Apparently the gilets jaunes caused less trouble today than last week but nonetheless all sensible people stayed at home. I am making sterling progress on my Christmas presents as a result. A flat cap is indeed easier than it looks and I have also for finished a completely useless but very cute cuddly panda-in-a-Santa-hat (Panta?)
Tomorrow I am totally wearing my Christmas jumper to church. (It's a nice one with a lovely reindeer and little tinkly bells.)
Now I'm intrigued as to what the French will say to LVER-jumperiness? Like, 'it iz ze crazy English womanne agayne'? (I can make fun of them, I speak French fluently. ) Or are they more accepting? After all, methinks the French are known for their often exquisite dress sense. Though many currently with add-on fluorescent vests! Hmm.
Over here, it's been a very stormy night, winditude bound to continue throughout the day. Some outdoor Christmas markets appear to have been cancelled, the storm threatening to blow away the stalls. Some rain as well, still incredibly welcome and needed. Most remaining leafs on the trees finally gone for good. They were a sorry sight this year, dried up and wrinkly, hanging on for dear afterlife.
Just listened to the Radio 4 Sunday Service, and have started watching Lucy Worsley's 'Nights at the Opera' on YouTube. She's always quite good, a bit of an eye-candy, possibly, and she certainly likes dressing up! For me, there are a few new insights on things operatic, as I really don't know much about those.
There's a panto on today in a town an hour down the railway line which I might go to (Cinderella), but not sure if tickets are still available. I only found out a couple of days ago. There's always 2019, I guess.
But now, dear Shippies, please have a lovely Sunday y'all, on Advent Numero Due (=number two). - Coffee, tea, anyone? [_}o ~(_)o
I reckon a clerical collar and a silly jumper is probably exactly the right mode of dress for such an occasion, possibly especially if said jumper is adorned with fairy lights ...
Sorry, non-luminescent. But it did have a cotton bobble or two on the front.
As to looking for (or at) eye-candy in Advent, you should be Ashamed Of Yourself. If no panto tickets are available, serves you right.
O no it doesn't! O yes it does! (repeat ad nauseam)
I'm afraid I wasn't aware that advent means penitence. Isn't Lent enough? Also, who doesn't feel severely punished by all the gruelling pre-Christmas duties, such as: writing numerous Christmas cards, many of which never will be answered? Listening to constant happy jingling and jangling muzack in the shops and on the wireless? Spending time with your hated family members and, after copious meals therewith, fall into deep stupor and depression until way past New Year's Day? Penitence indeed!
Wesley J was, after aforementioned eye-candian Italian opera introduction, and influenced by the likes of Messrs Puccini and Verdi, heavily in Italian-language mood, for which he herewith apologises profusely!
<sings excruciatingly loudly Nessun Dorma [= (That) No One Sleeps], exits stage left>
Advent is indeed a penitential season (no Gloria in excelsis), but it's got some jolly nice music all the same, of which we had a very decent amount today, mostly by Gibbons.
The Record of John went off very nicely indeed: D. was well pleased and said it was the best I'd ever done it.
I never knew Advent was a penitential thing. I actually never knew much about it, as I have always done Lent but not Advent, not having gone to liturgical churches until relatively recently. I discovered last year that Advent was about waiting, and so I read an Advent book about Bible characters who had to wait for various things, and I bought myself an Advent calendar of teabags - different tea for each day of Advent, as a countdown. I bought another such calendar this year, though this one doesn't have such a good variety of teas, and I'm starting to think next year I'll just put tea leaves in the little boxes, as I prefer loose tea to teabags. I am not reading an Advent book this year, but I am reading the book of Job in the Bible, as that is also about waiting. I want to find a good commentary on it, so if anyone happens to have any recommendations, I would find that useful.
Fineline, here is a link to Anglican board of Missons app for Advent calendar on line. Androis and iPhone suitable.Songs for a Strange Land. It is short, a passage, some comment and prompts for reflection. I usually use a series of reflections written by a Lutheran pastor, Wangerin I think. I am enjoying the Australian one this year and finding it quite deep, much more so than it seems at first. The artwork
Hm. A blackbird singing at dawn on the trees near my house. Which is nice, I love blackbirds' singing. But... in mid-December? This is weird. Normally happens when spring is nigh, doesn't it?
