Happy New Year!

Each year I wonder - Does the way we celebrate new year's eve reflect the year to come, or just the current moment?

In case the former is correct, I have developed my own little tradition for NYE. Each year I treat myself to a bottle of fine French champagne - a different one each year. Admittedly this very civilised dabbling only began once I hit 30. The earlier years of wild dance parties and feral bush raves had faded into a smoke machine haze and I was more than happy to spend the same amount of money that used to get us through a whole weekend on one bottle of bubbles!

So ... which champagne houses have been covered to date? Moet & Chandon was my first love and kicked off the tradition in 2006 ... and having toured the caves of Reims it will always be a favourite. 2007 began with Winston Churchill's favourite - the formidable Pol Roger. This I found a bit sharp ... probably best quaffed with cigar. 2008 was telling in that I had no bubbles and indeed spent NYE in bed at a beach side caravan park - pregnant!!

And 2009? What a night. Amazing fireworks from superb Sydney harbour vantage points, family, friends, my hubby & baby girl (who insisted on staying up!) and ... a bottle of Bollinger! Sweet like honey but balanced perfectly by the brut dryness, delicate bubbles and a wonderful not drunk but floaty sensation after a few glasses!

Whether the night's celebrations are a sign of the year to come, or just reflective of where we are today - I like 2009 already!