Christmas

Church of the Nativity Bethlehem Going down into the cave and the star for the birthplace.
Listened to Rachmaninov vespers on way to Coulsdon Christmas Eve - it was the Estonian philharmonic choir at the Proms - we will be singing this next year with Edward Caswell. Bruce went to St John's Upper Norwood for Midnight, Louise to St Michael's Bedford Park. Dennis and Louise to St Chad's South Norwood Christmas morning where they met Grainne and Clare and Sophia. So between us we have been at 6 churches! I drove to Coulsdon 3 times but it was worth coming home and having a short sleep before Midnight. I finally got to hear more of King's carols today! Many of them we had enjoyed at the Albert Hall - the soloists are particularly good this year especially the baritone. Bruce went cycling in Richmond Park on Christmas Day morning with friends and won the champagne. Boxing Day was relaxing. Waited until the football crowd had come before taking Dennis up to Grandma's - he admired all her improvements. We had an excellent lunch (bubble and squeak) Christmas puddings and clementine cake. Then took Dennis and Ann Marie to Gatwick as there were no trains on that line - got there early and they reached Dublin at 10.30 p.m. Watched the end of Narnia and took Grandma home. Played the piano for a while which I seldom do. Finished putting Holy Land photos on Face book. There was some excitement at Boxing Day lunch when a paper napkin fell on a candle. Luckily the 2 frying pans which had held the squeak were on the side and the napkin was dropped into them and thus covered up and went out leaving a mass of black ash.