Why is it the years go faster the older I get?

New Year’s saw me pondering this again as I gingerly pulled myself out of bed on the first for a Japanese celebration at midday. The Japanese celebrate on the first day of the new year rather than the last day of the old.

Being friends with a multi-racial couple does make it entertaining as half are likely to be in various states of recovery while the other half are ready to start with the sake the second they walk in the door – it is a celebration after all and it is also after midday!

New Year’s Eve was a very chilly night and we were outside for most of it. Earlier in the evening, we’d been in Soho for dinner before heading to a party featuring an apparently famous DJ. Being so out of touch with this scene, it could have been anyone. That said, he did mix well so perhaps that’s why he’s famous. Mr Shallot danced for hours. His calves have only recovered today. Aging also seems to mean the recovery process is longer.

The party itself was different to our normal NYE parties. The crowd started off as mainly HK locals, morphing over the evening into expats who were aged between 18-50. It was a very bizarre mix of people but everyone was there for a good time. Drinks were included in the entrance fee as were our party poppers, shots later in the evening and some canapes. They were nothing to rave about but we were grateful for the food.

We arrived home at 4am which gave us 7 hours for sleep before rushing for the New Year’s Day Japanese festivities.

Arriving at their front door and taking off our shoes, our host opened the door. He stood there in what Mr Shallot describes as Japanese pajamas. They consist of a cotton short-sleeved top and shorts. His wife joined him to great us in her kimono. Guests continued to arrive in a mixture of traditional and non-traditional clothing.

We had met a few of the guests previously and it gave me a chance to practice my limited Japanese again before our upcoming ski trip. They were also giving us tips on where we should be going and what we should be doing. I’m not fussed as we’re going with the couple that were hosting this celebration and we went there with them last time. It was fantastic.

We ate auspicious foods ranging from crushed chestnuts to these unusual black soybeans. Unusual texture but I want to have a great 2011 so I ate extra. The rest of the food is still traditional but not necessarily auspicious. Washed down with sake after a traditional toast.

Now it’s time to be introspective and work out what I’m planning to achieve this year because it will be 2012 before I know it!

Happy New Year!