Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 December 2004 07:33:29
There are so many times during this season when I find myself with a lump in my throat. Poor, soppy, emotional and proud mother that I am. Last night was one of them. With lantern in hand, and scarves and hats and gloves securely fastened in place against the bitterly cold night, my two songbirds went out carol singing. It's their Christmas gift to our neighbours. They don't collect money, just sing and deliver a card to each house in the close (while their protective mummy stands at the end of each drive shivering!)
It was beautiful. They're not totally tuneful, I must admit, but they sang out loud and clear and brought a smile to every household who dared to open the door. Almost all our neighbours are elderly and act as honorary grandparents for my gruesome twosome. Mind you, several didn't answer (they don't open the door after dark) and they got rather short shrift at two houses where one person was on the phone on a long distance call and another little family was having their evening meal... but most were delighted to see them. Only at one house was their rendition of Silent Night a bit..well, how can I put this nicely?... er... awful! The lovely lady, V, smiled sweetly and told them how lovely it was, but I gave them a prod in the small of the back and they suddenly decided that she might like to hear them sing Away in a Manger too... for which they actually KNEW the words! Amazing - her smile had looked sincere until I saw her true smile of delight at their proper singing!
I led prayers for the first time at Church this morning. Well, not for the first time actually, but for the first time with my minister in the congregation and for the first time since saying about training as a local preacher. Mind you, as I approached the lectern, the organ pipes suddenly syphoned and produced a sound not unlike the Queen Mary sailing into port. It was an occasion for great decorum (i.e. avoiding the giggles!) for which I rewarded myself afterwards with two mince pies.
I have finally done most of the decorations, although I'm not sure any of my Christmas cards are going to arrive on time as I haven't even written most of those yet! I haven't done the tree yet, either. I am really quite excited - this year, for the first time ever since the age of eleven - we are having a real tree. It's sitting in the garage at the moment, waiting for a moment when the boys aren't in so that I can get it all set up as a real surprise. I can't wait to see their faces.
Yet more Christmas parties for them tonight. They went to the most fantastic party imagineable on Saturday afternoon - the Young Archaeologists Party at Carisbrooke Castle. It was on a Medieval theme and they got to wear real armour, to do a treasure hunt around the castle, to listen to scary stories in the castle keep, to dress up and have a banquet, including their first ever taste of roast pigeon! Smudgelet declined the pigeon on the grounds that the leader said it was medieval and he didn't know whether he liked that! Tiddles wants to know whether they sell it at Tesco because he rather liked it.