1. What did you do in 2005 that you’d never done before?
Went to Worldcon. Visited Albania and Ukraine.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Most of them, though I still owe Infinity Plus a bunch oif reviews.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Three friends had babies in the second quarter of the year. And the Belgianwaffles had twins in September.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My uncle.
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, UK, Greece, US, Germany, Albania, Sweden, Austria, France, Georgia, Ireland, Macedonia, Kosovo, Croatia, Netherlands, Montenegro, and Ukraine.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
More time. A new job.
7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
10 March was the day that we had Ursula’s condition confirmed. 24 October was the day I had a small car accident on the outskirts of the Hague.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This piece about Bosnia got a great deal of positive feedback. Other things we have done at work seem to have moved various peace proceses forward. I found myself in the odd position of being the person who actually communicated the Georgian government’s July plan to the South Ossetian government. And getting (most of) my family to the US for a week for my brother’s wedding
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not completing the third Moldova report.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Various nasty colds, but no more than a day or two off. Shaken but not physically hurt by my car accident.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books!!!!! And Buffy DVDs. And a digital camera.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My wife, as ever.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Members of the European Parliament, twice. In March there was a disgraceful meeting of the foreign affairs committee in which all the members who spoke sympathised deeply with the Croatian prime minister about his not getting to start EU entry negotiations. And in September there was a meeting on the situation in Vojvodina, at which Hungarian MEPs yelled at the most moderate politicians imaginable from Serbia for two hours. Apart from that, Seamus Close.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Of my spare money, after necessities, on books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Worldcon.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Don’t think there is one.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? About the same.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter; need more exercise.
c) richer or poorer? About the same, though we seem to have saved reasonably effectively despite the year’s exxpenses.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent time with friends and family.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family, and my wife’s brither and sister, here in Belgium.
21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
No.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Doctor Who.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not really.
25. What was the best book you read this year?
“The Island at the Center of the World” by Russell Shorto.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None.
27. What did you want and get?
A digital camera.
28. What did you want and not get?
More time. A scanner.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Serenity.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I addressed the Belgian Senate. I was 38.
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Either of my daughters talking.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
None.
33. What kept you sane?
Going out for dinner with my wife.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not really sure…
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The EU membership talks with Croatia, Turkey and now (yay!) Macedonia.
36. Who did you miss?
My father.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Everyone at Worldcon (and Picocon, and the Silver Cross in March).
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Check the tyres; and get up in time to take the train if you can.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Don’t really have one.