2008 and all that

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Went to a hanami party.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
To keep on learning Japanese and improving my Italian. Kept them and will continue them, as well as painting. Did build a website, albeit a temporary one. Real one coming this year!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I can think of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Only Japan - and home!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More yoga sessions - they waned this year.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 1st. Leaving one island and coming back to another one - my own! Pathetically, there were times I was so homesick I thought I'd never come back. And then getting itchy feet and wanting to go back again.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Developing my painting, learning lots of Japanese, making new friends, leaving The Company and getting a job I really do like back home.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmmm. Don't do that word. But I guess I would've liked to have learnt katakana and hiragana (Japanese syllaberies).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Luckily, no. I'm in the very rudeness of health, although I was a lot fitter when I left for Japan in late 2006.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
On a purely selfish level, a wonderful pair of sexy shoes from Karen Millen (British fashion store). On another one, simply coffees and meals, either on my own or with friends.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
So, so many. My mum for collecting me at Heathrow and feeding me veggie food on my return, Les for fixing my computer, the ladies in Cafe Centre in Kitakyushu for making me coffee an Italian would be proud of and many more.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The Ferret for his vicious, immature, divisive behaviour at The Company towards Jay (y replacement) and myself, probably 'cos he wanted to be Top Gaijin. And regretfully, our female Japanese co-workers who stood back and let him, all the while tittering at his wit and charm. All it would've taken is a wink and a 'we know he's an arsehole, but we're really pleased with your work', but that takes balls - and yes, we do have them too, ladies. Jay eventually quit 'cos of the lack of charm offensive.

14. Where did most of your money go?
On rent, canvasses and paints.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Miyajima and Koyasan - and coming home!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Hmmmm... am out of touch with most stuff, but there was a new AC/DC album out.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder
Much, much happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?

Oh dear, probably a little rounder. But it is winter here right now.

iii. richer or poorer?
Would it harm some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy woman?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Yoga.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Working with people who made me miserable.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it with my family and enjoyed every minute.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, twice. But safe to say have fallen out again. Did fall in love with my three year-old brother again though.

23. How many one-night stands?
Not enough.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Eastenders and Cosmos (US TV show from years back - got them all on DVD).

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
The Ferret, but only when he's brought to mind.

26. What was the best book you read?
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Am reading the follow-up Collapse.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That Acca Dacca are still the greatest rock and roll band on the planet!!!!

28. What did you want and get?
Good friends and co-workers, a job I like in the UK, an exhibition, trips around Japan, my flat back in London. Words from a boy I liked that indicated he liked me too...

29. What did you want and not get?
A secret. And my own multi-lingual website.

30. What were your favourite films of this year?
The Changeling and Sex and the City.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
42 and I went to the local Irish bar in Kitakyushu with Asako and Freya.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Living in a yoga studio in Roppongi with regular freebies from Prada et al and being a famous, feted artist. Not an eikawa performing monkey.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Bon Scott meets Samantha Jones.

34. What kept you sane?
My friends, family and my art.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Does anyone know who this guy is?

(Yes I know, the guy holding the poster is much better, eh?)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Crunch. Don't want to be out of work, but I find it unbelievable that there are people jumping out of windows because they are no longer investment bankers whatever. Ever heard of tightening your belts? Hint: There are people in this world who really don't know where their next meal is coming from and we're not in their number.

37. Who did you miss?
My friends met in Japan, some of whom have returned to the four corners of the Anglosphere, some of whom are in Japan ('cos they're Japanese!).

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Freya - though strictly speaking, she was late 2007. Takeshi and Veronique from Koyasan - though again, I met them briefly in 2007, but made their acquaintance more fully in May this year, Fuyumi the artist lady from Kitakyushu, the lovely people at the art shop Kyushu Gazai and Ryusuke.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
All things will pass. The bad - and the good. Make the most of the second lot this and have as many of them as you can (actually, I already knew last year!).

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Back in the back of a cadillac... (Back in Black by AC/DC).