In an hour and a half, the clock will strike doom I mean, twelve. You'll have to forgive us foreigners for starting the celebration a bit early, but for once, the time zones favour us, so for once, be patient.

We're not really planning on much. We're currently halfway between dinner courses (and the accompanying wines, evidently), so I'll be too busy eating and conversing soon to drop by for a word with you guys.

In any case, it'll be a new year without fireworks: the gale outside does not allow for much safety, let alone actually seeing any of the festive pyrotechnics. Given, shooting fireworks down your neighbours' chimneys might be entertaining, but we prefer to keep things civil. At least, for the few hours left of 2006.

I'll be going to a party afterwards. It's the only new year's party in town, so the place will be rather crowded. As it's hosted in the local youth meeting centre, breathing space may be lacking, as opposed to previous years, when the party took place in the exposition halls nearby. Neither location is far from where I live, but it's nice to have some elbow room.

If anything, I'm looking forward to doing absolutely nothing tomorrow, with the exception of eating and digesting fine foods and wines, and reading more Eragon in between. As I'd been informed of, the book indeed differs on many point from the movie, and as expected, the novel is even more enjoyable than the screenplay version. I'm still glad I saw the movie first, though: no prior expectations remained unmet, and the differences with the movie do not diminish the experience of reading the book, which is oft a problem the other way around.

I will leave you with my best wishes for the next year, and to those to whom it applies: drink and drive responsibly, but don't drink and drive at all.