I was relieved that my pavlova was a success, in fact the base was better than the practice one I made on Thursday (and, for the first time wasn't concave!) - unfortunately I overwhipped the cream (which I normally NEVER do) but it still worked! Even more miraculous was that I managed to carry it down my stairs into and out of the taxi and all the way up all the stairs to Kevin and Ray's without dropping it!!
The evening started with an exchange of gifts (which I had no idea about at all!), Ken had been very creative with the presentation of his gifts which included Canadian mountie gifts for everyone (I keep waiting for a real one!) and also very generously gave me a bottle of Glenmorangie and some cheese! A mountie, whiskey and cheese - what more could a girl ask for?!
Racing willies. Not what I asked for but what Kevin and Ray got for Ken, these were hilarious and Kevin and I ended up sat on the kitchen floor after midnight having races!
My gift from Kevin and Ray was a fabulous glittery majorette baton type thingy - I've bought loads for other people over the last month (there's something hypnotic and addictive about them) but kept forgetting to go back and get one for myself so this was a lovely surprise :-)
The kitchen was out of bounds until the meal was served and, as usual, Kevin had done a fantastic job with the table including festive chocolate novelties, posh crackers (which covered all of us in copious amounts of glitter!), place cards and individual menus (oh, and the table decoration I made - which looked great on the plate Kevin had stood it on)! The place cards were Downton Abbey themed this year, one side from 'upstairs' and the other side from 'downstairs' - I was Lady Sybil and Mrs Patmore!
I did my usual trick of sending myself text message reminders throughout the evening - one of them was a comment that Ray made, I think it was to do with the menu but I can't clearly recall, "wall to wall shite" was the phrase I put in my phone!!
The meal was absolutely delicious as was the wine, thankfully there was a short break between each course but even so I was still struggling by the time we reached the cheese course!
As midnight approached I did the now traditional reading of Robert Service's 'The Passing of the Year' (below), the champagne was poured and the Black Bun (traditional Scottish New Year cake - hand baked by Pops!) was sliced. As the fireworks lit up the sky on the television we all linked hands and sand Auld Lang Syne (Kevin and I only gloated a little at being the only ones who knew all the words!)
Happy New Year!
My glass is filled, my pipe is lit,
My den is all a cosy glow;
And snug before the fire I sit,
And wait to feel the old year go.
I dedicate to solemn thought
Amid my too-unthinking days,
This sober moment, sadly fraught
With much of blame, with little praise.
Old Year! upon the Stage of Time
You stand to bow your last adieu;
A moment, and the prompter's chime
Will ring the curtain down on you.
Your mien is sad, your step is slow;
You falter as a Sage in pain;
Yet turn, Old Year, before you go,
And face your audience again.
That sphinx-like face, remote, austere,
Let us all read, whate'er the cost:
O Maiden! why that bitter tear?
Is it for dear one you have lost?
Is it for fond illusion gone?
For trusted lover proved untrue?
O sweet girl-face, so sad, so wan
What hath the Old Year meant to you?
And you, O neighbour on my right
So sleek, so prosperously clad!
What see you in that aged wight
That makes your smile so gay and glad?
What opportunity unmissed?
What golden gain, what pride of place?
What splendid hope? O Optimist!
What read you in that withered face?
And You, deep shrinking in the gloom,
What find you in that filmy gaze?
What menace of a tragic doom?
What dark, condemning yesterdays?
What urge to crime, what evil done?
What cold, confronting shape of fear?
O haggard, haunted, hidden One
What see you in the dying year?
And so from face to face I flit,
The countless eyes that stare and stare;
Some are with approbation lit,
And some are shadowed with despair.
Some show a smile and some a frown;
Some joy and hope, some pain and woe:
Enough! Oh, ring the curtain down!
Old weary year! it's time to go.
My pipe is out, my glass is dry;
My fire is almost ashes too;
But once again, before you go,
And I prepare to meet the New:
Old Year! a parting word that's true,
For we've been comrades, you and I --
I thank God for each day of you;
There! bless you now! Old Year, good-bye!
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