I’m completely shattered, having spent yesterday outside in full Victorian dress and carting a basket around. Afterwards we went to a party at a church friend’s, which I attended in costume in lieu of a Christmas jumper.
I have work to do today but have decided to take a couple of hours off this morning to recuperate.
Text conversation with old work colleague this morning told me that the successor I handed over to in July is leaving next week. That's three replacements now gone.
Firstly I handed over to someone in October last year, she lasted from the beginning of November to the end of March, and I was pulled back in to resolve various issues and worked from April to August. The next person started at the beginning of April and left at the end of July, but wasn't happy when she heard that there was also another person running things from another site starting at the beginning of July: this replacement, who lasted to December. I wasn't kidding when I said The Job™ wasn't much fun.
Do you play a temperance-minded Victorian lady with the green dreds in your avatar photo?
Inquiring minds want to know…
I haven’t had dreads for a few years now. The lower part of my hair is currently dyed green but as my hair is bum length, I can easily hide the green ends when putting my hair up (which is why only the lower part is dyed, I have Edwardian and Tudor re-enactments to do in the summer so can’t dye any hair that will be visible).
The birdies would need ice-skates or skis for our bird bath ...
Nothing much happening chez Piglet today except laundry, a batch of bread-making and manufacture of a chicken PIE (about to be started - it'll be a joint venture).
It's D's birthday today, but until pension providers and banks get their collective digits out, we can't do anything about it. When they do, there'll be some celebrations.
Oh, and I put up the Christmas trees (big one in the sitting-room window, small one in the dining area) and put the Nativity characters on the windowsill with the Wise Men approaching from the east. And all the tree-lights were still working!
Text conversation with old work colleague this morning told me that the successor I handed over to in July is leaving next week. That's three replacements now gone.
I didn't realize you had worked in Trump's White House.
Our avian friends have pretty much all gone now; we had a brief visit from a few mourning-doves the other day (and felt suitably guilty about the birdie bistro being closed), but I'll be surprised if we see anyone for a while now.
Rather bizarrely, a couple of days ago, I saw a swallow(!!!) at our local farm shop. I couldn't believe my eyes, swallows are supposed to be somewhere nice and hot at this time of year, not at the edge of the Flatlands of the East! I still would not believe it if the two people I was with hadn't seen it and weren't equally astonished. I don't think, somehow, that it'll be around to see its friends come back from Africa next year.
ION, a most beautiful sunny day here, after an early frost.
I am hopeful that Fine Weather will prevail over the festive period (Christmas/Holidays/Winterfest - delete as applicable), so that the various religious and secular events at Our Place have a reasonable attendance.
Meanwhile, Winter has not yet arrived at the Palace-Ark, as I have not yet heard the distinctive cry of the Redshank - a rather engaging bird, but only seen rarely in these southern latitudes in late years. I blame Tru**p.
Sorry - I couldn't resist a Monty Python and the Holy Grail moment.
We had a really good carol-singing thing at the Cathedral last night. It was billed as a "Community Carol Sing", and was aimed at the Cathedral neighbourhood, who responded magnificently. It was followed by mulled cider (really just posh apple-juice but delicious nonetheless) and seasonal wee buns, and went really well - the nave was almost full, mostly of people from outside the congregation, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
As D. says, anything that gets people into the church is a Good Thing, and this got lots of people in.
I'm fairly ambivalent about bingo: I can't actually imagine anything more boring, but if it keeps some churches afloat financially, I suppose there's little harm in it.
I'm a bit late to the boards today - I've been out since mid-morning. After D's concert, we had a really nice and v. inexpensive lunch, which included a glass of the nicest red wine I've had in ages - Marcus James Argentinian Malbec - it was like liquid velvet.
Unfortunately, getting the brake-pads replaced on the Pigletmobile wasn't quite so inexpensive ($$$), and the bloke told us we need to replace the tyres as well ...
They'll have to wait until the pension money comes through - I don't think D's too worried, as he doesn't think the tyres are as far gone as the bloke said they were. I suppose he was just doing his job, trying to get another sale ("It's not worth getting cheap tyres - I always buy the top of the range" - you get the idea).
Brrrrrr, just thawing out after a freeeeezing dog walk!
