 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Source: (consider it)
|
Thread: Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
That's a good point. I guess the same sort of creativity and imagination could be applied to any occasion.
ION, I have today been indulging in comfort food, to wit, CRUMPETS, topped with CHEESE (earlier), and squished BANANAS (just now).
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
|
Posted
I'm on my second malt of the night.
My excuse is that I had a school's carol service today which, even judging by the low standards of previous years, plumbed new depths of horror.
No, not the incredible din the children made before the "service" began; not the applause after each child stumbled through their few words of a reading; not the applause for The Lord's Prayer (read by a child); not even the ear-splitting screeching made by the microphone the headteacher insisted was necessary for the readers. I can even cope with the combination of See him lying on a bed of straw, a unique rendition of Little Donkey - I mean, how do you manage not to get a single note in tune??? - and We three kings with a hyped-up 7 year old constantly clashing cymbals throughout (they were removed for the rest of the carols) and still manage to give them the Radetsky March at the end.
No, it was two things at the end: (1) the neat pile of cigarette ash and dog ends discovered on the steps of the font; and (2) discovering that 2 of the figures from the crib had "gone missing".
--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
The Intrepid Mrs S
Shipmate
# 17002
|
Posted
I was in a small church with friends yesterday, l'organist, one of whom was a school bursar. She reported that their carol service had been 'enlivened' by someone's gran throwing up lavishly, liberally sprinkling the coats of those in the pew in front ![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif)
Mrs. S, thinking 'there but for fortune ...'
--------------------
Don't get your knickers in a twist over your advancing age. It achieves nothing and makes you walk funny.
Prayer should be our first recourse, not our last resort
'Lord, please give us patience. NOW!'
Posts: 1464 | From: Neither here nor there | Registered: Mar 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
L'organist, enquiring minds need to know - which two figures have gone missing from the Crib?
![[Paranoid]](graemlins/paranoid.gif)
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
|
Posted
Ancient Shepherd and Donkey.
The animal figure I can understand - small child might have taken a shine to it and all, but grizzled looking old chap with a few chips out of his cloak?
Mrs S Such a relief when it happens to someone else!
Meanwhile, the vicar reports a disturbing smell of urine when he went to lock-up this evening... perhaps someone in Reception 'leaked' ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
Maybe the actors' adage that you should never work with animals or children ought to apply to organists as well ...
I'm now considerably more organised than I was this morning: I've sent off the orders to the Wine Society for family and friends back home, and the web-site seemed to be perfectly happy to see me (and even suggested that the stuff would be delivered by Friday). ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif)
A few local (well, within Canada anyway) bits and bobs to post, plus some cards* and the manufacture of another batch of red-pepper jelly and I should be almost sorted.
It's just as well we got the tyres changed: it's been sn*wing gently since lunch-time and we wouldn't have got up to the top of the road this afternoon on the old ones.
I spent the last couple of hours being a Dutiful Wife and helping D. sort out the music from the carol service.
virtuous piglet ![[Angel]](graemlins/angel.gif)
* they may turn out to be Epiphany cards rather than Christmas ones; writing The Letter™ is D's department, and having a week when he felt like doing nothing (he's much better now) knocked his whole timetable to b*ggery.
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
|
Posted
Having heard so much about O Holy Night on the Ship, I'm listening in slightly horrified fascination to BBC R4's Soul Music this morning where the Archbishop of York and Katie Melua, among others, are extolling the delights of said song. I am not sure what it says about Bob Chilcott that he's also involved in this programme.
--------------------
Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
* they may turn out to be Epiphany cards rather than Christmas ones; writing The Letter™ is D's department, and having a week when he felt like doing nothing (he's much better now) knocked his whole timetable to b*ggery.
Pretend to be French and send New Year cards. You have to the end of January to send them.
--------------------
Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
MrsBeaky
Shipmate
# 17663
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
I'm on my second malt of the night.
My excuse is that I had a school's carol service today which, even judging by the low standards of previous years, plumbed new depths of horror.
