What do you have planned fro New Years Eve?....and a little comp

[CBL]

Just picked up these books and a Siglo II, the P2 is from an old box. Can't wait to read those books!

[MrDowse]

I drew the short straw at work so i'm on call tonight which limits my boozing but still doing a big celebratory meal. Gambas Con Ajillo to start. 3kg Rib Roast is in the oven to be served with fondant potatoes, yorkshire pudding & buttered greens. My better half made Lemon Possett (similar to Pannacotta) for dessert so it's looking good. I'm starving already!

Happy New Year Everyone

[riazp]

Gonna be a cold one tonight...i'm thinking nothing bigger than a minuto. so party short, rascc or bcj it will be. will be sure to post a pic tommorow!

[PigFish]

Hope your O.K mate nothing to serious I hope

H.A.G.O

Not a way to start the year Fuzzy. Be well mate! -P

[PigFish]

If they let me out of the rubber room, perhaps they will fire hose it down. I will scrape a little rust of the buckles of my straight jacket, light up a cigar and imagine that I am sane and the world is cracked!!!

Happy New Year everyone! -the Pig

[khamy]

Its started well for me, was let out on day release, had a dip4 and got working on the barbie

Found out wife had grown a mullet during my incarceration.

Friends had turned into bogans (hard to translate this australian slang term without offending)

But all was good so handed out the cigars - which somehow were glowing at this point in the night.

Happy New Year from Sydney Everyone

[Vcool]

Here is some dancin shoes.

[ImTripN2]

My first NYE in Sydney so I will be heading down to the harbour with 250,000 of my close friends to watch what all Sydneysiders have assured me is the best fireworks in the world.

Gonna miss you bro. In fact, I am thinking of raiding your humis for something really good to smoke!

JK, the Mrs and I are heading down to Capt'n Frankies gfriends place on Lake Union to watch the 2nd best fireworks in the world. Have a bag full of ERDM PCs for the crew, and a Cohiba Esplendido for myself. Clear and cold here and should be a great NYs eve.

Happy and prosperous New Years to all !!

[ned]

well my girlfriend and I ended up going to Mrs. Macquaires Chair in Sydney. It is supposedly one of the best vantage points to watch the fireworks that Sydney is famous for. we got there about 2, along with about 17000 other people. we walked around looking for a good spot, down in the prime viewing locations people were packed in like sardines. i have never seen so many people on top of each other. we ended up getting a place down the back, a nice shady spot. we had our esky, chairs, food and a few nice cigars. we spent the afternoon just relaxing in the beautiful summer day. well the first show went off at 9pm, it was good but definitely just the warm up piece. around 11 we packed up all our stuff, stashed it by a tree and went down to try to find a good spot. there were people everywhere, we ended up in a decent spot but it was kind of obscured by a tree. trying to get down to some of the better viewing spots was nearly impossible thanks to the rent-a-cops who were so pumped up with the power they had. they screamed at everyone, you need a wrist band or stamp to get in here, if you dont have one you cant come in. granted this was a public park and a open to the public viewing area. well as we waited i noticed there was this little rope holding back 1000+ people from the best spot in the park. there were a few media outlets set up but other than that it was empty....well right as the 12am fireworks started, i touched this rope and it magically just cut in half and fell to the ground. i was amazed! so i walked in, walked right down to the media only area and my girl and I watched the fireworks next to a photographer from the Sydney Morning Herald and an ABC camera man. in the end I got to see my first Sydney fireworks from one of the best vantage points in all of the harbour.

here are some photos from the guy who was next to me http://www.smh.com.a...1231-2c253.html

and here are some of my pics, taken with a samsung galaxy s2

[Ophidion]

98 erdm lons was my final decision after a plp for a warmup.

[LGC]

Here is some dancin shoes.

No pics of you wearing them?

[orangedog]

Hanging by the fire in the largest all-white jump suit made by man.

[backslide]

Well I'm working tonight, but I did smoke a a current favorite of mine durring the drive in.

[AndrewNR]

My 2cents with whatever pictures i remembered to take are coming soon, Had a cracker of a 3 day long new years!

[Vcool]

No pics of you wearing them?

I think you've all seen as much of the unicorn pics as anyone wants to see. lets not have a repeat.

