Last day of the year. What are you going to do with it?

We were going racing today but it was cancelled due to the weather. Will probably go to the cinema tonight. My daughter will be going to the big New Year part that they throw in her village; her father will probably invite himself along to it [he lives in the next village]. I just want this year over and a new one to begin. When I was married we used to have friends who turned up every New Year but now it's just the S.O. and I staring at each other. This is going to change next year; I'm determined to have one more go at making new friends. The good thing is I dared to weigh myself this morning and have only put on a couple of pounds [and I've eaten loads].

Winding wool into balls from hanks! 15 hanks worth, ready for my next afghan.

At the Barbican Centre with Mrs. Grumppa for matinee of Music and Dance from the Ballet; then home for sirloin steak before seeing the old year out (as DGM used to say) with Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

Have been shopping to Lidl to buy some of their smoked salmon to have tomorrow morning with scrambled eggs and Buck's Fizz, a Christmas and New Year tradition in our house. Tonight we are going to Kew Gardens for a winter walk, amazing lights apparently. Then on for an Italian meal in the Kew Road and I suppose will try and stay up to midnight, we do usually.

A piece of salt?? . A few grains in a twist of paper, actually!

Welcome, Smed43, and a Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone, especially to those who have faced challenges in 2014 or aren't looking forward to 2015.

I'm in a bit of a tizz today starting to get things sorted for the big joint birthday party DH and I are having soon. I've relaxed into a torpor over Christmas and now we've only a fortnight to go, I've finally realised that I have to get cracking. Today I will be mainly compiling a big party quiz, getting some dance music onto whatever portable device I've to use, updating the guest list, and (what I'm doing now) sorting out a photo board of our doings over the last 60 years (me) and 65 (him). I've found a couple that our DC compiled for previous festivities, including witticisms (one is of us with the 3 DC at the font after the youngest's Christening, DH looking harrassed, where the caption is "And lo, he heard an angel voice, advising him to have the snip" ).

We usually have a big night out on NYE, but I think this year I'll be glad if we get some things ticked off the list, get tidied up, and have a cosy night in with a curry and a bottle or two. The Help's on the box, I think that'll be worth a watch. We'll definitely still be up to toast the New Year with a glass or two though. It has to be champagne or a brandy - according to family tradition, what you're drinking in the first few seconds sets the tone for the year, so no beer for us! I'll have sent DH out the back door just before midnight with our first-footing kit, so that he can be the dark haired man coming in the front door as our first visitor of 2015. The kit's a little velvet pouch containing a silver coin, a piece of bread, a piece of salt and a piece of coal. It's what my parents used to do "back home" in Durham.

I always find 'Old Year's Night' quite sad. Thinking about those who were ill through the year, or perhaps those we have lost.

Will still see the New Year in even if DH has to awaken me up from a doze on the sofa. I will have a little drink but DH will probably have a cuppa as he has a bad stomach problems.

I too remember the ships hooting at midnight, nowadays there are few boats in port and I might hear a toot if Im still awake. Im having a lazy day just tidying up for dgds arrival then we will just play and I will go to bed not long after her. I will make a dinner tomorrow night for my mother and me, after dgd has gone home as I want to spend my time with her not spending time in the kitchen. Like most of you Im using up the left overs from Christmas and if I don't eat/drink them by new years day I will throw them out as I cant stomach Christmas food once new year is over.

Hi everyone, Happy New Year.

New to sending out messages, thought for 2015 I would start by joining something! Selected Gransnet as you all seem a lively bunch.
Our household (2 of us) has had this awful cough/cold/flu thingy that's been doing the rounds so we have cancelled any New Year get together. Will enjoy watching fireworks on TV.

NYE always makes me feel a bit low, I'm not sure why. We have had the year from hell with DH being diagnosed with cancer. Results in February so hardly feel like celebrating tonight as worried re the outcome. We usually go out somewhere but our hearts are not in it so we will stay in, have a drink or three. DD, SIL and DGD are going to a party with DD's friends and her parents (the much documented mother who I don't like) so that's not helping. Sorry to drag the thread down. I hope you all enjoy whatever you do.

