..Andy Happy New Year
Tennis hero Murray kicks off 2019 in style Down Under
ANDY Murray was one of the first Scots to kick off the big New Year party yesterday.
The Dunblane legend and fellow tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios welcomed in 2019 in Australia, which is 11 hours ahead of UK time.
Andy, who is in Brisbane preparing for the Australian Open this month, took some time off from training to celebrate in the sun.
A picture posted on his Instagram account shows him, Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kei Nishikori and Kyrgios in 2019 glasses and Happy New Year hats.
Andy later posted a tongue-in-cheek picture surrounded by bottles of booze with the caption: “Celebrating the end of 2018. What a s*** year that was!”
As the tennis stars got into party mood, Scotland was preparing to welcome in 2019 with street parties, concerts and get-togethers all over the country.
All 60,000 tickets for the world-famous Edinburgh Hogmanay bash were snapped up, with thousands of tourists descending on the capital in recent days to be part of the fun. Homegrown rockers Franz Ferdinand were top of the bill at the Concert in the Gardens and more than 3600 pyrotechnics were in place for a spectacular fireworks display.
There were also huge public parties arranged in Aberdeen, Inverness and Stirling.
Stirling was set to put on two dazzling fireworks displays, while Inverness promised “the biggest hoolie in the Highlands” to see out 2018.
The Red Hot Highland Fling was due to take place in the city’s Northern Meeting Park, with crowds of 10,000 expected.
In Stonehaven in Kincardineshire, the stage was set for the annual fireballs parade, where a piper leads a procession as locals swing balls of fire above their heads.
Aberdeen had a number of ceilidhs and a street party lined up.
Glasgow didn’t host official city centre celebrations but a string of events like the Ashton Lane street party in the west end and the Merchant City’s Merchant Square bash were set to welcome 2019 in style.