
The walk along the beach next to the Moro Rock.
Encountering a snake on my way back at Harmony Headlands State Park.
Seeing lots and lots of dolphins and a big group of orcas on our whale tour from Monterey. 
Drinking coffee with a fantastic view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Depeche Mode concert at the Letzigrund with Ste. 
Watching Game of Thrones with Antonia and doing a drinking game.
Knitting outside the Schopf in the heat of summer. 
Hanging out at the harbour in Hamburg with Yannick. 
Bike tour along the dyke with Yannick.
A magical place at the Hallwilersee with Christina, Anna-Lina and Jonas.
Swimming out to the fountain at Seebadi Enge and ending up in Öerlikon.
Seeing the sun rise and watching it go down at the end of the day in Portugal. 
Having to fight for money when I thought we'd found a solution years ago.
Drinking coffee with my mum and talking and listening.
Looking for the sun in the mountains with Antonia.
Right now watching the last of this years' candles go out and smelling the burnt resin.

There were many more little moments and encounters that I remember. I am so glad to have so many great people in my life!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

That I stayed true to myself. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

That I let myself be shaken up by things that were out of my hands.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, it was a good year. I've been having a bit of a cold for the last few weeks but that's all.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

If I bought it this year (which I think I did): My Bosé boom box. It made so many cooking and cleaning sessions a lot more fun.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My mum's. She got diagnosed with breast cancer and has really surprised how she accepted her illness and keeps dealing with it.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

The men in my life were rather too intense for my liking (and I am not talking about new interesting romantic partners here).

14. Where did most of your money go?

Every day stuff and holidays. The latter is an excellent way to spend money, the best way really! I kind of relearnt that money isn't all that important, even though it helps for long trips.

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

Sledging makes my heart sing ;-) Enough snow is a rare thing in Zürich and as soon as it starts to stay on the ground my body gets all excited. 

16. What song will always remind you of 2017?

Somebody by Martin Gore

This was recorded in London, but it was just like this in Zürich. A truly magical night that brought back so many memories and showed that some paths just keep crossing.

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

a) happier or sadder? Happier, though it leans more towards content.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same. This is the worst possible time of the year to ask ;-)
c) richer or poorer? I don't know and I realised it's not that important.

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

Not done so much. Gone outside a bit more.

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

Worried. And second guessed myself, so nothing has changed.

20. How did you be spend Christmas

We celebrated three times. With my cousins on the 9th, with my other cousin on the 18th and with most of the family on the 23rd. It was better than expected, some of it was actually really nice.

 

21. What were your favourite months of 2017?

April and all of summer and October.

22. Did you fall in love in 2017?

A little bit. Alte Liebe rostet nicht ;-)

23. How many one-night stands?

Nope.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

Better Things - Big Little Lies - Brooklyn Nine-nine - Game of Thrones  - Good Behaviour - Life in Pieces - Shameless - Stranger Things - The Handmaid's Tale - This is Us - Top of the Lake - Wilder

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

Hate doesn't solve anything.

26. What was the best book you read?

I can't decide, so here are the two best books I read:

The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Whatever I find on Apple Music. I love the diversity and the surprises.

28. What did you want and get?

Many good moments that I lived mindfully.

29. What did you want and not get?

I don't know.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?

I remember "Die göttliche Ordnung". Again I barely went to the cinema.

  31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 46. My parents invited me to a pizzeria with Y&A. I was very tired after an intense couple of weeks but it was nice to go out anyway.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

No clue. It was a good year.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?

Very elegant and put together at all times. Haven't you seen me...

34. What kept you sane?

Friends and family, laughter, meditation and yoga, travelling, not taking it too seriously. 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I would spend time with Xavier even though he is probably two heads shorter than I and he is a paid assassin.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

That weird American president who managed to stay, even though it doesn't make any sense from far away. In the beginning I thought he'd be gone quickly but it seems he can do whatever he wants without facing any consequences. #metoo made me think about the power between men and women and what it means for my own daughter.

37. Who did you miss?

My Grosmi. 