No, not the incredible din the children made before the "service" began; not the applause after each child stumbled through their few words of a reading; not the applause for The Lord's Prayer (read by a child); not even the ear-splitting screeching made by the microphone the headteacher insisted was necessary for the readers. I can even cope with the combination of See him lying on a bed of straw, a unique rendition of Little Donkey - I mean, how do you manage not to get a single note in tune??? - and We three kings with a hyped-up 7 year old constantly clashing cymbals throughout (they were removed for the rest of the carols) and still manage to give them the Radetsky March at the end.
Oh, my! As a former Reception class teacher this resonates so much....the other stuff not so much and in all honesty is a bit upsetting.
I've never forgotten the Angel Gabriel tripping over the piano stool and the "F" word being broadcast in a loud treble voice....
I find the applause thing tricky- the teacher in me wants to encourage the children, the worshipper in me wants to avoid applause. But I know other people think that's stuffy.
I do think things are much easier when we differentiate between a service and a concert. I'd still want to welcome people from the community to both but with proper explanation of what we'd do at either event.
Off now to do a last bit of Christmas shopping. It's a grey day here and I'm coughing and spluttering so not sure how fruitful an exercise this will be.....
--------------------
"It is better to be kind than right."
http://davidandlizacooke.wordpress.com
Posts: 693 | From: UK/ Kenya | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged
|
|
ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346
|
Posted
Speaking of Festive Things, Santa was my bus driver this morning!
--------------------
'If a pleasant, straight-forward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres' - Kafka
Posts: 1887 | From: the rhubarb triangle | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
kingsfold
Shipmate
# 1726
|
Posted
quote:
posted by L'organist:
I can even cope with the combination of See him lying on a bed of straw, a unique rendition of Little Donkey - I mean, how do you manage not to get a single note in tune??? ....
I have long believed that there is a gap in the market for the combined carol "twinkle twinkle little donkey in a manger" thus getting all the Crib service essentials out of the way in one or two verses.....
Though gap in the market probably isn't quite the right choice of phrase...
[ 20. December 2017, 14:58: Message edited by: kingsfold ]
Posts: 4473 | From: land of the wee midgie | Registered: Nov 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
... Pretend to be French and send New Year cards. You have to the end of January to send them.
That's not such a daft idea - we are, after all, in Canada's only officially bilingual province (not that we're bilingual, you understand ...)
If Father Christmas has made it to the Rhubarb Triangle, there should be hope for most of you on this thread, and he's got a couple of days to get the rest of the country covered.
I posted the Newfoundland pressies today, and the post-office lady said they might arrive by Friday. I'll believe it if I see it - Canada Post isn't usually anything like that efficient.
I have also tracked down some lamb-livers, so the production of haggis for Hogmanay will be able to proceed, and the nice gentleman in the shop where I got them said that they'd have chicken livers on Friday, so chicken-liver pâté will ensue later.
I must head off shortly and make a second batch of red-pepper jelly, after which I'll begin to feel quite organised.
Kingsfold, I think you might be on to something there; there's been a thread on Facebook about length of carol services, what's included* and what isn't.
Your idea may be just what they're looking for ...
* in one case, a sermon. Hereticks! ![[Mad]](angryfire.gif)
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
... Canada Post isn't usually anything like that efficient ...
But it was this time! One of the parcels was a Christmas present and a birthday one - for a friend whose birthday is today. I phoned her around lunch-time to wish her well, and she sent me a message later that she'd gone out for an hour or so, and when she got back the parcel was in her letter-box.
Well done Canada Post - I might just stop being rude about them ... ![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif)
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
If Father Christmas has made it to the Rhubarb Triangle, there should be hope for most of you on this thread, and he's got a couple of days to get the rest of the country covered.
To be fair, he was in an Arriva bus with lots of passengers, he'll probably be late.
