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Dinner for one
Dec. 31st, 2020 06:01 pmJust watched "Dinner for One" from 1963 for the umpteenth time. Found it by chance on TV, because there´s nothing to do for me today but prepare a few canapés that will go with the prosecco. Virtually unknown in the United Kingdom this one has turned into Middle Europe´s and Scandinavia´s favourite comedy scetch, broadcasted in the festive season and especially on New Year´s Eve. I think I was about twelve when I watched it for the first time, and ever since I try to not miss it at the turn of each year. It is hilarious though the humour may be more fitting for German nature. Yet I love this one, even though there´s too much alcohol in it, and the tiger skin rug would never make it into a remake for reason of animal welfare ( a pity, it´s even better than the alcohol). Dinner for one is a must on New Year´s Eve, as is "Jahreswende - Ein echter Wiener geht nicht unter", when Mundl Sackbauer fires his New Year´s rockets into an opposite flat, utter chaos ensuing. Not that we in the West of the country have the same view of humour, but this comedy is funny in its own way, besides, our neighbour did the same when I was a teenager. Our families spent the evening together, and pater familias got a bit too drunk to handle his signal pistol. He fired straight into the planter box on the other side of the street. No one got hurt, only the fir twigs got torched, but not for long, because it had been raining then.
It is getting dark outside, every now and then you will hear firecrackers and rockets, though their use has been forbidden this year. Even the end of the year has to proceed free of fun. I know many people who do not like this day. Technically it is a day like any other, unlike Christmas or Easter. But it´s interesting to reflect about this one, what it means to me now and what has changed for me from the time I was young. When I lived with my parents this day was a highlight for us children, because the families met and had fun. eat drink and be merry all evening. Besides, we were allowed to stay up way longer than usual. For a short time after my marriage New Year´s Eve was the time of glamorous parties to attend, which ended with the birth of my first child. Then it turned into a family day again, until we moved into our new home in a neighbourhood where New Year´s Eve was the day with the highest visitor frequency of the year. People were wandering around all night long, bringing sandwiches in exchange for drinks. We were never sure who´d come and where we would end up at midnight. Now we are back to the roots. Hubby and I, daughter dearest, one neighbour maybe. Advent wreath is on the table, candles are burning. Let´s sit down, have a drink or two (maybe more), and talk, talk, talk...
It is getting dark outside, every now and then you will hear firecrackers and rockets, though their use has been forbidden this year. Even the end of the year has to proceed free of fun. I know many people who do not like this day. Technically it is a day like any other, unlike Christmas or Easter. But it´s interesting to reflect about this one, what it means to me now and what has changed for me from the time I was young. When I lived with my parents this day was a highlight for us children, because the families met and had fun. eat drink and be merry all evening. Besides, we were allowed to stay up way longer than usual. For a short time after my marriage New Year´s Eve was the time of glamorous parties to attend, which ended with the birth of my first child. Then it turned into a family day again, until we moved into our new home in a neighbourhood where New Year´s Eve was the day with the highest visitor frequency of the year. People were wandering around all night long, bringing sandwiches in exchange for drinks. We were never sure who´d come and where we would end up at midnight. Now we are back to the roots. Hubby and I, daughter dearest, one neighbour maybe. Advent wreath is on the table, candles are burning. Let´s sit down, have a drink or two (maybe more), and talk, talk, talk...
