wordfalls and scatters

I've started the 'questions about the last year' meme a couple of times, and given up in disgust. It's clear that most of the answers were either a) social minefields, or b) dull. So here's an end of year/new year post that I'm comfortable writing instead:

Resolutions:
My only resolution is to learn how to be more patient with people. There are definitely times when it's okay to be exasperated at how people choose to live, or what they think, or how they interact with others, but I want to be better at limiting my exasperation to the appropriate circumstances.

Big achievements:
Handing in my PhD, learning enough to talk to my grandparents in Greek (albeit badly), organising an event for Bluestocking that was well-attended.

Smaller achievements:
Fixing bicycles, or helping people to fix bicycles. Getting nominated for a teaching award. Getting paid, for a few months, to write rants on ActNow. Finishing and posting off an overdue short story I owed a friend. Starting to learn ukulele and accordion. Getting offered a tutoring job at a new university. Presenting a paper at a conference. Having conversations in (terrible) Spanish. Helping to start some small-scale activism. Changing my own laptop hard-drive.

People:
Whenever memes have questions like 'who's the best person you met this year' or 'who kept you sane?' I feel paralysed with discomfort about forgetting someone, or making someone feel left out. This year, I've had many amazing people in my life. I've met new people, rekindled some old friendships, and lost touch with one or two people. I've been looked after during difficult times, and have learnt a lot from the people around me. I hope that I've also helped or amused the people around me, at least in small ways.

My favourite Doing:
Playing ukulele, especially with friends. Talking about politics, especially with people who ask thoughtful and challenging questions. Phonecalls with distant friends. Cycling. Fixing and mending things (including bicycles and clothes).

My favourite stuff:
I feel good that many of the things I own get so well-used. As with previous years, my computer (on indefinite loan from Cameron), my bicycle, and my backpack get the most use. I've also appreciated and made good use of: the music player Helen gave me, good shoes (1 pair of sturdy boots for winter, 1 pair of sturdy sandals, 1 pair of mary janes), my wind-charged bicycle light, a good bicycle foot-pump, and clothes with pockets.

This year:
Last year I wrote very little fiction, and I want to write more this year. It frustrates me when I write and it's bad, but I know that I'll never get better if I don't practice. I want to get better at greek, and ukulele, and accordion. I'd like to see my thesis published, or on its way to being published. I'd like to have a job that pays my bills, and spend most of my time doing work that I think is worthwhile and interesting (whether it's my paid job or not).