Hi Everyone...it's Hogmanay...when Scots across the world say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new. Back in the day the house would be cleaned from top to bottom...it was the only night of the year that us kids were allowed to stay up all night to take part in the old tradition of first footing...visiting family friends and neighbours with a bottle of the water of life...a lump of coal...shortbread and black bun to bring luck to the household for the coming year...wonderful memories of a sing-a-long round the piano at one neighbour's house...a big bowl of Scotch Broth in another...left-over Turkey sandwiches in the next and as dawn broke...breakfast in whichever house you found yourself before returning home for the traditional New Year's Dinner of Roast Beef and all the trimmings and no matter how many people were in the house at the time...all were welcome to join the feast...crikey that must have been a logistical nightmare for my Mum...planning for 10 and ending up with goodness knows how many happy but very hungry revellers. Sadly it's a tradition that's all but gone replaced by what is now normal on any Saturday night...the drunken city centre behaviour and the nemesis of this dog owner...the dreaded fireworks. I really don't want to spoil anyone's party but Mrs Bah Humbug will be praying for some atrocious lashing rain and howling gale Scottish weather so that the well into the small hours WW2 barrage turns into a great big damp squib.
I'll also be passing on the cleaning part of the tradition...instead I'll be tackling a far more important task...transferring birthdays...hot dates etc from the 2014 calendar to a brand new one...
mind you this still does NOT guarantee that I will turn up for important appointments on the correct date and seeing as it's unlikely that a tall dark stranger will be ringing the doorbell at midnight...the Furry Boy and his Grumpy Old Mum will be tucked up in bed as soon after midnight as is deemed socially acceptable.
Have fun whatever you have planned for tonight and we'll see you all in 2015
Hugs Kath xxx
Happy New Year Kath ..... hope 2015 is a good one! xx
ReplyDeleteMe and my hubby will probably be in bed by 10.30 - I think the last time we stayed up for New Year was 1999 - lol. Have a good time.
ReplyDeleteHad to laugh Kath. As like you I am hoping the weather turns awful too. Our furry boy doesn't like fireworks. 39kgs of golden lab trying to get on or as bear to me is no fun, It will be a case of keeping him calm and praying the fire works stop. Wishing you a health and wealth in 2015. Hazel x
ReplyDeleteSuch happy memories of times gone past Kath. how lovely. Hope you enjoy your evening Carol x
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best for 2015.
ReplyDeleteI hope the fireworks do not cause too much of a problem for you & Buddy.
Toni xx
Just for the record, I plan to be in bed by 10! lol.
ReplyDeleteThere's still quite a lot of first footing that goes on in places like Ballater, but luckily for my mum she's a mile out of the village, so she's relatively safe from late-night invaders! (Not a great thing when you run a B&B)
Here's wishing you a happy Hogmanay, and hoping the fireworks will remain silent! x
I am totally with you on the fireworks, I must be a real grump because I would ban them altogether.... hope it is not too bad at your end though... One of the restaurants in our village have them every year so there is little point in going to bed early. Wishing you a wonderful New Year Kath! Hugs, Anne xx
ReplyDeleteOh bless you Kath! I love those old memories of first footing. My dad always insisted on a glass of whisky (single malt Highland of course!) alongside the coal for first footing duties... perks of the job eh?! Like you there'll be no cleaning going on here and we'll see how long we make it past the midnight hour. Raising a glass to you and wishing you and your Furry Boy a wonderful 2015. Jenny xxx
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Kath. Loved reading the story of the old tradition. Thank you for the past year of sharing your amazing talent and your daily adventures. And of course, Buddy! Blessings on you and yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Kath,sounds magical the old tradition,I was born on 25th Jan so isn't that Burns Night ? Anyway have a lovely evening and Happy 2015.Hugs Cuddles for Buddy.xxx
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Kath ! I am sad to say that we will be following your path here in chilly NY state ! We will be curling up with our furry boy "Mr. Toby" at 12:01........if we make it that long !! On to a crafty New Year ! !
ReplyDeleteThe Doc has just spent the past week happily transferring all his info from one diary into another ready or the New Year. No fancy apps on his phone or gizmos to store his important information on.
ReplyDeleteGood old pen and paper works every time. Lol. He has also reckoned up the yrs spending and we have come in at under budget so he is a happy chappie today. The fireworks ill be going off round here regardless of the weather. It never ceases to amaze us at how much just goes up in smoke. Needless most we hall not be partaking and will be watching the old goggle box instead. Happy New Year to you Kath. Hugs Mrs A.
Hi Kath we all do it ...........transfer details from old to new watch the hubby doing it only the other day do you ever miss anyone of your list l did a few years back and got lots of stick because l'd forgotten there b'days l double check these days,,,,lol we have fireworks going off already they start them early here and they go on for a few days into the new year my dog used to be so frighten she isn't with us now but they are so loud l'd like to wish you and yours a Happy New Year xx
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by to wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Crafty 2015.
ReplyDeleteLorraine x