I'm definitely getting too old for seeing in the New Year. For the second year in succession, the chimes of midnight and the cries of "Happy New Year" were probably drowned out by our snores as we slept our way into 2015. The musical delights that make up Hootenanny were, once again, insufficient to stave off the tiredness resulting from wine at lunchtime and meeting with friends at the pub earlier in the evening. Alcohol, a warm room and a comfortable sofa combine to make a powerful natural sedative that gets me every time...
Lunchtime, on the other hand, more than made up for missing out on toasting in the New Year. For the first time in forever, Elaine did not have to work on New Year's Eve so we decided to treat ourselves to a few tapas at Levanter, a little gem of a place in Ramsbottom. Aubergine fritters with saffron and honey, chorizo cooked in sherry and Moroccan-spiced belly pork ribs were among the dishes that we saw off with gluttonous gusto. I love that place: the food is heavenly and the atmosphere is perfect. It could do with being just that little bit bigger as, by the time we left, customers were waiting at the bar to be seated to eat. Perhaps if they expand some of the magic will go. It is a fine line between intimate and impersonal.
On balance, I'd call it a good New Year's Eve: no, we weren't awake for the midnight toasting, but we were together, happy and full of nice food and laughter shared with friends earlier in the evening. I'd definitely call that a "glass half full" situation. In fact, it literally was glasses half full of flat champagne in the morning. Didn't stop me finishing them off though...
Have a happy, healthy and peaceful 2015.
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