Celebrating New Year

We take turns to host a buffet party with about 8-12 neighbours. Everyone brings a dish and a bottle. We might do a quiz or other parlour game. We have champagne at midnight and let off a couple of fireworks in the green outside in our small estate. A few other ( younger) neighbours sometimes roll in and say “we didn’t know you were having a party”! And join in. It’s fun and there’s never more than about a minute or two to walk home. We have done the ”safari party ” where you go to one house for aperitifs, another for starters, then another for main course and so on. But as we spent so much time chatting in the first house we never seem to get to the end before it was midnight!

Oh and we always have a dress code - this year it’s “ dress to impress”!

Just the two of us, have a glass of champagne at midnight and watch the fireworks on TV, bed at 00.15.

We have a nice meal (H may or may not like it) a bottle of wine and bed by 9/9.30 Just as every other night.
We have had lots of parties, dinner dances, celebrations in the past, but I never really enjoyed them.
There was always a sense of uncertainty as well as anticipation for me. I often felt alone in all the jollity something that increased over the years. It never happened at any other party or celebration..

When paw was working away for 9 years he was regularly “on call” at NY as he came home for Christmas, so I would go down to him and we liked to have dinner at Splinters in Christchurch, then along with the other diners take our champagne out to the grounds of the Priory for Midnight. NY day would see us at the BSO’s Viennese NY Day Gala concert.
Those were the happiest New Years.
Recollections of forced gaiety and much kissing at large NY parties of my teenage years full of people we didn’t know cured me of anything fancier.
One year in the early days of our marriage I decided we would be best to chicken out of driving to a party in Kingston on account of thick fog and we just repaired to bed with a bottle to watch The Manchurian Candidate on TV.

This year we are doin g a safari supper with neighbours we know well . Last year we were with family. Sonetimes we have been on our own. I agree with OP that I hate big drunken parties and having to kiss lots of people we barely know.

We shall be doing just the same as Kitty plus Jools Holland then the fireworks on TV. I must get a move on to go and buy our ‘nice dinner’ ?

DH and I will stay up for the bells and toast the new year but that’s mainly down to habit. I don’t actually feel any sense of casting off the old year and heralding the new and can’t abide parties and enforced jollity. I enjoyed seeing immediate family over christmas but I think this is my bah humbug time!

Will be spending it on.my own for the first time ever. Lost my DH 9 years ago but then continued to spend it with friends as we had done together. Now they have a one year old granddaughter they are with their family .Trying not to feel 'pushed aside' but not looking forward to 2 long days. My DD is on call tomorrow so nothing happening re my local family. Anyone else alone ?

We've celebrated in different ways as the years have gone on and circumstances have changed. And loved it all in different ways. Family parties, big corporate events, hotel stays, fancy dress. Last year we just had a special meal at home together and I really enjoyed it, especially watching the fireworks from round the world on TV with a glass of something festive. This year we're going to friends for a meal.

Whatever we do, DH still has to do the first footing when we get home, carrying the bread, salt, a shiny coin and a match (I can't get coal these days). And we toast at midnight with a spirit or liqueur, to set the tone for the New Year.

We’ve celebrated in various ways but our favourite NYE is to go out with close friends to a restaurant and simply have a nice meal and good conversation. They usually put the radio on for the chimes. Hope to do that this evening but my DH has woken up with a bad sore throat.

trendygran do pop into GN those 2 long days, I'm sure they will be many others wanting to pass the day.
Im working most of the day so that will pass my time.

Staying in because our little dog can't stand fireworks otherwise we would be going to a 'do' at our local bowls club. Truth to tell I always disliked these 'does' and would be longing for midnight so I could go home so it suits me!
Happy New Year to all Gransnetters - I really hope 2018 is a good year for you ALL!!

Having enjoyed a happy but very noisy and busy Christmas we’ll be having a quiet New Year’s Eve and a nice meal with DD and her boyfriend tomorrow.

My DH,is bah_humbug at xmas(due to over marketing and the expense) mind you he still likes opening pressies,but New Year'sEve is a different ball game....he comes to life like a teenager,We are off to the local community centre,where there is a buffet,group playing,and reduced price booze,and meeting some of his cronies,.....and he will endeavor to be first on the dancefloor,and display "dad dancing"arghhh. He is very much the party animal on holiday too,,it's exhausting,I would rather have a more sedate time. .......Happy New Year everyone xx

Like trendygran I will be celebrating on my own this year, as all my family have little ones and are too tired to stay up. I have done lots of party's etc. in the past and am quite looking forward to cooking myself a nice meal and watching a film late.

We have a little party in the retirement flats. We start boozing around 9 pm ...

I have seen one of the old dears (technically I'm one too) staggering home along the corridor propped up by two neighbours.

I live with my Mum & as she will be in bed before 10pm I don't really want to be on my own to see the NY in. I am spending it with my ex this year - we are still the best of friends.

Hubby and I will celebrate quietly, as we usually do, in preparation for New Year's Day lunch at our daughters, as part of my Birthday present (NYD Birthday). DH used to visit our local pub before we moved, but now cannot take alcohol due to medication, but Says he doesn't miss it tooo much! Hmm. Happy New Year to all GOERS, wherever you are.

I am alone too trendygran. Last year DH had just been admitted to Hospital on 28 Dec and i was ill at home and couldn’t even visit him for the first few days. He died on the 12 January. It will be my second NY alone. Kids all busy. I don’t really mind. Spent so many wonderful fun NY eves and days in my life, I’m happy to just relax now. Happy New Year to you all

Hubby and I will stay at home and I'm cooking a nice dinner including scallops and some (very expensive!) steak. Will have some cocktails and some prosecco too!
When we first met 14 years ago, we would be out in the town in our fancy dress with all the other local revellers but time has taken it's toll! ?
Happy new year, all!

Baby sitting so young people can let their hair down with steak g and t and a prayer for our family

We are having our 5 grandchildren over night, lots of laughter playing the envelope game, making non alcoholic cocktails for toasting in the new year.
Music will be on, food is always pizza, hot dogs and chips with the cake they have made.
Youngest is 8 likes his sleep and has never stayed up to watch the fireworks at midnight on TV all year he says I'm staying up this time, hope he can this year.(we always record it for him to see next morning).
Everyone is in bed for 12.30 including us as we will be shattered.
Happy New Year everyone, even though we have never met I love reading your posts.xx

Special dinner for one, long soak in the bath surrounded by candles and a good book to read, into my jymjams, glass or two of alcohol while watching Jules and straight to bed after Big Ben. I have the luxury of living on my own as you can probably tell. See you all in 2018.