I don't really go in for New Year celebrations. Once, the night when 1980 turned into 1981, I was at my desk working. I heard some sounds outside and remembered that it was, of course, New Year's Eve - except that it wasn't any longer. It was 12.45 am and I had missed the moment when 1981 had begun. It was no great loss.
Nevertheless, here is a photo I came across during the last half hour of 2011 which seems poignant.
