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Rusty

I shall be following your suggestion from last year and dipping in to BBC Alba this evening.

Hello, Kenyatta!
I am looking forward to the concert from Barrowland.
Also, the programmes about HMY Iolaire.
And, of course, the Ceilidh!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl67

Hello, Elle!
My day is coming along fine, thank you!
Good that your hale and hearty family have arrived, and early too!
I am sure the young ones will keep you right at the games!
Weather still mild here.
I hope it stays that way for the first footers!

Hi, Rusty!
We have just had dinner...it seems to be one long round of eat and play games!
All good fun though.
My eldest grandson is now two and a half inches taller than I am......and he is but eleven years old.
And taking a size 8 shoe to my size 3!
Have you heard from the girls?
Are you being visited at midnight?
Or are you popping along to first foot your neighbours?
Or maybe both?
Oops.....I think I am being recalled to play another game....!
Back in a bit.....


Hello, Ros!
Yes, I have been introduced to a couple of very good games.
I shall tell you all about them later.
I think your grandson would enjoy them.

Thanks elle.

Hello, Elle!
That's good you are enjoying yourselves!
I have not heard a peep from the young ones, nor do I know their plans.
I suspect it will be tomorrow before I see them (unless they are needing a driver!).
I am going to stay home, I think, until the bells, anyway.
So far, all is quiet outside!

Hi, Rusty!
Time for a breather!
The boys have just gone to bed....they did suggest staying up until midnight...but we all said "No"!
I wish I could say , as you do , that it is "quiet outside".....
Yes, you've guessed it , fireworks again....
No waiting, here, for the New Year to arrive!
Tell me, do first footers still take a piece of coal with them to give to the householder?
I'm sure that is what my cousin used to do.
I'm thinking this would be something difficult to procure these days?
Is there a more modern substitute to offer for "good luck"?

Hello, Elle!
I don't think any of my young ones would recognise a lump of coal!
Very last century!
What I used to do was get a slab of "black bun" and first foot with that and whisky.
I do not know if you would know black bun, but it is like a very rich fruitcake.
I think most of these traditions are dying out, apart from drink.
I hear gin is the "in" drink these days!

Hi, Rusty!
No, I do not know "black bun", but I like dark fruit cake, providing there are no glace cherries in it!
But I well remember my cousin talking of coal!
I guess I was quite young then......
And strangely coincidental, I am just re-reading a Catherine Cookson novel, where the first footer is a tall dark man..... bearing a piece of coal and a bottle of whisky!
But yes, this book is written concerning immediate post war years.
I know nothing of current traditions?
Do you always stay up to welcome in the New Year?
We usually do ....

Hello, Elle!
You have not heard tell of black bun?
You have missed a treat!
https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/food/a-history-of-the-black-bun-including-a-recipe-for-making-your-own/
That is what I took, and a half bottle of whisky, and a couple of songs to sing.
I liked first footing!
Catherine is right, the very first foot to cross the threshold was supposed to be a tall dark haired man bearing coal and whisky.
So when we arrived at a house we had to sort ourselves out to get the big dark haired lads to the front!
I usually stay up (not going out tonight) and have texted the girls to see if they are coming my way, but they are not sure yet, and said it is very windy.
So, that is my plan.