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I found myself thinking of the new years eves when I was growing up. The ones that stand out in my mind were when staying at my Nan and Granddad's and seemed to me as a child to be so 'magical', even though I obviously had to be in bed well before midnight 
In my mind it was always very cold and normally dry, I would go to sleep knowing that the adults were up doing 'grown up' New Years Eve things involving, neighbours, music, alcohol etc waiting for the clock to strike midnight and there was a real sense of anticipation and magic hanging in the air.
I can remember being so tired, but making myself wake up near the midnight hour so I could feel the 'magic'. I would become aware of the growing sound of laughter and music in the road, getting louder and louder as midnight approached, then some years I would suddenly hear loud singing and laughter getting closer and closer accompanied by the banging and clanging of pots and pans being drummed up and down the street, as neighbours spilled out on the road and made their way merrily to your door, some years this was accompanied by the haunting sound of the bagpipes being played as there was a Scottish man in the road who would put on his kilt and pipe Auld Lang Syne amongst others, amazing.
The door would knock and Granddad would throw it open to welcome in the New Year, by now I had crept in to the hallway with it came the icy chill of the gust of cold magical 'New' air, greetings and shouts of "Happy New Year" would be exchanged and even as a child I remember feeling emotional hearing the haunting sound of those bagpipes and feeling that cold air. I also remember sometimes a piece of coal was given. There would be the smell of the Whiskey and Sherry etc being handed out, it was always all laid out in preparation along with nibbles etc on the walnut drinks table I can still smell it to this day, and of course have never forgotten those precious 'magical' new years eve memories.
In my mind it was always very cold and normally dry, I would go to sleep knowing that the adults were up doing 'grown up' New Years Eve things involving, neighbours, music, alcohol etc waiting for the clock to strike midnight and there was a real sense of anticipation and magic hanging in the air. I can remember being so tired, but making myself wake up near the midnight hour so I could feel the 'magic'. I would become aware of the growing sound of laughter and music in the road, getting louder and louder as midnight approached, then some years I would suddenly hear loud singing and laughter getting closer and closer accompanied by the banging and clanging of pots and pans being drummed up and down the street, as neighbours spilled out on the road and made their way merrily to your door, some years this was accompanied by the haunting sound of the bagpipes being played as there was a Scottish man in the road who would put on his kilt and pipe Auld Lang Syne amongst others, amazing.
The door would knock and Granddad would throw it open to welcome in the New Year, by now I had crept in to the hallway
with it came the icy chill of the gust of cold magical 'New' air, greetings and shouts of "Happy New Year" would be exchanged and even as a child I remember feeling emotional hearing the haunting sound of those bagpipes and feeling that cold air. I also remember sometimes a piece of coal was given. There would be the smell of the Whiskey and Sherry etc being handed out, it was always all laid out in preparation along with nibbles etc on the walnut drinks table I can still smell it to this day, and of course have never forgotten those precious 'magical' new years eve memories.
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