Since 1999/2000 eve when all my partner's clan gathered together to see in the so-called millenium (although it was "officially" a year later, I have heard tell), I have gone to bed every NY eve and if I was still awake at midnight depended on how hot the night was (hehehe, or how frisky I was feeling).

However, this year (last year?) New Years Eve was spent with all my children home (2 have left home, 1 is about to leave home, and only 2 will be at school in 2009) watching silly movies, and then walking up our very big hill which at the top gives views of the central mountain ranges to the west (although not at night cause my night vision is not that great) and cities to the west and southwest.

I had made my grandmother's recipe choc-chip cookies, and we ate those at midnight as we watched the fireworks displays, and marvelled also at the way the night sky is at night time when you are fortunate enough to live in the country.

And for those of you who saw 2009 in snow... I had to take my sweat-shirt off, the night was that of a truly warm Summer