Yes, yes, yes. Late I know. Anyway, here goes – “Happy New Year”. I sincerely wish it to be productive and full of real gladness for you and your loved ones.

A Slovak New Year is pretty much like many other parts of the world. A lot of fireworks and celebrations. Not much else to say there!

As the year rolled over, people went to their windows to watch the sky light up. Some used the balconies and windows of their Panelák apartments to fire off their own.

The more controversial types of rockets and explosive types of crackers, etc. that have been banned in other countries are still available here - so observing from the safety of your house or apartment isn’t a bad idea…

Looking back over 2006: I thought I’d use this more ‘contemplative’ time of year to take a look back over the year with this blog. Think of it as a bit like one of those Christmas/New Year episodes of your favourite sit-com. You know, where they run out of ideas for an episode, and so hash one together out of bits and pieces of previous shows.

But, as boring as that may sound, unless you’ve read all the posts on this site, you may well find it interesting – as below I’ll list some of the more popular posts I’ve made over the last year. You’ll meet a few interesting characters, and taste a slice of Slovak life in this post-communist part of the world.

Here goes:

• The Fence – a decade in the making, but worth it…
• Wet, wet, wet - throw water on your family, and they’ll love you for it
• Marge & Ted - Self-sufficent Villagers
• Aggressors, Victims, & Scapegoats - 7,300 Germans, buried far from home
• Gypsy Intro - a Spotlight on the Roma, 10% of the Slovak population
• Contrast & Change - Watching western inroads
• Old Towns with New Life - Undoing the neglect of Communism
• Four Villages, Four Villagers - Meeting the locals
• The Other Side of Tatry - Across the border into Poland
• Life on Slovak Roads - Watch your step
• Two Outlaws - spotlighting two Communist-era Criminals
• The Dream Machine - Reminiscing over auto-purchasing experiences of yesteryear
• Renovating - the Slovak help-one-another approach
• Traditional Dress - ‘peasants’ dressed like Kings and Queens
• Recycling in Slovakia - if it’s not screwed down… (or even if it is!)
• Wheeling & Dealing - Buying a car today is ’somewhat’ easier…
• Slovenia - not to be confused with Slovakia
• Prime Suspect - yours truly gets into a spot of bother with the local constabulary
• Life in a Panelák - welcome to the home of a large percentage of Slovakians
• Life on Slovak Roads, Part II - Keep watching your step
• Castles in the Air - Scattered all over
• High in Slovak Mountains - Climbing Slovakia’s most loved peak
• PC Slovakia - Political correctness hasn’t quite made it here yet, thankfully…