It was our annual Churches Together carol singing outside the local Sainsbury's this evening. Thankfully not too cold; there's nothing worse than outdoor singing when you can't feel you're feet. Then back home for a piece of poppy seed stolen and a cuppa.
--------------------
'If a pleasant, straight-forward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres' - Kafka
Posts: 1887 | From: the rhubarb triangle | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
There's nothing worse than outdoor singing when you can't feel your feet.
Yes there is - playing the guitar to accompany outdoor carols when you can't feel the tips of your fingers and then, when circulation returns, to find you've torn them to shreds. (My wife's experience).
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
Ouch!
The then Baptist minister in the Town Of My Yoof used to accompany us Anglicans on our outdoor carol-singing expeditions, as he was an accomplished player of the piano-accordion.
IMHO, a rather better choice for outdoor singing than a guitar, but YMMV.
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
The Intrepid Mrs S
Shipmate
# 17002
|
Posted
Playing a sax outdoors in winter can be a painful experience, as Miss S discovered when busking to fund a trip to Peru for a World Scout Jamboree
An exhausting day today helping out at Mr. S's food bank - I normally leave it as 'his thing' but it was a three-line whip to cope, not only with the clients, but with the donations. It took about 10 of us two solid hours to process the food that had accumulated over the week, and every time we emptied the last trolley someone would come in with a reverse Advent calendar, or some other form of collection
Over £800 in cash and cheques, as well - just as well, as over 125 people were fed ![[Ultra confused]](graemlins/confused2.gif) For the year, the total is up 46%
A humbling and touching experience in many ways but we have the clearest mission statement ever - Jesus said, 'Feed the hungry'.
Mrs. S, beyond tired
--------------------
Don't get your knickers in a twist over your advancing age. It achieves nothing and makes you walk funny.
Prayer should be our first recourse, not our last resort
'Lord, please give us patience. NOW!'
Posts: 1464 | From: Neither here nor there | Registered: Mar 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
The then Baptist minister in the Town Of My Yoof used to accompany us Anglicans on our outdoor carol-singing expeditions, as he was an accomplished player of the piano-accordion.
IMHO, a rather better choice for outdoor singing than a guitar, but YMMV.
Indeed, but we didn't have one (or a player) to hand.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
If Father Christmas has made it to the Rhubarb Triangle, there should be hope for most of you on this thread, and he's got a couple of days to get the rest of the country covered.
To be fair, he was in an Arriva bus with lots of passengers, he'll probably be late.
Buses in Cardiff this week have been chaotic, running up to an hour later and arriving in 3s or even 4s. It's no-one's "fault", just traffic, and the drivers are mostly pretty phlegmatic about it.
We need the Cardiff Underground!
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
Baptist Trainfan said:
quote:
Indeed, but we didn't have one (or a player) to hand.
Quite so. We were very fortunate to have such a talented minister on hand, even though he was from a different denomination!
Re buses, I noted that our local buses were also being muchly delayed by Traffic today - 'Frantic Friday', as BBC News called it...
That mysterious place 'Away' is going to be busy this weekend, if peeps actually manage to get there.
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
quote:
Originally posted by ArachnidinElmet:
There's nothing worse than outdoor singing when you can't feel your feet.
Yes there is - playing the guitar to accompany outdoor carols when you can't feel the tips of your fingers and then, when circulation returns, to find you've torn them to shreds. (My wife's experience).
As a guitarist, your wife has my sympathies. I'm a happy wearer of fingerless gloves, but they wouldn't stand up to outdoor playing. Brr.
Excellent job, Intrepid Mrs S, it would be lovely not to need food banks at all, but given that we do, people can be incredibly generous.
--------------------
'If a pleasant, straight-forward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres' - Kafka
Posts: 1887 | From: the rhubarb triangle | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
That mysterious place 'Away' is going to be busy this weekend, if peeps actually manage to get there.
For one of my churches, "Away" = Eastbourne. Standing room only on the Promenade, one presumed.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
... That mysterious place 'Away' is going to be busy this weekend ...
