We’ve come a long, long way together…

As I sat down to write my annual New Year blog today, I began to reflect on the many similar posts I’ve created in the past. And as I painstakingly dug out all the archived links to read for inspiration (sometimes cringing at myself and other times feeling quite chuffed that it was actually me who wrote that), I realised that this blog – the one you’re reading right now this very minute – is my TENTH blog focused around the dawn of a new year. TEN! Well, they do say time flies when you’re having fun after all… I’ve come a long, long way since that first festive blog post – a little post covering an intimate NY soiree, the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight and Pacha on NYE. But really, we’ve come a long, long way together… without regular White Ibiza readers clicking on my blog each week, and without daily life in Ibiza giving me so much to write about on a regular basis, I never would have made it to this point – so thank you for indulging my little whimsies every week. But, as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same (who ‘they’ are will always baffle me, as does that saying on occasion) and I re-read that original NY blog with a very strong sense of déjà vu. You see, what I wrote then is almost as relevant today as it was then, give or take a few facts about how many businesses are open in Ibiza over the holiday period and who I’m going to smooch at midnight. It’s that time of year where most of us turn our thoughts to the previous 12 months, followed by some time to think about our hopes and dreams for 2018… with a little bit of fun and frolicking (not to mention swallowing those aforementioned 12 grapes) in between. I’m once again thinking about staying in during the early evening on New Year’s Eve and then hitting the dance floor after the magic midnight moment – this year at HEART Ibiza to the sounds of my beloved Luciano instead of Pacha, which for the first time ever is closed for renovations – before getting just a little shut-eye around dawn to save myself for the eagerly awaited annual Circoloco NYD party at DC-10.

I’ve also been thinking yet again that it’s great to see the entire island come out of hibernation for the festive period – and judging by the cost of direct flights to the island around NYE, it’s even more of a world class destination for the event than ever before. Right now, I have a list of over 30 NYE dinner events alone pinned to my desk, plus a huge array of parties and day-after brunches, lunches and of course, afters – but back when I wrote my first NYE inspired blog post you’d have been lucky to have found any more than about seven all across the island! The island is forever growing, forever changing… and while some may moan about things not being the same as the good old days, I can’t help but think it’s getting better all the time. And if you’re a newcomer to our Ibiza New Year’s Eve traditions, I have no doubt you’ll fall in love with the experience just like I did so long ago. I’ve sworn never to miss a New Year in Ibiza ever again. After a couple of (in my opinion) disastrous occasions foolishly spent overseas, I know that for me personally, there’s no better place in the world to be over New Year than Ibiza, and there are no better people to spend the NYE countdown and the many celebratory hours afterwards with than my Ibiza friends and adopted family. It’s not about flashy fireworks and fancy formal dresses, but it’s always my kind of celebration. The kind where you can do what you want, with whomever you want, wherever you want, dressed however you like. Whether it’s at home with your cats, on a beach for brunch or dancing your way through the night, day and beyond – anything is possible in Ibiza. So please excuse me for repeating myself, but I feel like this is an occasion when it’s ok to reference the past (I can see now why musicians can feel tempted to perform cover versions of older songs!) as we prepare to enter our futures. Whatever your style of celebration, whatever your resolutions and whoever you’re going to smooch at midnight, I wish you a wonderful and safe New Year and I hope you continue to read my waffle for the next ten years ahead! Happy 2018!