Christmas
Advent 4 played Bairstow and Statham on Veni Emmanuel. We sang Advent prose. Nice cakes at coffee. Andrew was there - where was he at the carol service - he was supposed to be reading! Weather fine for a while. Beautiful carol service at St John the the Evangelist, Upper Norwood including Rutter All bells in paradise and Howells A spotless rose. Judith Weir and Mathias. I was so tired. I found the Rutter very emotional and touching . Programmes on Tower of London.
Monday woke 6.30 and then 9.30. Chat to Ann, No swim. Recorded 3 life story videos. Quiz night. 60 years of Carols from King's.
Tuesday woke 6.30 breakfast in bed up at 11. Second part of Leonardo da Vinci. Christmas at Hampton Court palace (a repeat from 2010). King’s Cambridge splendid! The Lassus was most effective and the Rutter beautifully controlled. I need to hear the Ives again.Midnight Mass went well and we had incense! Been enjoying our CD Christmas in Coulsdon made in 2005. Bed at 2. I played Bach In dulci jubilo at the end! 3 in the choir. Ellie was ill.
Wed Christmas Day. Woke 6.30 a.m. Lovely organs calendar from Liz. To Caterham and 2 in choir. We sang Sing to God a song of glory to Angels from the realms. I played Gant's Paean on the day of the Nativity and Noel Suisse. Chocolate Nativity is the congregation walking round the church and getting chocolates to match the story? Snickers and Kitkat (take a break). 2 boys want to join the choir with their mother! Drove to Acton and a delicious lunch oysters, lovely meats, Christmas pudding. Red wine which I think was a present to me some years back. Slept after lunch. The King was excellent and mentioned Interfaith twice. Heard on radio 3 learning a new piece stimulates the brain from Rob the 88 year old who passed Grade 8. I must learn some new repertoire! Had a lovely reply from Petroc about his book on Cornwall. Missed most of Christmas sewing bee. Call the midwife was lovely.
Boxing Day slept well and a delicious cooked breakfast. St Stephen’s Day at Holy Trinity Brook Green for the servers. 2 enrolled and a 27 year medal. Lovely Mass in a beautiful church. Met Andreas at the reception afterwards - Greek Orthodox grandfather of the two enrolled. Caught up on TV programmes Halifax and Warwick both excellent, Carols from King's - lovely singing of O holy night. BBC has quiz night on Boxing Day plus Call the midwife part 2!!
Lovely Mass at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood and shared lunch in the vicarage. We sang Wood in F and AJEyre “How fragrant the lilies”. Enjoyed The Merry Widow from Glyndebourne. More quizes on TV.
Sat Holy Innocents. Richard in Holland Park. Iam Linden reports over 2 million children in UK below the poverty line. This is a disgrace. Helen Bramsted has died. SLIFG founder. Hurtado on the Flight into Egypt and Presentation. Fr John at Mass. Spoke to Leah Helen's daughter about arrangements for Monday. Dennis Ann Marie and Jenry came for lunch.
Sunday St John's Day at Caterham but it was all a bit low key. We did sing "Sing to God a song of glory" to Angels from the realms and New Year Carol by Britten. I played Bach The old year now away is fled, Campbell on Grafton and Cook on Divinum mysterium. The service was not livestreamed. Nice chats at coffee. Margaret made an interesting point about electric cars and recycling the batteries and where the lithium is coming from. Sr Mary Jane Langdon on Private passions. Derek Jacobi and Dames of theatre on BBC interesting. Pottery throw down. Final years of Maria Callas. Part of Gosford Park. Only connect Christmas University challenge and Celebrity mastermind.
Monday both went to Putney Vale crem for funeral of Helen Bramsted which was touching. Alan Gadd sat with us. Tea at Wimbledon synagogue and nice chat to Eric who remembered me and a Quaker couple. Ali and Stuart Wallace. Lidl on the way home. Much ado 1967 Zefferelli production with Jacobi and Maggie Smith. OTT hilarious. Only connect, Christmas university challenge, Mastermind, Royal institution lectures on food fascinating. Jimmy Carter died aged 100.
New Year's Eve. Chat to Ann. I cancelled swim as Liz went to see GP and to try and find her bus pass. Enjoyed the Berlin Phil New Year concert on our TV rather than the cinema. Brahms 2 played by Trifinov, Wagner, Strauss. Kirill Petrenko conducting. Quiz shows on TV. To Kath and Paddy's (Kath is in Anerley UCM with Liz) to see New Year in. Home at 1.30.
New Year's Day Strauss from Vienna introduced by Petroc . Muti smiled at the end - he is 83. The ballet was lovely. To Mass at St John's in Lady chapel. Fr Tom preached and Andrew presided. Adrian played. Decided not to go for pub lunch as it was very wet. More quizes. Last of the Royal Institution lectures on food. Eric Sykes comedies with Peter Sellers and Hattie. Interview with actress who played her. 25 books read in 2024. Outstanding Petroc Trelawny’s
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