Back in old Praha after a 22 hour coach journey, and after two days feeling like I’ve finally caught up sleep-wise. Almost everyone from the last year has either turned up or will be in the next few days and taking it easy will be a little hard.
There are 12 people staying in our house – six Croats, two Norwegians, one Czech, one Kiwi, one Canadian and me. I’m sleeping on the landing.
New Year is upon me and I can’t wait. We had a preparatory night out at the Roxy last night and Thursday is new year part two, at the most packed house in Zizkov.
My new years resolution is to give up smoking. Which I’ve done already so it’s just keeping it up really.

1. What did you do in 2003 that you’d never done before?
Respectable things like teaching and so on. Plus many non respectable things I don’t want to go into really.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t usually make any but I thought I’d give up smoking because I already haven’t had any for nearly three weeks (except one night)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close, but two people I know.

5. What countries did you visit?
England, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic of course.

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
More money. And a nice normal girl, presuming they exist.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I can’t remember the dates. It’s been that kind of year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting qualified and getting work. Not returning to the UK.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Stupidly waiting three months to go to the dentist and resulting problems.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
See above. Two root canals later and the work has only just begun.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My jacket, the one Hamish has borrowed and destroyed, eh, Hamish?

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Johnny Mash, for crime, cocaine consumption and general appalling behaviour. What a star.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Isi, Jacques, so many American travellers.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Beer. Rent. Pinball.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Parties. So many parties.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Underworld – two months off.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Happier. A fair bit.

ii. thinner or fatter?
A little fatter, probably. But I was a skinny fuck.

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer. Slightly.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Work. Writing. Constructive things.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Beer. Pinball. Maybe.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Um… too late.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Really not.

23. How many one night stands?
Only one.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
A year without TV.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes. Jacques. But last year I was unaware of him.

26. What was the best book you read?
I read lots of pretty good books, but nothing blew me away.
I re-read some Richard Brautigan and that was better than ever.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Blaq Mummy.

28. What did you want and get?
It all.

29. What did you want and not get?
Ah, various. But no big deal, I didn’t obsess over anything or anyone.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
By a long long way 25th Hour, one of the best I’ve ever seen and should have all the Oscars.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to Polo and the Blind Eye. I received much pleasant food, alcohol and *******. I was and am 24.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More of the above.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
Less eccentric, a little more sane (translation – boring)

34. What kept you sane?
Prague.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This Czech DJ called Lucca. Mmmmm.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Slagging off Michael Moore.
If you want a conversation about this I’d be more than willing as I’ve had about a hundred already.

37. Who did you miss?
English people. A bit.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Too many to count, but all of my 7 housemates except one would be up there.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003.
Um… give a shit?
I don’t do life lessons any more, had enough of those a few years back.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“La la la.”