2011. Here goes…
(The Tay Bridge: Dundee, Scotland)
Lots of people do this every year and this time I would like a go. There were the obligatory annual events that generally spring up somewhere; a wedding, funerals, bad colds, weather related disturbances, parties and so on… I have separated them into some categories, but essentially (with many omissions) here are some of my highlights of 2011. Here goes –
WORK:
Drawing children’s book illustrations and a music album cover (two things I have practically always wanted to do). I have been featured in Amelia’s magazine three times and still managed to find them time to create the analogue girl calendar – now in its sixth incarnation. As for voluntary work, being part of a fundraising team means I helped to plan and run both a charity bike ride and variety night this year, assisting in raising a total of almost £5000 for Oxfam. I think it’s certainly worth mentioning that my greatest achievement within that was cycling to Falkirk twice this year upon my ever-faithful wheeled steed, trusty Susan Transit.
TRAVEL:
I went to some pretty exciting places in 2011. Countrywise we had Scotland, England, Singapore, Indonesia and Italy. More specifically, Singapore (Like New York, New York), Bali, London, Milan, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Inverary, Aberfeldy, Falkirk, Dundee, Carlisle. I may even have forgotten some others.
CULTURE:
Seeing MINIMA music accompany silent movies (thrice) and Little Dragon (just once) perform live. I discovered the following incredible films for the first time; Sunrise, Das Kabinet des Dr. Caligari, Senna, The African Queen, the Trois Colours Trilogy, Les Enfants du Paradis that were of note. I usually manage to see some theatre – the epic Derek Jacobi in King Lear, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Liz Lochhead’s Educating Agnes, Saturday Night. I went to the Tron theatre here in Glasgow for the first time, as well as the Tramway. Back in the summer I went in a merry gang to see the Tall Ships partway through their race at Greenock.
EVENTS:
As I’m tapping this out, I’m amazed to discover how much I have done this year – how quickly one forgets. The Foulis party was a massive highlight, and also attending and dancing all over the last night ever at the Vic Bar (a personal triumph). Attending the first ever Harris Tweed ride in the world. It was epic – I hope this one will appear next year too. Lest we forget the crammed weekend of Doors Open Day – visiting behind the scenes of six places in Glasgow that I either always wanted to, or had never heard of!
HOME IMPROVEMENT:
Painting the hallway, planting a lawn and seeing that it has fewer bald patches than I anticipated by now, and of course, having a new bathroom. I think it’s worth saying that I can add ‘Project Management’ to my list of skills. And perhaps modeling in semi derelict buildings.
MEDIA:
Being on BBC television twice hasn’t changed me, luvvie. I appeared once on the Culture Show and once at Na Trads. In the audience. And get excited – there’s a BBC interview in the pipeline. Nothing to do with me, actually, it’s about the Art School, but I did the interview a couple of weeks ago on the steps of the Mack. Fun! You may also remember that in my Culture Show stint, I was in a Fringe Show (by sort of default) in WRRR – White Rabbit Red Rabbit. Somewhere at the BBC there’s a tape of me onstage – perhaps one day someone will find it. Subsequently having my photo featured on the playwright’s blog also is included in this highlight.
PERSONAL:
Meeting a chum after 15 years of lost contact. That one is still unbelievable. Having an MRI scan and a hand X-ray were pretty exciting too. I’m working on getting a copy of the hand printout, but I fear it’ll be in vain.
It’s been quite a year of ups and downs, massive highs and breaking lows. It is interesting to note that looking back over the 365 days since I was last at this date that I find it difficult to mark exactly where all that began. Perhaps that’s partly why I’ve chosen to outline it all in a summary here – it’s such a lot of activity and it’s difficult to keep track of it all. Hopefully by reviewing the past year, analysing it (just a little) I can see how I might choose to proceed in the looming shadow of 2012. Here goes…
– Today Rosie is tidying up, taking it easy and making a list of new year resolutions before attending a friend’s Hogmanay party in Glasgow, Scotland –
