New Year's Eve in London & beyond
December 28, 2015 12:44 AM   Subscribe

I made a bet and lost... My boyfriend IS working New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (in a restaurant) and now I'm planless and looking for something to do in London, UK or beyond. Caveats: Most of my friends are still out of town, I'm a non drinker, and I have a dog (although she could be happily left alone for the evening/sent to dog sitters). What would you do in my situation?
posted by teststrip to Grab Bag (5 answers total)
 
What would you do in my situation?

Stay home and watch a movie and eat take-out. Is that an option?
posted by amro at 4:21 AM on December 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


Best answer: On NYE I'd plan a lovely evening at home to pamper myself.

I'd line up my favorite movies, cook a fantastic meal and kick back and enjoy my own company.

After dinner and while Casablanca was on, I'd arch my brows, give myself a mani/pedi and perhaps indulge in a clay facial.

During a break in movies, I'd prepare a unctuous bath of oils and scents and luxuriate in it. I'd do a deep condition of my hair.

Then I'd write up a list of all the cool stuff that happened in 2015 and I'd write another list of all of my hopes for 2016. Save it in an envelope in your underwear drawer for next year.

On New Year's Day, I'd go through my closet and organize it, in this month's Real Simple, there's a neat article about how to do this. I'd spend the morning doing this. In the US, stores are open and sales are amazing, I'm not sure if this is true in the UK. If it is, take the dough you would have spent on a weird night out with strangers, and buy yourself a couple of new things to replace the items you got rid of.

When you get home, cook another nice meal. Perhaps something simple and elegant, a baked chicken and rice, or a big salad. It's not about indulgence per se, but of enjoying simple things.

If it's early-ish, call friends and family to wish them a happy and prosperous new year.

Go out to a movie if you like.

I was single for many, many years and one of the greatest gifts of that experience was of a certain amount of solitude and learning the ability to enjoy it.

There's no reason to make a big deal out of the New Year holiday, mark the occasion quietly and appreciate your blessings.

Have a happy and prosperous new year!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:23 AM on December 28, 2015 [6 favorites]


Agree with the others. I personally would relish the opportunity to bypass NYE shenanigans. It's expensive, crowded, and never as fun as promised. I would make myself or buy all my favourite foods and drinks. I would binge on movies (even pay to rent some because wooooo go crazy). I would deep clean the house because I love the idea of a clean house on the 1st of Jan because I'm weird like that. I would give the dog TWO treats because woooooo happy new year.

Then on New Year's Day I would go for a long walk around the quiet neighbourhood (I live by a huge park so that's where I would head) when people are still nursing their awful hangovers and look for a bakery/cafe that's actually open and get a big cup of coffee and walk around some more.

Then I would cook up a big beef and sausage pie because that's what my husband does for New Years (apparently a Scottish thing?) so that he can eat it up after work.
posted by like_neon at 8:43 AM on December 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks team - I have a plan! I am going to order a banging Thai feast, line up some films (I have Wild on the list) and luxuriate in a night to myself. On New Year's Day I have booked in a yoga workshop and volunteered for an extra shift at a local shelter. Really looking forward to it.
posted by teststrip at 4:33 AM on December 30, 2015


That sounds seriously awesome. Thai food and movie binging is my heaven. Have a lovely time!!
posted by like_neon at 12:51 PM on December 31, 2015


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