Tracking Santa

Santa checking the names of all those children who have been good.

"A few more hours that's all the time we've got
A few more hours before we get a visit from you know who...." to misquote the words of a Lerner & Loewe Song.

I've just returned from playing for the Nativity & Christingle Service, and one of the highlights for the children was the candle in an over sized Christingle, which wouldn't blow out! Whatever else they may remember about what a Christingle stands for I am sure they will remember the everlasting candle!

Now what about that "A few more hours" bit? well as all good children know Santa will be visiting very soon. I discovered that Santa has been well and truly dragged into the technological age. A Track Santa programme has been developed and you can track him from his home in the North Pole as he whizzes across the skies.

The programme, developed by the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and the search engine Google, has become an Internet sensation with close to a billion hits since its inception last year.



The Colorado-based centre usually provides aerospace warning and control for North America every day but on Christmas Eve they traditionally turn their attention to Santa's journey from the North Pole.


Last year the organisation and Google developed the Internet programme "NORAD tracks Santa" to allow excited children to log on to see how Father Christmas is getting on delivering their gifts.


So far about 10 million people from more than 200 countries have visited the website this year.


NORAD, which is also responsible for defending the US and Canada from incoming nuclear missiles, claims it can follow him with their radar and satellite technology as well as the infra-red signature left by Rudolph's red nose.

Just put Santa tracking programme into your search engine and Hey Presto! there is all the information you could possibly want.

Family Meet Up and Birthday Celebrations

Yesterday was a day of celebrations. Firstly it was the occasion of the big "Family Meet Up" when the Australian branch of the family, and all the English side of the family got together over a lunchtime meal at one of the Brewers
Fayre establishments.

David & Karen, not really singing Carols, but selecting their meal from the menu!

Jane, David & Karen

Secondly it was my birthday. The first thing I did in the morning was open a mysterious present from our lovely next door neighbours. Someone had most definitely been doing their homework, because there was a super pair of socks with the motif "Trust Me I'm a Musician" I shall be wearing them on Christmas Day! Thank you LN's (those of you who are uninitiated - Lovely Neighbours)

I then proceeded to open my birthday cards. I received one from our good friends Gordon & Sue, which really tickled my fancy. Sue has established a reputation in our household of always finding a very funny and suitable card, whatever the situation, and she did me proud this year. With me approaching the biblical Three Score & Ten, in a few years time, she selected this card as suitable for me.....

Fast Lane, Slow Lane, General Bewilderment Lane..

Members of the family joining in the celebrations.

Mollie

Olivia, Sarah & Mollie

Hannah, still in  Jamaican Mode

 

Hannah, Sarah, Olivia & Dot

Rachel, Becky & Mollie

We have a sign in our kitchen which states "Family is Everything" and they were today. It was lovely to see them all joining in the celebrations and enjoying themselves. Thank You girls for the birthday presents and cards - you did me proud!

Thank you also to the Robinson side of the family for the Thornton Chocolates and bottles of wine, and to Sue & Gordon for the box of chocolates!

As an extra surprise I was taken out to our favourite local restaurant - the Aagrah in Shipley. On the way there my good lady instructed me to take the outside lane as we approached the roundabout in Saltaire. I pointed out that thsi was not the correct lane, and then she had to "spill the beans" - we were collecting Gordon & Sue, who were joining us at the Aagrah! Convivial company, a favourtie meal, what more could one ask for? A very enjoyable end to the day.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

I made mention of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" yesterday. I wonder if you know the meaning behind all the "gifts"?


The twelve days of Christmas are the twelve days between Christmas Day, Dec. 25th, the birth of Jesus, and the Epiphany, Jan. 6th, the day Christians celebrate the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) and the revelation of Christ as the light of the world.


The Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" may sound silly and contrived to many of us. But it actually had its origins in religious symbolism - and with a serious purpose.


It dates from a time of religious persecution. The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," was written as a kind of secret catechism that could sing in public without fear of arrest - a learning or memory aid to Christians in fact.


The song can be taken at two levels of interpretation - the surface meaning, or the hidden meaning known only to the Christians involved. Each element is a code word for a religious truth.




1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.

2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.

3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.

4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.

5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.

6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.

9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.