38. Who was the best new person you met?

Patric, Nadine and Philippe at school (I knew them the year before but now I know them better). Christina (I also knew her before but this year we spent so much time together)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017

 
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

She will listen to me
When I want to speak
...
And won't easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she'll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

Happy New Year

I just woke up on this very first day of 2017. It's still all dark and foggy outside but my washing maschine (the real one) is running and somehow my mind is turning just as fast.

First of all, let me all wish us a happy and healthy new year. I got the meme below from Facebook and I think it looks like a great motto.

Somehow I've been awake for longer than I wanted. I never sleep really well after drinking too much alcohol and we had a bottle of lovely wine and champagne last night. Then Yannick was walking around trying to unblock his nose all the time and I am not used to his vibes yet after having shared a flat with Antonia for more than 8 months.

But I am also aware that this unrest I feel comes from the really not very important decision I need to take now: Which 30 day Yoga Challenge should I start - the Beginner or the Intermediate one.

I know I am somewhere in between and I know that I want to deepen my yoga practice, but even though I am very tempted to try the more intense one after having done a few intermediate classesin the last few days, my neck muscles tell me (because of these intermediate classes that I enjoyed but which were still rather challenging) not to be stupid and start with the slower classes and do the intermediate later in the year. There is my answer, all I have to do is accept it and stop fretting about it. Sorry for the rambling.

Happy New Year and I wish for clarity and calmness ;-)

ETA: During the first practice I realised that the beginner's challenge is indeed better for me, because it needs patience and stillness and acceptance and that seems almost more difficult than just more strength and flexibility. So that's that 🤓 

2016 resumé

This is the third time I will answer the following questions on my Schnickschnack blog. Here's 2014 and 2015...

1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
I went to a yoga retreat for a week in Portugal and I liked it so much that I went to another one for a weekend in November and already booked a third one in March.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't always find the perfect balance between work and the rest but I am quite proud that I managed to keep relatively calm during times of intense stress. Yoga definitely helped me stay focused. Yannick and Antonia got even more independent which sometimes feels very detached but then we also spent intense moments together and I think those are the ones that count. I kind of picked up journaling again, I bought a 365 questions and answers journal which I started in September and so far I've managed to keep up with it. I hope I was there for my friends, they definitely made my time so much better.

My goals for next year are the 30 days yoga challenge which will start on January 1st which will hopefully continue in an intense yoga practice. I'll try to be true to myself, accepting the way I am and I want to enjoy life because it can be over so suddenly.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my neighbours had a baby girl but I don't really know them and Anna from Tschiertschen had a baby boy which I'll meet next February when we will go on our ski holidays

4. Did anyone close to you die?
After so many years of answering this one with no, I finally have to answer it with a yes four times. Two of my uncles died within about a week in June under very different circumstances and my grandmother passed away on December 15th. She really wanted to go in the end, so her death is a mixed feeling of gratitude and sadness. The last person to die this year was my former principal.

5. What countries did you visit?
At the end of April we flew to Cyprus for a week. We spent a great time in our villa with pool and got to see quite a bit of the island while driving around.

In July I went to Bergen with Antonia. It was our first time that in Norway and we were both enchanted by the landscape and the sea.

In October I went to Portugal for my yoga retreat. Apart from the daily lessons I had a lot of time to walk along the stunning coastline. Such a beautiful country!

In November I went to Germany (just on the other side of the border) for another yoga retreat. I didn't have a lot of time and it was rainy and foggy but it was great to be away from everything for a few hours.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
A better connection with my mom. We really don't get along at the moment and even though we both would like to change it (at least I think we both want that) we don't seem to find a way.

