Because it’s New Year’s Eve, because I’m reading Scottish things and I’m in the mood, because I love this version arranged by Robert Shaw, because the end of December makes me maudlin beyond the telling, and just because.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou’d the gowans fine;
we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin’ auld lang syne

And here’s a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie’s a hand o’ thine;
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne

What are you going to do tonight? It’s theatre for me: first night of a French play first, and then a late dinner with the company. We have a saying in Italy, that what you do on the first day of the year, you’ll do all year – so it can only be a good thing if the New Year finds me in a theatre and in the company of theatre folks. And then of course, on the same principle, I’ll make sure to write at least a little – but that’s for tomorrow.

For now, Happy New Year’s Eve, O Readers.