New Year's Eve Eve

30 December 2010, Somerset West
I've always found the week between Christmas and New Year as a bit of a "dead" time - caught between the past of too much food and anticipating the future, the unknown of 2011.

The wind blowing (gusting?) up from False Bay has been a mainstay of the last 2-3 weeks (http://www.capetimes.co.za/are-you-prepared-for-wind-damage-1.1006197); although it is seasonal (December usually sees the famous south-easter in the Cape), I have not experienced it this strong before and this is my 7th Christmas at the foot of Africa. Still, sitting outside on the partially protected patio of 45 Emerald Fern Crescent enjoying a great compilation of Midwinter folk songs (http://www.free-reed.co.uk/midwinter) and a few glasses of De Grendel's Oop de Berg Pinot Noir 2007 (http://www.capewinemakersguild.com/auction/results.asp?AuctionYear=2008#wineID255) which is drinking very well - will keep a few glasses to see in the New Year tomorrow night).

Reading through the notes to the Midwinter CD I came across a poem by Lord Tennyson which symbolises the old and new year as the dying man and his heir waiting in the wings - aptly reflects the state of limbo I think I am feeling this week (http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/2981-Alfred-Lord-Tennyson-The-Death-of-the-Old-Year)