Hope you all had a gorgeous Christmas! Thanks for all your very kind comments on Charlotte’s post last Friday about her plans for 2018. Speaking of 2018, with the big day done and dusted it’s time to start looking forward to the next occasion; New Year’s Eve. The more and more folk I speak to tell me they’re ‘just having a quiet one.’ I’m not sure I know anyone who marks the end of the year with a humdinger of a night out.

Before all the marriages and babies came along a huge group of us used to hire a property for the new year celebrations. There was usually a fancy dress theme and a big knees up to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. I’ve marked the new year as a Mad Hatter, Cruella De Ville and my personal favourite, Lily Allen in her trainer, ballgown and creole earring phase.

In the years before we used to go to a ticketed event at our usual weekend haunt. I always begrudgingly parted with a tenner to get in to the pub I’d usually saunter in to after work to start the weekend.
Last year James and I saw the in new year at a beautiful wedding and it was amazing to see in 2017 surrounding by so much love (and champagne). If only we had a wedding in the diary every 31st of December as it was great to have something to look forward to after all the Christmas celebrations had died down.

This year it’s a more lowkey affair. We’re going out for dinner with friends and then back to theirs for the midnight clock strike. I’m hoping this will mean we’re not hungover for January 1st and can maybe do something to celebrate the first day of the year instead of spending it slumped in front of the TV. I’ve noticed there’s heaps going on in other towns on New Year’s Day but there doesn’t seem to be anything of note around Northamptonshire. Maybe we’ll go for a long walk and then off to a country pub for a calorific lunch to round off the festive season.

What are your plans for New Year’s Eve? A low-key night in or a spangly sequinned affair? Have a wonderful time however you choose to mark it.