New Year preparations

[Stan_Lite]

Thought I'd start a thread on what people do for New Year.

Living on my own and having very few friends down this way yet, you'd think I wouldn't go to too much trouble for new year. However, being Scottish, New Year is still important to me and things need to be right.

As I'll be seeing in the New Year alone, away from my family, I wanted to re-create a typical Hogmanay from Shetland. This requires some preparation.

The main thing is that the house must be spotlessly clean to bring in the New Year so I'll have a lot of housework to do today. All the surfaces will be dusted, the paintwork wiped, the floors swept, hoovered and/or mopped, the bathroom and kitchen will be scrubbed and the bed linen will be changed. Everything that has been used or worn will be washed and hung up before midnight.

The flat will be full of booze on the off-chance I get visitors (unlikely but it is my obligation to feed and water any first footers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-Foot)).
I have made a traditional Shetland dish for the occasion - Reestit Mutton Tattie Soup (http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/content/articles/2005/07/14/ig_shetland_recipes_feature.shtml).
Reestit mutton is mutton which has been cured by soaking in brine and then dried slowly - rather like a ham. The reestit mutton tends to be very salty and needs to be soaked overnight to remove some of the salt (luckily the piece I got this year wasn't as salty as usual). The mutton is boiled in water for a couple of hours and then removed. After tasting and adjusting the stock for saltiness, tatties, neeps, carrots and onions are added (some people also add cabbage but I prefer it without). Once the vegetables are cooked, some of the mutton is flaked into the soup. The soup is much better the day after so I made mine last night and it should be yummy for tonight. The remainder of the mutton is sliced and served with flour Bannocks. These are made from flour, baking powder, salt and buttermilk (sour milk or milk with lemon juice if none available) and cooked on a griddle.

When the bells chime at midnight, I will open the back door to let the old year (and evil spirits) out and then open the front door to let the new year in. The new year will be toasted with a glass of whisky (the water of life) - in my case, the last of my special 1972 Glengoyne.

Once that is all over with, I'll try to battle through the phone lines to wish my parents a happy new year.

All this preparation takes time and the last thing I was thinking before I went to sleep last night was that I needed to get up reasonably early this morning. I woke with a start at 06:30 after dreaming that someone was knocking on my bedroom door (a matter of some concern for someone living alone). Excellent internal alarm clock :D

[Pickers]

Sounds proper spot on Stan! It's great that you continue your traditions despite being on your own. I hope you get some visitors to celebrate it all with!

[Feek]

This'll sound all humbuggy but I've done nothing. I've never really cared about new year, as far as I'm concerned it's just another day. If I'm awake at midnight then that's fine, but I don't make the effort to still be up.

Having said that, I love tradition and I love Scotland so one day I really do want to experience the whole Hogmanay thing done properly, perhaps that'll change my mind about it.

Sounds like you're going to have a busy but no doubt, highly enjoyable day, Stan!

[BBx]

sounds great Stan :) what if you only have one door though? :huh:

BB x

[Kitten]

I think you can use a window, it just takes a bit longer :)

[Stan_Lite]

Sounds proper spot on Stan! It's great that you continue your traditions despite being on your own. I hope you get some visitors to celebrate it all with!

I doubt if I'll see any visitors - unless one of the neighbours pops along - but I'll be quite content with my soup and bannocks and a plentiful supply of the water of life :D

This'll sound all humbuggy but I've done nothing. I've never really cared about new year, as far as I'm concerned it's just another day. If I'm awake at midnight then that's fine, but I don't make the effort to still be up.

Having said that, I love tradition and I love Scotland so one day I really do want to experience the whole Hogmanay thing done properly, perhaps that'll change my mind about it.

Sounds like you're going to have a busy but no doubt, highly enjoyable day, Stan!

