Thursday 21 November 2019

The First of The Last

The time has begun when certain things are being done, places visited and people met for the last time this year. This was particularly poignant this past Tuesday, when my team met for the last pub quiz of 2019. 
Our local Irish Pub is situated on a corner of the market square, and the host breaks up the weekly quiz nights twice a year, for July/August and from the opening of the Christmas Market until a week into the New Year.

When we said our good-byes on Tuesday, we knew most of us were not going to see each other again this year, unless we'd happen to run into each other by coincidence in town. Most of my team, I do not see outside our quiz nights, and in all the 11 or so years we've been playing, I have not once met them by chance in a shop or restaurant in town. So, yes, we wished each other Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year already. After all, there aren't that many weeks left to 2019, are there!

When I was thinking about this post, it occurred to me that this was actually not the true "first of the last". On the 10th of October, I walked home from work (that is, I got off the train one stop before my actual stop and walked the 5 km or so from there) for the last time this year. After that, it was either already dark by the time I left the office, or I was carrying my heavy notebook or was pressed for time. It will be several months before I'll feel like walking home again; it is not much fun in the dark.

Next Tuesday, our Christmas Market will open. In September, we elected a new Mayor, and it will his the first time giving the opening speech. I shall of course attend, and am looking forward to my first stroll across the market, re-visiting favourite stalls and seeing what (if anything) is new this year, and I'll certainly have something to eat and a hot drink from my favourite food and drink stalls.

This Tuesday, the huts and stalls were already set up and the large tree in front of the church erected, but nothing was yet decorated, and everything was dark and silent - a very strange atmosphere, in stark contrast to what it is usually like when I go there after work.

There will be another four and a half very intense working weeks before I can say that it is my last day at the office in 2019. Plenty to do until then, so I better get started!

10 comments:

  1. We had our last New Year's Day of the year on January 1st.

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    1. And I guess you had your last Easter Monday of the year on the 22nd of April :-)

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  2. Oh your Christmas market! There are many places you have shown us but I think I long most of all to see the Christmas market. And don't work too hard!😄

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    1. Thank you, dear Kay, and don't worry about me - I work hard, but also know how to play and get rest :-)

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  3. All these "lasts" certainly make it a special time of year, but I don't think it should be too nostalgic when there are things to anticipate such as the Christmas Market! And Christmas itself and the New Year. I have to admit I don't care greatly for these "dark days" and I understand your not wanting to walk so far in the dark. Be well!

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    1. Thank you, Kristi, you too!
      If it weren't for the Christmas Market, I'd really struggle with winter. There is plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks and months; several birthday parties are lined up, plus of course Christmas and New Year's Eve.

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  4. You sent me off to see if we have any craft fairs this December. They are not a proper Christmas Market but simply a couple of days in the old Town Hall with local craft producers. Christmas is not historically a big event in Scotland. Even when I came to Scotland in Christmas 1970 the bins were emptied on Christmas day and many shops were open. However on New Years Day - Hogmanay - and the 2 January NO ONE worked unless it was absolutely necessary. Of course it's different today and is as commercialised as anywhere else.

    As far as first of the last is concerned I don't think I've done anything like that which is in any way memorable.

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    1. January 2 here is a normal working day (unless it falls on a weekend, of course), and I don't really know what Hogmanay involves in Scotland; plenty of food and drink, I imagine?
      Anyway, if it had not been for saying good-bye to my team for this year, thinking about the first of the last would not have come up.

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  5. Sad things seem to happen as the year peters out and there's a lot of reflection. What a shame that the commercial feeding frenzy often threatens to overwhelm those natural rhythms as we move towards the winter solstice.

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    1. It is up to the individual to allow the commercial frenzy in his or her life or not, but I guess it is not easy when it takes place all around us.
      You are right about the natural rhythms. We are more subject to them than most people are aware of. Your frequent walks and spending a lot of time outdoors probably makes the difference.

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