Thursday 1 January 2009

Aberdeen Hogmanay: The Facts

Number of hours standing in the cold: 3 1/2

Number of the temperature: 0*C

Number of performers: 3 (Keith Jack, second place finisher in 'Any Dream Will Do'; Sandi Thom, local pop phenom who won fame through her own webcast; and Amy Macdonald, another pop girl I probably should know but don't)



Number of performers I knew: 2 (um, duh... Keith and Sandi)




Number of layers worn: 3 plus my coat and scarf and gloves and hat

Number of people in attendance: tens of thousands

Number of times my camera nearly died from the extreme cold: um... every time?

Number of fights I personally witnessed: 4

Number of people I saw the police and security escort out (or drag out): 28

Number of creepy old men groping me in the crowds: 2

Number of drunk young men (and women) groping me: I lost count

Number of times bumped into, hit with flying elbows, stepped on, etc: how many minutes was I there?

Number of times I held my ground when rude tall people tried to cut in front of me: at least once every ten minutes

Number of times I was nearly puked on: 1 (thank goodness)

Number of drunks in the crowd: thousands and thousands

Number of rows from the front where I wound up: 3


Number of fingers felt by the end: 0

Number of toes felt by the end: 10 (thank you, fleecy Crocs!)

Number of songs sung along with: 8 and bits here and there (from Keith: Any Dream Will Do, This is the Moment, and You Raise Me Up; from Sandi, Chasing Cars courtesy of Snow Patrol, I Wish I Were a Punk Rocker, and What If I'm Right; after the bells tolled, the big crowd sing of Loch Lomond and 500 Miles; and finally, from Amy, Flower of Scotland)

(a bit of Keith...)


(a song from Sandi...)

Number of ears I can hear out of: WHAT? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING? ;)

Number of songs excpected to sing and didn't: 1 (We never sang Auld Lang Syne. Go figure.)

Number of mugs of mulled wine to warm up with by the fire after: 1 big ole honkin' mug



Admittedly, coming back home to an empty flat is kind of sad... but ringing in the New Year in a big way was fantastic. The last New Year I can remember that much fun was... well... I can't even remember. Now THAT is sad.

But no more! One of my New Years Resolutions I started a wee bit early-- this year, I will just do things. I have gotten pretty good at doing things on my own, but this year I will become GREAT at doing them, with people or without. If I want to do it, if I think it could be fun, I'll do it. Travel, cultural experiences, whatever. I'm there. So if you hear of something that shouldn't be missed, let me know. I'll be there! =D

Happy New Year, everyone!

5 comments:

Jennie B said...

Is figh some cultural Scottish thing I haven't learned yet. tee hee.

Sounds like a blast, can't wait til I can start doing those fun things with the kids.

Glad you had fun, plus its about time you started "living" in Scotland, go Nike girl...Just do It.

Amie V said...

Ha ha, it was LATE when I posted that. One mistype isn't bad. ;)

I wouldn't recommend taking kids to this. Too many drunks, pushing and shoving. Not a place for kids... but something like this would be fun. Eventually. =D

HEY! I've been living, thank you very much. Sheesh. =P

Barb said...

I'm SO glad you went! Sounds like an awesome experience, in spite of the drunks and the cold. I so wish I could have been there with you. I recognized both Keith (I remember watching "Any Dream Will Do" while I was there) and Sandi (got her songs from you, I believe).

Oh, the Texas bluebonnets in late March are something that shouldn't be missed, so let me know when to expect you to arrive. :)

Jennie B said...

Complaining doesnt equal living....bwa ha ha ha!!!

:P

Amie V said...

I don't complain all the time, sister. I do more stuff than you do.... =P

Barb, I thought you had watched some of Any Dream Will Do, and you probably did get her stuff from me (and I got it from Kenny...).

March, huh? Well, maybe not THIS March, but I'll keep you posted. =D