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

• Every other Wednesday my grandmother and I walked to the GZ together. It was a sweet little routine that brought joy to both of us and I know she will always be in my thoughts on Wednesdays.
• Drinking beer with Z. after 5 years.
• Driving on the highway in Cyprus through an intense downpour without knowing how to turn on the wipers. 
• An excellent school camp in Charmey.
• Seeing my brother at my uncle's funeral after not having seen him for nine years. I am glad he's back in my life.
• Dancing with Annette and Sascha at 80s forever.
• The fire evacuation in Bergen which made me realise how little most of the stuff matters as long as Antonia and I were fine.
• Standing next to the waterfall in Kjosfossen and listening to Hulda.
• Hiking from Arosa to Tschiertschen.
• Swimming down the Limmat with Andreas and Yannick.
• The walks along the Fisherman's path and swimming in the icy water of the Atlantic in Portugal.
• Knitting on the sofa with Alex and Tobi. 

• Spending the last time with my grandmother at the hospital. It was just the two of us and even though she wasn't conscious anymore I am sure she knew she was never alone.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My newfound calmness and flexibility. The way I teach and relate to my students and the good moments with Yannick and Antonia.

9. What was your biggest failure?
When I didn't stay calm and lost it, especially with Yannick and Antonia. Fortunately we always manage to find a way back. The feeling of helplessness with my family, all these silly ways to hurt each other that have gone on for years and years.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
It was another good year. My back was good last year but this year it got even stronger. Osteopathie, regular excercise and yoga definitly help. I was sick very rarely, I think the cold I have right now might be the first one of 2016.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I had to replace my camera because the old one broke. The new one is just as good and I am glad I spent the money.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine (this might sound weird, but I am actually quite happy with myself). Antonia is turning into an amazing person, she is funny, helpful, clever and she found her place at the new school.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My family.

14. Where did most of your money go?
I guess it's travelling again and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it.

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
When I managed to do stuff that I'd never thought possible.

16. What song will always remind you of 2016?

Because that was a fantastic concert, because I listened to it while walking in the rain next to the Bodensee and because of my own Grosmi who was very different from the one in the song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder but not sadsad if that makes sense.
b) thinner or fatter? Quite a bit fatter, this has to stop now!
c) richer or poorer? I am not sure but probably slightly richer again.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I think I tried and sometimes it worked, that's all one can do.

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

20. How did you be spend Christmas?
We started on the 10th of December with my cousins. On the 19th of December we celebrated with my other cousin. Yesterday my family was here and tomorrow we will visit my mother-in-law.

21. What were your favourite months of 2016?
July, August and October

22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Nope.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
This is Us.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Life in Pieces
The Catch

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

26. What was the best book you read?
Time and Time again by Ben Elton really got me thinking. I enjoyed the Tufa series by Alex Bledsoe a lot and read the first four books.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Now that I have unlimited access to the web from my iPhone I started to listen to apple music quite regularly. I love my Friday walks to the bakery while listening to an interesting playlist.

28. What did you want and get?
I got to travel and to spend time with people I love.

29. What did you want and not get?
Still no person, but it wasn't so important this year.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Again I only rarely went to the cinema. I remember Captain Fantastico because it was different and because I went to see it with my brother.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 45 years old and it was a rather sad and very quiet evening.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I still don't know.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Probably a bit too casual but then I really don't feel like wearing fancy uncomfortable stuff.

34. What kept you sane?
Almost the same as last year: My kids, talking with friends, going away on holidays, knitting and yoga.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nobody really.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US election. I still don't understand how this could happen. I don't get people.

37. Who did you miss?
I met a few of last year's old ghosts ;-) Otherwise nobody I think.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I spent a lot of time with my newish neighbours Yasha, Mareike and Sebastian and I got to know Alex better. I also really like the connections I made through yoga.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.
Kein Weg führt zum Glück. Glück ist der Weg.
Be your own light.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Dä Märliprinz ä huärä Tubäl" (Schoedo) and also on a more optimistic note "It's such a perfect day and I am glad I spent it with you" (Lou Reed)

2015 resumé

Last year I did this resumé for the first time on my SchnickSchnack blog, so of course I'll do it again for 2015.

