The shortest day. Feels significant. Doesn’t normally. Perhaps I’m getting (even more) philosophical in my old age. At this time of year i have deeply meaningful thoughts and wax lyrical about the turning of the year.
When you think about it New Year’s Eve shouldn’t be on 31st of December but today. Tomorrow is when the new year really starts. Today our feasting officially commences. All the parties and meals of the past couple of weeks have just been the warm up act. Yesterday’s Waitrose shop was mostly to secure provisions for tonight’s meal. Only Hannah and George will be missing. They wind their way north tomorrow in time for the Morning Star carol session. 7pm onwards if yer interested. Book early.
Still need to get the meat and veg for the big day, plus some epoisses. Waitrose was sold out of the stuff. Wot. And some more plonk. Funny how the level of supplies goes down very quickly with a houseful. When they were kids it was just Ribena. Now it’s red wine. And the gin, and beer etc. Plus bread, ham, milk, all the staples. It’s as if they don’t eat where they live and save themselves for when they get back to the mothership. Not complaining. We love it.
In the meantime the shed has been filling up with Davies men, or lads as they are called when watching the darts. Last year we had a Davies lads trip to the darts at Ally Pally. Carnage. Has to be seen to be believed. You only need to go once and I won’t be bothering again. Great night out though.
THG just reminded me that Just William normally makes an appearance on the wireless at Christmas. We love listening to Just William. They aren’t books for children. They are written for adults. The writing is just sublime. I remember reading the books to the kids at bedtime to loud guffaws. Not the way to get them to go to sleep really.
Another tradition is to listen to Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Cambridge on Christmas Eve. The essence of Christmas. The ending of the service is usually the prompt to head to the Morning Star. We are early doors types and going early means we are more likely to find a seat. Gets rammed.
Today’s carol is The first ‘Nowell!’. A real banger that people put their hearts into. You need to hold back on the harmonies until the last verse. I’ll assume you know to sing the refrain at the end of each verse. It is quite a long one and I’m not sure we sing every verse but this version, as is the case for all the carols posted here, comes to you direct from the pages of the New Oxford Book of Carols.
The first ‘Nowell!’ the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell! nowell! nowell! nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
This star drew nigh to the north-west:
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the king did lie;
One entered in then for to see,
And found the babe in poverty.
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there, in his presence,
Both gold and myrrh, and frankincense.
Between an ox-stall and an ass
This Child there truly borned was;
For want of clothing they did him lay
All in the manger, among the hay.
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
And with his blood mankind hath bought.
If we in our lifetime shall do well
We shall be free from death and hell,
For God hath prepared for us all
A resting-place in general.
Spuds, sprouts, peas, carrots, large white sliced loaf, onions, fresh sage & thyme, butter, eggs, celery
Mildly embarrassed to say that at ten thirty five ey em I’ve just finished breakfast and cleared up and am still in my pyjamas. Two of the occupants of the house have left separately for retail activity and I hear some movement upstairs that suggests I may shortly be joined by the third. During the course of the day we are expecting two further revellers to turn up. All good.
Soon after I wrote that the retail therapists returned and the kitchen is now a hive of activity. Preparations have started for tonight’s gourmet feast. My only involvement has been to pay for the ingredients which weren’t particularly cheap. I can’t complain as I am partially responsible for their upbringing.
…
The shed, this afternoon, is warm and cosy and indeed a haven of calm from the hive of activity that is the kitchen. THG and I off to the Cathedral in an hour or so to hear Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Not heard of it before so blasting it out in the shed to get in the spirit. Well one doesn’t actually blast out Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols does one but you get the idea. Whether I’ll be able to sit still for ninety minutes is another issue. Will find out soon enough innit.
Sounds v good in the shed fair play. Relaxing. Hoping I won’t nod off listening to it. It’s in the Chapter House so quite an intimate backdrop. Will probs need to wrap up well. They don’t have double glazing in there. I suppose the candles will warm the place up a bit. Better to use real candles than switching your phone’s torch on like they do in big gigs. More atmospheric, certainly more appropriate and definitely warmer with the added benefit that it won’t drain your phone battery. Remind me to switch my phone off. Don’t want distractions innit.
