h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

... and do you bother at all? After all, it will come whether you stay up for it or not, won't it?


Actually I only started this thread so I could boast about what we'll be doing. We have booked a weekend in Cologne and shall spent the New Year's night on a boat on the Rhine, with dinner and entertainment and a view of the fireworks from the water.

That sounds lovely. I don't know yet what we'll be doing. I agree with your sentiment that the next year will come anyway.

We were going to have a quiet evening of light snacks, a few favoured movies ... and a small bottle of bubbles.

But then the owners of a local marina asked if we were going to our (mutual-membership) Air Force association. And another couple (she operates the local sport-plex, he is a fabricator of high-end auto details). And then, nigglings from the hierarchy of The Wing.

It seems we have little choice but to go out and have a whoooey-hoooey time. Dang

That sounds lovely TC!

I'm working, so I'll either be in bed at 10 as I still have to be up at 6, or I'll be on the sofa from, say, 9pm in a sleeping bag. I am hoping the 3 dogs who will be seeing in their first ever new year aren't the 'barking at fireworks' types and don't wake me up at midnight.

Shame, as if the weather stays mild it would have been nice to go up to London, as I do fancy seeing the display by the Thames.

Normally I see in the New Year with my two of three brothers (the ones who live in Ireland) and all our families. We drink lots of Champagne.

This year we're having a party for daughter El (who is 21) on the 29th, and the brothers are coming, so we'll get all our celebrating done two days early.

I've just spent €240 on drink for the party.

I will be working!

But in a good way - playing piano at a swanky do at the local gastropub.

B

Will be sat drinking a bottle of Scotlands finest Malt.

Mrs GT will probably be supping Bailey's Irish Cream.

As usual, Tyson will be on water as he is TT!


GT

we'll spend most of the day doing family stuff as it's Gruesome #1's birthday

but she turns 15 and I can hear rumblings in the works that she wants to be out with her daft mates - which means that #2 will either want to tag along or do her own thing with her equally daft mates. Which means my usual Champagne glugging enjoyment of Dinner for One and Jooles Holland will be curtailed because I'll have to drive them to wherever it is and collect them again afterwards.

Unless the rumblings are that they're all invading our house

Kids eh Sho!

Who'd have 'em?




GT

Cor, Sho, I hadn't realised how close in age our eldest daughters are - Nod will be 15 on the 4th

We will be at home, which is where I like to be best to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new. All the children are allowed to stay up for Big Ben, and they have been trained to absolute silence during the moment between the end of the chimes, and the first 'bong' of midnight that ushers in the new year.

When I was a child, my closest aunt and uncle *always* came over for new year's eve, and I played whist all evening with my father, uncle and great-uncle. I was allowed to sit up all the way to midnight for the first time to see in the 1980s. So it's always been an 'at home' occasion for me - I don't remember ever seeing in the new year in a pub, or at a party, just always quietly and reflectively with my family. I also don't remember ever going to bed early and missing it. You're right, the new year will come whether I see it arrive or not, but I wouldn't like not to be there

Mol

oh I didn't realise that either, Mol (#1 was induced and I think it was to fill the quota for 1996 and get her on the statistics! (otoh, it was a small town hospital, one baby per day so I think they planned them all, secretly)

Danged gubmint conspiracies, I say!

Last year I was home alone in my parents' house listening to BBC Radio 4. (I was at their house to look after it because they were in Morocco.)

This year ... probably ditto, except that they're in China.

I might go out. Perhaps.

TRiG.

New Year is Soviet Christmas, so we'll be doing the whole thing again, but at midnight and with added bongs. Many added bongs, because Moscow is three hours ahead and we get our Russian TV via a part of Germany that is one hour ahead. *Note to self, buy in more party poppers*

>>Many added bongs<<



*Image of Sol with a line-up of giant spliffs, to see the New Year in with *

Start with a home-made meal of some description, then dress up to head towards the local, anytime after 21.00. Meet friends and locals. See in the New Year, and the end of Mum's Birthday (78). Then out with the instrument and until whenever.

There may be beforehand, if a dear friend visits.

So a normal New Year, as it has been since Mum moved to London. And so to a New Year and more to see.

And the First noohootoo Meet!

MMF

We always have a low key gathering at a friend's house. It's my turn this year, but with the move being held up and L being ill, my ginger compadre has stepped in. So it'll be a handful of us getting drunk and increasingly cynical, wishing that we'd gone to the pub.

Like every year...

I shall be at home. I'll probably go to bed early. I need to remember to put in my earplugs in case of fireworks.

I can fully understand why people would want to set fireworks off in your ears, mind.

B

Hehehe, MMF. Now there's a thought.

I shall sit cross legged in my market garden, sipping home made parsnip brandy, and communing with my winter crop.

Somebodies shoved a banger up my scarecrow last year so I will on alert!!!!!!!