We Scots tend to afford it more importance than the English - not sure why. Even back home in Shetland though, things aren't as they used to be. There's a lot less traditional first-footing nowadays and more people having private parties instead.
When I was in my late teens and early twenties it wasn't unknown for me to head out after midnight with my bottle in my hand and not return until the afternoon of the 2nd. Nowadays anybody first footing is usually home by about 4 in the morning as nobody stays up like they used to.

One of the traditions in some parts of Scotland (although not in Shetland) is to have haggis for visitors which I'm sure would be right up your street :D

sounds great Stan :) what if you only have one door though? :huh:

BB x

Not sure about that one. I would assume a window would do in the absence of a second door :confused:

[Stan_Lite]

Making good progress. The early start means I've finished the dusting and polishing and all the paintwork has been wiped down. Bed has been stripped and the bed linen washed and hung out. Just about to sweep and vacuum and mop floors everywhere except the kitchen and bathroom then I'm heading into town to pick up a few bits and pieces and probably grab some lunch in town. Kitchen and bathroom this afternoon as well as making the bannocks.

[Glaucus]

That is very awesome, it's good to keep some traditions alive. Will have to keep an eye out for Reestit mutton never ever heard of it before.

[Del Lardo]

I did Hogmanay on the Isle of Skye a few years back and it was one of the best NYEs I've had.

Mrs DL is working today so plans to head up to Newcastle has to be dropped, instead I've bought a Kinect, a pile of booze and have a few friends coming round.

[Stan_Lite]

Will have to keep an eye out for Reestit mutton never ever heard of it before.

You probably won't get it anywhere else except Shetland. You could probably order from Globe Butchers (http://globebutchers.co.uk/index.html) in Lerwick if you felt so inclined.

Traditionally it was made at home - pickled first and then dried slowly over a peat fire which gives it a wonderful smoky flavour. Sadly there are very few peat fires left nowadays so traditionally dried Reestit Mutton is almost impossible to come by.

You'll also see on the Globe website, Shetland lamb. I'm obviously biased but you'll struggle to find better tasting lamb than authentic Shetland lamb.

[Muban]

I'm having a good tidy too Stan. All the rubbish is out in the bin and I'm about to strip the bed. I'll not be celebrating at midnight though, I'd rather let it pass for one reason or another. Maybe I'll have a wee drink on the 11th instead :)

[Zirax]

Well I'll have a wee dram of Whiskey at midnight. I'm actually just sorting out my server and about to have a clear out of stuff in the office :)

[Kitten]

I'm less celebrating the New Year & more nuking the last one from orbit. 2010 - you didn't play fair, now f@ck off!!

[Jonny69]

I've done nothing and we're doing nothing. It's the first year of getting old where nobody we know is doing anything for new year, which is a turning point and sad :(

We might go into London, but it'll be hell, especially getting home. It'll be a flask of hot chocolate with a dash of Grand Marnier if we do.

I might try and talk her into staying in and watching Clive James on telly, or whoever does new year tv these days :p

[Von Smallhausen]

Would have gladly graced the pub with you for beer Stan but I am working nights tonight and tomorrow.

[Haly]

Hope everyone has a good New Year and an even better 2011 :)

I'm not doing anything tonight. Can't remember the last time I did anything at NY! Will be a quiet night in front of the TV and hopefully a glass of apple vodka :D

[semi-pro waster]

Party at a friends house in Scotland for me, same as the last couple of years although a different set of friends and location. I think it's better than going into town nowadays - I figure if I'm going to be surrounded by drunken idiots (I'm not exempting myself from that description) then it might as well be people I like.

Happy Hogmanay to everyone and hope you have a great new year.

[Stan_Lite]

Everything done except the kitchen - which looks like a bomb went off in it. Bannocks made and successful. First time I've actually made them. Pinched the recipe off my Mam when I was home for Chrimbo and thought I'd give it a go. They're not as good as my Mam's but, for a first attempt, I'd say they were a success.
I was so happy with them, I thought I'd try something else while I was on a roll so I've made banana bread. I had some overripe bananas so decided to give it a go. First time for that as well. We'll see what that's like when it comes out :D

Gonna chill out for an hour or so now and then tackle the kitchen and then think about some dinner - may end up at the chippy - I'm fed up with the kitchen now :p

Just had a quick peek in the oven and the banana bread is rising :cool:

[Kitten]

We're off to the usual friends house as we have done the last 6-7 years, bar the odd NYE house party (& I do mean odd!)

