Categories: uncategorized
Date: 15 December 2003 15:59:16
The start of a busy week - carolling our hearts out at 3 nursing homes (extremely hot, especially in robes), a wedding and the normal Sunday services. Cakes, drinks and mince pies make it all worthwhile, though.
Enough to make us rejoice, even to 'Rejoice in the Lord, Alway' (by Redford) - one of my favourites, it has a rhythm which propels you onward and is one of the best a capella Anthems I know.
Sunday evening saw us at one of the more unusual carol services in the area - at the local Steam Museum. A steam traction engine, old fairground equipment and a steam organ gave the backdrop to carols, accompanied by the Hatherleigh Silver Band. We sang in a cold barn, rather larger than the stable would have been, but still very atmospheric. The local vicar had a very dry sense of humour, explaining that at the time of the Nativity the stable would have been full of sh----------------(eep): cue much earthy laughter. He then gave out a present of a polo mint to each person to remind us that although there were lots of frills to be had at Christmas there was a holy bit in the middle (groan!) The polo was just the thing on a cold night, though, along with hot pasties and drinks all round. I like carol roadshows - you get a lot of different people to them than would normally trouble the doors of the church.