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Celebrating New Year

(147 Posts)
kittylester Sun 31-Dec-17 08:30:37

Do you?

How do you?

We do, on our own at home.

The first new year party I went to with dh, about a week after we met, was thrown by his senior partner and was an excruciating experience. Having to kiss, and be kissed by loads of people I didn't know and rarely, if ever, saw again.

Luckily, we both felt the same and have only done family New Year Parties since.

Tonight we will have a nice meal, nice wine, celebrate that we made it to the end of the year and look forward to the next.

What do you do?

merlotgran Sun 31-Dec-17 11:27:03

I'm struggling to get over the lurgy and still have a hacking cough and sinus pain so DH is going to cook supper and if we can stay awake for long enough we'll watch Jools Holland and the fireworks.

DD1, the two DGSs and their girlfriends were going to come round for early drinks before heading off somewhere but I've put them off as I don't think I can face it. We'll be seeing them for lunch tomorrow anyway so I'd rather be well enough for that.

Happy New Year, everyone wine

Skweek1 Sun 31-Dec-17 11:29:41

Put bottle of cava in fridge. I tend to go to bed as normal and get woken around 11.45, get up. At 12.59.45 DH opens Cava, we wish one another HNY, watch Jules Hootenanny on TV while we drink the bubbly and back to bed.

Happy New Year, everyone. Hope everyone has either a better year, or for those who've had a good 2017 - at least an equally good year! Love, peace & blessings. Merry meet, merry part, merry meet again!

trendygran Sun 31-Dec-17 11:30:37

Thanks Fran. I will also cook myself a nice meal with wine and will be toasting all those who are alone this evening,for whatever reason. It’s so easy for those who still have their partners to take that so much for granted. I was as guilty as anyone else before losing my DH.

whitewave Sun 31-Dec-17 11:31:44

Family coming around for roast rib of beef etc

Shall enjoy sitting and chatting until midnight which will be greeted with champagne then bed

Quite a quiet evening on the whole

MissAdventure Sun 31-Dec-17 11:38:31

I'll be on my own, I imagine, unless some invites arrive during the day. I'm not too bothered though. Don't much feel like I want to celebrate anything.

goldengirl Sun 31-Dec-17 11:41:22

We'll be having an early night - though probably woken up by local fireworks - as DS and family will be descending on us in the morning for lunch [another 'Christmas' dinner] and more present opening. Today will be our last day of peace and tranquility as it's back to the old routine on 2 Jan.

NemosMum Sun 31-Dec-17 11:42:07

Another one on my own (widowed). Not bothered about NYEve, and, to be honest, never was. New Year's Day was the big feast for my (Northumbrian) family - bigger than Christmas Day, so we didn't want to spoil things by staying up to the early hours drinking. I will be going to bed at around 11 and spending tomorrow with elder daughter and family. Younger daughter's partner is Glaswegian, so they will be celebrating Hogmanay in the time-honoured way.

Cubagran Sun 31-Dec-17 11:48:43

Just the two of us. As I hosted Christmas this year, nothing planned. Last year did a big buffet lunch for family and a good friend on NYD, everyone stayed over and we played Trivial Pursuit. This year going to pub for lunchtime drink, then cooking a Chinese tonight, have a glass of fizz and watch the fireworks. Tomorrow just us again, having roast duck and more fizz. Catch up on all the programmes I recorded over Christmas.

Overthehills Sun 31-Dec-17 11:49:18

Goldengirl - opening more presents! I thought we held the record for opening the last of ours yesterday - good for you!

Irenelily Sun 31-Dec-17 11:57:52

Usually at eldest daughter’s with various members of the family, staying on after Christmas. This year due to folk’s work commitments we couldn’t all get together. So tonight DH as always will go to bed 10ish. I shall stay watching Jools, doing a jigsaw - a street map of my hometown! (rarely do them these days) with a glass of gin and tonic and wait for calls from the family - or messages on What’s app. Shall think of all Gransnetters - Happy New Year!

a jigsaw

grannysyb Sun 31-Dec-17 12:05:10

Going to friends, there will be 8 of us. Everyone taking a course. DH is doing a salmon terrine starter,with supervision! Should be fun but find I am going to bed earlier these days so hope I last the evening.

Sunny82z Sun 31-Dec-17 12:11:09

After a Christmas that I wouldn't describe as a roaring success the dog and I are alone at last. Having a very lazy day today and just to prove it will admit to still being in my PJ's at ten to one as it is here in France. Started having quiet NY's after a particularly grim dinner party some years ago; it had started well but gradually went down hill as the evening wore on. I vowed never again. So will catch up with emails this evening, do my annual summing up of the year and plans for 2018 and having read last year's account will take the dog out, top up the hedgehog food and then bed by 11pm ready for an early start tomorrow.

So to all you other ladies also on their own tonight keep warm and keep positive because 2018 is going to be fabulous, really. To everyone else have a great one.

I really must get out of these PJ's now!

Legs55 Sun 31-Dec-17 12:16:30

I have enjoyed some really good NYEs, working as a barmaid was great fun. bar staff dressed up & some of the regulars.

For many years my DM & Step-F came to stay for Christmas & NY, cheeseboard & whiskey in front of TV.

2012 my DH was in a Nursing Home (terminal cancer). DM had come to stay, we didn't stay up that year. I was widowed in 2013.

