Happy New Year! I know it has only been a month since we celebrated New Year's Eve but you can start 2003 all over again by celebrating the Chinese New Year. Just when you had forgotten about all of your New Year's resolutions and are getting used to the idea of 2003, you can celebrate it all over again.

This year the Chinese New Year is celebrated tomorrow, Feb. 1, and will begin the year of the black sheep.

Last weekend, I actually pre-maturely celebrated the Chinese New Year when friends of mine had a party, but I don't think anyone minds repeating the New Year just one more time. My friends did actually get into the spirit of the occasion by placing lanterns around the house — which in retrospect probably wasn't the best idea considering the amounts of alcohol and drunk people weaving around the small paper bags and candles — pulling out champagne and counting down to midnight.

Of course one of the best parts about the Chinese New Year, at least for me, is getting to open fortune cookies. I know they are generic and made so that they work for anyone, whether you're a five-year-old or 50-year-old opening the cookie, they are still fun. But there are ones that just fall in the category of being ridiculous. Some recent gems I have found are "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing" and "It makes sense, when you don't think about it."

If you want to get your own fortune cookie, well a virtual fortune cookie, by logging onto the site www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/year. The site has loads of fun information to help you celebrate your Chinese New Year (no I don't work for the site or anything it's just the best one I found). I found out that I was born in the year of the monkey, and they were very flattering. This is what they have to say about all the people born in 1981:

"If you are born in the Year of the Monkey, you are very intelligent, well liked by everyone, and will have success in any field you choose."

For those of you born in 1981, you're not too badly off either. Here's your life's fortune:

"The sign of the Rooster indicates a person who is hard working and definite about their decisions. Roosters are not afraid to speak their minds and can therefore sometimes come across as boastful. They make good restaurant owners and world travelers."

For everyone else you can find out your Chinese zodiac prediction to see what the future holds for you, but before you do that remember to ring in the New Year.

• Happy New Year!