If we had a fiver for every time some blithering idiot asks us if we're going Away for Christmas, we could afford to go somewhere quite nice ...
Mostly people in whatever ecclesiastical shack we're inhabiting (who ought to know better) - do they think the organ plays by magic on Christmas Eve?
[/rant] ![[Snigger]](graemlins/snigger.gif)
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
|
Posted
Spot on, Piglet.
And the other favourite: Gosh, what a lovely carol service: have they been practising long? The temptation to say "No, it was all just a sight-reading exercise for us" can be almost overwhelming.
I'm waiting for the annual "Of course, John Rutter has written some lovely christmassy things, usually delivered by someone who rarely comes to any sung services at all and/or is tone deaf, and in response to a choir that has just given them a minimum of 9 splendiferous carols in addition to those for congregational participation.
--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
Indeed, although as D. pointed out to someone today, the carol service is mostly stuff that we know - the traditional carols (choral and congregational) without which no carol service would be complete - plus a few new ones (we've been here a short enough time that he's still teaching some of his favourites to this choir). Some of these will be quite simple and easily learned; this year's Complicated Thing was Quem vidistis by Poulenc, which the choir took to very well.
I'm not averse to a bit of Rutter - some if his stuff's lovely - but I wouldn't want too much. One Rutter carol per season is about right, imho.
I love the story told of someone smugly telling Rutter that her choir didn't sing his Gaelic Blessing any more. He replied that he didn't really mind, as he'd already had two cars and a new kitchen out of it.
edited for Latin declension ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
[ 22. December 2017, 23:19: Message edited by: Piglet ]
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
If we had a fiver for every time some blithering idiot asks us if we're going Away for Christmas, we could afford to go somewhere quite nice ...
Mostly people in whatever ecclesiastical shack we're inhabiting (who ought to know better) - do they think the organ plays by magic on Christmas Eve?
[/rant]
When I was a clergy wife I experienced the same idiocy. People also suggested places we might like to go for a weekend.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
--------------------
"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
When I was a clergy wife I experienced the same idiocy.
Even my mother used to be surprised that we couldn't be with her for Christmas dinner!
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
|
Posted
Our Carols Service is this evening.
The Priest-in-Charge, usually quite 'sound' has just called to say: I don't know if you've sorted out the congregational carols for tonight but could I make a request for Christians Awake, salute the happy morn.
As if (1) I just decided on the spur of the moment what carols were being sung; (2) There aren't already in plain sight stacks of Orders of Service at the back of the church; and (3) CASTM is really only applicable to Christmas morning, is not particularly well-known and, above all else, is one of the most dreary Christmas hymns ever written.
Added joy: just got an invitation with "If you aren't doing anything on Christmas morning drop in for a drink". As the Piglet says, do they think the organ plays by magic? Or are there specialist squads of organ-playing elves available for the festive season? ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
What you need is one of those organs (and I do mean "proper" organs) fitted up with a computer, so you play in all the hymns weeks before and then go away, leaving a church warden to press the "on" button at the right time.
I've only seen it done once, though my last church also had (but never used) the facility.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
CASTM is really only applicable to Christmas morning, is not particularly well-known and, above all else, is one of the most dreary Christmas hymns ever written.
Don't come to Our Place on the 25th, then - I've chosen it. Mind you, it strikes me that you may perhaps have other things to do, anyway. ![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
[ 23. December 2017, 08:48: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
|
Posted
Don't have a computerised organ BT - have an historic Grade I listed organ (matches the church's listing" with mechanical action and mechanical pistons only. Yes, it is a gem but there are times when I could wish for something less like a perfect jewel.
Something else to do on Christmas Morning? You bet - two services, plus visiting elderly and infirm former choir members. I'll be at the coal-face by c09:15 and expect to get home c13:30-45
--------------------
Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
O, I rather like CASTHM, though it's not one that's sung at Our Place.
It goes quite well to Yorkshire, the tune I think is usually employed, as long as a fair pace is kept, as here at Westminster Abbey.
