Merry New Year!

Photo's: The Loony Dook and Stuart having a ball. I'm not sure how the picture of the girl got in there!

Ah the end of another year. Where did it all go? Well we spent hogmany driving back up from Manchester in record time, despite some snow on the Biggar road. We got ourselves along for a drink at the Masons Arms where the running club were hosting the Black Bun Run. Whilst it was only 1 and bit miles, I had been stuck in a car for the last 4 hours and not really in the mood for a sprint, so I enjoyed one or two pints before I commit to marathon training where such things will be a luxury. After that we went home and decided to expose our kids to the joys of the high street Hogmany party. They had the pleasure of seeing a large percentage of the alcohol thirsty teenage population bumping into each other, making incoherent noises and fighting. It was slightly hostile but nevertheless entertaining in the same way rubber necking is at motorway pileups. As usual midnight passed and it was an excuse for more of the same, so we slipped away and went home. There Emma decided she would put the famous Scottish hospitality of first footing to the test. Our neighbours had invited us on a number of occasions to call in for a drink. I really wasn't sure 12.30a.m. was what they had in mind, but we tried it out anyway. Either they were very polite and put on a brave face, or they were extremely good neighbours and welcomed us in for a dram or two. A 2.40a.m. we turned in as it was an early start of 11am the next...sorry same day.

New Years Day holds another great Scottish tradition, the Loony Dook. Make of it what you will, but basically people like to jump into the cold sea. Is it the sense of camaraderie, a penance for over indulging in the weeks before, or just stupidity. I don't know, but Stuart decided he wanted to join other fools at North Berwick. In fact it is a great event, lots of laughs and worth going to even if you don't 'dook'. Stuart was straight in, fell over so jumped out again. Once over the shock he made a promt return and enjoyed it all. Here's some pictures to prove it. Note the snow in the background over at Fife. Yes it really was that cold.




Photo: The joys of Dunbar High Street at Hogmany.