Fàilte gu sgriobhaidhean gòrach bho Donaidh--chaneil fhios cò air a bhios mi a-mach anns na seachdainnean tha romhainn, ach tha mi'n dòchas gun còrd e ruibh co-dhiù. Welcome to Donnie's ramblings--who knows what I'll be on about in the coming weeks, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway.
As yesterday was Christmas Day, we'd better remember that there are only 365 shopping days left till next Christmas -- not 364 as you might have thought, because next year happens to be one of those Leap ones. Imagine that -- just 365 days left in which to choose presents again, and to get stressed out into the bargain. Of course, in Scotland, we can relax over the next month by celebrating Hogmanay (New Year's Eve to the uninitiated), when those of the male species traditionally go first footing. If you're the first person across somebody's threshold in the New Year, and you have a lump of coal, a bit of cake, some liquid (edible, such as Johnnie Walker) with you, as well as being dark haired (like I am), then that house is supposed to have good fortune for the coming year, and of course, you will be made very welcome. If your genes haven't blessed you with the afore mentioned dark hair, do not fret -- you can always rub the lump of coal into those strands up top, or of course, buy a wig, which will have to be well glued on or stapled, because of the 80 miles per hour gales.
We then spend a couple of days visiting old friends, or being visited by them, or even meeting in the pub if there's one situated between our respective houses. I nearly wrote "respectable houses" -- a bit of a gaffe at this time of year. Normal service is resumed for a few days, that is until the 25th, when we tuck into our neeps and haggis in honour of our National Bard, Rabbie Burns. The above mentioned Johnnie Walker, or one of his associates, is always handy to have around on this date as well. Of course, you can eat haggis on any day of the year, but they taste better at this time, being in season and having been freshly caught. For us, therefore, that leaves only 11 months until Christmas, which is quite a relief. We used to have an Old New Year (if you can work that one out) on the 12th of January, but gave it up, as the other one carries on till then anyway.
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