Looking forward...

I'm going to start the beginning of my last rota'd work days of 2011 (yes I only have 4 official work days left this year) looking forward to next year.

For those of you who know us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/unikgifts) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/u_ni_k) you'll see how cheeky this post is and will know that Anna's going to kick my behind for this (more than the arts vs. science degree debate!), but here goes:

2012 A very special year – Let's party like it's 2012...

Are you excited about 2012? Well you should be, and here's a few reasons why:

Leap year proposal

2012 is a leap year, which for us using the Georgian calendar means that the month of February has an extra day. Yep Feb 29^th is the topsy turvy day that traditionally ladies propose to their menfolk. Now I know in these days of equality a lady can propose to a man (or another lady) any day of the year that she chooses but there's something special about the lovely tradition of proposing on the 29^th Feb. And lovely traditions are something we at u-ni-k are rather fond of, and you never know perhaps Anna will take this upcoming opportunity to propose to her other half. [I'd wear an extra special hat on that day!]

2012 also sees some events to celebrate being British!

Buckingham Palace

It is the year of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II – A diamond anniversary used to be the 75^th year but is now more commonly the 60^th year of celebration. If it's a marriage celebration in the Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the monarch for 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, this is done by applying to Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, or to the Governor-General's office in the other Commonwealth realms. [Better hurry up with that proposal then Anna....]

You'll be bowled over to know that diamond anniversaries are usually celebrated by the giving of diamonds (duh?!), but since the QE II herself owns plenty of diamonds over 6000 in the Imperial crown of India [which includes the Koh-i-noor – a huge diamond at 105.6 carats!!!!!), she'll probably not need any more. So don't send her majesty any diamonds, but get out the bunting and celebrate with her!

London 2012

THE OLYMPICS!

My friend Fred,
Portland Harbour

A showcase of British Talent, hospitality and global presence – this is the year for the London 2012 Olympics! Britain is full of Olympic spirit and 2012 is their year to shine. The Olympic complex is mainly based in London, but the watersports (sailing, windsurfing etc) will be based in one of my favourite places – Weymouth! [at the excellent Portland Harbour]. So once again, out comes the bunting and flags, time to shout for your team and celebrate all things that make GB Great.

My wedding...

Not forgetting this will also be the first vintage year of u-ni-k IT HQ's damson gin. Damsons from the garden, gin from a local store, sugar and time hopefully have made this a classic vintage. We'll let you know once the hangovers have cleared. [First tastings seem to have gone down well...]

So, a busy year all in all [especially for Anna as she may have a wedding to plan] she'd better book a date before December though. Many have predicted the end of the world or that cataclysmic / transformative events will occur on December 21 2012. So good job we partied like it was 2012 then for the rest of the year!

:p