[Cohiba007]

Nice steak dinner at a great steakhouse in Orlando with my girlfriend. Then had some friends back to my house where we rung in the new year. Great time

[Nino]

Sure can't beat the Sydney fireworks, but here are some pics from our fireworks in the village for New Year and how we celebrated.

[riazp]

Enjoyed a RASS finally on NYE. it was only about -5 celcius with the wind so it was not that bad. Fireworks and party in montreal's old port. Fun night with great friends.

[compitaveggie]

On New Year's Eve my family and my best friend ( married to my wife's twin sister) decided to have a little party at my house. It was the first party we have had at our house since moving in this past October. We ordered food from a local italian restaurant and had wine and cheese. My friend and I had the rare opportunity to smoke a cigar. I had a San Cristobal La Punta that was amazing!!! I have always liked this marca and it didn't disappoint. My friend had the 2012 EL HUpmann Robusto, his was a tad bit young but he enjoyed the moment of peace and quiet while we sat outside in the cold and drank some good beers. We watched the countdown on tv with both my kids awake and finished off by eating some dessert. Monday morning was the start of the diet so my wife and went to the park to run a few miles. All in all a very calm and enjoyable NYE ad day.

Jose

[kidmac]

BHK 52 and some great company...

[AndrewNR]

Ok, Finally I have time and composure to drop my yarn here.

Let me start by saying I had an incredible new years full of surprises, Great food, Fantastic company, Good drinks and more importantly unforgettably good times!

It was some months ago I'd started throwing around a sketchy plan for new years, My wife and I both knew due to the nature of our work we'd both be here in Adelaide mostly stricken from the Friends and Family we'd just moved away from in Adelaide. Not to let this dampen our spirits we were talking to a friend who was one of my groomsmen also living here in Adelaide and as he was to be here too, We'd all make the effort to have a new years at my place. The plan was simple, A quiet affair, maybe some seafood and some wine. Soon my parents decided they were going to visit as well over the new years period, And Jamie(groomsman) had a new girlfriend so the plan grew some.

As part of a Christmas present to my parents I upgraded plans to a no expense spared seafood and other goodies feast for new years.

Parents came down and started staying with us on the 29th. I was working right up until the 31st. Morning of the 31st I set off to the markets looking for top grade eats. Got my hands on some incredible cheeses, as I explained to Jamie;

"Bastardo del grappa, a cheddar washed in Italian moonshine. La buche affinoise, like a .. Brie.. Distantly.. It's like finding out you have a cousin who wears short red shorts.. And Herve mons bleu de causses, a blue so blue only the French could be responsible. The affinoise is French too, bastard is Italian."

Next was small goods where I indulged in freshly sliced proscuitto, an array of authentic salami's, capocollo, Cacciatore, rolled spicy pancetta, smoked mussels, cured cuttlefish, white anchovies, olives and a few others that evade memory at the moment.

An hour and a half later I'd finished my onslaught into the depths of the Adelaide Central market for fresh herbs, spices and vegetables for seafood dishes and was off to Samtass seafood wholesale. There I was still gun happy and not wanting any of my 4 guests or the wife and I to be be hungry A few of the things I purchased for I naively thought that evening were; dozens of oysters, 3 to go with the dozen my Dad had brought with him. No idea what I was thinking. Kilo and a half of whole Australian Prawns, steaks of sushimi grade tuna and salmon (No king fish there and the Swordfish looked..sad) a box of scampi I believe about 3 dozen scollaps and again a few other bits and pieces that escape me now. It was about 2:30PM at this stage, Well beond when I should of had a beer in my hand! So it was home quickly with my haul to start celebrating new years eve.. And being a chef by trade.. To start making this colossal mountain of food something mouthwatering tantalizing to path the way for the new year.

Not too long a time later, Perhaps 5:30PM? I'm knee deep in the kitchen jungle, Hammer and tongs against it all as my guests are around the kitchen chatting to me and each-other as I prepare platters and have herbed and seasoned cherry tomatoes drying fresh in the oven. At this stage something incredible happens, At the hands of my diabolically sneaky wife my best friend knocks on my door from 400K's away with his mother. Apparently they'd spoken 4 hours earlier and on a spur of the moment decision he'd decided to join me for celebrating in the new year! I was beside myself with joy at the surprise. He and his mother spend the Christmas and new years season together and had done since a year before his father died in a freak accident, which wasn't many years ago. We'd had a carpet bowls tradition running since then, And this year until now it wasn't to be. I'm thanking my lucky stars I'd gone ballistic on food, But I'm also asking myself where on earth 8 people are going to sleep? Little to be known this was only the beginning of what became a 3 day new years celebration.

