As 2017 draws to a close, I suspect I am not alone in wondering ‘where did the year go?

摘要

It had ups. It had downs. Hopefully your year swungmore towards the former, but I suspect for a few it willbe a case of ‘bring on 2018’.Regardless, change is coming! Aroundthe world, this time of year traditionallysymbolises fresh starts – out with the old,in with the new. Being Scottish, to meNew Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay, as we callit) is a time for big celebrations. Backhome, one of the most dramatic ways wecelebrate is with fire. Near my home townis a small coastal village called Stonehaven,where dozens of people take to the streetscarrying giant fireballs on long metal chains. This fireis thought to purify the world of evil spirits, and so isparaded around the town and down to the harbour,where the fireballs are thrown out to sea. And thereare plenty of social status points available to those whocan fling their fireball the furthest.