New Year’s, or, Will We Ever Stop Feasting?

Aline writes: We also had a wonderful New Year’s. We spent New Year’s Eve at home – a 24-hour tube strike meant it was too difficult for us to get down to the Thames. So we had a lovely feast of British food at home from the Borough Market in London: vegetarian pate made with Stilton and Guinness, savory pies from Pieminister with ale chutney, and another Christmas pudding, although we didn’t like this one as well as the one served at Christmas dinner. British television is lots of fun over Christmas – full of movies, mysteries, and dramas. They have been running a new production of Bleak House for the past few months – 15 episodes! - and although we were enthralled, we missed a few episodes. But we lucked out - they ran the whole series on New Year’s Eve, from 7-12, so that was our entertainment. As it ended a few minutes before midnight, we climbed up to our roof terrace and were able to see an amazing array of fireworks at midnight – I counted at least 12 major displays visible by turning around 360 degrees on our roof. I have probably seen more fireworks in this year in London than in the rest of my life – they love fireworks here! The display at the London Eye was spectacular, even on television.

On New Year’s Day, we went to a party at a friend’s house who we met in our London Retrospective class. Our host lives in a semi-detached house in the outskirts of London, which are apparently incredibly common here. In fact, she advised me ahead of time that they “lived in squalor,” (typical English self-deprecation) and not to expect too much. What surprised me is that walking into her house was like walking into a copy of Bill’s cousins’ house, which is also a “semi” on the outskirts of London. Apparently they are all built on the same plan. I think her warning reflected a view of Americans – that we all live in big splendid houses. She has obviously never visited anyone in the Bay Area ☺.

Anyway, we were invited to come at noon, for what we assumed would be Sunday lunch. It was a delightful party. They must have served 3 courses of appetizers, including hot morsels like egg rolls and cheese tarts, plus nuts, cheese biscuits, crackers with cream cheese and pickles, etc. And, of course, champagne. Then about 2:30 we started on lunch, with seafood pie (with mashed potatoes on top) and a chestnut and bean casserole for the multiple vegetarians in the group. All was delicious. But it doesn’t end there. Oh no. Then a cheese course. And the first dessert course: another delicious Christmas pudding (flaming!) with brandy sauce. And if that wasn’t enough, another dessert course, pecan pie (just like home!). We rolled back to the lounge (living room) for coffee and (gasp!) candy. By this time it was about 5:30, and it took us another 1.5 hours to be able to get up from the couch to leave.

But of course, it wasn’t just about the food. The company was really splendid – a variety of people of all ages. Interesting things I found at this party: no one talked about work – we discussed London, travel, books, movies, and politics – but not work. Also, after all that amazing food, not one person complimented the cook or mentioned the food at all. I was amazed, but perhaps it is a cultural convention. I of course privately told her how delicious everything was, since I couldn’t resist years of my own cultural conventions! We didn’t get home until after 8:00 – it was a wonderful way to spend the day, and to begin the New Year!