January 1st 2022.
Happy New Year to both my readers and may we all have a better 2022 than 2021.
Here in the UK, the restrictions on New Year’s Eve activities varied from country to country, with Wales and Scotland having severe restrictions (guidelines!). This has resulted in dozens of coaches pouring over the border into Carlisle, Berwick and Newcastle, with some making a whole weekend of it and continuing to Blackpool, Manchester and London.
Although this will result in a loss of support for the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon, you can guarantee that she will capitalise on this by blaming England for the source of the projected increase in Covid cases in Scotland.
Elsewhere in the UK, unconfirmed rumours have it that of 2,000 immigrants in the channel on New Year’s Eve today, all were Scottish. The giveaway is that they all wore Tam o’ Shanters, ginger wigs and shouted Allahu Akbar Jimmy as they landed. Apparently, the wearing of kilts on an inflatable with a low waterline caused severe discomfort to the passengers. The outcome is that the near-freezing conditions and choppy waters splashing under the kilts caused severe Hypothermia.
In my part of the UK, the influx of tourists was less than usual so generally, the celebrations were less intensive. However, the longstanding traditional celebration in my village went ahead and the March of Giants paraded through the village at 11-30 pm. In true English fashion, the March started at one pub on the outskirts of the village, wended its way through the village centre finishing up at a pub on the other side of the village. After much merrymaking, it wended its way back to the first pub where the crowd dispersed.
Below are some shots of the parade and a video clip to give you a flavour of English country life.
Apparently, there was no large wicker man this year.
On that happy note, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.