Alone at new year

Well, I'm NOT putting my laptop away. The telly's rubbish!

Bless you, Wobblybits, how lucky Mrs P is!

I appreciate that there aer wto of us, but this will be the first New Year we have been on our own since I can remember. Our friends who we normally spend New Year with are unable to see us as his wife is seriously ill. I'm cooking and will try to make it a bit special (I have promised to put the laptop away for the evening).

Cassie, you seem to have summed my life up! I've never really been one for new year; when I was with my husband we used to have a takeaway and then about 10ish go for a drive to see what was going on and look at other people's Christmas lights. It became a bit of a tradition and I quite liked it. This will be my 6th new year on my own and I hate it, it seems so sad (I'm fine with my own company the rest of the year). Funny thing is, when I was with my husband he rarely stayed up till midnight but a house feels different when there's someone else in it. I know just what you mean about the hug, just to have someone stand up at midnight, wish you a happy new year and give you a quick hug would be wonderful. Tomorrow is fine, it's a new year and spring will be on its way.

I completely agree that words are not the same as company, but and hugs to you. DH & I will certainly be spending a quiet night in this year. Last year we were invited to a neighbour's for dinner on New Year's Eve. Typically for a French household, the meal didn't even start until 11pm by which time we were starving, as our usual evening meal s at 5.00. Then halfway through the meal my DH collapsed and finished up in hospital. Fortunately it was not too serious and he was discharged in the early hours of New Year's Day, but it was altogether a horrible experience. Have a lovely quiet evening and all the best for 2017.

ps Oh yes, and a happy new year to one and all!

Yes, it'll be Jools Holland for us as well this year if we can stay awake. It's so easy to think everyone else is at a jolly party when, in fact, most probably are not. I've always felt this holiday drags on and on and I used to look forward to being back at work. Now I'm retired I just look forward to getting back to normal. NY is just like Christmas, the media make us all feel bad if we are not frantically 'enjoying' ourselves. I'm planning on an hour or two on Ancestry.co.uk followed by a read of my kindle. Roll on Spring! And here's to all of us staying in this evening! Cheers!

Something has been started up on Twitter called Join in. Sarah Millican is starting it off tonight at 6pm. It is just for folks who are on their own to have a virtual 'chat'. Sarah Millican spends a lot of hours on Christmas Day doing this, just chatting to folks on Twitter who have no one else to talk to. Just a thought

I saw all of mine on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and have since.) DD with me o'night on Wednesday before Thursday morning hospital appt.)
Tonight, one is not fit to do much, 2 are working and 2 are away visiting in-laws.
For many years we did the full works for Hogmanay but this year I'm perfectly ok to settle down on my own and hope to see them over the next few days.
For anyone who's unhappy at the prospect of being alone I say "A guid New Year tae ane and a' and mony may ye see!"
Happy to meet up here at midnight (if I'm still awake!)

Happy New Year Cassie. I hate it when people say 'you should think yourself lucky, etc......'! So, not in that spirit, I would honestly prefer to be on my own than be badgered to go out by DH because it makes him feel that life has what he calls 'buzz' whereas I just yawn and think of some horrible, crowded pub full of noise and people and too much alcohol when I'd rather be home reading!!
The grass is always greener but I do understand how you can come to feel when you haven't spoken to anyone and to look around, you would think everyone else was having a great time. I spent a few Christmas and New Year periods on my own when I was in my 20s and I did feel quite lonely.
I hope you can find some things to do or watch that make you feel good and it's all nearly over now anyway. All the best.

Oh Cassie dont be sad...believe the New Year will bring 'good things!'...have you tried to have a meet up with gransnetters in your Area...good way to meet new friends!!! Cassie...✨✨?Happy New Year to you!?✨✨

Thank you for all the replies. It is nice to read them. I think for me it is harder this time of year being out of routine. Usually I would be working, but I am off until Wednesday. At least then there is structure to my days.
I am not bothered about parties, that has never been me. It is more the fact of not having anyone around to talk to, or hug. I am not after a relationship, but a friendship would be good. I worry about being alone for the rest of my life.

I will have a couple of drinks tonight, and probably be in bed early. I can't cope with late nights

Happy New Year to you all.

Here's a virtual {{{hug}}} CassieJ. I'm sorry you're feeling a bit down about tonight. Jools' Hootenanny is always worth a watch if you decide to stay up.

I spent Christmas alone - I haven't had a conversation with anyone since Christmas morning - and will be spending New Years Eve alone too. You need to be comfortable with your own company. Instead of thinking about being alone think of it as an opportunity to do whatever you want, whenever you want. If you want to eat early or late, please yourself, if you fancy a drink or two - why not, and if you like, put on some music and dance around the room.

I likev the ideaof people gathering to celebrate the coming night of a new year but Fireworks seem louder, to be used more regularly and for longer periods. My dogs are ok thankfully but theylll be tired from long walks and hav the pleasure of radio 3 when we leave them to visit friends nearby. I also feel for folks who are distressed by them, like former military personnel with ptsd

I'm also a misery about Chinese lanterns, if I ruled the world, I'd ban them (danger to luvestofk etc).

I ve spent New Year's Eve on my own as long as I can remember and it means nothing more than any other night to me This year I m with my 13 year old granddaughter so we ll have a glass of 0% fizzy before bedtime xx it's only a night vastly overrated vastly overpriced
Charleygirl I m an only child too maybe it is what we are used to

PS I'm not having this 'early night' with loads of people in case anyone (*Daphne*) thinks I'm off to some sort of orgy!

Oh, Mumsy, that's a bit unfair. Why shouldn't people celebrate if they want to?

They also do not care about animals- my heart goes out to poor Grace. Tara is out and will not come home when they are going off but once she is at home with me she is fine. The saving grace around here is that fireworks are so expensive, they have not got the money to have displays going on for hours. Much better to go and watch an organised display.

I think a drinks pastry sounds like an excellent time saving invention. Why bother with a glass and a plate!
Seriously, I'm sorry that you're feeling lonely Cassie. I think Hogmanay can be a thought provoking time for lots of people. Loads of people including me will be having an early night. I can't stay awake past 10pm anyway.
Here's to a brighter 2017 for you and all the Gransnet gang. Cheers!

Keep looking in here if you feel lonely, CassieJ. We've also given up on NYE other than watching Jools Holland and clinking a glass at midnight.

There's bound to be a few gransnetters still up and about at midnight.

We don't go to bed when we're told!

I will be curled up in bed with my mp3 player and head phones to drown out the noise of those dreaded fireworks that seem to go on all night long! some people have no consideration for those who dont celebrate

Pastry??
Party!!

DH will be tucked up in bed and if I am up it will be because I am trying to calm a highly strung greyhound who is terrified of fireworks.
Don't fret about being alone - I have suffered been to some truly dire NY parties because it was the "done" thing to do.
I have even tried hosting dinner parties where we all looked at our watches and wondered if midnight would ever come or settled for a NY Day drinks pastry, but now that feels like too much work.
The DD's will all be at their own homes or their friends' and I just hope nobody is out on the road!
May I wish you a happy New Year though, CassieJ and if you come on site you may find a few others!

CassieJ it's not the same but here's a virtual (((((hug)))) I hope2017 is the year you find some one to hug. I have a friend who is a counsellor who told me years ago that the human touch is worth a thousand well meant words. We're so busy now days that we forget that