When you’re used to work during the New Year celebrations behind the bar it doesn’t feel bad to work just for the morning on the New Year Eve. At least I knew I could actually enjoy the evening and spend it in good company. I knew it wouldn’t be a wild night out cos I had the morning shift the next morning but still an evening off. And giving my colleague a chance to go out and have fun and then have to stay at the hostel myself didn’t bother me either. Maybe not quite the kind of New Year celebrations as I might have thought it to be on the other side of the world but it was great.

It did feel a bit funny to be swimming in the ocean and sitting on the beach on New Year Eve. But it felt great. I hadn’t been swimming almost for a month so it was great to just sit in the water and talk with a friend you haven’t seen for a while. Sitting on the beach talking one minute and then next minute just sitting without talking watching the world go by in comfortable silence. It’s funny how with some people you can be without seeing for months and just pick up from where you left. It feels like you had met just yesterday, no awkwardness at all, just comfortable time together.

The rain was unwanted on New Year Eve but nothing much you can do about the Mother Nature. Luckily the rain didn’t last the whole night. It did delay the dinner cos didn’t really want to get wet but we made it in the end. Never thought I could miss the fireworks on New Year but seemingly it’s possible! :D Well, they did have a funny time to have the fireworks: 9pm! We were still having dinner and the trees blocked the view. Well, maybe better next year!
Back in Finland the shops close at 6pm on New Year Eve and are closed on New Year’s Day. Didn’t happen quite like that here! The shops were open normally on New Year Eve, supermarkets open until 9pm. New Year’s Day felt like any other day cos most of the shops seemed to be open. Maybe with a bit shorter opening hours but still they were open. Not normal at all.

A friend of mine was eating a ham and cheese toast yesterday and it smelled really good. Since I haven’t had any red meat for fifteen years it was a bit funny to even want to taste it. Even funnier was to realise that it actually tasted really good! I had to go and get my own and test if I can really eat it all and still think that it tastes good. It did. I’m not saying that the one toast will make me eat meat but I guess I might be able to taste at least from time to time. No matter what some people might wish for, I think chicken and fish is still going to be mostly on my shopping list, not meat. So sorry for those who cook dinners with me – still no cooking meat.
I didn’t really think of making any new year’s resolution but thanks to my tasting of ham toast my friend decided it for me: if you have a chance you’ll try it. I’ll try to but I might fail badly. Well I guess only the time will show how it goes.

I wish all the best for this New Year for all my friends and family around the world.  Hope to see many of you later this year. ♥

"Don't be dismayed by goodbyes.
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.
And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."
- Richard Bach -