THEY say the way you bring in the New Year dictates the way you will spend the 12 months ahead.
Well "they" have clearly never been squished among a boisterous sea of 16,000 sunburnt and unwashed bodies trying to get a better glimpse of the Arctic Monkeys while a stranger's heel stomps on their toes and stray elbows, glow-sticks and half-full aluminium cans make frequent and direct hits with their temples.
That was how I saw in 2012.
But like many south-west locals, I am under the wonderful spell of The Falls Music and Arts Festival.
It can leave me with a bruised cheekbone, mysterious foot tan that is more likely ground-in dirt than sun-kissed bronze, aching neck from sleeping in a poorly-assembled tent pitched on a slope, phobia of unisex drop-toilets and an empty wallet after countless trips to the slushy machine.
But I am full of forgiveness for the festival that means well.
Like my past three pilgrimages to Falls, I arrived home on New Year's Day full of love and admiration for the annual escape with grand intentions to return.
I had great plans of Tweeting updates and photos from the festival but as my phone only found reception inconveniently between two rows of the aforementioned drop-toilets, I chose otherwise.
So after a week of recovery and reflection, here are my highlights of the 2011/12 Falls Festival:
THE KOOKS
I am slightly jealous Tasmania's Marion Bay had the pleasure of The Kooks' company for the marquee timeslot that spans late New Year's Eve to early New Year's Day and includes the all-important countdown. The British indie rockers, fronted by the talented and alluring Luke Pritchard, did not strike a bad chord and kept the energetic Lorne crowd on its toes for the full set on Friday night. Shine On, from their 2008 album Konk, was a hit and the short but sweet Sofa Song is still stuck in my head.
PNAU
The Australian electronic duo marched onto The Valley Stage straight after The Kooks and ran with the good vibes lingering from the previous act. Their performance of popular 2008 singles Baby and Embrace were uplifting and had the enthusiastic crowd busting out all sorts of moves to the punchy beats. Throw in some laser and strobe lights and a smoke machine working overtime and the natural amphitheatre turned into one big dance party.
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
I admit I have not had my ears glued to the radio for the past year or so and was therefore not greatly familiar with the New Zealand indie pop band. But I am partial to a Kiwi accent and when likeable frontwoman Alisa Xayalith, who sparkled in a fire engine-red dress, introduced her lot as "The Naykid end Faymiss" I was intrigued. I soon recognised the catchy tunes which soothed the sting of the blazing Saturday-evening sun. Singles Punching In A Dream and Young Blood from their debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You were well received. The emerging band attracted one of the biggest day-crowds of the festival.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Grouplove, The Jezabels, Arctic Monkeys, Crystal Castles
AWARDS
Best dressed: Kimbra. The pint-sized Australian singer, known best for her recent collaboration with Gotye, wore a shiny pink dress plucked straight from a Disney princess movie.
Best comedy: Josh Thomas. I was indifferent about the Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation star before Falls but he put on a brave and honest show which was rewarded with plenty of laughs from the tough audience.
Best onstage banter: Alex Turner. The charming Arctic Monkeys frontman with the Sheffield swagger had plenty to say between songs. After leading popular anthems such as I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor he exited stage left two minutes before midnight, thinking someone else would take the microphone for the countdown. About five minutes of confusion later, he returned and admitted the huge gathering had missed the strike of 12 but conducted a lively countdown anyway.
Best comeback: Tim Finn. Despite being older than many parents of the festival goers, the New Zealand-born Split Enz rocker looked to be enjoying himself even more than the jovial crowd. He strutted about the stage and knocked over the microphone stand in dramatic fashion. The Crowded House classic Weather With You had everyone singing and swaying along.
Best random moment: Okay, so I made this award up for the sake of sharing this strange moment that happened outside my campsite on Saturday afternoon. A minibus full of curious residents from a local Lorne retirement village slowly rolled past assessing the scene. And what a sight it was to see with endless rows of make-shift shelters, which were by now decorated with empty chip packets and water bottles, and cheerful punters wearing colourful festival attire and animal suits. What they must have thought.
Did you go to Falls? We'd love to hear about your favourite acts or moments from the festival. Please comment below.
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