This year I'm staying at home on my own, my neighbour is also at home alone this year so if we're still up at midnight we will open our doors & toast the New Year with a glass of wine (non alcoholic in my case as meeting DD & family for coffee on NYD, I have to drive, we're meeting at 10amtchgrin).

To all those GNers spending NYE on their own Happy New Year, may 2018 be a good year brewcafewine

SallyCollings Sun 31-Dec-17 12:16:33

I live alone. I'm going to go to the beach at sunset and write on a few pebbles, the things I want to let go of. Then I'll throw them into the water.

Another little ritual I sometimes do is to write things down on paper, build a fire ( inside or outside) and burn the papers.

Works well alone or can be shared. Better than a rowdy party, for me.

Happy New Year, everyone.

TillyWhiz Sun 31-Dec-17 12:19:31

I would stand on the edge of the old horse's field, glass in hand, keeping her company through noisy fireworks and scary Chinese lanterns. I would toast all those now longer here. This year I will be raising my glass in remembrance of her.

henetha Sun 31-Dec-17 12:21:09

For many years I was the one who aways baby-sat my grandchildren at Christmas so that their parents could go out. But the grandchildren are grown up now. So I see the new year in alone. I don't mind though, I enjoy Graham Norton, then the music and fireworks... if I can stay awake long enough. I pass the time by transferring birthday dates from my old calendar and diary to my new ones.
Exciting stuff, eh!
Cheers and Happy New Year to all you lovely people on GN. May 2018 be happy and peaceful for the world.
We live in hope of better things. wine

Marieeliz Sun 31-Dec-17 12:25:32

I am usually also alone. I find NY sad as I have lost all my close family. Tonight, because of a new noisy neighbour I am going to my friends a few miles away overnight.

She, like me, would usually go to bed at normal time before 12. I will come home tomorrow, I usually have the friend I am staying with and another friend,who minds my dog when I am on holiday, for lunch on NY day but because I won't be coming back until then I am doing it on the 2nd instead. Wishing you all the very best for 2018.

Kittycat Sun 31-Dec-17 12:28:08

Quietly!

Artyfarty Sun 31-Dec-17 13:01:12

However you are celebrating I wish you all health and happiness for 2018 ??♥️

grandtanteJE65 Sun 31-Dec-17 13:04:37

I adhere to the Scottish tradition of cleaning thoroughly in the morning of the 31st. I've just finished washing the kitchen floor (the last one to be done). Washing was done yesterday, so now I am having my so-called rest, on gransnet and checking e-mail.

The component parts of the trifle for this evening's dinner are cooling in the kitchen. Dinner menu adheres to the Danish tradition (or one of them, the other being boiled cod, to which I am not partial, and neither of us cares for the price of cod these days.) We shall be having boiled ham with kale in white sauce and boiled potatoes fried in sugar that has caramelized and margarine.

Being past the age of wild parties, and sharing the dislike of stray kisses and cuddles, we stay at home. This year no guests, cats are a perfect excuse for staying in, although neither of them are scared of fireworks.
At 6 p.m. we will listen to Queen Margrethe's New Year's address to the nation. On New Year's eve we dress for dinner. At midnight being t-total we toast the new year in fruit juice diluted with tonic water, makes a nice fizzy drink, if anyone else needs a non-alcoholic beverage with bubbles. Stand to attention for the playing of the national anthems of which Denmark has two, one for the country and one for the sovereign .

Probably we will nip outside and wish the neighbours a Happy New Year just after midnight.

Go to bed as soon as the fireworks have all been let of by our neighbours and we are sure nothing has caught fire here or been damaged by youngsters playing tricks like setting fire to the bins, or shoving a firework into our mail-box.

"On parade" again by 11.30 on New Year's Day for the broadcast of the concert from Vienna.

Trying hard not to dwell on the fact that my sister died in the early hours of New Year's Day 2016, so my warmest sympathy for those of you ´who are mourning loved ones.

Best wishes to you all for a Good New Year and a prosperous and healthy 2018. See you next year!

Willow3 Sun 31-Dec-17 13:20:26

We are going to the local golf club for expensive dinner and dance with my brother in law who is the member. He has booked a cab for 1am for return. Already feel tired thinking about it!!

jimmyRFU Sun 31-Dec-17 13:36:09

I will sit up with the dog in case of fire works. Hubby will go to bed. Son and partner who live with us will go to our other son and his wife. We don't get an invite. As with a lot of parents we are only wanted when something goes wrong or money is needed.

Diddy1 Sun 31-Dec-17 13:36:24

Going to friends there will be two other couples we dont know very well, we will have a meal then just talk until midnight, and after that come home, not very stimulating but it will be nice to get out of the house for a while, I am tired of the short and dark days, and am looking forward to the Spring. Happy New Year everyone.

NannyBadcrumble1 Sun 31-Dec-17 13:37:16

This year I will be celebrating with a cup of tea and bed about 10pm. I’ve got to leave for work at 6am!

Happy New Year to you all xxx

Barmeyoldbat Sun 31-Dec-17 13:37:37

Just the two of us and my husband, who is a mad keen runner, is doing a NY race over in Wales and living up to my name I am going along to watch. That said it’s usually quite a good evening in a very small Welsh town with hundreds of people turning up, a fairground, fireworks etc. It’s a good evening if it stays dry. Wish me luck.