Is that the tune you're having at Your Place, BT?
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
As to services, it's only now dawned on me that I've got four between now and Christmas dinner, and I'm only an Umble Blue-Scarfed Menace!
They are, firstly, tomorrow:
(a) 1030am Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament - I'm preaching;
(b) 5pm Crib Service - I'm presiding;
(c) 1145pm Midnight Mass - I'm leading the Prayers;
and, secondly, Christmas morning:
1030am Family Mass - I'm deacon, and leading the Prayers (assisted, I hope, by Small People).
My sympathies are certainly with clergy, organists, choirs etc., many of whom have an even busier schedule.
One only hopes that the churches at Away receive a welcome number of visitors...
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Boogie
Boogie on down!
# 13538
|
Posted
I’m being at Away, but can’t see me getting to Church ...
--------------------
Garden. Room. Walk
Posts: 13030 | From: Boogie Wonderland | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
O dear. Do try, though, cos it Cheers The Art of those responsible for worship to meet and greet Visitors...
My Art has indeed been cheered by good conversations with Visitors to the recent Carol Service, Nursery Nativity Service, and Christingle Service, at Our Place.
I hope and pray that we will at least see some of them at other services over Christmas, and, perhaps, later on.....well, who knows?
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
Is that the tune you're having at Your Place, BT?
Well, it's the only one I know (unlike, say, for "While shepherds watched")!
[ 23. December 2017, 15:08: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by L'organist:
Don't have a computerised organ BT - have an historic Grade I listed organ (matches the church's listing) with mechanical action and mechanical pistons only.
Sounds gorgeous - anyone for Bach?
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
ArachnidinElmet
Shipmate
# 17346
|
Posted
My favourite phrase is "Are you busy over Christmas"?
Just a little...
--------------------
'If a pleasant, straight-forward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres' - Kafka
Posts: 1887 | From: the rhubarb triangle | Registered: Sep 2012
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
I quite like Christians, awake! (never sung it to anything except Yorkshire), but you're right - only on Christmas morning.
D. has a very busy day ahead:
10:00 a.m. - Choral Eucharist (Advent IV)
4:00 p.m. - Children's pageant
8:00 p.m. - Informal Eucharist with the band
11:00 p.m. - Midnight Mass
Christmas morning: 10:30 Eucharist with hymns (but no choir)
Fortunately I only have to be at the first and the last; I've just made a chicken curry, which will make for a reasonably speedy lunch (it'll only need the rice doing).
As we're going Out for Christmas lunch (to a brunch buffet at a local hotel), I don't have too much in the way of last-minute panicking - just a couple of presents to wrap up that will be delivered at the late service.
Mind you, things could get Interesting meteorologically: we've had freezing rain for a good bit of today, and when D. tried to go out at about 9 o'clock this evening, he got out of the drive, but even with winter tyres (two of which have studs) he couldn't get up the road. He tried going down, but couldn't do that either, and had to wait until someone came from the estate office and sanded the road.
It's supposed to turn to ordinary rain later (which would be good, as it would clear a little of the freezing stuff), but we may be in the firing line of another storm on Monday, and I don't imagine the gritters will be in a hurry to make the roads passable on Christmas Day.
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
Christmas weather down here in Ukland's Bottom Right-Hand Corner is OK so far - grey, overcast, but distinctly mild.
There may be some Rain tomorrow, but our Service Times have been widely publicised, so hopefully the Rain will avoid those periods....
Looking forward, now, to lunch, followed later this afternoon by the Crib Service. Maybe I'll snatch forty winks after that, to prepare for Midnight Mass.
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
D's currently playing for the children's pageant, and staying in town until after the informal Eucharist - there's not really any point in him making yet another journey - and then picking me up in time for the rehearsal before Midnight Mass.
I've wrapped the pressies that will be taken and given out this evening, repainted my nails (a nicely festive, slightly sparkly red - think Dorothy's shoes in The Wizard of Oz) and am now listening to King's on the I-player as I type.
