Happy New Year

Well I have just got back from welcoming in 2006 at the local Shrine. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who had headed out just after midnight in order to be one of the first to pray for good luck. I thought there would be a few people but I wasn't expecting the 30 minute queue that greeted me on arrival.
Anyway, it was good to rub shoulders with the locals and drink in the excitement of seeing in the New Year, even though it was bloody freezing. It was expensive too, because I had to buy some lucky charms to keep the evil spirits at bay. This is due to the fact that 2006 is my unlucky year in the Japanese calendar. I just hope that the expense is worthwhile and 2006 will be better than 2005.