1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
I am not sure I was very adventurous or that I learnt something totally from scratch last year. Maybe I could count going on a ferry by car in Canada (I was so scared but it was the best way to travel) or having my own class (I used to do that before but never while I had my own kids). Maybe I can remember more before I get to the end of this post ;-)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I only wrote in my moleskines while we were on holiday (which is a compromise I can live with well). On the good side I am glad that I wrote many entries here on my blog. I gave my best to enjoy the moments, though I didn't always succeed. For next year I'd like to find a good balance between my job and the rest of my live, I want to pay attention to old and new friends and I want to spend important moments with Yannick and Antonia.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep, lots of babies were born, which gave me the opportunity to knit small baby stuff ;-) Welcome Dan, Isabelle, Marlene, Yasha and Elif.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
In July and August we flew to Vancouver. We spent 9 days on Vancouver Island and then drove back to Vancouver along the Sunshine Coast. Vancouver Island was just as beautiful as I imagined and I am so glad that we did that road trip together.

In October Yannick and I went to the UK. We stayed in London for two nights and then we changed to Brighton. I enjoyed the Harry Potter Fim Studios and everything about being next to the sea.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
I could write the same as last year -  more adults to talk to. I am good at work and I can always find somebody to go out to dance or for a coffee at home, but in my everyday life I'd love to have a person to talk to regularly.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
3rd of January: Taking the photos of my dad's wooden statues.
14th to 21st of February: Skiing holidays in Tschiertschen. I just love that place!
2nd of May: An afternoon with my cousins at the gym.
2nd of July: Swimming in the Türlersee.
14th of July: Swimming in the Rhine with my parents.
5th of July: Sleeping on the balcony to escape the heat.
13th of September: A hiking weekend in Tschiertschen.
And there were many more good moments, when we had fun, when it felt just right.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
That I started my new job the way I had been dreaming about for the last few years. It has been very intense and right before christmas I was very tired, but I gave it all I had.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't find a healthy balance, I used up too much of my energy and this made the people I love suffer. I am also rather ashamed that I lost it too often with Yannick and Antonia. I wished I could find a way back with my mom, recently it's been akward whenever we meet.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a really good year. My back rarely ever hurt and I am pretty sure it's stronger than ever thanks to Kieser Training and yoga (I haven't always been good doing it, but at least I always made an effort during the holidays) I am kind of scared that something might happen, but it's  just a weird feeling I've been having.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I got a new computer and an iPhone 6S which I both love. Otherwise I didn't buy anything big, but I tried to be generous with myself.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Yannick and Antonia because they took over so many responsibilities when I had to work late. Sometimes I forget this and get angry when I think they are being lazy or difficult.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly my own, especially during the last couple of weeks. I have to concentrate on not being so negative again!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Travelling was expensive but the memories are soo worth it. I bought a lot of yarn, but on the other hand I almost didn't buy any other clothes at all.

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
Arriving at Tofino and seeing the beach which was responsible for my travel plans live up to my dreams.

16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
All that music we listened to while on the road. Next time we need a proper song list ;-)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Probably about the same. As always these days around christmas are hard for me. But it will get better again.
b) thinner or fatter? Slightly fatter. Not heavier but wobblier.
c) richer or poorer? A bit richer, which will mean more taxes later I guess.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I did what I could. I wished I could have been happier, but that's not easy to achieve.

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

20. How did you be spend Christmas?
Pretty much the same as the year before. With my cousin on the 16th, with my other cousins and family on the 19th, with my family on the 24th and with Andreas' family on the 25th. Too much food and alcohol for me.

21. What was your favourite month of 2014?
July and August.

22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
For about 5 minutes.

23. How many one-night stands?
It wasn't just one night but not a lot more.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
A lot of old friends that I still liked...
Downton Abbey (just watched the finale today ;-(
Empire (good music and I love their clothes)
Grandfathered (John Stamos ;-)
Jane the Virgin (perfect Telenovela)
The Grinder (Rob Lowe ;-)
and many others...

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

26. What was the best book you read?
"What Alice forgot" by Lisa Genova.
The Lunar Cronicles with "Cinder", "Scarlet", "Cress" and "Winter" which were just the perfect read over christmas, I just couldn't put them down and had to finish them before I could do anything else, even though I only bought the first one for my English student ;-)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I started listening to apple music ;-)

28. What did you want and get?
I got my own class, just when I had given up. (Which was my answer for #29 last year, wow!)

