Last Night I Slept Well

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I was up at five this morning as usual.

Two hungry felines paced up and down the hall as they do every morning.

This morning to them was just like any other start to the day in their little lives.

Last night I slept well.

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I usually have no trouble at all in getting a good nights sleep except for one night of the year - December 31st.

This is the night when half the population tries very hard, and usually succeeds, in depriving the other half of the population of a peaceful nights slumber.

Every year as I reach that last day on the calendar I become more and more upset knowing that after a couple of hours sleep that night, I am going to be woken up by inconsiderate people setting off explosives in their back gardens.

So imagine my surprise and relief, when I found out that I had slept right through it.

Last night I slept well.

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I was also pleased to read on numerous web pages, newspapers and blogs, that I am not alone in feeling this way.

Just to quote one - Peter Hitchens had this to say:-

“And as I am actively hostile to the 'New Year', a celebration of nothing in particular generally encouraged by states which loathe Christmas, I'll try to make no further mention of this empty, insignificant moment, for which non-devotees now have to buy earplugs if we wish to sleep, since the 'New Year' lot seem to think they are entitled to shatter the midnight peace with colossal explosions and high-pitched whistles.”

A “Miserable Toad” my sister-in-law sometimes calls me, but this is no so.

I have absolutely no problem with anybody, anywhere, celebrating whatever they like, as long as their celebrations do not in any way affect other people.

Last night people were celebrating a ‘man-made’ event of little significance to me, namely the hanging up of a new calendar on the kitchen wall.

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Society could have chosen any of the 365 days (approx)

that the earth takes to orbit the Sun, as its starting point..

January 1st is not the longest day.

It is not the shortest day.

It is just one of several standards that we all use for convenience.

For example, the taxman uses April for the start of his year.

If last night, at midnight, people were celebrating one orbit of the Earth around the Sun, they were too early by approximately six hours! It takes 365 and ¼ days for a complete orbit.

However,

allow this Grumpy Old Man to wish you all the

Best of Everything over the next 365 days.

2011 could be a 'bumpy ride' for some.

I hope you all, miss the 'potholes and bumps' !

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