It's a rude question, I admit, but I've got to ask it!
Are YOU an accountant?
Most of us are these days, aren't we, and it's a poignant day for accountants everywhere today, to put it mildly. Because although my medium-to-long-suffering wife Lois and I are bucking the trend by not being accountants, we can't help feeling sorry for all of you others, who are accountants - unable to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next today and tonight, with the population in general.
Because, yes! You guys have already had your New Year celebrations, back in April, haven't you! Do you remember those crazy pictures from Trafalgar Square in Onion News?
Poor accountants !!!!!!
And our daughter Sarah is an accountant living 9000 miles away from us, in Perth, Australia, so for her, as for all accountants worldwide, today is just "another working day" for her, apart from the fact that she's allowed to take 2 weeks off - her agency normally closes for Christmas and New Year. Otherwise it would have been a normal working day, but she's got a lot of time off work like everybody else, if that makes sense! [Not really, does it! - Ed]
The Non-fiscal New Year "starts early" if you're in Perth anyway, at more or less 4 pm Greenwich Mean Time, and we've been hoping to speak with Sarah, husband Francis and their 11-year-old twins Lily and Jessica at around 4 o'clock, but we hear from them that they're all falling asleep and won't make it till then, which is a pity.
However, as consolation, before going to bed, the sleepy twins send us one of their delightful emoji-filled messages.
Even for Lois and me, today, our 78th New Year's Eve, is overshadowed by having to move house in 2 days time to a house in Liphook, Hampshire, and tainted by our growing feelings of panic - yikes !!!!!
This morning, however, Lois and I try and stave off the burgeoning panic feelings for an hour or so, by taking one of our "history walks" round the nearby parish of Hanley Castle, just a couple of miles from our current home here in Malvern, starting the walk at the local High School, which is all shut up for the holidays.
Hanley Castle High School, possibly 700 years old, as it looks today
Hanley Castle High School is one of England's earliest grammar schools. It's got a plaque claiming it was founded in 1326, but the original buildings must have been long gone, because the oldest around today date "only" from around 1600.
"What else was going on in England in 1326, Colin?", I hear you cry! [Not me, I've gone to the pub! - Ed]
Well, seeing as how you're "gagging to know" (!), here's a digest. It was quite a year, seemingly.
And there are a couple of old bits of the original school still standing - these both date from the 17th century:
the oldest bits of the original school that are still standing today -
they're "only" 17th century - what madness !!!!!!
Glebe Cottage, the oldest dwelling in the village dates from the 1450's
The cottage has timbers with burn marks, which historians say were intended to ward off evil spirits and keep witches at bay.
Glebe Cottage: (left) split-oak panel filling, and (right) taper burn marks to ward off evil spirits
What a crazy world they lived in, back in the 1450's !
"And what was going on in England in 1457, Colin?", I hear you cry (again) (!) [Not me, I've only just started on my second "pint"! - Ed]
What utter utter utter utter madness !!!!!
So, now, for us, it's back to our packing, I'm afraid.
Poor us !!!!!
So, till I can resume my blog in our new house, I wish you all a very happy New Year, and also, so as not to leave it till the last minute (!), a very happy Fiscal New Year 2025-2026, in advance (!).
Till then, it's byeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
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