Happy New Year!

We welcomed 2009 in fabulous style. Cory and Natalie and their parents invited us back out to Balloch, to the same restaurant where the wedding reception took place, for the Hogmanay (New Years Eve) celebrations. There was a buffet dinner and a boatload of desserts. I had some delicious haggis (seriously, it's good. It just tastes like sausage. And yes, I know it's sheeps liver stuffed in an intestine, but at least I know what's in it. Lord knows what's in the hotdogs I order from Tomy Burger in Santa Monica.) And of course, tried one of every dessert option.

The evening featured a great band. They had a bagpiper who played for some songs, and then they also did more modern songs. We learned a couple of fun traditional Scottish dances, including the Gay Gordons (my favorite), a dance that involved a lot of swinging your partner by the arm, and one that involved clapping, stomping and circling under two people making an arch. I think we did okay and fit in pretty well. We also rocked out with the Scots to the 5000 Miles by the Proclaimers, which seems to be a favorite.

At midnight (which they call the Bells) they shot off streamer cannons from the bars, and we all blew off little poppers. There was plenty of kissing - and not just with your boyfriend or girlfriend - everyone goes around the bar and wishes everyone a Happy New Year with a kiss on the cheek. Another Hogmanay tradition is that "the first footing." The first person who comes over your doorstep at New Years is supposed to bring you luck for the next year. They do so, of course, by bringing you a gift (whiskey!) Cory was actually the first over the threshold at the restaurant. He went out with the bagpiper and then re-entered the restaurant bearing a nip of whiskey for people. It was very sweet of the management to ask him to be the first footing (first footer?) of the year. Hopefully he will bring them luck. Then everyone sang Auld Lang Syne, which was written by a Scot (Tim and I studied the words last night so we could sing along, even with the parts written in "Scottish" English, instead of "American" English.)

We did more dancing afterwards, and headed out around 2am. Our taxi driver back into Glasgow had actually driven Rocco and Tim C. home after their first "boys night" in Balloch. Thankfully, he said they were well behaved. Cory's wedding has now become notorious throughout the land.

Tomorrow we are sleeping in, and then going back out to Balloch to spend more time with our wonderful hosts. I cannot say enough kind things about the hospitality that Natalie and Cory's parents have shown us. They are wonderful folks and have made this wedding/vacation one of the best we've ever had. This was certainly one of the best New Years Eve's celebrations I've ever been to.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

The band and the bagpiper.

Us with Natalie's dad Alex, who is an absolutely fabulous host.

The kids booging down.

Tim doing the spin your partner dance. You can also see my fabulous pink tartan skirt that I bought for the occasion. I did not wear a dagger in my tights like the men wear in their socks.

Natalie, about to get her feet stomped on doing the Gay Gordons with Jacob.

Tim and I during the Gay Gordons. As you can see, my future clan is definitely going to involve a lot of hot pink in the tartan. We were pretty good at this dance by the end of the night, though Cory spent this particular jig trying to kick Tim in the butt whenever possible. He gets the Ugly American award for the day.