My New Years Eve

mrs_overall | 10:11 Sun 04th Jan 2015 | ChatterBank

28 Answers

Due to being delayed somewhere, I saw the New Year in on a lonely road in the wilds of the North Yorkshire moors with only a Romanian taxi driver for company. As we neared my home it dawned on me that as he was dark haired he would make a suitable first footer. Have you ever tried explaining the tradition of first footing to a Romanian who only has a tenuous gasp of the English language? My advice would be - don't. I thought I had explained the basic principle quite well, until it came to telling him about the lump of coal. He looked at me incredulously and then it dawned on me that I didn't actually have a lump of coal about my person. I decided to improvise as I knew there were several dark stones in the garden at the side of the drive.
His instructions were to step over the threshold into the hall, hand Mr O the substitute lump of coal and then wish him a happy new year. Simple.
I think the Romanian was a bit reluctant as I had to give him a shove into the hall and stand by the door so he didn't bolt. I then shouted for Mr O.
Mr O came into the hall to be confronted by a tall man wielding a rock. He looked alarmed so I nudged the Romanian who wordlessly held out his hand and gave Mr O the rock. He turned to leave so I gave him a meaningful glare and he then mumbled "Happy New Year" in broken English. I moved forward to give Mr O a hug, and the Romanian was out of the door like a rat up a drain. I never got chance to thank him. Strange.
Did anyone else see the new year in in unusual circumstances?