Many drinks are had, Reminiscing done, Story's told. All in all some of the delicacies I prepared and served up through the night were;

Herbed, seasoned and buttered grilled scampi

Herb crumbed Scollaps aswell as dressed grilled scollaps.

Oysters escebeche, strawberry and lime oysters, oyster kilpatric few others.

Sushimi platter dressed with olive oil, balsamic reduction, shallots, capers, water cres

Cured meats platter

Cheese platter with muscatels, dried apricots, almonds, hazel nuts, australian walnuts, apples, lavosh etc.

Fresh fruit platter, strawberries, mangoes, apricots, nectarines etc.

That's the main call I can recall.. Also fresh prawns, At some point in the night Jamie and my best friend and best man from my wedding Ian had a bit of an inspired moment with the prawns.. Rum may have been involved.. Ian suggested Jamie try one of the prawns eyes, As he assured known as the delicacy "Sea Peas". Jamie obliged.. Provided Ian had one first.. Couple Sea Peas consumed later they suggest I have one, Which was when I first found out about it and was too busy laughing to consider it. Mind you, Many a prawn heads were sucked that evening. Best part as we die hards know.

Somewhere before the platters mind you we went for a walk by the torrens river, Which litterly is accross the road from me and quite scenic, I took a RASS and had my last cigar for 2012. We hung around and watched the ducks and rats run around the river some and then went for a walk for about an hour.

Night went on until about 12:30 when we were all so exhausted it was bed time. Jamie and his partner slept on couch pillows in the room my humidor and bike gear is in, Ian and his mother slept in swags in my dressing room and my parents slept in the living room on the fold out couch, I was amazed we'd found room for everyone.

The next day only Jamie and his partner had to leave the house. Ian had brought with him another kilo prawns, And there was enough left over everything to keep eating through the day. Steph and I did a quick clean of the house and the new years celebrations just continued. About 1:30PM I thought we might need something else for tea, Luckily I had a couple ducks in the freezer so I yanked one out. I had left over herbed crumbs from the scollaps, Quite allot actually, And oranges for fruit platters.. So for dinner.. Duck L'orange! I boned out my duck, stuffed it with the crumbs and some juice from the oranges, and rubbed the skin in salt. I was about to roll and tie it when disaster! No baking twine! We all looked around for an alternative, And after butchering the nylon from the draw string on the blinds, Settled on gum tree twins that Lee(Ians Mother) carefully selected from the garden in the absence of skewers and tooth picks aswell! I set that aside and made a stock from the roasted bones and reduced that with some other chefs secrets for my sauce. Tragedy averted! Duck L'Orange and roast veg for tea it was! Not bad for things I had kicking around! And Jamie's new partner was bringing a lemon lime cheese cake!

Another fantastic night, comparing a love of motorcycles, Leonard cohen and who knows what else! Also the night we all played carpet bowls in a 2 halved round robin style with I think 19 rounds per half. We split it to the above and below 30's teams of 2 2's, The below 30's team won, But not by much. Lee's a formidable bowls player, A champion of all lawn bowls, carpet and ten pin. Ians no stranger to competition either. Us inexperienced amateurs had a lucky day! Most improved on the night was my Dad, Who started off having trouble getting it up. But managed to follow through beautifully later in the night. Needless to say.. It turns out the innuendo's the game of bowls provides are both hilarious, and endless. It was also a great sentiment for Ian, Lee, Steph and I to be playing another year in a row.

Following and final day as everyone was heading off around 1 before I had to return to work. Last of what was left was consumed and Lee had asked for Garlic prawns, So I whipped some up for lunch and as I did that low and behold everyone chipped in and rearranged the house for Steph and I and cleaned it without a word needing to be said. Steph had to return to work at 7AM that morning so it was fantastic for both of us to after such a big 3 days have a house all of a sudden clean and tidy again.

