On This Day Dec 31 Part 2

html xml:lang="en" lang="en"> On This Day Dec 31 Part 2

31st I	31st Part II	Jan 1st
1990	Foodtown where I ran into Greg Lochow, Perry C (Kay and Grant in OZ) and Brendan Van D (each without his wife at home these days, like me). VD's had twin girls a couple days ago. Steve G came over for a cuppa, Bette's cake and visit. Card from Woody - million dollar house not enough; he has bought an 1800's house for $1. Kids taught me pass rummy. We shot buckets in the kitchen for Malteasers. Only lasted to midnight.
1994	Simon and Fran came for lunch. I forced one round of Scrabble. Mike Hickford and girls dropped in to pick up latest version of the TDK program. Pass rummy with family to see in New Year.
1995	Su - Gail and I went to Paul's for a barbecue with a potent Villa Maria '94 Riesling. Met Russell's son, Dean. Stayed until midnight, kissed and split.
1997	W - Doug dropped in with Mallow Puffs. We played Star Wars Mononoply, Compatibility and pass rummy to see in the New Year.
1999	F - Ian and Steve over until 9PM. Ann, Russell and Christopher came and we played Time game until midnight. Had a lousy Montana 99 SavBlanc. Chris and I then played with his Star Wars light sabre and glow stick.
2001	Picked up Ian and David followed his directions through backroads to state highway 1 and on to Hamilton where we had a picnic at Waterworld (Ian charged senior rate and that upset him), then swim in one of the many pools. Gail and Ian braved the low springboard - Ian fell in both times and Gail went so deep that she decided to not do it again. David and I had a soak in the warm pool. Miniature golf - Ian(47) got 2 holes in one and Gail(52) did it on the 18th. David had 52, I finished with 51 and Stephanie, just learning, had a 74. The gardens for a couple hours - it is huge (Italian area)! Accident forced onto the backroads again, only this time we didn't know where we were going and it was a few dead ends until we got back on track. Home at 9PM - Jackie and Tracy joined us (Scott to Kentish with his mother). We got up a game of French Monopoly®. Ian contributed Kristov Vodka Cruisers - blueberry and guava. Russell, Ann and Chris arrived at 10:30PM and they played some games upstairs with Ne and Tracy. At the stroke of midnight Chris, Ian, Ann, Tracy and I jumped into the pool (video). Then we popped a Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir bubbly (video). Adults played "Bottom's Up", a drinking game (video) and kids did their thing upstairs until 1AM.	putters gnome 5,4,3,... Bottoms Up
2002	Whites and Domos over for a swim and to get van so they could get Steve and family who finally made it out of Nauru. Emery ensemble arrived about 7:30PM. We oldies tried "TriBond" (no, not a reunion of Connery, Brosnan and Moore). Upstairs for Anne's first go at pool and while playing the Whites slowly filtered in (Ian lost car key...) to join us (video) to join us. Had a French Chenet 2000 cabernet-syrah to get me to through to the New Year. We had games going on in three rooms and a group outside. At midnight two things happened - 1) 8 of us dove into the pool (video) and the water was so WARM that we stayed in a few for an hour or so (video) and 2) cellphones appeared out of nowhere as people called and recieved calls to wish each other Happy New Year. People began leaving at 1:30AM and I got to bed around 3AM.
2003	Russell dropped Ann (whom we set up in the rocking chair) and Chris off, had a quick meal with us and went to work. Got up a game of Rummikub. When de Villiers arrived I taught the men pool. Then we taught them chinese checkers while sipping on a very oily Siefried Gerwurztraminer. At midnight it was only the males jumping into the pool. Russell made it back just in time for the big splash and bubbly. Guests left around 1:15AM.
2004	Rain had everyone cancel on us. But Ian came over around 10PM and we played Facts in Five and Upwords until midnight when Ian and I jumped into the pool. The rain had stopped and we had a starlight sky, soon filled from the smoke of Ian's fireworks.
2005	Brundell dropped in with his new purple van and gave us a rundown of his family's mini-dramas. Chris (in New World uniform) and Ann arrived without Russell who has to work until 2:30AM. Had an excellent Cooper's Creek '04 Merlot. Got up a game of Wizards' Quest and when the tardy Ian arrived we let him be the orcs. Five of us dove into the very warm water at midnight (video). Bubbly and fireworks.
2006	Ian and Susi were the first to arrive and we got in a rubber. Brad and Jackie came and got up a game of Stirling Moss Rally with David. Russell also came by (gave me a Goofy keychain) and we played the TriBond, card game version. Later Wheel of Fortune with him, as the others tried Formula 1. Five of us did the midnight jump, though probably a couple minutes late thanks to Hauraki ads. Ian pre-jump-ulated followed by Gail and the rest of us. Since it was a cold night we had the bubbly indoors this year. Russell, who has a new horse, left saying he had to get up at 6AM to play golf. Rest of us played Newlywed Game and finished up at 2:45AM after a game of Trivial Pursuit.
2007	Smithers were first to arrive, after a toast with a Hardy's Chardonnay it was outside for me to play catch with the boys. Then we got up a cricket game and the Whites joined in. Darkness drove us inside. Kids went into the pool. I played Admania with who ever I could rope in. Dave and I played pool with the young'uns. Then it was Buzz time - movies and music. Had eleven (pre-jump photo) of us jumping into the pool at midnight. Smithers headed off and the remainder of us played Newlywed Game which was filled with laughs. Broke up at 1:30AM as Susi had to be to work in ther morning.
2008	Trish came for supper and showed us her photos of her trip to India for a Sidra's wedding. Exchanged gifts - I received a Goofy figurine. Got up a game of Upwords when she left. Russell dropped in with a bottle of bubbly and we taught him Rummikub. Finished off with a game of three-handed cribbage to welcome in the New Year.
2009	Th - Everyone (Smithers, Whites, Ann and Russell showed up around 8PM. So it was cricket until dark. Then games inside. Couple games of cribbage and pool with Russell until time for the "jump". New record with 14 jumpers and only a few to take photos. Ian jumped in early and then complained about how cold it was, so I poured some cold bubbly over his head. More games until 2AM. I was sipping an exquisitely dry Drylands '08 Pinot Noir.
2010	F - Smithers were the first to arrive and I played "Hit the Deck" with them. Ann and Russell followed by the Whites (including Jackie and Brad). Played Head Bandz (I couldn't guess that I was Christopher Columbus). Dominion in the diningroom and games of Alhmabra and Sequence in the lounge until it was time for the jump (11 jumpers this year). Thomas had a soaker water gun and I had the pump action weapon for our water battle. Back in to play "Apples to Apples" until 1:30AM or so when things broke up. I had an excellent Tyrell Vat 11 2002 Bulkham Shiraz.
2011	Sa - Newsy called (in remission) and Russell called (settled with Emery) so I was able to speak to James.
2013	T - Called Dad and spoke for two hours and a lot more interesting family details. He was in hospital over Christmas (heart).
2022	Sa - 40 minute walk to Girven shops. Played the "Dominion Menagerie" a couple times. Snapper supper with a Lindauer SauvBlanc, with a cherry pie dessert. Brought out "Catan Cities & Knghts" expansion and we played that a couple times until 1AM.
2023	Su - We had a Mills Reef 2020 Merlot Malbec with our curried meatloaf supper and then affogatos for dessert. TM: Aries until 9:30PM. Watched highlights of the "Quick Lane" bowl with Minnesota beating Bowling Green 30 - 24.
31st I	Back to Top	Jan 1st