Annually, on the very last day before the digit shuffle which signifies the turn of the year, I am overcome with the most insane desire to party.
I am not certain why I get this primaeval urge to shout and misbehave so very unreasonably on this particular day, and I have a nagging feeling it has something to do with reticence about the coming year.
When my brother and I were small, if something frightened him, he would screw his face up into an approximation of four-year-old malevolence and shout “Roar”. A kind of attack-is-defence approach.
And he was not alone. Both in the human and the animal world, pre-emptive strikes on an object of fear are a common occurrence.
Electric eels use currents to stun their prey: but they will also use them to deter those who want to make the eel, so to speak, their meal. The eel causes some daunting adversaries to think twice: the anaconda, for example, and the jaguar.
One of my favourite wildlife pictures is a lone bison. I say lone: but it is not alone. It has company, in the form of several hungry hunting wolves with designs on dinner.
The bison should run, of course: but it doesn’t. It just stands its ground. And its tactics work. It will not become a victim. Instead it stares danger full in the face. And you know what? Danger isn’t quite sure what to do next.
The New Year, of course, is not dangerous. It merely brings change, that ever shifting sea of sands.
And this one day, accorded so much significance by so many, stands in danger of its importance becoming inflated.
January 1st is just another day in the history of the universe. It is only those with a heartbeat who feel the need to record the pulse of time.
That said, I will swear my heart beats more quickly with the approach of a new year: and I head almost involuntarily for the war paint and the party frock in order to roar at the change which will come with the dawn.
I have experienced more than 40 new years, and not one without this wild urge to celebrate.
When I was young my parents would take us away to friends: we visited ice-skating pantomimes in London, or toasted the new year with favourite aunts and uncles.
Next door to our family home lived a lively Scottish couple. Every year, my parents would spend the days before new year dreaming up excuses why they could not come next door for Hogmanay. Sometimes they succeeded, sometimes they didn’t.
I remember my mother putting on a beautiful sparkling dress and heading off down the path, and up the next path, to see in midnight with our affable friends. It used to get quite wild: at midnight there was usually a conga around the select middle-class little close.
Those Scottish – they really know how to do New Year’s properly.
The New Year’s Eve I enjoyed most was full of promise: the first new year Phil and I ever had together.
We have an island off the South Coast of England called the Isle of Wight. It is a Summer resort really, with beaches and marinas; but Phil and I had an invite to his great friend Max’s house, which overlooked the harbour at the island’s main port of Cowes.
It is always satisfyingly quaint to have to take a ferry to one’s destination: there is something so Martha’s Vineyard about the whole thing. We motored down and jumped on the ferry, and ranged out across the wide dark winter waters towards the little island.
It is a wonderful thing to jump off the boat at a select location, walk a few steps, knock on a door of a centuries-old three storey boat house at the dead of night and be admitted.
We climbed a winding staircase to the first floor, where a fiercely competitive game of table football was drawing to a conclusion. We concluded swiftly and made out into the night, a satisfyingly bawdy group of youngsters at the crisp eve of a new year.
They have a little tradition on the island: all the young bloods dress up in fancy dress, and carry out what we call here a Pub Crawl, ranging from hostelry to tavern and bellowing affably at anyone similarly attired.
Affable bawling is something at which I excel. I spent the whole evening doing it. I adopted Max’s football team for the purposes of the exercise and became a loud football hooligan. At one point during the evening I distinctly remember running into a group dressed as sailors; and by dint of bawling I managed to get every single one- some 15 very nice young men – lined up for a New Year’s peck on the cheek.
Now that – that was a great New Year.
Today, unlike most New Years, I have that same feeling of promise as I did that time, long ago.
Maddie and Felix and I are heading into the London to meet Phil from his work.
We will not be staying up late partying: we will, however, see Big Ben on changeover day, and clock the Thames the day before Father Time allows the waters of 2010 to flow under the bridge.
We will potter off to Covent Garden to watch anyone bravely busking. Maybe we will catch a juggler, or a fire eater, or a clown.
By the time the traditional revellers make their way in to one of the most famous timepieces in the world, we will be heading out, tired but happy, and ready to watch an evening’s entertainment courtesy of the BBC, drinking mulled wine into the early hours.
What a perfect way to herald a New Year.
Kate Shrewsday 
Happy New Year, Kate. May the wolves of danger be far away and the mulled wine close at hand.
And for you, Zoe: although I have a feeling your stance would always keep them at bay 🙂
I will spend a little time tonight at a room for an organization that is anonymous celebrating almost 9 years sobriety. A celebration of joy with the ever present promise of new possibilities to be embraced and never feared. As always you leave me with a memorable turn of the word. This time: ” Danger isn’t quite sure what to do next.” To disable danger. I think that summarizes the crux of what we must do in today’s world.
Amen to that, Carl. Let’s spend the next year foxing danger 🙂
New Year.. hmm. Don’t like the bluster of the parties, myself, but prefer quiet contemplation from a window overlooking the fireworks which someone else is igniting a few miles away. Something about the distant noise that appeals.
This year however will be different.
Rather than make new resolutions I feel the preferred approach it to assess the year that has passed and take a closer look at what went well and what I’ve achieved and think about refining the positive and letting go off some of the negatives.
Happy New Year to you. Enjoy it.
