New Year 2014

January 1 - 1700: Russia begins using the Anno Domini era and no longer uses the Anno Mundi era of the Byzantine Empire.

In With The New

With its highs and its lows 2011 is over and much in the world has changed - in the big wide world at large and in our own small corner of it. Though much has changed much has remained the same.  Love, family and friends have been as the always have been, and hope always will be, the important things in my world.   And for that - and for them -  I am grateful.  And though I am raising a toast to auld lang syne (days gone by) I also raise a toast to the year to come - may we have all good things in the New Year but should there be bad may we have the strength to overcome it.

This reminds me of a New Year's Eve dinner many years ago in our first house in Aylmer - and yes we did wear tuxedos.  A left click will take you to all the words of Robbie Burn's immortal lyrics.

When I grew up New Year's Eve was a time when neighbours dropped in for a drink - my father didn't drink but he worked for a distillery so there was always something in the house - we had a family dinner and then we listened to the radio and at midnight as Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians played Auld Lang Syne we exchanged kisses and hugs and then went to bed.  Tonight will be much the same.  No great carry on - maybe a bit of reflection and maybe even some Guy Lombardo.

Wishing all those near and dear to me the happiest and healthiest of 2012.

31 dicembre/December - San Silvestro

As The Old Year Fades

I cannot say that 2009 is a year I regret to see fading away. It has been a difficult one in so many ways with personal and family illnesses, the lose of close friends, tensions and problems on the home and work front and more than a share of life's little dramas.

But it has also been a year that has had its rewards, chief amongst them the fact that: I got through the past 365 days pretty much intact; Laurent and I are still together and are living a good if at times frustrating life in Rome; I have some wonderful friends here and throughout the world; and I now have two little creatures to help (?) me with the blog - please ignore the smart blogging wear, it was early or maybe late I don't honestly remember.


So as we leave, what the press has been calling the naughts, and head for the teens, I am counting my blessings, tallying up the positives and allowing that perennial bitch Hope to spring eternal. So I'm going to put a sock in it and stop whining about the past year and looking forward to new reasons to whinge and whine in 2010.

To all my friends everywhere:

Happy New Year

Bonne Année

Buon Capodanno

31 decembre - San Silvestro

To You and Yours

What with differing time zones its difficult to judge a time to post a New Year's greeting. Given that Sheila's in Australia, Bev's in India, Jack's in Beijing and Kev's in Vancouver - covers most time zones - I thought I better get it posted now. Being a tradionalist I want to toast you all in Robbie Burn's old New Year's Anthem.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Robbie Burns - 1788

Perhaps for the first time I understood the words of the fourth verse - we are separated by broad seas from so many of our dear friends and family and we miss them all.

Along with a Scottish song I give all of you an old Irish wish that my mother always spoke on New Year's Eve:

My one true wish for you and yours
Is all you wish yourself.

Buon anno - Happy New Year's - Bonne année

Count Your Blessings

A few of my many blessings in 2007 - a year that has seen so many changes - glad and sad.

"And you will find this world a place of love
If you just count your blessings from above."

I've been blessed.

Auguri e buon anno nouvo - Blessings and a Happy New Year

31 decembre - San Silvestro