Happy New Year 2012

Happy 2012!  We arrived back in England early this morning and started the New Year festivities early – we didn’t think we’d make it until midnight.  But now it’s only 3 hours away and we’re still up. 

Big Ben at the stroke of midnight

Fireworks in Paris

Champs Elysees at the Arc de Triumph

What are most people doing to ring in the New Year?  The Brits are heading to the London Eye to watch a firework display, which is triggered by Big Ben at the stroke of midnight.  The Scots go to Edinburgh Castle for the famous Hogmanay; there are bands, festivities, and celebrations that last for 3 days.  The French head to Champs Elysees or the Eiffel Tower, which explodes with color and comes to life.  The Germans ring in the New Year at Brandenburg Gate, otherwise known as the Berlin Wall, where they showcase bands, party tents, food, and entertainment for over a million guests.  

Berlin, Germany

And how do we know all this?  Our first New Year’s in the UK was two years ago.  We had just arrived two days prior, and we sat on the sofa and watched the telly as New Year’s unfolded around the world. 

Here it is two years later and we are doing exactly the same thing.  The New Year’s celebrations remain pretty much unchanged, except now that we’ve visited the Eiffel Tower and Edinburgh Castle, we feel a bit nostalgic. 

London Eye

2010 has been a great year filled with travel, new experiences, and a lot of living.  But it’s also been a year of growth and change.  A new country, new rules, lots of settling in; it was a big adjustment.  But we are comfortable now and England is our home – for 8 more months anyway. 

We wish you all a wonderful 2012.  Wherever you ring in the New Year, may you start off the year right (no resolutions!) and remember to pace yourself – it’s a long haul until the end of 2012.  Here’s to health, happiness, and dreams coming true.  And don’t forget balance.  That may just be the key to it all.

Cheers!

A fun top 10 from a British writer (who’s just 13!)... 

http://hellogiggles.com/my-top-10-british-things-of-2011