Auld Lang Syne

And so here we are, in the final hours of 2005 ... some getting ready to party, some getting ready to go to work or attend religious services, some preferring to keep it low-key and quiet (me & my sweetie!) and some trawling through the Internet to find out what the heck Auld Lang Syne means (me! me!). Luckily, there is this brilliant site called How Stuff Works which answered this question.

So at the stroke of midnight today (remember to add that extra first-ever leap-second .. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1), when champagne is popped, when fireworks go off and Auld Lang Syne is sung, do know that:

• it's originally a Scottish song that dates back to the 1700s;
• Auld Lang Syne literally means "times gone by"; and
• There are quite a few verses! Check it out here and be prepared for much of it not to make much sense unless you know old Scottish.

Have a wonderful, fulfilling 2006, everyone! May each day of the new year bring you many reasons to smile. May you have good health and peace always.