WHITE HEATHER CLUB (1958-68) At the stroke of midnight, wee drams, Kilts, Tartan, Sporrans, Jimmy Shand, Accordians, Andy Stewart, sword-dancing and Hagi (that’s the plural of Haggis) arrive just in time to see in the New Year and send me to sleep.
Even at its very best it was rather like watching a Saga Holidays version of ‘Braveheart’.
FIRST FOOTING. Ancient turn-of-the-year tradition. At the first stroke of midnight the man of the house goes out of his back door and walks around to the front door of his house clutching a variety of household items.
These items include a silver tea strainer, a lump of coal & a rusty old horseshoe. He then knocks loudly on his own front door three times with the horseshoe.
At this point in the proceedings his wife immediately locks and double bolts all of the doors, turns off all the lights and goes to bed.
Meanwhile the man of the house sees both the New Year in and the sun rise from the comfort of his front door external ‘Welcome’ mat.
An ideal opportunity perhaps to reflect on his recent drunken behaviour, next-door neighbour’s party grope and totally inappropriate gift purchases at Christmas.
THE NUREMBERG SHEEPDOG TRIALS. New Year’s Eve sport that is just like ‘One Man & His Dog’ but involving German Shepherds instead of Border Collies.
