Happy New Year!!


I stayed home last night. I was going to go into town to join the street party and see the fireworks, but at about 6pm a volley of rockets went off and so did Bertie. So I stayed home to hold his paw and reassure him that no, we were not under attack.

He wasn't reassured, poor thing, he was panic-stricken, barking, crying, panting with terror. I took him into the study (along with a bottle of champagne) and shut the door, but it didn't help. He tried to crush in under the desk. I thought about putting him in a cupboard, perhaps the one under the stairs, but then it might have made things worse. We went out for a walk at 3am, a quiet one thankfully, though Bertie was still very nervous. The champagne was delicious. I had caviar as well. Yum.

This morning I got up too late for the Loony Dook, but eventually got out for a long lovely walk, during which we met most of Bertie's very best doggie pals. At one point there were nine dogs on the field under the bridge. It was fiercely cold, but sunny and clear. We walked out on to the bridge as well, along with dozens of other people.

Europe is going euro-crazy. I wish Britain had joined as well; if you're going to be part of Europe then be part of it. Also, I think a lot of the anti-euro feeling comes from a particularly British nostalgia, a longing for the olden days of Empire. Well the empire's gone, get over it. Brits want to have all the benefits of Europe, that's why they joined the Common Market. But they're scared they'll lose their identity if they merge too much with Europe. I think that a) any merging that's going to happen is already well under way (caffe latte anyone? croissant?) and b) I don't see the French and Italians losing any of their identity.

When I say "Brits", it's mostly the English, of course. In general Scots are much more pro-Europe. Me too!