This Year I…

I'm a 23 year old Director from the West Coast of Scotland. I run a small business, play a lot of video games, eat scones with jam, and wonder why I'm not obese.

This Year I…

Turned 22.

Faced my fear of trains.

Became a Director.

Got dumped, then did that dating thing for 7 months.

Bought a Mini.

Started work on Robot Panties.

Went to Future of Web Apps.

Went to Future of Web Design.

Met a few internet friends.

Hit 25K GamerScore.

Gave a grown man a “reddy”.

Made a grown man bark.

Had reiki.

Started shooting Manual.

Socialised. Lots.

Made Elite with Rainbow Six: Vegas 2.

Launched my personal site.

Experienced the Chippendales.

Bought a PlayStation 3.

Stayed in Edinburgh.

Started drumming again.

Geeked out by going to a midnight launch of a video game.

Spent an evening in a hot tub.

Started driving.

Rebranded my business.

Tried sushi (and loved sushi).

Bought an iPhone.

Modeled for a magazine.

Completed Project 50.

Saw Eddie Izzard perform.

Attended the Uber Girl final.

Got fined and pulled over by the police.

Decorated my house.

Had beach parties.

Hustled.

Looking back on all of this it doesn’t seem much. Yet I’ve had a fantastic year and feel different to how I did at the beginning of ‘09. If that makes sense. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few bits and pieces, but I’ll add them in as I remember. I’m also going to do an opposing post of what I want to do in ‘10 (Update: I’ve wrote about my 2010 goals). Anyway, what about you — what did you do?

Tags: 2009

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 3:59 pm and is filed under Personal.
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20 Responses to “This Year I…”

JohnONolan Says:
December 8th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Some awesome things in that list that I didn’t even know about – all round a pretty big year I’d say. Can’t believe we STILL haven’t played MW2 together though.. (very poor show), my TV comes back tomorrow with its new LCD panel and I will be adding miss candystorerock to my xbl contacts!

I’d list out some of the shit I’ve done this year but for fear of going on a narcissistic rant I’ll hold off

Btw I’ve been watching this whole robot-panties thing with intrigue for the last year and I still don’t know what it is! Shoot me an email if there’s anything I can do to help get it off the ground
Los Havros Says:
December 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

Doesn’t sound much? That’s loads! Seen as you ask, for me this year, things of note are: Turned 21 (yay!), graduated, got a Mac, took up web design, passed my driving test, went to a festival, went to Ireland, and coming up… seeing Paramore again.

I’m actually glad I took the time to write what I’d done as to be honest, I’d totally forgotten some of them! Likewise I’ll save my 2010 stuff for commenting in your 2010 post! :p

Anyhow, I’d just like to sign off by commending you on another great post, and with the message that we can all achieve anything if we focus on what we want. Good stuff.
Rick Nunn Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am

Hey I got a mention! w00t!

Hmmm what have I done this year? … hmmm it would help if I had any sort of memory wouldn’t it, ermmmm:

# Met you

# Ended a very long relationship

# Started a new one (very recently and it’s hella awesome!)

# My 365, which I am SOOO close to finishing!

# Project 50

# Redesigned my website

# Bought my first dSLR, then bought my 2nd dSLR, oh and about 3 other cameras too.

I can’t really think what else I have done, I think it’s been a good year but in all honesty it has gone too quick to tell!
Ashley Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:04 am

@John You’ve done a tremendous amount this year, I would actually be interested in reading about it in a handy, compact, list format! By the way, I don’t think Robot Panties will be up your street, but I plan on blogging regularly about the business side of things once operations are up and running, which might be more of an interest to you than what RP actually is. (Way to drum up excitement about your product, Ash!).

@Los Havros Enjoy being 21. If you’re anything like me you will have a quarter life crisis when you hit 22. Glad you joined the Mac club — it’s worth the extra dough, eh? I wish I could have joined you kids in Ireland, and I’m actually hoping to go back there at some point next year. Also, congrats on passing your driving test. The freedom it brings makes the tedious task of learning worth it!

