Hogmanay

"The etymology of the word is obscure. It may have been introduced to Middle Scots through the Auld Alliance. In 1604 the custom was mentioned in the Elgin Records as hagmonay. The most satisfactory explanation is a derivation the from Northern French dialect word hoginane or variants such as hoginono and hoguinettes. Those being derived from 16th century Old French aguillanneuf which is either a gift given at New Year, a children's cry for such a gift or New Year's Eve itself. The second element would appear to be l'an neuf i.e. the New Year. Compare those to Norman hoguinané and the obsolete customs in Jersey of crying ma hodgîngnole, and in Guernsey of asking for an oguinane, for a New Year gift."

Our traditional family/friends hogmanay party. As usual, I drew the short straw and was on driving duties, however the sobriety came in handy for taking a few foties of the celebrations.
Left a tad early as there was talk of the bridge being closed (visions of having to drive back to Edinburgh via Kincardine), however it was open to cars (with a 30mph limit), so it wasn't too bad after all.