2011

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

-Delivered lambs. Lots of lambs.

-Found paid employment in farming, twice.

-Machine-milked some cows.

-Caught sheep with a crook.

-Rounded up sheep with a sheep dog. Well I guess I won't list *all* the new things I've done through having several new jobs.

-Feared for my life in my own living room.

-Bought a car from someone I didn't know.

-Skinned a rabbit and turned it into dinner.

-Went cross-country skiing, including on a frozen lake and a frozen sea.

-Was interviewed for a Finnish radio station.

-Witnessed a cat eating her own kitten.

-Made my brother proud.

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

-Didn't make any, and again won't.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

-Many sheep gave birth extremely close to me! And yeah, a few humans too.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

-Ditto with the sheep. Humans no.

5. What countries did you visit?

-Scotland, Wales, England, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

-Just some more farming knowledge will do nicely.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched in your memory, and why?

-Feb 22, of course. Coming down for breakfast in Finland with the lamb I'd been reviving in my room through the night, all delighted and proud that she'd survived till morning, and then hearing the news from home on Swedish radio.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

-Getting employment as a shepherd, twice, and doing, it seems, tolerably well at it.

9. What was your biggest failure of the year?

-I guess I failed to save up enough for next year's study fees, or to get any scholarships.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

-Developed this weird breathing thing.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

-Spindle.

-Quite love my wee car.

12. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

-Racism in Southland is pretty appalling.

-Petey, this Australian guy at our staff party at my flat in Edinburgh. He'd previously been banned from our flat for peeing on the couch, and he DID IT AGAIN in a drunken stupor, and THEN later the next day peed on our carpet while asleep at the dining table. GET OUT PETEY.

13. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

-Most people in Chch.

-Matt and Ulla, my hosts in Finland, who love their sheep.

-Fly, my canine friend and colleague, who is a remarkable creature.

-Sheep are overdue for some celebration.

14. Where did most of your money go?

-Plane ticket home, transport around Europe, car.

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

-Oh, everything!

-Sweden.

16. What song will always remind of you of 2011?

-Well there's plenty, but only because I've been listening to them; no deeper reason.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?

-About equally jubilant I think. Ever so slightly less cocky.

b) fatter or thinner?

-About the same.

c) richer or poorer?

-About equally close to destitution. Well I have one asset now I suppose.

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

-Since coming home 6 months ago, I definitely wish I'd spent more time with people I liked.

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

-Watching TV and refreshing facebook, when I could have been getting some spinning and knitting and weaving done.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

-Very, very quietly with family. The average age among us was 61, and between the 8 of us a single bottle of wine was consumed. Meg and I cooked the midday feast, which was great fun.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

-Not exactly.

22. What was your favourite TV programme?

-David Attenborough's 'Planet Earth'.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

-No, I'm still too much of a coward to hate. I sometimes try to hate thistles. But really I should transfer my hate to the people that brought them here.

24. What was the best book you read?

-Currently enjoying the massive tome, "Sheep and Man", by Professor somebody.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

-That listening to RDU now makes me feel old and out of touch.

26. What did you want and get?

-Job satisfaction!

-A tan.

-More time in Scandinavia.

27. What did you want and not get?

-Even more time in Scandinavia.

-Didn't win Lotto. (After a particularly depressing conversation with some locals about farm prices, yes, I really did buy my first ever Lotto ticket. It was kind of exciting. But useless.)

-Tractor driving experience.

-Fence constructing experience.

28. What was your favourite film of this year?

-Meek's Cutoff, probably. I have not been much of a media consumer this year. Oh Harry Potter 7a had some lovely British scenery moments and an awesome song.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?

-Turned 27 a few days after coming home from overseas. I actually can't remember what I did. Something with friends I hope.

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

-Secret.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

-Steelcap boots. Merino tops. Waterproof overalls. Long breezy dresses for after hours.

32. What kept you sane?

-I was in no danger of insanity in 2011.

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

-Salma Hayek.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

-Occupy Wall St was stirring, but I did nothing about it.

-Anything involving land management in NZ.

35. Who did you miss?

-Matt, but then he came over.

-James.

-Susan.

-Harry.

-Matt and Ulla.

-Having a social circle.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

-Andreas, our couchsurfing host in Trondheim, Norway. He dressed like a pirate. And Lars, the cheery blacksmith, our couchsurfing host in Tingersjo, Sweden.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

-Determination and a good attitude and much passion are necessary, but not sufficient, for being as valuable in this kind of work as a big strong man would be.

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

"Looking at life through a farmer's eyes

Always aware of the changing skies

Working with nature as all round the farm

He tries to make sure that things come to no harm."

-from the Postman Pat record we listened to as kids.