No special party plans this evening. We tend to stay home and watch the celebrations on TV. The custom in Germany is to set off fireworks at midnight. From the balcony of our house we can see at least 3 small towns nearby so it is quite a nice show.

I've been taking some leave this week so I'm not working today. I put on my Xmarksthescot box kilt this morning with cream hose and a white Irish Sweater. When we went on the Army Post around 11am I topped that with a light blue balmoral bonnet. I have a first edition X Marks the Scot pin for a kilt pin and Steve Ashtons cap badge version for my balmoral.

I ran into a fellow I know and we discussed kilts for a while. My new admin assistant has seen me kilted twice now. She says she wants a picture of me in my kilt to send to her mother.

After lunch, we stopped at a German Grocery store to pick up a few items we like on the local economy. While standing in line, a nice lady behind me asked if I was Scottish. I told her no, but my family came from Scotland to America long ago. We had a nice discussion about keeping up traditions. The conversation was all in German, but at the end she spoke a few words in english. I'll bet her English was much better than my German!

So it has been a good New Year's Eve so far.

Wishing all of you a safe and enjoyable evening and a Happy New Year!

Tom