🐕 🥶 -> teeth chattering!
“Light cloud and a gentle breeze
Humidity
75%
Pressure
1009 mb
Visibility Good
Temperature feels like -3°
Low chance of precipitation
A gentle breeze from the east south east”
I've hunkered down for the day after a trip to the tip, the Heavy and Awkward pre-holidays shop, and some other tasks made simpler with a car since I've got one for a few days. Sadly, the precipitation has put me off taking the little beastie for a decent outing.
I will also be taking it to church tomorrow to load up with a few boxes of files which need a serious sort out, best done at home in the warm, and when my House Elf is here next weekend for a few hours. (Colleague's offspring who was looking for some flexible way of earning money at a point where I was wondering about paying someone occasionally to clean or do other odd jobs. Suits us both brilliantly. I save non-urgent tasks for the Uni holidays, House Elf gets in touch with possible days, is excellent company and, more importantly, gets the jobs done well.)
Snow, hail, freezing wind. Just your normal December, but pretty rough today. Better be done by Tuesday when I have to do a burial, not in our nice cemetery, but up a hill over a burn and a bog and on the man's own land. As the undertaker says "Could be fun!"
It’s soon “shall we or shan’t we” time for the orchestra as we watch tomorrow’s weather forecast for the nearby Cathedral City Christmas Market where we are due to be playing in the dreaded open air. I won’t be playing anyway whether it rains or not because a) my lungs won’t thank me b) my fingers won’t either and c) my poor flute will probably go on strike afterwards. Instead I’ll be standing holding a banner and a bucket hoping we get some kind passers by with spare dosh. And dreaming of the curry planned for afterwards - inner heat will be very needed.
I cheered myself up (hah!) by watching the 1958 film A Night to Remember' on YouTube - you know, the one about the sinking of the Titanic, with Kenneth More.
I'd forgotten what a superb and classic film this is - poignant and moving, with excellent special effects (given that it's 60 years old).
Lord, have mercy - I remember seeing it at the local flea-pit when it was new!
More WHISKEY is called for, I think, along with SOUP....
Was at church this morning to help with the Reconciliation (First Confession) service which the Powers That Be have in their Wisdom decided should be held in the middle of advent. Then had a nap and made pork cheek stew to eat whilst watching Strictly. These are all 'Sunday activities' as tomorrow we won't have time between Mass and Christingle and carol service and I don't know whether I'm coming or going...
Did someone mention alcohol?
BTW, I agree about A Night to Remember. It always makes me cry.
Huh! We have 100% chance of precipitation all day ...
Of course you do - you live in Wales ... [runs for cover]
D. was speaking to his mum today, and if it's any comfort it was apparently chucking it down in Colchester too.
It's been a nice day here - mainly sunny and (relatively speaking) warm - it got up to 5° this afternoon, and even shifted some of the sn*w.
We had a little jaunt down to Woodstock today as D. was giving a recital in the Presbyterian church there this evening. We went down in the afternoon in time for him to have a bit of practice and suss out the organ (he had played it briefly once before, but it's a much smaller one than he's used to, and he wanted a bit of a run-through). He was flipping through his music and suddenly said "bugger!" - he'd left one piece behind and it was too late to go back (it's about 70 miles). We went off and got a bite to eat, and he had a flash of inspiration - it was a Presbyterian church, so he'd do an improvisation on some of his favourite metrical psalm tunes*, and it worked out very nicely.
We had a decent audience, who seemed suitably impressed, and there was mulled cider and cookies afterwards (what a nice habit that is!).
* Martyrs, St. Magnus, Bon Accord and St. George's, Edinburgh. We like a good metrical psalm.
I was woken at 5am by the sound of snowploughs ploughing (not a partridge in a pear tree)! Which can only mean one thing: we've got the first 'real' snow of this winter, just a few inches. Hurray! Most wonderful. I may venture out and take a few pics... before it's all gone again.
And just in time, too: last night, on Saturday, we went to a Carol Service in Big Town with some kids of the school and some of the parents, which was highly enjoyable. A lot of upliftedness was had, they have quite a good choir (probably none to match Piglet's, but still!), the Rev welled up - and justifiedly so! - when reading the last of the lessons, from the Gospel of John, and finally, after the service, copious amounts of mince pies and mulled wine were consumed. Bliss.