Heartfelt goodbyes were said and everyone parted ways about 1 except for Jamie and his partner who couldn't make it due to a mysterious illness I suspect connected to alcohol and sea peas.

As they were getting into their cars and leaving I noticed another car behind there's, My landlord had turned up to see the hoards leaving my humble abode.. A good look surely! Lucky strike they'd cleaned the house before they left!

She was there to check the kitchen with an insurance plumber after a leak.. who kindly without telling me left in a hurry after he'd somehow bumped my iPhone into the kitchen sink full of soapy water. Which miraculously survived and lived to tell the tale after a few hiccups and lots of blow drying.

Worth mentioning is how rewarding it was having such quality friends around me in the end for new years. Although I did allot of preparing and cooking and spent a few quid, Compensation couldn't have been offered more (somewhat annoyingly to me). And a dish wasn't left long on the sink before someone quickly washed and dryed it and put it away for steph and I, aswell as tidying the house all the time and just generally being amazing and humbling friends and guests.

It was an incredible 3 day new years for me that I think won't soon be surpassed.

I'd spent some time pondering which of my cigars to have for the big celebration.. And in the end I got so caught up in it I'd forgot to have one. So it was fortunate for that humble little Rass I'd had earlier on.

To the quality and enjoyment you've added to my life with your Czar operation this year El Prez, Thankyou.

And thankyou to the Czar community also for the countless hours of reading and entertainment I've found here.

I had a year that was all over the shop, And I don't think I'm into smooth sailing yet, But progress is a journey and I've got a 1st class ticket with my wife, friends and what I'm aiming to achieve.

Cheers to 2012, And bring on 2013!

As Prez would say, The start sure has been a cracker!

Andrew.

[Diamondog]

Not much of a new years eve for cigars interestingly enough. As some know i am going through a divorce, nasty business unfortunately. I have been seperated over a year now. I am seeing a wonderful woman for some time now but have kept the relationship aside from the children as i will allow nothing within my control to negatively impact my children about the situation. My girlfriend and i have have had discussions about waiting to make sure the children are adjusting ok and lets face it, the last thing the kids need is somebody new to get attached to and then it doesnt pan out. My girlfriend has been very understanding and supportive but also is looking to move forward with us. A few days before new years eve i asked her if she was ready because i now felt it was the right time to make this happen. Of course she was ready, so i told the kids a "friend" was coming over for new years eve and we would have a small party, kids ecstatic.....my "friend" was welcomed with open hearts by both my 6 year old girl and 4 year old boy. WHAT A RELIEF!!!!! Cigars did not even cross my mind new years eve, some days, very few they just take a back seat to life....

[Drguano]

My wife and I were asleep by 10:00 on New Years Eve but December 30 was a blast. It was our last night in Dublin and we had planned to relax by the fire. Then I received a call from FOH's newest Moderator stating that he and some BOTLs were going to the pub for a pint and a smoke. We met Andy and company a while later and had a pint and a smoke. And another pint. And another. And a whisky. While we sat a outside and smoked with Conor, Lonon, Emmie (at this point my name recall skills ran out so I am making this up) Louisa from Doc Martin and the son of O'Brien, the engineer from Star Trek Next Generation, my wife Agnes (her real name) discovered who we knew in common. I was delighted to learn that Conor used to own one of my favorite pubs in Seattle. It still bears his name but unfortunately seems to feature bluegrass msuic instead of Celtic. By the time we returned to the house, it was 12:30 am. Our cab was coming to collect us at 4:00 so we just stayed up until then. Aer Lingus to Amsterdam where we had 90 minutes to go out through immigration, collect our bags and clear Customs, go upstairs and check in to standby for our flight to Minneapolis. Then it was back through passport control and off to the gate. We made it and settled into Business Class with time for drinks before pushing back. Thanks again, Andy for the custom rolls! I look forward to the day the temp gets up to 0 so I can enjoy one.

[mk05]

You got me there with those twigs. hahaah

[BrotherBear]

My wife and I hosted NYE at our house this year. As usual there was plenty of food and booze to go around.

Party area:

Who needs a fridge to party? Set up a table on the deck!

To stay warm:

All in all I think we all had a blast