> It takes a few weeks for my old brain to register
> the new year.

You're not alone, Helen. Rich Hall (I *think*) defined chequebury as that month of the year which ends when you get the year right when writing a cheque; now that so few UK shops accept cheques at all*, I find that my personal chequebury tends to extend for more than twelve calendar months.

* I have an entire rant on this financial atrocity, which need not detain us here.