A blesséd Sunday to all and sundry. Christmas approacheth fast.
We didn't get snow here, but the wind was manic! Everything in our garden (which faces east, and therefore in the teeth of said gale, which was loose, blew all over the place! dustbin, plant pots (empty), chairs, and the place was full of other people's rubbish. I certainly don't buy chilli salmon from Sainsbury's, or milk in big plastic pots. Goodness knows where my rubbish is (and a perfectly good black bin bag!)
Sitting next to the french window in the evening as the rain hurled itself against the glass was a bit scary, especially when you are by yourself! Thankfully, today is calm, the sun is shining, and I have cleared up all the mess.
Comments
Tomorrow I am totally wearing my Christmas jumper to church. (It's a nice one with a lovely reindeer and little tinkly bells.)
Over here, it's been a very stormy night, winditude bound to continue throughout the day. Some outdoor Christmas markets appear to have been cancelled, the storm threatening to blow away the stalls. Some rain as well, still incredibly welcome and needed. Most remaining leafs on the trees finally gone for good. They were a sorry sight this year, dried up and wrinkly, hanging on for dear afterlife.
Just listened to the Radio 4 Sunday Service, and have started watching Lucy Worsley's 'Nights at the Opera' on YouTube. She's always quite good, a bit of an eye-candy, possibly, and she certainly likes dressing up! For me, there are a few new insights on things operatic, as I really don't know much about those.
There's a panto on today in a town an hour down the railway line which I might go to (Cinderella), but not sure if tickets are still available. I only found out a couple of days ago. There's always 2019, I guess.
But now, dear Shippies, please have a lovely Sunday y'all, on Advent Numero Due (=number two). - Coffee, tea, anyone? [_}o ~(_)o
As to looking for (or at) eye-candy in Advent, you should be Ashamed Of Yourself. If no panto tickets are available, serves you right.
O no it doesn't! O yes it does! (repeat ad nauseam)
I'm afraid I wasn't aware that advent means penitence. Isn't Lent enough? Also, who doesn't feel severely punished by all the gruelling pre-Christmas duties, such as: writing numerous Christmas cards, many of which never will be answered? Listening to constant happy jingling and jangling muzack in the shops and on the wireless? Spending time with your hated family members and, after copious meals therewith, fall into deep stupor and depression until way past New Year's Day? Penitence indeed!
Advent can indeed be a severely penitential season....
<sings excruciatingly loudly Nessun Dorma [= (That) No One Sleeps], exits stage left>
The Record of John went off very nicely indeed: D. was well pleased and said it was the best I'd ever done it.
Hope the wheelchair is going well BF, and you are proving a menace on the streets.
I hope everyone had a nice weekend!
It’s very mild, ‘tho damp so maybe that’s the reason. He had a lovely long bath in our birdbath when it was fully light - great to watch
I have work to do today but have decided to take a couple of hours off this morning to recuperate.
Inquiring minds want to know…
Firstly I handed over to someone in October last year, she lasted from the beginning of November to the end of March, and I was pulled back in to resolve various issues and worked from April to August. The next person started at the beginning of April and left at the end of July, but wasn't happy when she heard that there was also another person running things from another site starting at the beginning of July: this replacement, who lasted to December. I wasn't kidding when I said The Job™ wasn't much fun.
Nothing much happening chez Piglet today except laundry, a batch of bread-making and manufacture of a chicken PIE (about to be started - it'll be a joint venture).
It's D's birthday today, but until pension providers and banks get their collective digits out, we can't do anything about it. When they do, there'll be some celebrations.
Oh, and I put up the Christmas trees (big one in the sitting-room window, small one in the dining area) and put the Nativity characters on the windowsill with the Wise Men approaching from the east. And all the tree-lights were still working!
I didn't realize you had worked in Trump's White House.
We've heard a Great Tit a few times recently too. What's it doing?
ION, a most beautiful sunny day here, after an early frost.
I am hopeful that Fine Weather will prevail over the festive period (Christmas/Holidays/Winterfest - delete as applicable), so that the various religious and secular events at Our Place have a reasonable attendance.
