As inconceivable as this might appear, the North Devon town of Bideford, which is 9 miles from where I reside, is, according to reports in various national British newspapers, as good as Sydney and New York for its New Year’s Eve party. I have been there once before for that occasion. I can’t remember it being overly fantastic, but it was busy – about 10,000 people were there – and there was live radio being broadcasted and good fireworks. The more obvious British places, such as London and Edinburgh, didn’t even feature in the lists.