As the New Year comes in–next year’s garlic crop is being planted in the fields around us.
The weather is perfect today for the long and painstaking task–no rain and little wind.
Sitting in threes behind a tractor all day dropping the garlic clove by clove into the holes made by the drill machine is no party! They make it a family and friends affair round us like they do when lifting it in six months time.
They’ll plant as much as they can before the big night’s celebrations later this evening.
New Year is as important here as it is in Scotland.
New Year cards arrive from our neighbours rather than Christmas cards.
I said “Bonne Année!” to a stallholder in the market last Saturday and she was quick to put me right.
“Non, non, Monsieur–on ne dit pas ça jusqu’a la veille. Bonnes fêtes!”
[No, no, Sir, we don’t say that until the evening before. Enjoy the festivals!]
Maybe it’s considered bad luck to wish the year over betimes–makes sense.
De toutes façons—anyway—be that as it may and with no disrespect to our lovely neighbors:
A very Happy New Year to everyone and a big Thank You to you all for supporting this blog. Your responses make it worthwhile. This year with all its ups and downs is one I shan’t forget.
The folk here say when wishing you Bonne Année always add “mais surtout bon santé“–“but above all Good Health“.
Here’s a gentle way to segue into 2013 with the oddly named but charming Unthanks…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2012/dec/26/unthanks-tar-barrel-dale-other-voices-video
Robin Ellis 
You dear man, Bonne Annee and mais surtout bon santé to you both! AND the same to your dear pets. xxxxx
Thank you for sharing your life with us, Robin–I find that it gives me a smile and a reminder to keep on going, be times tough or happy. Wishing you, Meredith & the kit-cats a healthy, happy New Year!
Happy New Year and good health to you, Robin, and to Meredith. Who knows; things might actually improve next year. However, the same people will still be in office who got us into this deficit mess.
A very Happy and Great New Year dear Robin to you and Meredith! All the Best, Bea xoxoxoxo
TIM: la tua mail in mobilità con il BlackBerry®
Similar in Scotland. If you meet someone before midnight on New Year’s Eve you say ” Happy New Year…when it comes “. My wishes for you!
On the first day of this year…
I make a wish that,
Happiness be at your door
May it knock early, stay late
And leave the gift of God’s Peace,
Love, Joy & Good Health Behind!
May this year be the best of all
Happy New Year!
Joan x
Happy New year to you, Robin, from your friends in Memphis, TN, USA! I am new to your blog, but I’ve really enjoyed reading it. I look forward to your posts–thanks so much! Michelle Crews
Thanks Michelle–welcome and Bonne Année!
A prosperous and healthy New Year to you, Robin and Meredith. Thanks so much for your blog, your books, and your acting. The song was video was awesome, a poignant finish to the year. God bless you in 2013 and always.
Dear Robin, this was my first year since discovering your blog and I just want to say how much I look forward to each one. Thank you for many happy Poldark years, it is still as fresh today as it was all those years ago. I look forward to hearing about your life, health, loves and cats in 2013 and bon chance to you all.
A Happy New Year from Nova Scotia, and Good Health to you, Robin and Meredith
A Happy and Healthy New Year to you, Meredith and the kitties! xxxx
Hi Robin and Meredith and six furry faces, and a Happy 2013 to you all and thankyou too for your lovely newsy blogs. And Happy Birthday for the 8th Robin (same birthday as Elvis – must mean a star was born!) ☺😊 Love from Linda Lowery
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:20:59 +0000
To: twokerry@hotmail.com
“Happy New Year to Robin and Meredith and all your furry friends. For us it has not been one of the best. However, I always get joy and knowledge out of reading your blog. Thanks for all the diabetes info. I am getting the Snake soon. Your friend from Delaware, USA
Well, my friend, happy New Year to you and Meredith!!! This comes from my cats too! They are Betty, Pepper, Sabrina, Wheedles, Choc-Choc, Tish, and Emily!!!
BEAUTIFULSong Thank you so much. I cannot tell you how much I love your. blog Robin You make us feel like we are right there with you May Godbless all that you hold dear. Happy New Year to you Meredith the chicks THOSE ADORABLE Fur Monsters. And to all reading this. Happiness Peace of Mind and Good Health. With much Love from Judy!!!
Many blessings, Robin and Meredith for the coming year.
Buon anno a te e ai tuoi cari, Capitano! Love, Domitilla from Italy
Happy New Year! Thank you for turning us on to the “Unthanks”. Beautiful voices, beautiful song.
Thank you Robin. I would like to wish you, Meredith and your furry and feathered family a very Happy New Year too – likewise good health, love, happiness and peace. I would like to wish that for all of this planet’s occupants too. God bless x
The writer and poet E. Kästner brought it excellently in a rhyme to take risk positive.
“Will it be better?
Will it be worse?”
they ask every year.
Let’s be honest:
life is always
mortally dangerous.
In this sense, I wish you all
A Happy New Year 2013
Thanks for your delicious recipes and good stories.
Wishing you both a very happy and healthy new year x
Happy new year to you… And soon happy birthday we see.. (mine is the third by the way)
I watched you in poldark as a teenager 🙂 loved it then and now thanks to Netflix I have introduced the series to us her now in Santa Monica, California. My wife Monika from Cincinnati and her mum originally from Germany.
Just wanted to say how much we are enjoying the show, feasting on several episodes at a time and loved your great acting.
Had to “google” you 🙂 they wondered if you really had a scar… Lol.
Hope the garlic makes a bumper crop.
Warmest regards
Richard, Monika and Walburga
Thanks Richard–I’m glad it still stands up enough after all these years! Welcome to the blog.
Dear Robin and Meredith,
Gelukkig nieuw jaar!!!
A Happy and healthy new year to you,
And for the cats, Lot’s of playfun and hide and seek in 2013.
For all the bloggers, Keep calm and carry on in the crisis!
Love Caroline
Happy New Year Robin and Meredith – well wishes for the new year, good health, happiness, and good fortune over us all. – Helen (from Virginia, but spending the holidays in Scotland!)
Have a glorious year, and thank you so much for your wonderful website. You’ve reawakened my interest in cooking! (and in all things French) Cheers to you, Meredith and your lovely cats. May it be a wonderful year for all.
Thank you, Robin. I always enjoy keeping up with your blog. Karen Fleming
Happy New Year and Abundant Good Health back to you! Sent with beautiful rays of sunshine and fragrant Ocean breezes.from Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Beautiful song, Robin.
Thanks for introducing the Unthanks to me.
And a wonderful year to you both
Thanks Chris–meilleux voeux and good health to you and yours for 2013!