Out with the old in with the New

For most of December the weather has been mild. That has changed. A strong 60 mph snow bearing wind from the North is whipping the sea into a fury and surprising the holiday makers brave enough to venture out of their hotels. Hats are blown off and fly down the pavements followed, in hot pursuit, by their owners. This is the sort of wind that doesn't so much gust as pummel. They've cancelled tonights firework display in Edinburgh due to health and safety fears but here things are to go ahead as scheduled. It will take more than  a gale to dent this wee towns Hogmanay festivities.

The bakers shelves are almost cleaned out although, surprisingly, three or four trays of cream cakes remain . All the whole meal loaves have gone. We leave empty handed.

The store windows now unmistakably Scottish. The tailors shops busy until the last moment altering kilts to adjust for the pounds that have been added since they were last worn.

Back out here on the coast the wine has been dropped off at the village hall and the ladies of the catering committee all greeted and praised for their hard work. When it comes to the ladies of the catering committee flattery cannot be applied too frequently or too thickly. Malteser cake has appeared on the menu as an alternative to Cranachan. It may be sleeting outside but the village hall kitchen, with its boiling pans, is as warm and muggy as the Amazon rain forest. 

The kilt has managed to survive another year .The 'fancy' sporran looks a little tired but nothing that 20 seconds with a brush won't cure. The silver on the clasp is a wee bit tarnished but that too will be easily dealt with.

And now, from us here at The last wee house before Denmark, hearty best wishes for a wonderful New Year. May choice and chance be your friends and your troubles be as short lived as your New Years resolutions. For those folks who are fortunate enough to live in dull, well ordered countries may this be a year accompanied by health, wealth and happiness. For those in places not so blessed may 2025 reward you with peace and the promise of a life free of fear.

And here's the song that will be sung in the village hall at midnight and usher in the magic of a New Year : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74KLtoXy0ig

This explained some of the things that happened in 2024 :https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/political-investments

As did this :https://nit.com.au/27-12-2024/15567/kanaks-buoyed-to-negotiate-eventual-independence-from-their-french-rulers-from-the-son-of-the-melanesian-indigenous-movement