Grumpy Old New Year

Oh no, it's New Year's Eve again - everyone has to whoop it up and party the night away. For grumpy people who may have been there, done that, got the packamac, this is very tricky indeed. It's compulsory to have fun, snog strangers, be very sociable indeed and go to bed very very late. Worse, it's the one night of the year when being grumpy is positively not allowed. No wonder most of us dread it. By the time we all get to New Year's Eve, we have had more quality time with our families than is strictly necessary, we're spent out, fed up - quite literally - and the last thing we all want is yet another great big festive occasion. But along it comes, and we have to find the energy and enthusiasm to dress up, get drunk and stand up in an uncomfortable pair of shoes all evening. Somehow there's always the feeling that someone somewhere is having a fabulous time, everyone else is having the time of their lives and you're stuck at the dullest party imaginable talking to someone about their garden decking or their loft lagging. Worst of all, whatever it is you end up doing, you are expected to stay up and be very festive indeed until after 12, when really what you really want to do is cosy up with someone you like and have a nice glass of wine or three, and go to bed just when you want to. Is that really so much to ask?