FIRST FOOTING

Part One

There is a Scottish tradition in these parts called First Footing. After midnight chimes on New Year's Eve, apparently I must ensure that the first person to knock on my door is a tall dark man bearing gifts of coal, shortbread and whiskey. This will bring me good luck for the next 12 months. These gifts represent warmth, wealth  and food (as you might expect, hereabouts whisky is a food substitute). Conversely, if your first caller of the new year arrives empty-handed, turn him away, as only bad luck will follow.

Jean's mother-in-law once waited inside her home for more than a week, waiting for her First Footer, refusing to leave her house and thus risk a year's worth of bad luck. Eventually she called her son John and told him to hurry up and get on over to Aberdeen.

The other tradition which I am exhorted to follow is to open my back door to let the old year out, and then open my front door to open the new year in. As I do not have a back door I am fretting a bit about this. Would the upstairs skylight do instead?

Part Two

A fantastic night at the ceilidh! About 150 people crammed into the dining area of the lodge, of all ages, swilled beer and whisky, and danced til we dropped. Gordon was the 'caller' - the leader of the band and the man yelling out the step instructions during each dance. He must have learned about my extensive Scottish dancing lessons that I took in Sydney because he repeatedly chose me to demonstrate the steps (whether this helped the onlookers when they joined in is, however, debatable.). With little panache but lots of enthusiasm we took to the floor for the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Virginia Reel, Dashing White Sergeant.

Part Three

At 11.00am this morning there was a loud knock on my door.  Brushing my teeth, still in my dressing gown, I answered the door and there stood not one, but two, tall dark men! Gordon and his son Stuart arrived bearing gifts of coal, shortbread and whisky.

"Would ye have a wee dram?" asked Gordon.

Whiskey flavoured with toothpaste, before breakfast, is an interesting way to start the day but local traditions must be upheld! At least now I am assured of a year of good luck. I pondered the problem of not having a back door to let out 2009. Gordon advised me to open my front door twice, instead.

At 12.00 noon there was another knock on the door. Eric had arrived to welcome in the New Year, clutching a large festive looking carrier bag.

"Would ye have a wee dram? Whisky or vodka?"

I am beginning to think the only way to survive New Year's Day is to brave the snow which is once again cascading down at an alarming rate, and go for a long walk. At least that way I might have a small chance of remaining upright today.