@Nunnmeister Damn right, I couldn’t summarise 2009 without mentioning my new BFF! Your year has had many notable moments, and it’s crazy to think it was only during summer we first bumped into one another (on the net). I hope that once you’ve come to an end with 365, you’ll find another project to work on. I also hope things go very well with you and your quirky lady P.S. How crazy is it to think you only took up photography this year?!
Fuzzy Orange Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:17 am

2009 seems to have absolutely flown by for me – but a few things stick out which im fairly happy about

- I finally made the transition from web developer to development manager, which feels like my career is progressing nicely

- Bought my first dSLR thanks to Rick, and enjoyed almost completing a project 50

- Launched a massively successful project at work which I’m very proud of

- Turned 30!! which ended up not being as scary as I thought it would be

- Upgraded to an xbox360 elite and wasted waaay too much time on forza 3 and cod 6 – but I love it!
Sam Hardacre Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:28 am

You got plenty done this year!

For me it goes as follows:

# Met “The One”

# Visited Kent for the first time

# Travelled more than I ever have

# Project365, almost there!!!!

# Bought a DSLR, then bought another : D

# Redeveloped my personal site

# Went to FOWA Tour and FOWD Tour in Leeds and made many new friends

# Moved in with The One (technically she moved in with me)

# Moved house

# Learned to rock climb

# Learned how to drive, sort of.

# Took part in my first group exhibition, then again and again

# Been to Malta

# Swam with dolphins

Erm… I think I’ll stop there : D
Rick Nunn Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:29 am

Ha, damn right. Yeah I guess I could go back over my 365 to work out what has happened to me this year, that’s quite handy. Maybe I’ll knock out one of these lists on my blog tonight

Blegh! I can’t wait for the 365 to be over, don’t get me wrong, I have loved doing it, I am just finding it tedious now. I wanna do some more Quotos, and well a few other projects that don’t involve me HAVING to do an image every day!

And yep, just 11 months ago I bought my first proper camera… that is pretty crazy. I feel like I have been shooting all my life!
Enrique Ramírez Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:30 am

I wanted to do this list a while ago. I’ve felt pretty unsatisfied with my accomplishments this year… so let’s see if I’m right or I just push myself too hard:

* Turned 23
* Bought a new car (second car ever, first I buy myself!)
* Moved to a new place
* Got a new dad, and two new brothers. This family is growing!
* Left the company I worked at (and made me kinda miserable) and opted for freelance life. GREAT decision.
* Wrote an article for Smashing Magazine, which revived my blogging desires.
* Buried my blogging desires after 2 months of not writing a thing.
* Bought a new PC after my old one BSOD me.
* Went away for a month to another city, living with friends and just experiencing life as I think it should be. Great trip.
* Restarted a relationship that I now think should’ve been left alone.
* Fell in love again. Just like a teenager, too! with the butterfiles, the stupid smiles and all that stuff.
* Started playing piano again.
* Bought a LOT of videogames.
* Played VERY FEW videogames.
* Cleared off most of my debts so I can finally start saving money for my house next year.

Been a year of many changes with lots of ups and just as much downs, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Let’s jsut hope we aim (and accomplish) far greater goals this year!
Kym Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:33 am

Sounds like you had an awesome year missy!

I want a go.

-Watched my parents split up
-Stopped being a teenager, I’m so young. *pokes tongue out*
-Finished my second year of a degree with very good grades
-Started my third year of a degree
-Panicked for most of the year about my own abilities and what I want to do
-Stopped working in Retail
-Picked up various bits of mentoring & study advisor work at University
-Ended a very long relationship
-Started a new one very recently (and it is freakin’ awesome)
-Met some awesome new people, online and, shockingly, in real life
-Sold my body to Flickr.com
-Became a kitten
-Got a MacBook. It changed my life.
-Got smashed in Lincoln, fell over dancing in the Engine Shed and then vomited in my friends kitchen sink. Classy!
-Moved back to Mansfield (eww!)
-Got back on four wheels

I guess next year will be a big one for me. I hated most of this year until September.

