At Your Service

Every year, preparations for the 31st of December have followed the same pattern for Andy and Julie. They invite all their friends round and Julie spends the best part of a week cleaning the house from top to bottom, trying to make everything look respectable following the rigours of Christmas. By the time New Year's Eve arrives, even the vacuum cleaner doesn't want to cooperate, refusing point blank to pick up the Christmas tree's fallen pine needles from the carpet. Andy goes to the off-licence to buy enough alcohol to sink a battleship, whilst Julie (by her own admission, no Delia Smith) heads for the kitchen and attempts to tackle the buffet. Many hours and scores of vol-au-vents later, Julie's exhausted, covered in flour and a bit fed up, and there isn't enough room in the fridge for all those chicken drumsticks. Andy can't remember where he stored the guests' inflatable mattresses from last year and seems to be suffering the mild depression that many of us experience at the end of the year.

On the eve itself, it's very much an 'open house', a case of 'all welcome'; the party comes and goes, but then there's the aftermath on New Year's Day... paper plates, half eaten sausage rolls, party poppers and streamers all over the floor... bodies littered everywhere in various stages of slumber, including one individual, curled up in the bath, wearing little more than a party hat and an apologetic grin. Eventually, their groggy guests having gone, Andy and Julie have a hearty breakfast of paracetamol and water, and set about the business of clearing up the devastation. (Did they really get through that many bottles?)

It's going to be very different this year. Andy and Julie decide they're going to have some time to themselves - all the fun of New Year, without the fuss. A luxury serviced apartment in West London fits the bill exactly. They're pleasantly surprised at the cost, and booking on the Internet couldn't be easier.

The apartment is situated at Kew, in the Borough of Richmond, just minutes away from the famous botanical gardens. From the moment they arrive, they know they've made the right choice. The apartment is absolutely spotless. It's light, airy and spacious, immaculately decorated and tastefully equipped with every facility they could wish for. Neutral cream furnishings and natural warm woods give a contemporary, but homely, 'cottage' feel throughout. The bedroom has a sumptuous, king-size bed adorned with beautifully crisp, fresh linen and an opulent quilt, together with a hand-carved vanity unit and dressing table. The bathroom has a separate walk-in shower and huge, fluffy white towels hang invitingly on the rails. The kitchen, newly fitted in pine, has everything they could possibly need; fridge/freezer, oven, hob, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker... and the lounge is the ultimate in comfort, with a fabulous view from the window of the tree-lined street below. There's a huge, soft sofa to sink into, and even a great selection of books, videos and CDs to choose from, in the highly unlikely event that they need to create their own entertainment.

It's the last day of the year, but Andy and Julie have plenty of time to take in some of the sights of London before the festivities begin. They begin with a leisurely stroll around Kew village, with its wonderful shops, and finish with a first class dinner in one of its many marvellous restaurants. Then it's back to the apartment to freshen up with an invigorating shower and get changed into party gear. New Year in London wouldn't be right without a visit to the London Eye, and a short taxi ride takes them there. There must be thousands of people, young and old, all soaking in the wonderful atmosphere. It's electric. And as the big countdown starts and Big Ben strikes midnight, a mighty whoop goes up as the crowd is entertained by the most breathtaking firework display from the floodlit London Eye and the river, accompanied by the sound of countless champagne corks popping. Cries of 'Happy New Year' abound, as complete strangers laugh and embrace each other. It's a truly spectacular start to a brand new year.

Happy and giggling like teenagers, Andy and Julie return to the luxury of their serviced apartment which is every bit as spick and span as when they arrived. In their absence, as if by magic, the dishwasher has been emptied and the contents tidily put away, and fresh towels have been placed in the bathroom. The clothes they wore earlier have even been folded and placed in a neat pile on the bedroom stool. Later in the morning, with not a vol-au-vent or party popper in sight, Andy and Julie laugh as they snuggle up in bed, thinking back to last New Year's Day. It's strange, they never did discover who the guy in the bath was...