Did anyone else who heard it think that (a) the chorister reading the first lesson was brilliantly over-dramatic; and (b) although Stephen Cleobury is a very good egg, why did he feel the need to write a descant for Once in royal David's city when the Willcocks one is, not to put too fine a point on it, perfect?
Now they're singing something set to Bach's Passion Chorale - seems a bit unseasonal.
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
We had a really nice Midnight Mass last night (Charpentier Messe de minuit, In the bleak midwinter by Darke and a fair bit of Willcocks, since you ask). The Cathedral was well-filled, and D. was very pleased with how everything went.
Now I'm watching the snowflakes fall with increasing determination ( ) before we head out for a brunch buffet at a local hotel. I hope it doesn't get too fierce, or getting home might be rather more interesting that we'd like.
Hope you're all having a nice, relaxing day. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
|
Posted
Well, post-lunch, and watching a few YouTube videos of Scottish dancing of all things! Quite why, I know not, but it's led to a bit of Leaky Eye Syndrome, given that I'm no longer physically capable of shaking a shoe in such a vigorous manner.
The former Mrs. BF and I were once quite good at reels, schottisches, polkas, and similar....
![[Waterworks]](graemlins/bawling.gif)
Here's the Bluebell Polka to show you what I mean.
(BTW, my Scottish roots permit me to wear the tartan, though my knees are not really fit for Human Consumption these days...)
IJ
--------------------
Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10151 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged
|
|
Piglet
Islander
# 11803
|
Posted
It's OK - I doubt that anyone's actually contemplating eating them ...
After a very nice brunch (which included excellent roast beef and baked ham, and in my case didn't include any turkey whatsoever), getting home was a lot more interesting than we'd have liked
It was really snowing (and blowing) hard, and although the roads had been treated the driveway chez Piglet was a mass of snow-drifts. D. tried to dig out a Pigletmobile-sized space, but when he tried to drive into it we got stuck. Eventually a neighbour (BLESS HIM!) came and helped dig the snow from under the wheels and bumper and with a couple of judiciously-placed planks from his shed, managed to get us back on to the road. At that point a snow-plough came up, so D. took the car down the hill and tried to get up one of the other access roads, but there was no way he was going to get the car into the drive, so he gave up in disgust, drove back into town and left the car at the Cathedral.
D. was just trying to phone a taxi when the person from the security firm who checks the Cathedral hall came in and offered him a lift home, thereby saving him a cab fare and a (probably) very long wait.
Meanwhile, I arranged for someone from the estate office to come tomorrow to clear the drive. Even if we could get at the snow-blower, I doubt that it would be up to the task - there are three-foot drifts on top of solid ice ...
White Christmases? You can stuff them ...
--------------------
I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged
|
|
Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
|
Posted
Well, if you insist on living in those Northern Latitudes ...
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
| IP: Logged
|
|
la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
|
Posted
Merry Christmas from foie gras land everyone.
Although not so much foie gras for me this time...
End of year announcement: I AM HAVING A BABY.
Be afraid, be very afraid
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged
|
|
Boogie
Boogie on down!
# 13538
|
Posted
quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Merry Christmas from foie gras land everyone.
Although not so much foie gras for me this time...
End of year announcement: I AM HAVING A BABY.
Be afraid, be very afraid
1000 congratulations!
--------------------
Garden. Room. Walk
Posts: 13030 | From: Boogie Wonderland | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
Gee D
Shipmate
# 13815
|
Posted
Congratulations. Prayers for a smooth pregnancy, a good labour, and many years of joy with your child to follow.
--------------------
Not every Anglican in Sydney is Sydney Anglican
Posts: 7028 | From: Warrawee NSW Australia | Registered: Jun 2008
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Contact us | Ship of Fools | Privacy statement
© Ship of Fools 2016
UBB.classicTM
6.5.0
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Thread closed
Printer-friendly view