Its looking like not a lot

DS and family have gone on their regular Christmas visit to Avebury so I have caught up with the ironing, tidied the house (temporarily); the family are with us until Saturday.

I am about to have an early lunch with DD before she returns home as she is back to work later today. I will then go to town to do some shopping at Waitrose and then this evening DS, DDiL and us will spend this evening together at home and will see the New Year in with nibbles and champagne.

I've put my New Year thoughts on the Good Morning thread.
No housework on NYD, only nice things. (That was my mother's rule.) I have some knitting and new books to start.

Used to listen to the ships in Hull, Alie. When we moved away there was only one on the Humber. It sounded very sad.
Bags, my son did that with his hair when he was at college. Grew it into dreadlocks as well. His hair always felt very soft. When his wife eventually cut his dreadlocks off before the wedding, there were white hairs curling down inside.

I will be taking my wristband for a walk, too. jingl. I'll go to the seat where we took my husband out for his last walk, in a wheelchair, between Christmas and New Year three years ago.
Then when I get back, it will be time to go to my other son's for a sleepover, as the grandkids call it.

Oooh, Turkish coffee is thick, syrupy and very strong, not to everyone's taste but I love it.

We will be eating some more leftover turkey.... bought too much as usual now left finishing it off.

Might stay up till midnight but will probably fall asleep in the armchair about 10 pm as usual!

Teetime does your DH have fluorescent pink balls for when it snows? Hope he finds them soon

I'm another who doesn't like NYE, and I go to bed at my usual (when I feel like it) time.
Today I'm going for some lunch with my friend to the local Turkish cafe, where they will make whatever you fancy, the coffee is Lavazza and the service is great!

I remember that too nina. I don't live there any more, but the harbour is almost redundant now except for the ferry to Arran.

Ali I grew up in a port town I can remember all the ships at midnight and everyone out on the front step calling out to each other. I still live in the same town but neither of those things happen now.

DH has gone fishing so I'm off to the supermarket to buy some ordinary food. We're on our own tonight so I fancy a nice plain grilled steak. I'm still tired after all the Christmas hoo-ha but we'll probably stay up and watch Jools Holland.

Hope everyone has a very Happy New Year and (((hugs))) to all those facing challenges.

No idea yet. apart from being on computer with new family history.....
Tonight I will probably be kept awake by local fireworks.

A memory. Living in Dundee when my kids were up to 10....went out on the front steps at 12, to hear all the ships in the docks sounding off - wonderful, seemed like EVERYBODY was celebrating.

And then the new people opposite came out too and we met them for the first time, and we and theirs became friends. Lost track of them now but they were such a nice family.

Oh, you must have a dram with him Ariadne. Can't have a lone Scot toasting himself.

It's between walking into town with DD for retail therapy, or going for a long country walk with DS. And my Fitbit.

Dogs to walk, floors to mop, bathrooms to clean and evening meal for 6 of us this evening to be put together, ready to be eaten by about 8pm

We have 4 close friends joining us for food, drink and best of all, talk this evening. We will (I hope) manage to stay away until midnight, a vanishingly rare thing for me. Carriages before 1 am I expect.

I do understand those who dislike new year's eve celebrations. If I lived alone I'm certain I'd be off to bed with a cup of cocoa by 9 ish Sending very best wishes to everyone for another new year, how lucky we gransnetters are, to be living our lives

I don't like NYE much either- always seems to make me miserable but love NYD - fresh start, clear away the decorations, clean the house, cook a nice meal from fresh and that's when we have our champagne. very disappointed not to be playing golf as planned today - the course is covered in snow and DH already has a job locating his balls.

I really don't understand the non hairwashing - doesn't it itch??! I wash mine every two days but would do it every day if it didn't get so fuzzy with overwashing.