Sounds very sensible indeed, Pseu. So the plan is: find distant noise, carry out a year assessment exercise- let go of the negatives – refine the positives. The quiet, calm voice of reason 🙂 Love it. So very English…
‘Sensible Pseu.’.. hmmm that rings a bell from childhood…. that and ‘banana nose’ 🙂
If your nose is shaped like a banana, you are the perfect company for me. My nickname was Concorde.
Here’s to a quiet sitting in front of the television, mulled wine and contentment – and to a good new year ahead.
Cheers! Happy New Year to your and all your loved ones, Penny 😉
happy new year kate! i envy you london – i haven’t been there for more than a year which is too long as far as i’m concerned. we’ll be eating pizza and re-watching the lord of the rings on dvd – and i can’t guarantee i’ll be awake at midnight….
Sounds just perfect, Meli. It’s going to be an important year and there have been some momentous events happening in that wonderful life of yours. Congratulations on your wedding, and welcome to this very special year 🙂
To me, every day starts a “new year” . . . with the promise of possibility in uncertainty.
We’ve attended parties on New Year’s Eve, and also enjoyed the company of friends in our own living room. We’ve watched the ball drop in Times Square (via the TV), and fallen asleep before the arrival of the New Year a time of two.
Tonight, we’ll be eating pizza and hanging out until shortly before midnight when we’ll head to the beach to watch fireworks explode over the Gulf of Mexico.
Happy New Year, Kate! Have fun in London with Maddie, Felix, Phil, Big Ben, and Father Time .
The beach sounds absolutely wonderful, Nancy. And the Gulf of Mexico fireworks….yes, every day is a new year and every new year another day, and uncertainty, if we face it squarely, can give us unlimited potential to grow. You put it beautifully as always 🙂 Thank you, and Happy New Year.
Father Time sends his regards…
Isn’t it interesting the significance we attach to this day? It holds so much promise, so much that is unknown, so many possibilities and potential for fresh starts. Glad you don’t feel the need to roar tonight – enjoy the bustle and joy of your evening in London and may 2011 be wonderful for you and your family.
Glad to connect with you in this blogging world, Kate!
Sunshine xx
It’s mutual, Sunshine. Enjoy your corner of London! We are home again and have seen Big Ben and walked the Thames embankment and visited the Tate and eaten a restaurant dinner out and we are exhausted, but very, very happy. Happy New Year 🙂
Brilliant post! Happy New Year! gotham girl
Thanks 🙂 Happy New Year !
Great message Kate. I shall stand tall against danger and ward it off also. Nancy is right that everyday starts a new year and we gain so much by thinking of it in that context. We are having a big party day here with parties and slumber buddies and a basketball game and a bit more party. Quite unlike me but then if I’m truly to grow in the New Year, I need to find myself against a bit of discomfort, eh?
The glorious side of risk, isn’t it, Tammy? As you, and Nancy, say, if we can step a little outside the comfort zone the is so much to gain.
Have a wonderful new year, a fabulous party and may every day bring just the right level of challenge 🙂
The only time I have ever actually gone out and celebrated New Year’s was on a pub crawl. It was a lot more fun that this determined hermit expected. This year will be another quiet one, much like your planned BBC and mulled wine, but maybe I should start thinking of something new for next year. I have all year to brace myself, after all.
Sounds like a New Year’s resolution to me 🙂 Enjoy your evening, Kristine- Happy New Year to you, and Shiva!
The bison should run, of course: but it doesn’t. It just stands its ground. And its tactics work. It will not become a victim. Instead it stares danger full in the face. And you know what? Danger isn’t quite sure what to do next.
I love this. 2010 saw me staring what I thought to be sure death (though not necessarily physical) in the face – and I am only stronger because of it. Nothing kills the spirit more than fear, it seems to me.
Happy New Year! And here’s to every new day, hour, minute…
Amen to that, Ruth 🙂 Somewhere in the depths of my subconscious the theme to the Dambusters is trumpeting !!! I am so glad 2010 proved a year of victory over adversity; how would I have come to read your poetry otherwise? A wonderful way to appreciate the hours and minutes, this blogging business. Happy New Year 🙂
I know what I shall be doing at Midnight, Kate.
We shall go to bed at 10pm as usual.
Fireworks will start going off, Spice will start barking frenziedly, and I shall go and have a couple of hours on the sofa downstairs with Spice beside me – whether to comfort her or me I am not sure!!!
Happy New Year to all the family.
Not ideal for our dogs, those fireworks, are they, Dad? Happy New Year yourself…..I’ve ordered a really lovely one.
Happy New Year! What a great post … I’m always very conflicted around this time of year … part of me wants to embrace change while another part of me wants to run far, far away! Perhaps I’ll roar … from a secluded corner!
Sounds like me, Kelly 🙂 Of course, it all depends on finding that perfect secluded corner….Happy New Year to you, and welcome! Absolutely loved those paintings!
some parties have been good. some of the best were the years we simply had a buffet supper followed by Casablanca, a toast to the new year at midnight and then a wending home before the dagerous drinkers would be out and stupid
may mmxi be a great year for you
Thanks, Sidey, and for you 🙂 timing that journey home right is important!
Glad to hear you had a wonderful New Year’s eve, Kate! We visited London last Feb, and saw Big Ben from the Eye, so I can picture part of your evening at least 🙂
As for us, we had a great party at home with a bunch of fabulous friends – who even helped with some cleaning up around 2am. Gotta just love them 😀
May 2011 be super special all around!