Show & Tell: New Year's Eve

I'm still behind on Show & Tell posts but I thought I'd get something right and post a Show & Tell contribution on the correct day even though it's not today's topic (more on my dream room later)...

Sparkling, this month's host, asks us: how do you celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one? Do you have any particular traditions? Do you make New Year resolutions? What are your hopes and wishes for 2010?

Before I show you some pictures from our New Year's Eve party I thought I'd answer these in turn. I think I've been at a dinner or a party with friends most New Year's Eves, since I was a teenager at least. Sometimes at my place but more often somewhere else. I have celebrated away from Sweden at least three times: 1995 in the US and New York* with aupair friends; 2001 in D.C. with my then-boyfriend and his friends; and last year, 2008, with Peter, his family and 20 or so of their friends in Paris**. When I lived in London and Brussels I went home for Christmas every year and always stayed over New Year's (if I remember correctly). Next year we may celebrate in Helsinki with the same bunch of people that went to Paris, if so that's another one to the New Year's abroad list.

Traditions? None, really, except that I have mostly celebrated with friends while Christmas (obviously) is more of a family event. I like fireworks - missed them in the US - but I'm satisfied with looking at other people wasting their money up in the sky :) This year I didn't see that many though as we just stayed in the flat and there were both buildings and clouds in the way.

I have hardly ever made a resolution, not a serious one at least. When I was little I would say things like "I will eat less sweets" or "I will work out more" (I say that now too) but I would never set myself a proper challenge or task and I still haven't. Except perhaps reading a specific number of books.

My hopes and wishes for 2010 are private and personal but it ranges around the usual stuff of love and happiness and a hope that all my loved ones will stay healthy*** and happy.

And now to our Old Year's Night party that we decided to throw this year (well, technically last year). About ten days before nyårsafton we still didn't have any plans****. So we sent out some invitations, expecting 10-15 accepts, maximum. We ended up being 25 with a further 5 people arriving after midnight (though 6 people left at the same time)! And as most of you already know, the last people left at 06:10 on January 1 so I think it's safe to say it was a successful party!

I won't be showing all photos here to protect our "customers" (those of you who are friends with me on Facebook can look there) but here is a selection to give you a flavour.

Ready for the guests to arrive. We think there are so few occasions for formalwear so we decided to set a dresscode, however we didn't ask anyone wearing jeans to turn away at the door ;)

We didn't fancy cooking food for 25+ people so we asked everyone to bring something. Note to self for next time: ask people to bring cold dishes, especially when there is only one oven... Also, don't ask any Italian guests to bring hors d'ouvres as they have a tendency to be late :)


Ghost of New Years past?


Some of us braved the cold and had our champagne on the balcony whilst the others (most people) stayed inside

Tomten kept to his corner, sipping a drink and getting a head massage

There was dancing, both freestyle...

...and classic pardans (couple dancing??)

As there wasn't much of fireworks going 'round we had to make our own sparkles

Around 5:30 in the morning...

...and the next day...

* We missed the ball drop though because we were busy partying in a hotel room in Tribeca and by the time we left (10pm'ish) there were simply too many people also going to Times Square. But we had fun anyway, despite not getting into the club we wanted to go to (as we were all underage by the American definition).

** Which I now realise I never blogged about!

*** And I hope 2010 is the year when my friend Maria finally gets well from her long illness!

**** Some of our friends are not very good at organising things, even if it's just a small gathering and some drinks... So we had hoped someone else would organise something but when that wasn't happening we had to take matters into our own hands!