Happy New Year!! Šťastný nový rok!!
In Czechland, it is also Czech Independence Day!
Šťastný nový rok! Nappy New Year! PF 2023!
Another year has come and gone. For ten years, I managed to visit at least one new country a year but that didn't happen in 2020, due to Covid-19, and this is the first year since then that I managed to go to a new country. Well, sort of a new country if you count the Bailiwick of Jersey, one of the UK's Crown Dependencies, as a country.
Besides St. Helier, I managed to go to Austria and Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina for my Easter trip, plus Germany and Bilbao, Spain. More countries than last year.
This next year already looks better when it comes to public holidays. This year we only had eight public holidays but this year we get ten. We only lose three public holidays next year due to them falling on the weekend.
I missed my niece's high school graduation in 2020 due to Covid travel restrictions, so I'm hoping to finally make it over for a visit in 2023.
Happy New Year!! Šťastný nový rok!! Today is Czech Independence Day which is not to be confused with Czech Statehood Day. Czech Independence Day celebrates the establishment of an independent Czech Republic (and Slovakia) as a result of Czechoslovakia's Velvet Divorce.
Last night was a karaoke Silvestr party at the cottage. Lots of fun!!
Dinner for One, or Der 90. Gerburtstag (The 90th Birthday), is a black-and-white television comedy sketch that was released in 1963. It was adapted from a British stage skit that was performed by Freddie Frinton and May Warden.
It enjoys cult status in Germany and is shown every year for New Year's. Since 1995, it is the most frequently repeated television programme in Germany ever. It is also very popular in Austria and Switzerland, plus in Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Despite coming from the UK, it wasn't broadcast there until 2018.
What's remarkable about the show is that despite it being broadcast in English, and without subtitles, it is still tremendously popular. Even Germans who can't speak English will still usually be able to quote lines from the comedy in English.
The basic premise is that Miss Sophie is celebrating her 90th birthday and, as in every other year, invited her four closest friends. Unfortunately, she has outlived everyone so her butler, Mr. Winterbottom, gives a toast by proxy. He gets tipsy and there's a bit of physical comedy. All in good fun.
Here's a short Meet the Germans video that talks about this cult classic.
Here's the show which is out on YouTube.
Šťastný nový rok!
Happy New Year!
PF 2022
It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Since 2009, I always visited at least one new country a year but that streak ended in 2019 because, due to Covid restrictions, my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia was cancelled.
This year I only managed to visit Germany and Poland. I didn't even make it to Slovakia this year and I had been to Slovakia every year since I moved to Czechland.
Fingers crossed that I've have a few more travel adventures in 2022. Although, it may be harder with only 8 public holidays next year.
A couple of things that will be interesting in 2022 have to do with the Czech government. First of all, there's a new prime minister. Then in July, Czech Republic takes over six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council.
Tonight the boys are coming over for a few drinks. Sort of a pre-Silvestr get together. But nothing for me to drink tonight since I received my booster yesterday. Tomorrow night is a New Year's karaoke party at the cottage.
From yesterday until 2 January, there are new tighter Covid restrictions in place.
Update: It was great catching up with the boys last night.
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| Martin, Vilém, Martin, and me. |
Šťastný nový rok!
Happy New Year!
PF 2021
What a year 2020 has been and I'm glad that it is just about over. Here's hoping that 2021 will be much better.
2020 was supposed to be a big travel year. I was all set with trips to 20 countries in 2020. I started off strong and then COVID-19 came in and flipped the script. However, I was fortunate enough to still hit 8 countries.
Since 2009, I always visit at least one new country a year. This year it was going to be Vietnam and Cambodia. That didn't happen so my streak came to an end. Oh well. The biggest disappointment was not getting to the USA this year. I missed getting to see my parents, Steven & Michael, and make it to my nieces's high school graduation which ended up getting cancelled anyway due to COVID-19. Hopefully I can make it over to the USA in 2021 but it all depends on how quickly the vaccine gets distributed.
I can't believe that I don't have any travel planned right now. By this time of the year I've normally pretty much planned out the entire year. As of now, nothing is in the diary. I haven't even bothered to look at the 2021 public holiday calendar to find out what long weekends we'll have next year. Very unlike me.
