Happy 2009!

The first day of the new year. From where I am sitting, the sun is streaming in through the window and the day outside is windy. It is the first day of 2009.

Happy New Year's, everybody!

I am still a little tired from last night, which consisted of going around to Lisa's house (she's my lovely team leader) and staying up to the small hours linking arms and singing 'auld lang syne'. It was a bit of a modern take on an old classic, with Tim playing Bass and Terence (Lisa's husband) on guitar. Lisa, being the teacher that she is, had actually written out all the verses on paper, and stuck them up on the wall, with the original spelling, of course. Some of them caused a bit of merriment as we were singing - the following verse, for example:

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught

At that point in the evening, singing about a right good 'willy wart' seemed rather amusing!

I've since looked it up on wikipedia (where else?) and have discovered the following translation:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Anyway, what I like about the poem is the meaning behind it all - putting aside the 'willie warts' and other such things. It seems appropriate to remember all the good times that have passed between people - and to know that although their may be distance between us, there will still be times in the future when we can meet again and be connected once again - and reminis on days gone by.

2008 was an interesting year for me - and I think it was probably the best year yet. I'm finding that the older I get, the more confident I feel, the more at ease I feel with my place in the world. Who knows what 2009 will bring? I'm hoping more of the same, and that some more surprises will happen along the way.

Happy new years and may it bring the best for you, too.