Funny how marks on a piece of paper are significant. Today as the last day of the “old year” holds a special place in folk-lore. Both my grandmother and mother used to insist that the house be cleaned from top to bottom. Not content with merely sweeping and dusting, the cupboards had to be cleaned, all the contents turned out and washed, brushed and put back in pristine order. Just before midnight the hot ashes had to be removed from the fire – at great risk to life and limb and likely to disturb the spotless look of the carpet. Then there was the countdown itself and the solemn listening for Big Ben on the radio.
It seems that nowadays the old traditions have largely disappeared, though I confess rather sneakily to a liking for a tidy house on 31st December. People either ignore the coming of the New Year altogether or go overboard. Whatever else it does, it helps to focus the mind on the passing of time, and for me that means recognising the frailty of human life.
Enjoy each moment – because now is all we can be sure of.