Hogmanay

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 31 December 2005 16:00:13

Thank you, Karin, for your good wishes, and the same to you. Indeed, to all who read this blog, I wish, as they say, a Guid New Year. As we drove north, the radio announcer was blethering about Scottish New Year customs, and saying that you shouldn't wish people a Happy New Year until after midnight - I think sometimes that they make these things up. Anyway, we are not planning to go out first footing - it will be enough to welcome in the New Year (as we say goodbye to the Old) in granny's house (or should that be hoose?). We have a family tradition of opening the back door on the first chime of midnight (to let the Old Year out), and rushing through the house to open the front door before the twelfth chime (to let the New Year in). I've been wondering if the leap second means that we can be a bit more leisurely than usual. We are planning to allow both daughter and son to stay up until midnight; I seem to remember that last year, daughter just managed, but son was sound asleep.

Just after 11 this morning, we had a phone call from my brother who lives in New Zealand. They were just a few minutes past midnight, already celebrating the New Year.

It's been a quiet day. Granny and I went to the village shops - I had a couple of items to purchase at the chemist's, and we had a number of things to get from the general store. It was slushy underfoot. Last night, we made a snowman:

Snowman

He's looking rather sorrier this afternoon, but still surviving.

I feel that I should be offering a meditation on the year that's almost gone. Personally, it's been a good year. I believe that I have found greater stability in my spiritual journey (with especial thanks to Delia). I'm not so sure that the world is better place. Poverty doesn't appear to have been made history. Perhaps the response of ordinary people to the series of disasters which have occurred has been heartening. The London bombs brought the reality of terror home. I am realising that I know so little about this world. I've never been a great traveller, and rely on what other people tell me. Perhaps in 2006, I should try to be more aware of the community where I live. It's easy to be fired up about events which happen far away, and pay little attention to the people who are, literally, my neighbours.