29. What did you want and not get?
A person.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The one that touched me most might have been Amateur Teens, but I haven't been to the cinema a lot.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 44 years old and I am so proud of myself that I invited everybody to my place for raclette and drinks.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Wooly stuff. There were days when I wore 5 different handknit items.

34. What kept you sane?
The same as last year: My kids, talking with friends, going away on holidays, knitting.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Nobody really but Alicia Florrick always gets the bestest man candy ;-)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The refugees that have been arriving in Europa and the terrorist attacks in Paris. They make me afraid of the future. The world seems to be a rather shaky place at the moment.

37. Who did you miss?
Old ghosts are hard to kill.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I was happy with my old friends.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
I wished I had one.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Sadly I have to leave this one empty.

2014 resumé

I used to do this summary every year when I had a blog on LJ. I always liked it so here it is for 2014.

1. What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?
I learnt how to knit properly. I knit a few small things rather unsuccessfully when I was a teenager and then I never tried again. Then I got hooked on our skiing holidays and haven't stopped knitting.
I rented a car all by myself in Wales and I drove on the left for the first time.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any. I usually try to find a project and stick to it. For 2015 I'd like to get back to writing (here and definitely by hand, I have sadly neglected my Moleskines) and to actively live the good moments.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two of my colleagues had boys and two more friends are expecting their babies in 2015.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
In April, I went to Paris in France with Antonia. We had a lovely time together. I especially liked cycling around the park at Versailles and just hanging out with her. These one-kids holidays are really so important.

In July, we flew to Bristol, UK and then we spent the next 9 days in Wales. I enjoyed the road trip immensely, I think it's my favourite kind of holidays and I am really looking forward to this summer when we can travel around again.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
Maybe more adult people to talk to? Sometimes it's hard to be around preteenagers all the time and I think that I put too much pressure on the friends I see regularly. Maybe I need a therapist ;-), they get payed to listen.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
9th of February which was a perfect day at the Hamam with Renata.
15th - 22nd of February which we spent in Tschiertschen skiing.
22th - 25th of April which I spent in Paris with Antonia.
17th to the 25th of July which was our road trip in Wales. Especially the evening in Abergavenny and the train ride the next day.

19th to the 21st of September which we spent hiking with my parents in Tschiertschen again.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
That I didn't lose it big time. I was close to being overwhelmed a few time but I never crashed. I  agreed to so many things and I always finished them well and on time.
That I could enjoy the good moments.
That I really learnt a new thing and I got actually quite good at it quickly.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I didn't learn yet to say no to new projects when my plate is already full.
I also doubted myself too often and let myself be pushed into the defensive.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Overall I'd say my body was stronger than the years before. My back was more stable, my knee more flexible, my leg is mostly ok. Towards the end of the year I might have got a new thing but I have no doctor's verdict about it yet, so we will see...

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I got a new table which we inaugurated on Christmas eve. Now I need matching chairs and new plates and glasses to go with it ;-)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Friends that were there for me again and again.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
There were three people who did but I don't want to dwell on it too much. It won't change anything.

14. Where did most of your money go?
I spent a lot of money on holidays but the memories were so worth it.
I also spent a lot on yarn but I got so many new beautiful things to wear from it, so I think it's totally ok. Apart from that I don't think I spent all that much.

15. What did you get really, really excited about?
It was a year of small moments - nothing earthshaking.

16. What song will always remind you of 2014?
I tried to find one but it seems that I don't have a special song for 2014.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Probably about the same. The end of the year is my least favourite time but I have started to feel better these last few days
b) thinner or fatter? The same.
c) richer or poorer? I have no idea, I need to have a look at my bank statement. Slightly richer maybe.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gone outside. I spent a lot of time on my sofa.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried about problems that weren't ready to be solved.

