Happy New year! S Novim Godom!

Well, well my friends...Can you believe a whole year has passed and it is the New Year’s eve again?

This time last year I was complaining about New Year always making me feel like a bit of a CHMO with no friends, as we never go anywhere and always stay at home. 

I am happy to announce that, this year, for some unknown reason, we have been elevated from the CHMO status! We have been invited to celebrate the New Year at our local friends’ houses. Yes, two different houses, two invitations, can you believe this? Had to say no to one friend, only because we had already said yes to another! Oh, what a tough life! 

But I have to tell you a secret. I always complain about having nothing to do for New year, and now, I kind of wish I was staying at home. With my favourite duck and the Russian salad. I even feel a bit sad, to be honest. Perhaps, it has something to do with me being pregnant, and therefore not in my best party mood ever...Or maybe I just feel strange going for a non-Soviet style new year dinner. I was told we were having a lamb tagine for the main course. I mean, I  don’t mind a lamb tagine at all! But what about my duck? 

So, to cheer myself up and feel like I am still going to have my Russian/Azeri/Soviet whatever it is, New Year celebration, I have prepared the Russian Stolichniy salad anyway.

Husband laughed. He was asking if I intended to take it along tonight to go with the lamb. Maybe not? I replied as I stood there chopping vegetables in a frenzy. I might not have it tonight. But tomorrow, on the 1^st of January, just like  every year of my life, I will have some Stolichniy salad.  

One of the best New Year celebrations  I ever had was back in Baku, when 4 of my girlfriends and I sneaked a bottle of champagne and a large jar of black caviar in the Hyatt Regency Jacuzzi where we sat for an hour, laughing and drinking. Not only we had champagne but my friend produced crystal glasses out of her sports bag, which was just wonderfully crazy in a very Russian way.  The American girlfriend of ours tried to protest due to H&S issues of the crystal glasses and Jacuzzi, but was told to stop being so American, which she promptly did after the first glass and a large spoon full of caviar. Oh, the good old crazy days in Baku! 

Anyway, I have to go do my nails now, as you do.  I just wanted to wish you all a fantastic night, whatever you are doing, whether you are at home enjoying a Russian salad or a lamb tagine, or sipping champagne in a Jacuzzi.  And a very happy 2011! Hope your dreams come true and thank you for visiting this blog!

Back in 2011!