Being Father Christmas

 Sat SM Catherine was back. S and B. To St Andrew's school to be Father Christmas for 2 hours for the first time. So lovely to see the kids faces light up and the parents too!. A public service so the parents find out what the kids want - nothing, everything, big and small!. Enjoyed it. Saw Henry, D and AM. To St John's fair and bought a calendar for breast cancer and a dinosaur book signed by the illustrator. Veggie bap. Nice to see Fr Antonio and Adrian. Played Walther Wachet auf and Bach Nun komm der heiden Heiland at Streatham Hill. Ariadne auf naxos from Stockholm. Dresden Advent concert with a good tenor Peter Gabor. Old Berlin Christmas video with Hermann Prey. Liz left 2 Advent candles alight and they burned out. 

Sunday Gaudete. Hard frost. Fog in North Croydon but not in the South! Church very cold. COAT Sunday. Played Bach and Walther Wachet auf and Rhapsody on Helmley by Lloyd Webber. We sang Come now O prince of peace. So sad to hear David Dibbs had a heart attack and died on Friday. Another loss. Lights on tree. Masterchef professionals final, Strictly semi. Dame Fanny Waterman interviewed. Precious Blood organ opening recital - sound not good. Heavy snow! 

Monday car snowed in. Left at 8.30 a,m, for funeral at Caterham at 11. 468 and 466 to Purley. That bus stopped and a 407 went by. Tried Purley station and train cancelled. Slipped going to bus stop and 407 only going to Whyteleafe South. No bus, no train, no Bolt so came home. Complained to tfl as they consistently said 407s were running to Caterham which they were not! Jerry replied later saying they understood and sang unaccompanied but of course I lost a fee. Tree in garden. Lights on stairs. Colette's zoom was interesting about COP27. Sisters of Sion environmental group will be studying Laudato Si' from January. Only connect, University challenge, Strictly, bit of The Crown and Harry and Meghan. William Kentridge films, Comedy playhouse, Dimbleby lecture 50 years. 

Tuesday slept in. I had forgotten about the LMP party at Fairfield. We got there on 2 buses in time and saw a film about Croydon Borough of culture 2023. We also heard about plans to involve lots of kids but alas nothing about established choirs. The Arnhem gallery now has black curtains and it felt big and cold. Ruth and Sebastian played duos which was a delight and we sang 2 carols. The food was good and chatted to Adrian and Terence. Got buses back - 468s were being tuned back at West Croydon - driver said because of traffic! Decorated tree. Found CD of Christmas at Coulsdon made 2005 - always comes up fresh!. Simon Schama meeting Margaret Atwood. Repair shop and Bidding room. Repair shop at Christmas - old. Yorkshire Farm. The Cathedral trust quiz was great - enjoyed it! 

Wed to dentist. Filling and cleaning by Miss Khan. Rebecca tried new dentures and I get them Dec 24. Driving was fine. To St Joseph's Bromley for centenary Mass and lunch for Bromley circle. Archbishop John was pleased to see us and delighted about the Streatham Hill linkup. He asked me to video some carols on Facebook!  Meal was good and lovely to see old friends and make new ones from Croydon circle. Handed over banners and public speaking contest stuff to Duncan. Austen Ivereigh on Cheltenham zoom was excellent. Last Crown episodes ended sadly with divorce and decommissioning of Britannia. 

Thursday. Apology from tfl but no compensation for loss of income. To St John's for Joy's funeral which was lovely . Fr John excelled himself. We sang Faure Requiem and Parry My soul there is a country. I got a frog in my throat at one point! LMP were well represented and Peter Wright played the Charpentier Te Deum at the end. To Clare's to open the curtains. Still cold. Repair shop. Bidding room. CCT on bell ringing.More Harry and Meghan.

Friday still cold and snow lying on pavements and gardens. Put up wreath and more decorations. I have suggested no items hanging from the ceiling - I am not that steady on the ladder. To UNACC for lovely Christmas lunch. Seems we missed the carol singers but as nobody told us a start time..... Very nice beef. Took parcel for return. More Harry and Meghan after I had practised on piano and had a sleep! I feel sympathetic towards them over the dreadful way the media and some of the palace behaved. Thomas Wilson has left St Mary's Sydney after 13 years! The Beaux stratagem NT at home so funny and well done. Salvation Army Christmas at the Albert Hall. 

Saturday still cold. SM in Hyde Park, S and B. Lists for carol service and found some more Christmas music. Delivered cards. Last of Harry and Meghan series - lovely scenes with the young family well away from the Royal goldfish bowl! Played Bairstow and Walther at Streatham Hill. We had recording of O holy night and the decorations have increased!! 2 young servers with Liz. Something is going on behind the scenes about singing at Mass - I am not getting involved! Strictly final and so pleased Hamza won. They were all excellent! Cliff Richard in Hackney.