20. How did you be spend Christmas?
I spent the 20th of December with all my uncles, aunts and cousins for the second time in a row. It was lovely again and I was happy to be part of the preparations for the party this time.
On the 24th we had Fondue Bourguinnone at my place.
On the 25th we ate at my mother-in-law's.

21. What was your favourite month of 2014?
I didn't have a favourite month, but my least favourite month was definitely November.

22. Did you fall in love in 2014?
No.

23. How many one-night stands?
None.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Too difficult to choose just one ;-)
Downton Abbey, The Good Wife, Shameless, Gilmore Girls and Friday Night Lights were the ones I knew and loved again and again.
I started watching Mom, The Killing, True Detective and Outlander which I all really enjoyed.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Kind of, but I am trying to get over it. Hate is such a destructive feeling.

26. What was the best book you read?
"The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. It really made me think.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I was a musical failure this year!

28. What did you want and get?
Less pain. I hope my back keeps up like this!

29. What did you want and not get?
A new job. But I am quite happy with my old one.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I've only been to the cinema a few times this year and I can't remember anything special. I enjoyed watching movies with my kids, we should do that more often instead of spending time seperately in front of our computers! That might be a good resolution - a movie night each week!

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 43 years old and it wasn't my favourite day of the year.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know if there was one big thing missing.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
Lots of handknit stuff, lots of hats. I didn't buy a lot of clothes, I made them instead which was such a great feeling.

34. What kept you sane?
My kids, talking with friends, going away on holidays, knitting.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I wouldn't kick Matthew Goode off my bed, but he has his hands full with both Alicia Florrick and Lady Mary Grantham.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I am glad that we didn't embarrass ourselves in front of all the world by saying yes to "Ecopop".

37. Who did you miss?
Nobody

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I didn't meet anybody new but I got to know a few people more deeply and that was cool.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.
I'll keep the one from last year:
As long as you are still breathing there is more right with you than wrong (Jon Kabat-Zinn)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
If you don't like my peaches then don't shake the tree. (Leslie Clio - I couldn't care less)

Happy Moments

School started again this week and I really tried to notice the good moments, because I know that's going to help me through the next few weeks till christmas. Sometimes I took photos, sometimes I just payed attention. Here's a selection of what made me happy:

1. A sunrise for the start of the next term: On Monday I walked to our training day. This has been one of my traditions for the last few years. Somehow it's much nicer to start the dark season with a walk first thing in the morning and once more I was lucky because there was a great sunrise (a few minutes ealier than this photo everything was all pink) and sunshine during the day.

 

2. Decoration for our living room: I saw a leaf chain like this on Julie's blog (KnittedBliss) a few weeks ago. Usually I am not that into indoor decorations, our appartement looks the same all the time. But I really liked that idea, so I went leaf hunting with Antonia and by myself, pressed them and then we put them up above the sofa. It looks so nice and colourful that it makes me smile each time I see it.

  

3. A new project with yummie yarn: Yesterday I got a new yarn delivery. This is going to be knit into a Ravello which I saw last week on Ravelry and fell in love with. I kind of wished the darker grey were more obviously darker than the lighter one, but it's knit top down, so if it doesn't work out with these colours I can change it to something more noticeable.

 

4. Charity run: Yesterday both my kids took part in the charity run for their athletics club. They had to run 400m rounds for 30 minutes at the football stadium. They were among the youngest and it was their first time. Both of them did really well. It was good to see them go on and on without giving in to their fatigue. Now I have to pay for 27 rounds...

5. Time with my girl: Today Antonia and I wanted to go for coffee and cake. Not surprisingly, everybody else had had the same idea, so all the cafés were totally packed. In the end we walked for quite a bit and then got our cake to go and ate it on the balcony, where it was really nice and sunny.

6. New FOs: And here are my latest socks for the advents calendar. The yarn for the extra colours I bought was slightly thicker, so there are three different sizes now. My new favourite sock is the one at the bottom row on the left. Who would have thought that this combination works? The green - blue - red one was knit for Pumpkinspins ;-)

Wow, I hadn't realised how many photos I'd taken and how many good moments I'd had in just one week!