At least I'm safe and don't have COVID-19. All of my family is safe and doing their best to keep isolated.
My biggest hope for 2021 is that I can finally sit for my language exam and citizenship test. If I pass, and can submit my paperwork then hopefully I'll get Czech citizenship some time in 2022.
Šťastný nova rok! Happy New Year!
Last night was New Year's Eve but we kept it pretty low key. We had sushi for dinner and then hung out in the centre for a bit.
The Christmas Markets are still open until 5 January and the city put on a videomapping show at náměstí Svobody.
Here's a short clip from last night's videomapping show.
Aside from New Year's Day, today is also Czech Independence Day. It's been 27 years since Czech Republic became an independent country following the Velvet Divorce.
Update: Here's the complete 10 minute NYE videomapping show that I found on YouTube.
©Spectrum Production
In 2019 I was fortunate enough to visit 20 countries. Happy New Year to everyone I met along the way.
Šťastný nový rok! Frohes neues Jahr! Godt nytår! Head uut aastat! Yangi yilingiz bilan! С новым годом! Guten Rutsch! Bliadhna Mhath Ùr! Felice anno nuovo! Selamat tahun Baru! Gott nytt år! Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh! ¡Feliz año nuevo! Laimingų Naujųjų metų! Laimīgu Jauno gadu! 新年快樂！ புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! 新年快乐!
2020 is a leap-year, with 1 January falling on a Wednesday, which means that we will get 11 public holidays. 11 of 13 public holidays is the most public holidays that can be because if public holidays fall on a weekend you lose them.
With the way that the days fall we will have six long weekends. I've already got a number of trips already planned including a February trip to Geneva to visit Natalie. In May I'm headed to the USA for a few weeks to see my niece graduate high school. It's going to be a busy travel year with trips to Slovakia, North Macedonia, Sweden, Finland, the Åland Islands, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Austria, Germany, France, Russia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
#20countriesin2020
Happy New Year! Last night was the Dublin New Year's Festival down at the River Liffey by the Custom House.
It's cool because there were three different shows. At 6 pm there was a family friendly music and light show. At 7 pm there was a "midnight matinee" countdown so that all of the kids could celebrate New Years. It's brilliant because it also works for us old people that don't want to have to stay awake until midnight. 
At 8 pm there was a countdown concert with live performances by Walking on Cars, Ash, Aimee, and Lisa McHugh. 
PF 2019! Štástný nový rok!!
The big new year's event in London is the New Year's Day Parade. The parade consists of over 8,000 performers from across the world.
In between practices, the girls had the opportunity to do quite a bit of London sightseeing including a performance of Wicked.
I did get the chance to take her out to dinner a couple of nights. I was lucky enough to see her in July so two family visits in the same year is just awesome. She is growing up to be quite the remarkable young lady and it was so fun to hear what she thought of her first visit to Euroland. 
With over 8,000 performers, and packed London streets, I knew that there was little chance to actually see her in the parade. But it was fun to try.
PF 2018! Šťastný nový rok!!
PF 2017!! Šťastný nový rok!!
Šťastný nový rok! Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh! Blein Vie Noa! Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku! З Новым годам! Tau Hou hari! Gelukkig nieuwjaar! Selamat tahun Baru! Boldog új évet! С новым годом! Hyvää uutta vuotta! 新年快樂！ புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்! 
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Everyone has been really busy over the last couple of weeks so I decided a New Year's brunch was long overdue. Especially since many of us were all traveling at New Year's. So this morning everyone came over to my flat for an American style breakfast.
Miran was here this weekend and went with me yesterday on my scavenger hunt for maple syrup. Note to self...bring back maple syrup when you visit the USA this September. The only syrup we could find at Tesco was imported from Canada and, at $12 for 375 ml (12.8 oz), it was pricey. But a necessity for American pancakes. 
Don't get me wrong. These paličinky are very good but they are definitely not pancakes. Anyway...we had plenty of food, great company and it was wonderful to have everyone together. Now to keep up the momentum of getting everyone together at least once a month.
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