I'd heard that New Year in London can be a fizzler and was hoping to get out of town. Pretty much everyone from my house was planning to celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh and with a little persuasion I was on the band wagon. Well actually a Ford Galaxy people carrier on an 8 hour road trip north to the Scotland coast. We scored a great deal with one of the flashiest hostels I've ever seen, inclusive of Hogmanay street ticket. That's right, Edinburgh holds such an awesome annual party that you need to buy a ticket to be allowed in to the city centre. It is famous for one of the biggest and best New Year's eve parties in the world! A big claim and one I was keen to find out for myself.

I've only been here a few days and I've fallen in love with this city. It's truly breath taking. Yesterday I took a self-guided tour of Edinburgh castle, which sits ominously on top of an extinct volcano in the centre of the city. The views were so impressive that even the freezing gales punishing my face couldn't hold me back. I managed to kill about 2 hours learning some of the amazing history behind Edinburgh Castle and exploring the grounds and buildings, all open to the public, including the former royal palace chambers and the crown jewels of Scotland. Some room near the walls were sectioned off for a barrage of fire works but this only added to my excitement about the upcoming festivities. That said, I guess you could say I had extremely high expectations which is probably why I was a little disappointed with the street party last night. The musical entertainment was there in the form of the Scissor Sisters and Blondie, but with a ridiculously overcrowded street and managing to lose all my friends in the crowd at the crucial moment, I began to feel a little disillusioned. My spirits were slightly raised with several Hogamanay (or Snogmanay as some refer it) kisses. The party ended at 1am and a mass exodus ensued leaving behind a swelling mass of rubbish with the combined stench of spilled alcohol and vomit on the streets. So off I troop to the last hostel bus which within minutes had returned me to a fully partying hostel bar full of happy and intoxicated travellers. So all turned out well in the end and I had a fantastic time. I'm very impressed with this hostel. It has everything... small cinema, gym, spa, sauna, bar... you name it! The best kitted out place I've stayed in with top staff. It's hard to belive it's a hostel.

We had some time for sight seeing the other day, visiting the William Wallace National Memorial and Stirling castle. Not quite castled out yet but getting close and of course you all remember William Wallace. You know... Braveheart? Mel Gibson? YOU'LL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!!! Right, anyway it was another towering structure on the top of another mountain. Definitely worth the steep climb and spiraling stair case. Again, outstanding 360 degree views, with full rainbows over the mountainous countryside. Then of course the tremendous gale force winds. My puffy jacket saved me from the cold chill but almost caused me to blow off the tower like a kite. Mental note: don't wave for cameras in Scottish winds.

Tomorrow morning we head back to London, making a short stop for sight seeing in York.

Thanks for all the New Year messages. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! Look after yourself and remember how lucky you are to be alive in this crazy world.

Zane