2005: That Was the Year, That Was

Well, 2005. What a year. This seemed to be a year of non-stop drama on the world stage; everything from the London bombings to hurricane Katrina to G8. They’re all things I’ll remember, things that have made 2005 so notorious, but here are things about my own year, for posterity.

New Years’ Resolutions Achieved: Probably all of one, and that was to get my major health issue sorted. I did that, so I feel a little vindicated. I also got a grip on my generalised anxiety, but that’s only by relying on being more blasé instead of Paroxetine.

Biggest Achievement of the Year: Oh, you know. New job. Finally getting to Italy.

Biggest Failure of the Year: I don’t know. Nothing is really a memorable failure for me this year. Maybe not getting through enough books as compared to other years.

Heroes of the Year: The whole G8 thing, and most particularly that beautiful Ethiopian girl who vindicated Geldof’s efforts.

Villains of the Year: The usual suspects, to quote Casablanca’s Louis: that would be Dubya, for his spectacular racism and class wankery, Tony bloody Blair and, on a more personal note, my favourite nameless, constructed eccentric emo goon who sought validation by attacking one of the nicest people I know. Via LJ graffiti. I swear to God… just when you think you can’t regard someone as being any more trashy and stupid, they best your expectations.

Countries Visited
Switzerland, France, Greek Islands (Zakynthos and Kefalonia), Italy and Wales

Songs of the Year
Dare by Gorillaz is probably my defining 2005 song on account of being funky and fun, as well as one of the frontline songs for the new wave of British music, but special love goes to Franz Ferdinand’s Walk Away, an oddly sad, bittersweet, almost-ballad that is probably my favourite of all their songs now. The Stereophonics' Dakota also gives me the irresistible urge to book a flight to the US every. single. time. that I hear it.

Film of the Year
All right, it was released about a thousand years ago in its native Japan, but Howl’s Moving Castle only made it over here in September, and I adored every last minute of it. I know everyone loves Spirited Away, but that narrative is a little too disjointed for me, as good as the film is. I love the new life Miyazaki breathed into Diana Wynne Jones’s story, his rendering of an Alsace-type landscape, the humour and emotion of the film. It’s the sort of thing I wish had been around when I was a child, because I would have loved this sort-of fairytale something hard.

Book of the Year: I dunt know when it was published, but I am loving Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.

Programme of the Year:
Doctor Who, all the way.

Three defining memories:

1. Swiss Healing
January, in Basle, Switzerland. I’ll be 24 the next day, a step closer to the mid-twenties crisis, and hmm… how do I feel? Snow begins to fall. I look around the little town, at my family, and I think, “I’m all right. I am really doing fine.” 2005 agrees to continue on that note.

2. London
The announcer on the BBC reports that several bombs have gone off across London. The twisted wreckage of a red Routemaster bus is static on the television screen. I get up and make a cup of tea. Extra-strong Assam needed in this case.

3. Poisoned Darts of Pleasure
Franz Ferdinand at Nottingham. I can’t describe the euphoria I felt in the faux-Weimar setting of the concert, there with two damned good friends and thousands of shouty, jumpy, pushy people who would completely understand why Alex Kapranos acknowledging we exist with a wink is a Speshul Thing.

Hello to:
Everyone at my new job. Ahahhaa. All you new Eljay friends, particularly ladydaydream for your incredibly nuts sense of humour, and fioredelmale, endlessly helpful and lovely. Special mention to evremonde for supplying great reading throughout the year (and keeping my book count low as a consequence.)

Farewell to:
Marjorie D__. I just think she was the coolest. A beautiful, sarcastic, friendly, intelligent person whom I can safely say was the best thing about my old job. She returned to Malawi with her husband for good this year, but I still think of her with deep fondness and I hope we meet again in the future.

2005 in Retrospect:
After the hell that was 2004, this year has been rather kind to me. Granted, it has meant a sorely-needed operation and, preceding that, some ill health, comical projectile vomiting, a farewell to a much-loved friend, as well as a job so mundane and covered in red tape that I went home in tears a few times. However, you can’t expect all 365 days to be great and it’s also contributed some wonderful memories. I leave 2005 happy with (new) work, lighter than I started the year, having seen some wonderful places, experienced some great things and generally feeling that everything has slid into place a little more. I really needed this year and how it’s provided a kind of balm to my soul. I feel more Myself than ever; I feel stable, happy, content. I’ve sorted out stuff that needed sorting. And now, I’m getting itchy feet. I need to take off somewhere, do something. I will have graduated three years ago come June 2006, and I want something to show for it. I’ve established a nice, comfy plateau, and I hope 2006 provides a nice grappling hook with which I can enter my mid-twenties.