| Every year, preparations for the 31st of
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| | contemporary, but homely, 'cottage' feel
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| December have followed the same pattern
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| | throughout. The bedroom has a sumptuous,
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| for Andy and Julie. They invite all
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| | king-size bed adorned with beautifully
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| their friends round and Julie spends the
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| | crisp, fresh linen and an opulent quilt,
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| best part of a week cleaning the house
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| | together with a hand-carved vanity unit
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| from top to bottom, trying to make
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| | and dressing table. The bathroom has a
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| everything look respectable following the
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| | separate walk-in shower and huge, fluffy
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| rigors of Christmas. By the time New
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| | white towels hang invitingly on the
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| Year's Eve arrives, even the vacuum
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| | rails. The kitchen, newly fitted in
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| cleaner doesn't want to cooperate,
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| | pine, has everything they could possibly
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| refusing point blank to pick up the
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| | need; fridge/freezer, oven, hob,
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| Christmas tree's fallen pine needles from
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| | microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee
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| the carpet. Andy goes to the off-licence
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| | maker... and the lounge is the ultimate
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| to buy enough alcohol to sink a
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| | in comfort, with a fabulous view from the
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| battleship, whilst Julie (by her own
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| | window of the tree-lined street below.
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| admission, no Delia Smith) heads for the
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| | There's a huge, soft sofa to sink into,
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| kitchen and attempts to tackle the
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| | and even a great selection of books,
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| buffet. Many hours and scores of
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| | videos and CDs to choose from, in the
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| vol-au-vents later, Julie's exhausted,
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| | highly unlikely event that they need to
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| covered in flour and a bit fed up, and
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| | create their own entertainment.
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| there isn't enough room in the fridge for
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| | It's the last day of the year, but Andy
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| all those chicken drumsticks. Andy can't
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| | and Julie have plenty of time to take in
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| remember where he stored the guests'
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| | some of the sights of London before the
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| inflatable mattresses from last year and
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| | festivities begin. They begin with a
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| seems to be suffering the mild depression
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| | leisurely stroll around Kew village, with
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| that many of us experience at the end of
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| | its wonderful shops, and finish with a
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| the year.
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| | first class dinner in one of its many
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| On the eve itself, it's very much an
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| | marvellous restaurants. Then it's back
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| 'open house', a case of 'all welcome';
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| | to the apartment to freshen up with an
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| the party comes and goes, but then
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| | invigorating shower and get changed into
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| there's the aftermath on New Year's
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| | party gear. New Year in London wouldn't
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| Day... paper plates, half eaten sausage
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| | be right without a visit to the London
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| rolls, party poppers and streamers all
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| | Eye, and a short taxi ride takes them
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| over the floor... bodies littered
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| | there. There must be thousands of
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| everywhere in various stages of slumber,
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| | people, young and old, all soaking in the
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| including one individual, curled up in
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| | wonderful atmosphere. It's electric.
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| the bath, wearing little more than a
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| | And as the big countdown starts and Big
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| party hat and an apologetic grin.
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| | Ben strikes midnight, a mighty whoop goes
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| Eventually, their groggy guests having
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| | up as the crowd is entertained by the
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| gone, Andy and Julie have a hearty
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| | most breathtaking firework display from
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| breakfast of paracetamol and water, and
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| | the floodlit London Eye and the river,
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| set about the business of clearing up the
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| | accompanied by the sound of countless
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| devastation. (Did they really get
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| | champagne corks popping. Cries of 'Happy
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| through that many bottles?)
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| | New Year' abound, as complete strangers
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| It's going to be very different this
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| | laugh and embrace each other. It's a
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| year. Andy and Julie decide they're
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| | truly spectacular start to a brand new
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| going to have some time to themselves -
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| | year.
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| all the fun of New Year, without the
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| | Happy and giggling like teenagers, Andy
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| fuss. A luxury serviced apartment in
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| | and Julie return to the luxury of their
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| West London fits the bill exactly.
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| | serviced apartment which is every bit as
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| They're pleasantly surprised at the cost,
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| | spick and span as when they arrived. In
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| and booking on the Internet couldn't be
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| | their absence, as if by magic, the
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| easier.
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| | dishwasher has been emptied and the
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| The apartment is situated at Kew, in the
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| | contents tidily put away, and fresh
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| Borough of Richmond, just minutes away
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| | towels have been placed in the bathroom.
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| from the famous botanical gardens. From
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| | The clothes they wore earlier have even
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| the moment they arrive, they know they've
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| | been folded and placed in a neat pile on
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| made the right choice. The apartment is
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| | the bedroom stool. Later in the morning,
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| absolutely spotless. It's light, airy
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| | with not a vol-au-vent or party popper in
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| and spacious, immaculately decorated and
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| | sight, Andy and Julie laugh as they
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| tastefully equipped with every facility
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| | snuggle up in bed, thinking back to last
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| they could wish for. Neutral cream
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| | New Year's Day. It's strange, they never
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| furnishings and natural warm woods give a
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| | did discover who the guy in the bath was.
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