It's Midnight here in the UK. Another Year gone. It currently sounds like a warzone with all the fireworks.

Happy New Year, everyone! 2007 is just a few hours away here on the East coast. Wishing everyone a great year ahead. This will definitely be a busy one for me.

Cheers!

How was the weather for everyone? It was horrible here. We probably had one of the largest hailstones in the UK to date. The streets had a couple of inches of hailstones.

Happy 2007 everyone.

Personally, I wouldn't mind it if the powers that be made it so 2006 was a "do over" year.

Then again ... as bad as 2006 was for some of us ... there is the hopeful thought that 2007 will be better for us all.

Here in Southern Ontario ... it rained all day yesterday & all night. Just a light rain ... so the planned municipal festivities went on as planned. Then at 4 AM ... I was rudely awakened by various houses in the subdivision across the road deciding it was the perfect time to set off their fireworks. After I peeled myself off the ceiling ... I enjoyed the 15 minutes or so of fireworks though

Enjoy your day ...
Peter

Happy New Year 2007!

Happy New Year guys!

They say I'm an EU citizen since the start of 2007, but... I don't feel any different.

Congratulations In the long run there maybe some difference (I think) .

Happy New Year all.
Dan, congrats I guess on being one of the new members of the EU.
What are your thoughts on this, especially the restrictions that were applied?

I guess you mean the right to work restrictions...

Personally, I see them as unfair (because we should have the same rights), and it's largely a silly move. Huge numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians are already in the EU, working legally or illegally. I would venture to say most of those who had any plans to work in the richer countries of EU, already do so, and will continue to do it, one way or another.

From what I understand there is also strict monitoring and reporting requirements imposed on Romainia as well regarding human rights issues etc.

The EU monitoring is a good thing IMO. We need someone to push the reforms forward, as often times the internal political will is just not there.

Also, I think most Romanians would agree that we were accepted to be part of EU, for political reasons. From most technical respects we're just not 100% "there" yet, and it's hard to be "there" when you're a lot poorer than the other members, and carry the burden of a very different past.

So EU inclusion should ultimately be a positive thing.
I hope it works out.
I have a collegue who spent 6 weeks in Romania a short time ago consulting with some colleges on tourism related programs.
His impression of the country was very positive.

I wouldn't be suprised if Endemol decided to revive Big Brother in Romania. As syndication is becoming popular for the popular Reality Tv Series in the EU.

May you have the best of Christmas this year and all your dreams come true & Happy New Year.

It is too late to wish happy new year. It is the third month of this year. Anyway Happy New Year to all members of this forum. The coming year may be filled with happiness and prosperity.