ItalyUpdate

Despite the recession, 2015 came in with its usual bang. Strangers hugged and embraced in the piazzas, restaurants and homes. Tables groaned once more with food, with little time to recover from the Christmas binge. Fireworks illuminated the Italian skies as each city and town tried to outdo its neighbour with mouth-opening displays. Mr. OK took his annual dive from Rome's Cavour Bridge into the freezing waters of the Tiber  his 27^th since he took over the traditional 1^st of January plunge started by the Italo-Belgian Rick de Sonay in 1946. The first babies of the New Year wee born in two Rome hospitals  a boy and a girl, named respectively Tommaso and Aurora.

And, of course, the chalices were brimming over....