If you think Jesus being symbolized as a partridge in a pear tree sounds blasphemous, remember:


"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so." (Luke 13:34 and Matthew 23:34)


The "true love" in the song refers to God Himself.


The "me" receiving the gifts is every Christian.


So that "silly" song we sing at Christmas time has more meaning than we thought.

I often wonder how many people, who will heartily join in this song have any idea what they are really singing about.

Christmas Decorations

It has become something of a tradition in our household that the Christmas Decorations are not put up until nearly Christmas.

Unlike all those hundreds of households who have had their decorations up, Christmas trees decorated, lights lit, and the fairy sitting jauntily on the top of the tree since early November, we make a point of decorationg usually on or around my birthday. Come Boxing Day, or the day after, when most of the November Decorators are taking their decorations down, ours are still up and brighty lit. 

The whole point of celebrating Christmas is that the season itself lasts for twelve days - from the birth of the baby Jesus to the visit of the Wise Men (or Kings) hence the Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas", and for those of you with a mathematical brain you will not be surprised to see that Christmas ends on "Twelfth Night" or January 6th or the Feast of the Epiphany!

A Bit of a Respite before the Final Fling

This is the week when things calm down a bit! I suppose you could say it is the calm before the storm.

There are no Carol Services, no School Nativity Plays, no concerts for the male voice choir, Indeed if I'm not careful I will start to enjoy the peace, calm, tranquillity and monotony of it all!


However things begin to achieve a seasonal norm come Thursday. That is the day of the big family get together, when we join up with our Australian part of the family - Oh! and in case you've forgotten, it's my birthday too!

There was the possibility of me being needed to play for a wedding at Hazlewood Castle near Tadcaster on Friday, but as I have had no contact from the Bride to be I am now pretty sure that this is not going to happen!

Then things start to achieve the seasonal norm once again on Saturday 24th, with a Nativity Play and Christingle Service at church commencing at 6.00 pm., (This usually results in the church being packed to the rafters), followed by a midnight Eucharist commencing at 11.30 pm, and a Christmas Day Eucharist on Sunday morning at 10.30 am.

The Bentley Boxing Day Party follows on the Monday, with Tuesday as a day of recuperation, then we head off to the Kings Head at Masham for two days of peace and tranquillity!

The Saga of a Tuning Fork and a Zimbalstern

The tuning fork had its annual workout this evening - let me explain. For those of you who are not of a musical leaning, you are probably thinking that a tuning fork is a piece of cutlery which you eat tunes with! - WRONG!

It is a two pronged device which when you strike the "prongs" gives off a very accurate sound at a measured pitch.

So why did my tuning fork get its annual workout this evening?

Well this evening was the Festival of Lessons and Carols, and I like to start the service off in a similar manner to Kings College Cambridge. The first carol is always "Once in Royal David's City", and at Kings College it has become tradition for the first verse of the carol to be sung unaccompanied by a solo choirboy at the west end of the Chapel.

Sadly we don't have any choirboys - (I am reliably informed that they are becoming as rare as hen's teeth), so we commence the carol with the sopranos singing the first verse unaccompanied at the west end of the church.

There are those people who claim to have perfect pitch, and can pluck any note "out of the air" as it were. I prefer to rely on my trusty tuning fork, which when the prongs are struck gives me an indication of the note I need to start the ladies off with.

By the time they have sung the first verse, I am seated on the organ and ready to commence the accompaniment for verse two!

One of the other carols we sang was "Angels from the Realms of Glory", which has a wonderful bell like chorus. The organ has a Zimbalstern which sounds very much like a xylophone being played, and gives a jingly bell like sound, so come the words

"Come and Worship,

Worship Christ the New Born

Come and Worship,

Worship Christ the New Born King."

out comes the Zimbalstern stop to mimic the sound of chiming bells. Attached to the top of the Positiv Casework is a large star, which revolves in time to the chimes. All very impressive and effective, and more than a little Christmassy!

The star in the centre of the Positive casework

Almost There.....

Well we're now on the final approach to Christmas!

