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Hi, Rusty!
Your black bun looks very enticing!
I think I should like it!
Traditionally / historically, why then does a first footer take with him black bun, coal and salt together with whisky?
There must be some myth involved?
We usually just welcome in the New Year with a glass of red wine - probably not very traditional, at all?
Our other daughter and friends will phone or text......after midnight!
May I take this opportunity, as zero hour approaches, to wish you and all your family a Very Happy New Year......!
And may there be many more of them!
Don't stay up too late!

A Very Happy New Year to you, Elle, and best wishes to your husband and family, too!
I hear singing outside!
I do not remember any salt going first footing, but the coal was fuel for the fire, and whisky and black bun were food and drink for the house.
I suppose that was it.
But...to this day I never visit anyone at any time, without bringing a small gift.
Usually shortie biscuits or a jar of coffee.
It was the way I was brought up.
That was the Donegal way, I suppose.

Here's one of my favourite bands, (if the link works!).
Runrig, singing "Loch Lomond", live in Glasgow.
And the young ones are having a great time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WoFql0vwQA

Hi elle

In Birkenhead a dark man first footed with alcohol, usually whisky and coal. I suspect there was bread or cake too, but I can't remember. However, my parents were from the NE so probably took the custom from there. However, my husband used to first foot for neighbours here if asked, also with coal and spirit (though he took the same stuff round with him, it was a symbol not a present!)

A Very Good morning to you, Rusty!
And yet more best wishes for 2019!
Thank you for your good wishes!
I enjoyed your video clip!
The youngsters were certainly having a good time.
The children, dog and I have been up for a couple of hours, and we are all fed and watered...the other adults are still asleep!
What time did you get to bed last night......or rather, this morning?
I am expecting the rest of the family to arrive about ten o'clock...and friends will be dropping in throughout the day.....
It should be an enjoyable day ...we are all looking forward to it!
I hope you have a good time, too, with your family.
Catch up later.......sometime this evening?



Hello, Ros! Happy New Year!
And the same to Pigale, Chris, and anyone else looking in!

Good morning everyone,

My very best wishes to one and all for 2019!
May it prove to be a good year for everyone health primarily of course!

Good morning, Elle!
Seems colder today!
Glad you liked the video!
The keyboards player, Pete Wishart, is MP for Perth and North Perthshire, these days.
Miss O was my first foot not long after midnight.
A dark haired lassie, and great to see her!
My (flexible) plan is to stay home today, but that may change.


Happy New Year, Pigale!
Hope this year sees your health continuing to improve.
Take it easy!

Good evening, Rusty!
We have had a wonderful day, with family and friends, celebrating both the dawn of the New Year, and, of course, my husband's birthday!
We are exhausted .......but happy!
How has your day been?
It began well, in the small hours, didn't it, with Miss O being your first footer?
It occurred to me that she might do that, being dark -haired!
What did the daylight hours bring?
Did you go avisiting?

Good evening, Elle!
Well done on your celebrations!
Miss O was my first foot, and I was my oldest son's, around dinnertime (though my hair is not the required colour!).
I have been home for a while now, and Miss La Bamba and friends have just left.
The programme about the sinking of HMY Iolaire is on our BBC later this evening.
There was a ceremony on Lewis this morning, 100 years after the tragedy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-46633716

Hi, Rusty!
I am glad that you, too, had a good day!
And at least your own first footing appearance took place at a later hour of the day than did Miss O's!
Spending time visiting your son, and then later having Miss L-B and her pals call on you sounds great.
I was very pleased to see how well our six grandchildren got on....from ages 11 through to just 2, the tolerance between them all was pleasant to see.
I hope you enjoy the programme about the sinking of the HMY Iolaire...I don't think "enjoy" is quite the right word for me to use, but you know what I mean?
I liked the gesture of the children scattering the 201 red carnations into the sea.

Hello, Elle!
You certainly seem to be enjoying your family gathering!
You can not beat family!
I have enjoyed seeing mine, too.
I will watch the Iolaire programme tomorrow.
I am looking forward to it, (and I do know what you mean!).
There was a several short programmes on BBC Alba last night about the sinking, but they were in Gaelic, tonight's is in English.
Iolaire means "eagle".