New Year preparations

Stan_Lite · 31-12-2010, 08:41

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).
I have made a traditional Shetland dish for the occasion - Reestit Mutton Tattie Soup.
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

Pickers · 31-12-2010, 08:49

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 · 31-12-2010, 09:50

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 · 31-12-2010, 11:09

sounds great Stan

what if you only have one door though?

BB x

Kitten · 31-12-2010, 12:06

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

Stan_Lite · 31-12-2010, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBx

sounds great Stan

what if you only have one door though?

BB x

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

Stan_Lite · 31-12-2010, 12:13

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 · 31-12-2010, 14:12

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 · 31-12-2010, 15:06

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 · 31-12-2010, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

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 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.

31-12-2010, 08:41	#1
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	New Year preparations 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). I have made a traditional Shetland dish for the occasion - Reestit Mutton Tattie Soup. 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 __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

31-12-2010, 08:49	#2
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	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! __________________ Pictures

31-12-2010, 09:50	#3
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	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! __________________

31-12-2010, 12:06	#5
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I think you can use a window, it just takes a bit longer __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

31-12-2010, 12:13	#7
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	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. __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

31-12-2010, 11:09	#4
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	sounds great Stan what if you only have one door though? BB x

31-12-2010, 14:12	#8
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	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. __________________

31-12-2010, 15:06	#9
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	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.