Another year over and a new one just begun, as the Christmas song goes. I think this year personally was a time of limbo, even though I hadn’t actually intended on it—it simply happened.

I have been quite happily doing my own thing freelancing for a while, learning the scopes, stumbling along the way to be sure, but a little more street-wise and self-aware, which is just going to come with age (or so I imagine). I’ve consolidated my client base, earning new contacts and expanding my network, so I’m growing. Next year I hope to achieve something more secure and stable in my career.

January was spent procrastinating an awful lot, wondering what to do in my post-university state and watching the Australian Open. As you do. And of course I was super excited to see Li Na reach the final. Azn prYde.

In February I got out of my 6 or 7 odd year K-drama dry spell by getting hooked on My Princess, and I mean HOOKED. Following that I watched Que Sera, Sera, Personal Preference and then Sign, so throughout this whole year I only watched two 2011 K-dramas (four K-dramas in total), which is more than enough for me, all things considered. I am currently in the middle of City Hunter. Well, not even the middle. I only finished episode one a few months ago! These serials are so draining, more so than Western ones. I still prefer K-movies.

March was an exciting month – I got a new smartphone (after four years of despairing over my old LG, which was small and the opposite of smart), the HTC Desire, so this was a big deal! Apparently I am betraying my fellow graphic designers by not purchasing an iPhone, but I don’t feel such a loss, even though occasionally the Android bothers me. Part of the reason I bought an Android was so that I’d have access to two different operating systems for mobile testing. It’s for work, duh!

I went with my buddy Camille to Sydney for the Australian Romance Readers Convention, wherein I met a lot of awesome writers and readers and got a helluva lot of books. Probably 20 odd kilos worth. And while Melbourne will always be the best (biased and unashamed of it), Sydney is still a great holiday spot. Can’t count how many times I’ve been.

Graduation with Honours came in April, and there was finally a sense of finality, knowing quite likely I wouldn’t be back. And then there was that Royal Wedding. Yawn. I’m only interested in the kitsch that comes with Royal Weddings!

Caught up with new Doctor Who series in May, with the beautiful The Doctor’s Wife episode as a standout gem. And then there was the Eurovision Song Contest on SBS, which is an annual ritual. Julia Zemiro’s commentary is always classic. Chris Lilley’s Angry Boys finally began to air in Australia, and I was surprised to be divided in my opinion—it was brilliant in some parts but then downright terrible in others. Nathan and Daniel (previously seen in Lilley’s first mockumentary series, We Can Be Heroes) were standouts, as was new character Gran Sims (the twins’ grandma, and youth detention warden).

June saw SBS’s thrilling, controversial Go Back to Where You Came From docudrama (well, I call it that) and that was some amazing television, not to mention it collectively raked in so many comments, most of which drove me mad yet a bit happier.

Around this time DC Comics announced they’d turn the DC Universe upside down and inside out with a completely new retconned kind of playground, mish-mashing all the Earths together (well, I still don’t get the mechanics of it, to this day), in “The New 52″. Needless to say, many of the fans weren’t pleased.

In July I had a good excuse to be very posh and ladylike, with high tea at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms for my 23rd birthday.

Then of course, there was the eighth and final Harry Potter film, which just couldn’t disappoint me on principle (even though it wasn’t as cinematic as Part 1, funnily enough). Alexandre Desplat’s score never left my playlist for several months.

August finally had me at a good point to buy a shiny iPad 2! I used to scoff at the idea of having one back in its infant period, but it seriously is an amazing device for leisure and for work. I love it. I called it Alfred II.

In September The New 52 launched, and as I figured I only picked up a handful of titles: Batman, Aquaman, Batwoman, Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark. Also, the Huntress mini-series and I continued to collect American Vampire from the Vertigo line. I read a few other titles but couldn’t stay interested, and/or was appalled by the quality (Imma lookin’ at you, Catwoman).

September and October were great months, work-wise. I was kept busy busy busy, and was constantly on my feet!

October consisted of meeting Batman aka Kevin Conroy while he was in town to promote Arkham City (I still need to get this, geebus)—and that is simply the highlight of that month. Maybe the year.

I went to China in  November, which I am now summarising on the blog. I stayed for a month, in time for my dude cousin’s wedding in early December. As with any overseas travel, it was an eye-opener and one great shopping trip and meal ticket. ;)

So I’ve watched a few more movies than I used to and read an awful lot less (164 compared to 309 the previous year) and hoarded way too much stuff, let’s hope I can be more productive and austere with my savings next year! Calling it a ” new year’s resolution” just isn’t going to work, I know this. Semantics!

Happy new year.