Gregorian New Year's Eve 1700

Well, here we are seven hours away from the year 2020.

I don't know anyone still alive who witnessed the century and the year being the same number in 1919 and I doubt any of us will be around the next time in 2121. I suppose it's not the same as a new century or new millenium but with my twisted brain it becomes a “special” year nonetheless.

Not that any year is special except when events unfold for you that make it such. And it depends on your definition of “special”. It could be a year you married, divorced, had a child, won the lottery (chance would be wonderful) or you went to live in a foreign clime.

I can only think of one special year forty one years ago and then only because I got my second stripe and the future was still bright and most of it still ahead of me rather than astern! I suspect any special years I have remaining are yet to come and will be after all my pensions come home to roost!

The marriage lark eluded me (or vice versa) and it is far too late now, nobody would put up with me anyway. Kids? I dodged an ICBM there!

My best years are ahead and the 60s are the new 40s!!!

I have Adriana and Lanzhou Alice coming for a cooking lesson on Saturday. Not sure whether to show them how to make lasagne or a chilli, ether way, with Alice's love of garlic bread, she will be a happy bunny. Andy the cleaner is coming Sunday so before then I have some major bulldozing to do in the living room in preparation for Wuhu Alice's arrival.

My larder currently resides on the coffee table due to the kitchen cupboards being too damp in winter. The big desk in my office is awash with allsorts and I need to clear it, clean it and make it the new pantry. Most of it is old paperwork so if I can just find a cupboard........

Wuhu Alice is now coming on the 10^th, she managed to bring her train ticket forward from the 13^th and already I have been deluged with requests for culinary matters. In particular for matcha powder! No, I'd never heard of it either but I note it's used in making biscuits and such. Just seems like powdered tea to to me! I will make her “cookies” as she is wont to call biscuits, having been away from my English teaching for too long but I will not be using matcha!

So today I achieved the sum total of getting myself enough electricity for the holiday, finally having that long-overdue haircut, buying a spare bulb for the bathroom light (it went on Sunday but I always keep a spare) and buying a short extension lead so Alice can charge her phone when she is here.

So bugger all happening here except my wishing (but of course not really wishing) I didn't need to save for summer because I would hop on a plane to Hainan or somewhere warm for a month instead of staying here in the cold.

Folks, wherever you are and whatever you will do tonight when the clock chimes midnight, I wish you a very Happy New Year and trust that the year 2020 will see you enjoy good health and happiness.

I'll probably be asleep!