Well I've been away for a while, had an awesome Xmas and New Year, speaking of which is really the basis for this post.
I ended up at Skansen in Stockholm this New Year with my fiancee, last year I was sitting in the Briar Lee in Bethel, Maine celebrating Swedish, English and American New Year (works well because of the time differences), having a few beers (you know, the usual), but this year was different. Again, I can't recall when I had a New Years in England, as have been fortunate to almost be abroad every year (shows how lucky I am really), so can't complain.
Johanna has for a while wanted to go to Skansen for New Years- No it isn't like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or the 'hype' of Vegas or London say, but has a more traditional feel. It isn't full of pissheads, scantily clad (ok, dressed like a slag) underage wannabes, more just a real feeling for a New Year. Was really cosy.....as soon as you enter the paths all lit by candle guide you to the top of the park, all uphill, in almost pitch black, with people all around you. Although not religous, sitting on top of this hill lyes a beautiful wooden church, surrounded by many quaint buildings, leading to the main stage- where the action takes place.
For those that don't know about the lay out of Skansen, just click here....then you'll understand about the views etc.
Anyway, apart from the odd Frenchman asking us to move to take a piss where we were taking photos, the night was really good. We'd been walking all day in Stockholm and were knackered really, but dressed in our snowboard gear (no not the helmets and boots you muppet) we weren't put off by the snow, the cold temperatures and the hunger pains (ok, the last one I made up).
Long story short, the night went well, it was televised on Swedish T.V. as it always is, yes me and Johanna did wave to the camera, but feel our efforts went unrewarded, however the most traditional part of this whole thing is the final poem, read as a countdown (well more a count 'up' to 12...good job I know my Swedish numbers) in Swedish (obviously), however now I know the poem is a translation of a Lord Tennyson poem, 'Ring Out, Wild Bells' from 1850.
I guess the cliche bit which I am coming too is solely based on one line from this poem. Now New Years for those who need a kick up the arse to change, should do so, it's a fresh start, may be to change something we don't do, or should do. We all set resolutions, from 'losing weight' to 'getting drunk more' (possibly?!)....the point is, however sad to me, it takes another year, another loss of time to realize we need to do something more or different, at least we should all take this opportunity to do something new for this year. We've all made mistakes, we all want something we haven't got just yet.
Make sure you New Year's resolution is something that makes a difference, may be not just to yourself, but to someone else. For those that need a fresh start, now is the time, start as you mean to go on........as Tennyson once wrote: 'Ring out the old, ring in the new'.
Happy 2008
I ended up at Skansen in Stockholm this New Year with my fiancee, last year I was sitting in the Briar Lee in Bethel, Maine celebrating Swedish, English and American New Year (works well because of the time differences), having a few beers (you know, the usual), but this year was different. Again, I can't recall when I had a New Years in England, as have been fortunate to almost be abroad every year (shows how lucky I am really), so can't complain.
Johanna has for a while wanted to go to Skansen for New Years- No it isn't like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, or the 'hype' of Vegas or London say, but has a more traditional feel. It isn't full of pissheads, scantily clad (ok, dressed like a slag) underage wannabes, more just a real feeling for a New Year. Was really cosy.....as soon as you enter the paths all lit by candle guide you to the top of the park, all uphill, in almost pitch black, with people all around you. Although not religous, sitting on top of this hill lyes a beautiful wooden church, surrounded by many quaint buildings, leading to the main stage- where the action takes place.
For those that don't know about the lay out of Skansen, just click here....then you'll understand about the views etc.
Anyway, apart from the odd Frenchman asking us to move to take a piss where we were taking photos, the night was really good. We'd been walking all day in Stockholm and were knackered really, but dressed in our snowboard gear (no not the helmets and boots you muppet) we weren't put off by the snow, the cold temperatures and the hunger pains (ok, the last one I made up).
Long story short, the night went well, it was televised on Swedish T.V. as it always is, yes me and Johanna did wave to the camera, but feel our efforts went unrewarded, however the most traditional part of this whole thing is the final poem, read as a countdown (well more a count 'up' to 12...good job I know my Swedish numbers) in Swedish (obviously), however now I know the poem is a translation of a Lord Tennyson poem, 'Ring Out, Wild Bells' from 1850.
I guess the cliche bit which I am coming too is solely based on one line from this poem. Now New Years for those who need a kick up the arse to change, should do so, it's a fresh start, may be to change something we don't do, or should do. We all set resolutions, from 'losing weight' to 'getting drunk more' (possibly?!)....the point is, however sad to me, it takes another year, another loss of time to realize we need to do something more or different, at least we should all take this opportunity to do something new for this year. We've all made mistakes, we all want something we haven't got just yet.
Make sure you New Year's resolution is something that makes a difference, may be not just to yourself, but to someone else. For those that need a fresh start, now is the time, start as you mean to go on........as Tennyson once wrote: 'Ring out the old, ring in the new'.
Happy 2008
As it was dark, the camera is useless as images are mostly blurred, so here is the entrance to Skansen, don't expect Spielberg quality.....
