For some reason I don't seem to feel the same 'pressure' to make it some magical night that the movies tell us it should be. I just want to be with my friends and have fun. People often complain it's a big let down, but I think that - as with most things - it's just what you make of it. Plus, in my experience, people don't really have dramatic summary discussions about the previous year and what will change in the coming year. Forget all that rubbish!
Oh - and for the record...it should be New Year's Eve 2008 (not 07). The whole point is that we are entering 2008, even if half of the night is still in 07!
Anyway, looking back, I've had some great New Years. Last year I was in Madrid with Justin, before that at a party in NYC looking over Time's Square (again with Justin & Rob), and before that my bro's and I rented out a lounge/club in the East Village. Lucky!
This year I decided to stay in London (well, work decided for me) but I thought it would be fun. The problem is that over the past two years, I've heard all about how horrible NYE is in London. It rains every year...the tube drivers strike...everything is crazy expensive...it takes 2 hours to get home because there are no taxis...etc etc. That didn't sound too nice.
So I started talking to my friends about plans and no one really had anything going on. It seems just the Americans expect for things to happen on New Years. So I took the bull by the horns and threw a party at a local French cafe called Café Méliès that I often go for breakfast. You French film buffs should know the name from Georges Méliès, and might recognize this piece of art in the cafe from the film A Trip to the Moon's "celebrated scene in which a spaceship hits the eye of the man in the moon."
What's that? You aren't a French film buff? No...neither am I. Someone had to explain it to me too.
Anyway, the party was lots of fun. Had a bunch of friends come down to Balham, and since someone else was taking care of the food, drink, and decorations, I could just have fun! And no clean up in the morning. Amazing! As midnight was approaching, I realized we hadn't planned too well for the countdown. So as we are handing out champagne, my watch became the official countdown. At first everyone was just looking at me as I cheered "10! 9! 8!", but then they caught on (phew!) and together we rang in the New Year on time (approximately).
I was vindicated as we finished, heard fireworks outside. We streamed out and some random guy was lighting off a very impressive display. I guess it's more acceptable to do that on the street here, because there were no cops in sight! About 12 other parties came outside and for about 15 minutes the whole street shared in the celebration. Of course, I took full credit for that as well.
Turns out London isn't so bad on New Year's Eve after all.
Happy New Year everybody! Here's to an adventurous 2008!!
Cheers!
Dan
No comments:
Post a Comment