Hogmanay Celebrations

Edinburgh is awesome for New Years, we have had an fantastic time. Helped along by a few visiting friends, which meant our bedroom resembled that of a 6 bed hostel dorm for a few days =)

On Saturday night we attended the Torch Light Procession which involved 1000's of people walking up the main city street and to the top of a nearby hill all holding flaming torches. At the top of the hill they burn a viking ship and other stuff, bagpipers and drum groups perform, followed by AMAZING fireworks! It was such a crazy thing to see, especially looking back at the flame filled streets coming your way. I'm not really sure why they do it, something to do with old viking traditions I guess.

Sunday night was the 'Night Afore' monster ceilidh which we didn't really make it to as we were slack, losing track of time whilst having drinks at home! Debra and I got there in time for the last half hour while the others went straight to the pub. Again there were lots of people there all in a festive mood with a big stage and a band set up. And most impressive (yet strange) there were giant 'monsters' everywhere! Alot of amazing costumes of insects walking on stilts and a really tall inflatable monster that was as tall as the buildings, like something out of King Kong! Also a stage where there was beat boxing and break dancing going on in conjunction with bagpipes! Weird!

Monday - new years eve we had tickets for the street party. Niki had to work from 5pm and the rest of us had drinks at our flat til about 10 when we headed into town. It had been raining all night but was just misting by then and it was warm out (well warm for Edinburgh, didn't need my coat - maybe the vodka helped with that)! Immediately we lost each other but luckily I was with Debra so we spent the next couple of hours talking to random people from all over the world, waited in line for the porta-loo and purchased overpriced vino and hot food. Then my phone rang, and I got to talk to some of my fave peeps back home which was super neat, thx slapper! The fireworks were surprisingly crap, we had heard they had spent £10million (ridiculous I know) on them! The torchlight fireworks were much better and longer. Perhaps the rain ruined these and they decided not to finish the show?? Anyway was a fun countdown and then we managed to find the others up by niki's work which we got smuggled into and were allowed to sit in the corner drinking whilst they cleaned up. We got home at 4am (I'm too old for this) and all escaped hangovers! YIPPEE

Most of my pics are blurry - surprise surprise! and I didn't take our camera to the actual street party so hope to get some pics off Debra and will add to our album. Although from memory most the pics are of us posing with complete strangers!

All the Very Best for 2008 everyone xo