Quirky lady?! Is that good?
Sam Hardacre Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 11:36 am

@Rick I’m feeling the same which is why I think I’ll take a break from it next year. It’s a fantastic project, being able to look back and jog memories of a random day in a year but I think doing it year after year would detract slightly from what I think makes it special.

I’ll probably take it up again in 2011
Alex Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

OK, here goes…

– Got Engaged
– Split up with my fiancee 9 months later
– Was signed to a record label
– Released my debut album along with 4 vinyl singles
– Had my own label picked up for a P&D deal
– Had my album picked up for licencing
– Had my tracks, and a whole mix aired on BBC Radio 1
– Was reviewed in Mixmag, iDJ, DJ, ATM, Big and The Word magazines
– Performed in Manchester, Nottingham and Edinburgh
– Got paid to remix somebody elses music
– Missed a DJ booking in Amsterdam
– Became editor for a magazine
– Had a fan send me a home-made T-shirt and handwritten letter
– Tried Saki (and was fairly so-so about it)
– Walked the entire West Highland Way
– Slept on a train for the first time
– Went a whole year without going to a hairdressers
– Started using Last.fm again
– Visited Bruges on a ship
– Bought an iPhone
– Visited Newcastle and Leeds for the first times
– Learned to Snowboard
– Went to the Opera
– Went to a classical recital
– DJd at a wedding reception
– Smoked a joint at the top of a mountain

That’s all I can think of off-hand.
Toby Howarth Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Great list Ash sounds like you have done loads !!

My list is as follows

- Started tweeting
- Advanced my XHTML, CSS and Wordpress skills
- Started designing my site
- Taught my Eldest to swim (now teaching my youngest)
- Teaching my youngest to swim
- Went Mac (never looking back)
- Started a new job
- Brought a DSLR which I need to learn more about
- Old Band got back together
- Xbox360 is back and Gears of War 2 and COD MW2 take over
- Turned 28
- Started flickring
- Met some cool online people

Lets Home 2010 is as good if not better !
Dan Coverdale Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pm

#I learned to snowboard

#Made steps to start up on my own freelancing alongside my full time employment.

#Met someone special, then lost them

#Saw ‘A’ rock out in Manchester

#Had surgery

#Appeared on Sky news fleetingly!

#Attended my first web conference (Barcamp Blackpool)

Already lots on the cards for 2010, ready to wrap up this year its been a tough one at times. Good year overall i’ve taken inspiration from those around me to push forward my design, and achieve what i’m aiming for.
Fuzzy Orange Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 1:47 pm

Oh I nearly forgot

- Sold my dSLR and bought another lol – started playing with video on the 500D

- Bought my first ever macbook – top of the line 15″ jobby which arrives next week – SO EXCITED

- Bought an iPhone after a horrid year without one!

- Watched the Peugeot 106 Owners Club (which I run) grow to over 20,000 members!
Arnold Sideways Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

Hmm, unfortunately mine’s a rather short and depressing list. 2009 has not been a good year for me. I started off the year with a nasty illness, had the threat of redundancy hanging over my head for a month or two, had my ambitions of moving away from programming and more towards being a game designer forced onto the back-burner, and found myself for the first time in my career working on an Xbox 360 game I don’t enjoy in the slightest.

On the plus side:

* Started writing a sci-fi novel that I actually think I might stick with to the end.

* Started to learn the drums after years of wanting to, after playing Rock Band finally pushed me into it.

* Bought myself a Tama Iron Cobra double bass pedal, which is just awesome.

* Bought an Apple product that I was surprised to find is actually really good (64 GB iPod Touch).

