Hogmanay!

One of the first things I learnt when I moved to Scotland (15th October, 1993) was that Hogmanay, New Year’s Eve to some, is bigger here than Christmas. They really go to town on it and sure know how to throw a party!

I’ve got a bottle of Glenmorangie at the ready and some shortbread fingers stashed in a safe place, lest they be found and nibbled in advance, but I’ll giving the lump of coal a miss. (Would be a waste without a real fire to burn it in.) My Tattinger has been chilling for a couple of weeks, so should be perfect tonight.

Unfortunately, the weather isn’t playing ball. We had some lovely snow overnight Monday, so sledging was a priority on Tuesday. David and the children sledged, Rhiannon and I watched. Yesterday, we’d had a little more snow, but it was obviously on it’s way out, so a little more sledging was done as Rhiannon and I braved a trolley dash at Tesco.

I seem to miss the point, everyone else is piling their trolleys high with goodies, nibbles and enough alcohol to comatose an entire country, whilst I was stocking up on the essentials, flour, milk, fruit and a box of Stella (?!? Wasn’t me!) David collected us, dropped me off to walk home and collected children and sledges before beeping his horn on the way past.

Only two and a half miles to home, but through snow of varying depth, so a good work out I thought and I got home between sleet showers. It’s been snowing, sleeting, hailing and raining on and off ever since, so we’re now mid thaw and at that miserable wet, dirty grey stage. Not a nice way to bring in the New Year. Hey ho.

Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone/anyone out there and wish you all the very best in 2010!

Slàinte Mhath!