Goodbye 2018 and Hello to 2019 - Happy New Year - The end of another year 31st December 2018

well hello there this is mr. Duncan in England on the very last day of 2018

some might say that this year has been one of the most turbulent in a long time

with political upheavals in many parts of the world including here in the UK

and many natural disasters some of which are still going on as I speak 2018 has

been a very eventful year indeed on a lighter note how was your festive

holiday did you celebrate Christmas did Santa Claus bring you everything you

asked for I hope so

so another year is coming to an end how was 2018 for you did everything go

as planned or were there some unexpected hurdles along the way to get across the

end of another year brings with it many things we often end up reflecting over

the past twelve months we look back over the year and tried to work out if it was

a good one or not did I accomplish everything I set

out to do did I do enough to make my life better will I look back and

remember this year fondly or view it with regret perhaps we will come to the

conclusion that despite all the negativity during the past 12 months for

you it was not a bad year it could have been much better but then again it could

have been so much worse

as the year comes to a close we normally begin making plans for the new one we

lay down some ideas for the following year perhaps there is a part of your

life with which you are unhappy you might feel as if some changes have to be

made a change of career perhaps maybe there is some place you have always

wanted to travel to perhaps next year will be the time to go there we call

these changes resolutions these are the things we resolve to do you might just

have a couple of resolutions or maybe a great long list of things you wish to

change these new year resolutions are a great way of kick starting the new year

in an upbeat and positive way

with each passing year we all become a little older there is nothing we can do

to stop this from happening it is inevitable unavoidable unstoppable it is

to be expected if there is one thing I have noticed about life it's that the

older you get the faster time seems to pass you by when I was a young boy time

seemed to go by so slowly the hours seemed like days the days seemed like

weeks and the months seemed like years and the years seemed like forever youth

makes fools of us all it feels as if we will live forever time seems endless

eternity is our playground of course this is not true

once you pass a certain age time begins to speed up the years seem like months

the months seem like weeks the weeks seem like days you find yourself asking

again and again what happened this week where did the year go is it really

December again

of course it's not all doom and gloom there is a bright side to all this age

need not be a hindrance or barrier time could also be its own reward

with age comes knowledge and wisdom you are able to cope with things much better

those little surprises that life tends to throw at you become more bearable

perhaps it is more about your own attitude to the passing of time rather

than the occurrence itself there are many things that exist in this world

that can be described as a cliche some might say that life is one big cliche we

all know the story already we know how it starts and we certainly know how it

ends but it is up to you to make the big chunk in the middle the way you want it

to be after all life is what you make it

you

the period of time between Christmas and the new year is a strange one it feels

as if everything is on hold some people take this time off while a few go back

to work some do it by choice while others do not

the day after Christmas Day is called Boxing Day this was traditionally the

day when servants and tradesmen were given presents for their hard work

during the year the gifts were known as Christmas boxes so the day became known

as Boxing Day the day when the Christmas boxes were given out the phrase itself

is still used today it normally relates to money given at

Christmas as a bonus it is often given before the festive season arrives these

days Boxing Day is observed in the UK as a public holiday

so have you made any New Year's Eve plans how will you see in the new year

some people get together and have a party so they can see in the new year

together in Scotland the new year is seen as an important festival it is

called hog money this is the name the Scots give to the final day of the year

the traditional hub many celebrations begin on New Year's Eve and go on right

through the night until the next morning it is common for firework displays to be

held as the New Year arrives as the clock strikes 12:00 the fireworks will

begin most major cities around the world have firework displays to coincide with

the arrival of the new year the most famous ones are Sydney Hong Kong New

York and London

so this is the end of 2018 and what a rollercoaster ride it has been but how

was it for you was it a good one let's all hope that 2019 will be a prosperous

one and however idealistic it might sound for most of us a peaceful one I

will see you all again next year which is just around the corner

this is mr. Duncan in England saying thanks for joining me

during 2018 and may I take this opportunity to wish each and every one

of you a joyous happy fun-filled new year and of course for the last time

ever in 2018...

ta ta for now 8-)