The Carol Sing in the Square took place yesterday, and was a very successful event. More people than I had hoped for joined in with the Bingley All Saints group. You can see a couple of photos of the singers and quite a few photos of a certain well known shepherd at http://www.getinthepicture.org.uk/

All sorts of things are beginning to fall into place. Dolly the cat has been picked up from the Cattery (though goodness knows what that is to do with Christmas!) The lodgers, Macy (the Shih-Tzu), Pixie & Twig (the miniature Pinchers) will be going home today. Hannah & Ben will be flying in to Gatwick and then taking a flight to Manchester, and will be returning home sometime in the morning.

I have a Parish Eucharist to play for at 10.30 am, followed by a Festival of Lessons and Carols at 6.30 pm.

Thursday is a day to look forward to for two reasons. Firstly we will be meeting up with our Australian part of the family, and secondly it is my birthday!

Maybe a wedding to play for at Hazlewood Castle Tadcaster on the 23rd, then only a Christingle & Nativity Play Service, A Midnight Eucharist and a Christmas Day Eucharist and I've made it! - Flaps down, taxied in, engines cut and parked up!

Then it's two days of complete relaxation at the Kings Head in Masham. Yippee!

Bingley All Saints Carol Singers, a Certain Shepherd and a Greyhound in Sheeps Clothing

The Bingley All Saints group of singers who took part in the Carol Sing in the Market Square on Saturday 17th December.

That shepherd on the right (the one clutching the lamb) seems vaguely familiar!

Look at the animal with the shepherd on the left. I've heard of a wolf in sheeps clothing, but a greyhound????



Living Nativity & Carol Singing

Tomorrow sees a mammoth Carol Sing and a Living Nativity Tableau in the Market Square in Bingley.

This commences at 09.00 and runs through until 15.00. There are opportunities for anyone to dress as one of the Nativity characters, and have their photos taken. These will them be published a little while later on: http://www.getinthepicture.org.uk/

There are also half hour slots for carol singers to come and perform. I am taking the choir and members of the congregation to do a half hour slot between 10.00 & 10.30. 

I will try to get some photos of the event and put them into Saturday or Sundays Blog.

Nativity Play, What Nativity Play?

Followers of this blog will know that I have been involved in the music side of a Nativity Play at a local Primary School.

My good friend Barry (he of the blog:- White Stuff) has put up some illustrations of his son who had the starring role of 3rd shepherd. In his blog he mentions that he can only put the photos of his son. He is not allowed to have any other child in his blog, [unless of course he has the parents permission!]

I thought it would be rather Christmassy to include some illustrations of the Nativity Play I have been involved in, and put them on my blog. Sadly in this present age I too am not permitted to put photos of other children on my blog. Indeed in the school where I was involved in the Nativity Play, all parents who take photos have to sign a register, and they are told that if they put pictures on any of the social networking sites they must only include their own children.

Ever the rebel I have neither signed the register, nor agreed to the petty rules which have been invoked.

Here are my photos of the Nativity Play - I hope you enjoy them.......

 By the way, the blurred figure on stage was a teacher

Don't you think that the costumes were stupendous?

First snowfall of the winter

I was watching "Look North" last night, and, as usual the programme concludes with a sequence with "Paul the Weatherman." There was quite an amount of time spent on high winds blowing in across the south east, and some uncertainty about just how far northwards these high winds would reach, but the main thrust of the forecast was that they would probably blow across the channel.

There was mention of some very low temperatures in the north and east, but I don't recall any mention of snowfall.

Certainly the possibility of a white Christmas was discussed, but this was more or less ruled out.

So this morning at about 6.30 am, when the dogs decided they would like to go out and relieve themselves they got a bit of a surprise. The ground was covered in snow!
Now Ruby loves the stuff, and she couldn't get out fast enought to scamper around in it. A few moments later Macy, Pixie and Twig were also scampering about in it like new born lambs!

Here is the evidence of their time spent in the garden.....

By the time I took some photos of the road it had been spoilt by traffic moving over the snow.....

However the view from the back of our house was still fairly untouched.........

By the time the sun had risen the snow was already showing signs of melting.....

Funerals versus Nativity Plays!

Cripes! you may be wondering. Has he gone in for the Gothic Horror Effects?


No not really - its just that this blog is about funerals. Nothing gory or "X" rated. Let me explain.

I often have a spate of funerals to play for, and then for some unaccountable reason - nothing!

