How the Brave New World Arrives...

I have to say, I find myself strange but usually, I really can take or leave New Year. I always find it a sad time of year, whether its looking back and saying 'Goodbye' to a really amazing year or remembering the events that happened to make a year not so great. Additionally, I cannot put my hands up and say I've ever been truly 'blootered' at New Year before either. And it's not through lack of trying. For example, if we look at Exhibit A, this is a picture of my alcohol from two years ago.

A valiant effort, I think you will agree

I only had half a half bottle of Vodka left over from that and I felt nothing more than tipsy, what a let down. But this is not to say I don't enjoy New Year. I love going up to Inverness for the celebrations and I was sad that I couldn't take part in the revelry this year. 2012 was sort of a 'meh' year for me, mainly because nothing really exciting happened. Sure, I had a great time in Wales and Norfolk but missing T in the Park was disappointing, no matter how much mud there was. So, I have endeavoured to make 2013 the greatest year ever (especially seeing as we didn't die in the apocalypse).

On Monday, we went through our normal routine, which I'm sure you are all familiar with by now and decided to go to the supermarket that was down the road from my cousin's. As it turns out, this was my first taste of fending for myself as I was given the reins to do some shopping of my own. My bill eventually came to about $50 and that was just for the bare minimum of basics. Butter, cheese slices, ham, bread, shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath, pringles (which were the cheapest crisps, believe me) besides others. I could cry but I can't afford the tissues to wipe the tears away.

We then headed back to the apartment and chilled for a few hours before getting ready to go out. At 7pm, we rang out respective mothers and fathers who were both spending New Year with each other to wish them a 'Happy New Year'. It was quite strange, ringing them from the past when they were already in 2013. Not that they cared anyway, I think most of them were pretty sozzled! We then caught the bus to the Old Port where we were going to spend New Year. We had booked a table at a Mexican restaurant for half eight and was given the set menu. I can't even describe how yummy the food was. For starter, we had a plate of traditional Mexican food, such as Nachos, Guacamole, Salsa, Black Beans... Oh my, I was in food heaven and that was before my enchilada came. Om nom nom. All washed down with a few Pina Coladas. And the best part about that was the fact that neither my cousin or Benoit liked cherries so I got those as well (part of your five a day, glaces cherries...).

However, The best part about the restaurant was the entertainment. Halfway through our meal, a two-man Mariachi band went round each table and played a song for each table. When he got to my table, he asked if I had any requests. In hindsight, I should have requested 'Gangnam Style' but I think Santana was about as modern as it got with this band and stated I had no preference. It didn't matter though because they were amazing and they made my night.

After the meal, we headed down to the Old Port where the street party was just getting underway. There was a lot of hustle and bustle and the Old Port definitely wins the most prettiest part of the city award. There are just so many old, pretty and grand buildings, it's all very impressive. We made it onto the main street, where a live band were playing songs by artists such as One Direction, which although aren't my favourite (and that's an understatement), it got the mood going. We then crossed the road to the waterway and were given a pair of what looked like retro 3D glasses. It wasn't until we put them on, we realised that they had a kaleidoscope effect on lights. And they were amazing. Amazing in a sort of trippy, psychedelic LSD trip. In fact, I'm pretty sure I know how The Beatles felt like when they tried LSD.

We then took a walk around, past the Ice Skating rink before taking our position for the bells and the beginning of fireworks. There was the big countdown, the cheering and fist pumps to welcome 2013 before the fireworks started. And they were fantastic. Although I'm not sure if it was the glasses that made them more spectacular. In fact, those glasses would probably make any back garden fare look spectacular. It is my theory that they mass produced these glasses because it was cheaper than buying amazing fireworks. But in any case, it still looked amazing and I will be taking these glasses to every firework display I go to now (because I go to firework displays so regularly, of course).

After the fireworks, the party really got started, with a Coca Cola sponsored DJ set, which was amazing. The setlist was excellent and there was free cans of Coca Cola just flitting about. My cousin, Benoit and me spent the next hour just dancing in the snow, even doing Gangnam Style in it (and I don't think many people could say they have done that). We then headed back to the apartment and eventually got in about 4am, which to someone who had just started a sleeping pattern, was quite tiring. 

I can safely say that that was one of the best New Year celebrations I've ever been to. So maybe in the future I won't be such a sourpuss (well, not about New Year anyway, I'm still an eighty-year old woman stuck in a twenty year old's body). And that will never change. Fact.