[Psymonkee]

Not done anything for years tbh.

Used to have a few of the families in the street who would congregate in one place or another for a buffet, banter & drinks.

Everyone grew up now so nothing happens :(

Staying in as town will be rammed and expensive, shall play a little bit of War on Terror with the parents instead I think :)

(War on Terror! (http://www.waronterrortheboardgame.com/))

[Knipples]

We're off to the usual friends house as we have done the last 6-7 years, bar the odd NYE house party (& I do mean odd!)

Im taxi-ing these two about to repay them for their hospitality the last few days. Plus I can't drink cos I have to leg it home to Bristol tomorrow morning in time for the football.

[Del Lardo]

Turned out to be a cracking flat party with good friends and far too much drinky. Fireworks in London looked very impressive on BBC.

Happy New Year!

[Stan_Lite]

Well, preparations were successful. No visitors as expected but the soup and bannocks were excellent - even if I do say so myself. Banana bread was also pretty good - slightly burned on top but tasty and moist.

Watched the BBC Scotland Hogmanay programme thanks to the wonders of cable television and then caught the end of Hootenany as well. Phoned parents at the back of midnight and spoke to my little bro at the back of one. Sat up until 02:00 on the off chance someone would stumble along and then went off to a drunken slumber having polished off a not inconsiderable quantity of cider, beer, wine and, sadly, the last of the 1972 Glengoyne.

Not much in the way of tradition today, other than having a nice dinner. Got a nice looking sirloin roast and a disgustingly fattening chocolate pudding.

As anticipated, one has a bit of a hangover this morning. Plan A will be put into operation. This consists of breakfast which will be served at 10:00 and will consist of bacon, egg and black pudding rolls washed down by an enormous Bloody Mary :D

I rather fear that breakfast will set the tone for the rest of the day and a certain degree of intoxication will ensure the first day of 2011 will be spent in an agreeable haze :cool:

[Muban]

When I go round to my folks I face the challenge of making my Dad come out the house and go back in again before I can go in unless they have already had a first footer! (blonde female = bad luck :p)

[Stan_Lite]

My first foot is likely to be my landlord tomorrow. He's fair haired but he'll do. I'll need to let him know he should bring something to eat and/or drink.

Hangover now conquered after a huge greasy breakfast and an equally huge Bloody Mary, heavy on the blue label Smirnoff - quite a glow on now :D

[Greedo]

When I go round to my folks I face the challenge of making my Dad come out the house and go back in again before I can go in unless they have already had a first footer! (blonde female = bad luck :p)

:shocked: I never knew that!

Well done Stan sounds great. I managed to get everything washed and tidy yesterday as well. How long it stays that way is another matter. :p

[Jonny69]

Hangover now conquered after a huge greasy breakfast and an equally huge Bloody Mary, heavy on the blue label Smirnoff - quite a glow on now :D
God we ended up drinking a lot last night :p

Went to Sainsburys on a no-holds barred dinner trip for the best of everything. I did a half a roast chicken for myself with chilli, garlic and lime, with potato wedges, mixed roasted pepper, sweet potato and butternut squash. She had a tart made with all-butter puff pastry, 2 types of goats cheese, walnuts and a drizzle of organic honey. That was then followed by Ben and Jerrys, which was followed by home made crema Catalana. So delish :D

Really surprised I felt fine this morning, except every time I tried to do a task I realised I was completely brain damaged and incapable :D

[Von Smallhausen]

My first foot is likely to be my landlord tomorrow. He's fair haired but he'll do. I'll need to let him know he should bring something to eat and/or drink.

He sounds like a reet handsome bastard.