* Went to Paris for a long weekend.

* Became a lot more confident in the use of STL and Boost in C++.

* Survived a zombie apocalypse with the help of a rather amazing lady who loves to blow things up.
Ashley Says:
December 10th, 2009 at 10:44 am

Wow, lots to reply to!

@Fuzzy Orange I had no idea you also bought your first dSLR this year. I hope you attempt another project soon. Sounds like your career and side project both did well in 2009, which is great to know a successful side project can be run alongside sustaining a career. Congrats

@Sam It seems 2009 has been a good year for romance One thing you’ve got on your list that I’d definitely like to include on mine for 2010 is “Traveled more than I ever have”. That’s important. And swimming with dolphins… That’s amazing. I’d be pretty happy with that list!

@Enrique You shouldn’t feel unsatisfied with your accomplishments. Falling in love, quitting your job to go freelance, living in another city for a month, clearing most of your debts and getting paid to write for an online magazine are all great achievements. Don’t beat yourself up, you did good.

@Kym Yar, it was my bestest year in forever perhaps. Sorry to hear about your parents, I’ve never had to experience that myself. On the bright side you’re doing very well with Uni, have met someone who makes you happ-ee, made the transition to Mac, and are a quirky lady Which is a good thing!

@Alex Perhaps the longest list on here, and very musical. I hope your music career goes well, though it sure sounds like it already is. I wonder what it was like walking the entire West Highland Way, but it sounds amazing. Also, congrats on becoming an editor of a magazine. Sounds like you take a lot on — my kinda guy

@Toby Xbox, dSLR, Mac = good year. I look forward to seeing your new site you’re designing with your freshly honed coding skillz.

@Dan Maybe 2010 will be the year your freelance goes full swing, but you’re doing the right thing by making it happen through baby steps as opposed to jumping in. Sorry you lost someone close to you, it’s very hard but something you can grow and learn from. Good luck with the design side of things!

@Arnold Did you happen to survive a zombie apocalypse with the help of a very bossy and domineering woman? And what do you mean “bought an Apple product that I was surprised to find is actually really good”?! Apple products are the bees knees ^_^ I hope you survive many more zombie apocalypses. On Expert.
Fuzzy Orange Says:
December 10th, 2009 at 10:48 am

@Ashley – Thanks! Yeah I bought my 450D on 1st March – then upgraded to the 500D last month. It’s been chaotic this year, very busy with work. I’m hoping the macbook pro i’ve just bought will allow me to get out a bit more while still staying on top of work
Alex Says:
December 10th, 2009 at 11:09 am

@Ashley The music thing is OK – but I’m far from being successful, and it’s not something I’d risk taking full-time at the moment. Planning a 2-3 month trip to the states though, so hopefully it’ll inspire me to increase my productivity in that area. Plus It’ll be a good bit of time to try some new ideas.

West Highland Way was incredible. Gruelling, but just beautiful to do. Plus we nailed the best 6 days of weather the West of Scotland has ever seen.

And the magazine – it’s not such a biggie. Mainly because it was me who started it, but it’s led to alot of great opportunities, so it could prove to be a good thing.

I have a habit of taking on far too much – I think it’s a combination of impulsiveness and a desire to do as much as possible with my life before it’s too late.
Andrzej Kała Says:
December 29th, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Well, not very impressive, but here it goes:

- Got my Masters (finally)
- Moved to a bigger apartment
- Hit 27k gamerscore
- Gave jRPG a shot (and liked it!)
- Got a job I like and don’t want to switch
- Switched from jQuery to Mootools
- Started my own business
- Freelanced a bit
- Started moving forward on my project
- Drank a cold tasty beer in hot tub
Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010 | DaveMoran.co.uk | The Blog Says:
January 1st, 2010 at 5:06 am

[...] reading Ashley’s and Ricks’s “This Year I” posts I’ve decided to shamelessly [...]

This Year I…

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