Meanwhile, Winter has not yet arrived at the Palace-Ark, as I have not yet heard the distinctive cry of the Redshank - a rather engaging bird, but only seen rarely in these southern latitudes in late years. I blame Tru**p.
Here he is:
https://rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/redshank/
It must have been European -- African swallows are non-migratory.
We had a really good carol-singing thing at the Cathedral last night. It was billed as a "Community Carol Sing", and was aimed at the Cathedral neighbourhood, who responded magnificently. It was followed by mulled cider (really just posh apple-juice but delicious nonetheless) and seasonal wee buns, and went really well - the nave was almost full, mostly of people from outside the congregation, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
As D. says, anything that gets people into the church is a Good Thing, and this got lots of people in.
Baked crostini and focaccia for festive gluttony. Epic fail, relieved this isn't 24 December.
Unfortunately, getting the brake-pads replaced on the Pigletmobile wasn't quite so inexpensive ($$$), and the bloke told us we need to replace the tyres as well ...
They'll have to wait until the pension money comes through - I don't think D's too worried, as he doesn't think the tyres are as far gone as the bloke said they were. I suppose he was just doing his job, trying to get another sale ("It's not worth getting cheap tyres - I always buy the top of the range" - you get the idea).
🐕 🥶
“Light cloud and a gentle breeze
Humidity
75%
Pressure
1009 mb
Visibility Good
Temperature feels like -3°
Low chance of precipitation
A gentle breeze from the east south east”
I Hate Winter.
So I shall drink WHISKEY.
And stoke up the Palace-Ark stove.
And hibernate.
Bu**er Christmas........
I will also be taking it to church tomorrow to load up with a few boxes of files which need a serious sort out, best done at home in the warm, and when my House Elf is here next weekend for a few hours. (Colleague's offspring who was looking for some flexible way of earning money at a point where I was wondering about paying someone occasionally to clean or do other odd jobs. Suits us both brilliantly. I save non-urgent tasks for the Uni holidays, House Elf gets in touch with possible days, is excellent company and, more importantly, gets the jobs done well.)
I cheered myself up (hah!) by watching the 1958 film A Night to Remember' on YouTube - you know, the one about the sinking of the Titanic, with Kenneth More.
I'd forgotten what a superb and classic film this is - poignant and moving, with excellent special effects (given that it's 60 years old).
Lord, have mercy - I remember seeing it at the local flea-pit when it was new!
More WHISKEY is called for, I think, along with SOUP....
Did someone mention alcohol?
BTW, I agree about A Night to Remember. It always makes me cry.
D. was speaking to his mum today, and if it's any comfort it was apparently chucking it down in Colchester too.
It's been a nice day here - mainly sunny and (relatively speaking) warm - it got up to 5° this afternoon, and even shifted some of the sn*w.
We had a little jaunt down to Woodstock today as D. was giving a recital in the Presbyterian church there this evening. We went down in the afternoon in time for him to have a bit of practice and suss out the organ (he had played it briefly once before, but it's a much smaller one than he's used to, and he wanted a bit of a run-through). He was flipping through his music and suddenly said "bugger!" - he'd left one piece behind and it was too late to go back (it's about 70 miles). We went off and got a bite to eat, and he had a flash of inspiration - it was a Presbyterian church, so he'd do an improvisation on some of his favourite metrical psalm tunes*, and it worked out very nicely.
We had a decent audience, who seemed suitably impressed, and there was mulled cider and cookies afterwards (what a nice habit that is!).
* Martyrs, St. Magnus, Bon Accord and St. George's, Edinburgh. We like a good metrical psalm.
And just in time, too: last night, on Saturday, we went to a Carol Service in Big Town with some kids of the school and some of the parents, which was highly enjoyable. A lot of upliftedness was had, they have quite a good choir (probably none to match Piglet's, but still!), the Rev welled up - and justifiedly so! - when reading the last of the lessons, from the Gospel of John, and finally, after the service, copious amounts of mince pies and mulled wine were consumed. Bliss.
A blesséd Sunday to all and sundry. Christmas approacheth fast.
Sitting next to the french window in the evening as the rain hurled itself against the glass was a bit scary, especially when you are by yourself! Thankfully, today is calm, the sun is shining, and I have cleared up all the mess.
Coffee anyone?