When is New Year officially old news?

Jan 9 2009 by Alan Shaw, Irvine Herald

HAPPY New Year! How many times have you heard that in the past week? How many times have you said that in the past week? More to the point, when should you stop saying it?

It’s tradition to wish someone a Happy New Year the first time you see them after the first of January but there must be a cut-off point.

This week, for example, I think is fine – everyone’s back at work after the holidays, catching up with each other.

But what about those not back until next week, will you still have Auld Lang Syne ringing in your ears then?

I met a friend last year who gave me a New Year greeting… in February.

By that time the festive season was a distant memory although, now that I think about it, perhaps he was just getting in early for the following year.

The other tradition at New Year is, of course, resolutions. Normally I don’t bother with them, that way I save myself the disappointment of breaking them within the first week of the year.

This year however, I think I’ll have a go.

I’m not calling them resolutions though. Instead it’s my list of things I'd realistically like to achieve in 2009 but not be too bothered if I don’t manage it.

It’s got the popular ones on it like eat healthily and exercise more, as well as some more specific to me such as try to go to bed earlier and stop getting so easily annoyed at inanimate objects.

I’ve also added a few topical ones including no longer listening to the so-called experts who keep appearing on our radios, TVs and newspapers warning of the misery ahead.

A final one to round off the list is to not go around wishing people a Happy New Year after the fourth of January.

Ah, that’s one gone already then…

I’ll talk to you on the Breakfast Show on 96.7 West FM – back on Monday morning from 6am, and remember you can still get in touch with your favourite Scottish Anthems for our Homecoming Chart.

Get details on that and other Homecoming events, including the West Sound Burns Supper, on our website at www.westfm.co.uk