Anne here, as we say farewell to 2016 and welcome in the new year, with all its shiny new potential. Back in 2009, I wrote a New Year's Eve post reflecting on how much had changed in the previous 10 years. Here's that post. And my, how things have changed since then.
(pic -- Sydney NYE 2006 by Rob Chandler via CC licence)
I'm not much of a one for New Year resolutions, but there are a few things I'm looking ahead to, and telling myself to face the future positively, despite one or two reservations. I have reservations about the direction the world seems to be heading in — greed, selfishness, suspicion, intolerance and unkindness — and I'm determined not to be a part of that. Or dwell on negativity.
As for the things I'm hoping for in 2017 — I want to learn new things, have a few adventures, and make new friends. I'm doing a bit of teaching next year, in several other states in Australia, and in New Zealand, and I'm looking forward to that. I'm also making some changes to my living situation, and that's both daunting and exciting. Stay tuned.
The gorgeous bouquet above is of native Australian flowers, from Swallows Nest Farm in Tasmania. Photo used with permission.
Tonight I'm seeing in the new year with a few friends — nothing big or splashy. A quiet toast, probably in scotch, honoring my Scottish background — Hogmanay is a big deal in Scotland. (Here's a post Wench Susan wrote about it.) And of course we'll watch the fireworks around the globe, starting in New Zealand. My favorite is Sydney's fireworks — nothing can beat that magnificent harbor, the iconic Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House — though I admit that I don't stay up all night to watch every single firework display.
Here's wishing you all the best for 2017 — health, good fortune, creativity, friendship and kindness. Happy New Year!
So, what about you? How was 2016 for you? And how will you welcome in the New Year? Anything you're looking forward to in 2017?
NO ONE does fireworks like Sydney, Anne! I always smile when I see a picture like that. A quiet New Year here; our custom is dinner at a nice, very close restaurant that we can get to and from if the weather is awful (though it looks good for today.) Then we watch an adventurous movie on DVD and toast in the New Year while watching the ball drop in Times Square.
Like you, I've not found 2016 to be a very great year, so here's hoping 2017 will be BETTER!
Posted by: Mary Jo Putney | Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 07:36 AM
Oh Anne, I expressed the same sentiments to my husband just last night as we helped (read did most of, lol) our son clean and prepare for his new year's bash tonight. For the first time in as many years my husband and I are going out, to a dinner theatre show, so I'll miss watching on T.V. the fireworks around the world.
Thanks to the Word Wenches for all the great articles throughout the year. I thoroughly enjoy reading each and every one. Happy New Year to all at Word Wenches, and its readership.
Posted by: Suzanne | Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 09:04 AM
We had a quiet, usual day, prepared for bed in our usual manner, and watched the ball drop in Times Square, then went to bed at our usual 11 p.m. At our age, we don't feel the need to wait for the actual hour here in the mid-west. As it happened, we WERE still awake an hour later, so we shared another New Year's kiss "and so to bed."
Posted by: Sue McCormick | Sunday, January 01, 2017 at 08:45 AM
Lovely, Sue -- sounds like a beautifully relaxed way to greet the new year. All the best for 2017.
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Sunday, January 01, 2017 at 02:13 PM
Sounds like a very pleasant way to see the new year in, Mary Jo. Wishing you all the very best in 2017
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Sunday, January 01, 2017 at 02:14 PM
I'm chuckling here, Suzanne, about spending so much effort cleaning up before a party, when we know it'll be a mess by the end of the night. But we can't help it, can we? I'm exactly the same. It's setting the stage for a lovely night.
Thank you so much for your good wishes to the wenches. We love this community of ours, and I think the wenches get just as much pleasure back from our readers and the interesting discussions we often have. All the best for 2017
Posted by: Anne Gracie | Sunday, January 01, 2017 at 02:16 PM
Hmmmm, I will have to remember Sue's theory - it is midnight somewhere already! I always feel like a slacker to not stay up until midnight. Now I'll just say, oh it is midnight in wherever.
Though living in Eastern Standard Time I need to figure out the longitude/latitude of somewhere in the Atlantic as my midnight witching hour!
Posted by: Vicki L. | Monday, January 02, 2017 at 07:06 AM
What a fun read! HAPPY New Year! :)
https://fino.la/
Posted by: Veronica Bucher | Wednesday, January 04, 2017 at 04:07 PM