It's only within the last week or so that I have been informed by "she who must be obeyed" that the funeral directors must have got somebody else to play for them. Then, lo and behold, the phone rings just before teatime and the gentleman on the other end of the line is one of the local funeral directors. "Can you play for a funeral on Monday?", he asks.

During the course of conversation he is asked (very politely of course) what has happened to the funerals over the last week or so, and I am told they have almost "dried up." The local crem has been averaging one a day!

Well if that has been the demand for the crem catering for the Bingley/Baildon/Shipley area then there's no wonder I haven't been asked to play for any funerals, and its probably just as well because I've been up to my ears with Nativity Plays - which, lets face it, are far more fun!

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

I got back from playing a Nativity Play this morning and the sight above is what greeted me!

It must be comfortable and warm in our hall!

                                                    

I think it might be appropriate to hang a sign on the hall door - "DO NOT DISTURB!"

Countdown to Christmas - Thirteen Days to Go!

I've just seen Dot off the premises. She is going to Harrogate to do some Christmas shopping.

I have been left my instructions - put the whites in the washer. Empty the drier and re fill with the washing which needs drying. Don't forget to post the cards on the fireplace. Make sure that you let the dogs out into the garden for a few minutes before you go out. Don't forget to wash the breakfast things up!

How mistaken can you be? I thought I was going to have a nice quiet time before going to play the piano for the first Nativity Play performance this afternoon!

Tonight I have a full blown concert with the Male Voice Choir, and as my accompanist is incapacitated I have to conduct the unaccompanied items and play for the accompanied ones!

We're Getting There!

I'm slowly working my way through the Christmas committments. A fortnight ago things looked absolutely chock-a-block, and to be honest I wondered how I would be able to fit it all in! Having reached December 11th (which means only 14 days to go to Christmas Day!!) things are looking a bit more manageable.

I started off today by dropping Mollie & Tom off at home (they had slept with us last night) and then followed the usual 10.30 Family Service, then after a quick lunch I was up in Oxenhope at the Sue Ryder Manorlands Home with my Male Voice Choir, where they were leading the singing for the annual Festival of Lights. We were accompanied by the Salvation Army Brass Band - a new experience for the choir, who have never sung with a brass band before.

This was a lovely and touching service where relatives who have lost a person to cancer can come together and remember them and have a candle lit in their memory.

There were somewhere in the region of 150 people there, and I am sure that they appreciated the words and readings which were used in the service. 

Christmas Carols - John Rutter

It's not often I sit down and listen to the radio, but as I was driving back from Tadcaster this afternoon, I had Classic Fm on (as I usually do), and I heard that the classic interview by Nick Ferrari tonight at 9.00 pm was with John Rutter.

Those of you who know me will be well aware that John Rutter is one of my favourite composers. He is very much to the fore at Christmastime, because of the great number of carols he has arranged and written.

John Rutter

John was born in London in 1945, and attended Highgate School. One of his contemporaries was Sir John Tavener another composer. He read music at Clare College Cambridge, where he was a member of the choir. Between 1975 and 1979 he was musical director of the college.

In 1981 he founded his own choir - the Cambridge Singers, which he conducts, and which have made many recordings on his own record label - Collegium Records.

Interestingly one of John Rutter's best friends is Bob Chilcott (ex member of the King's Singers. who as a younger person sang in King's College Choir.

John is co editor, with Sir David Willcocks of the Carols for Choirs Collections.

It is a pretty safe bet that between now and Dec 25th you will hear at least one of John Rutter's original carols or arrangements of the perennial carol favourites.

Peace on Earth - maybe!

It is relatively quiet in our house at the moment. We have returned home from the wedding I had to play for at Tadcaster, and thankfully there was no adverse weather - In fact there was bright sunshine!

At the moment Hannah & Ben's three dogs are at Sarah's, having spent the day with her and Olivia, whilst I was playing the wedding at Hazlewood Castle, Tadcaster. They were going to go for a long walk, along with Sarah's dog Raffie, who is son to Macy. So they could be quite sleepy when they come back!

They will be arriving shortly, and in addition we have Mollie and Tom sleeping for the night, so things are bound to liven up when three dogs and two grandchildren arrive on the scene!

Lookout Christmas! Here We Come.

It's only sixteen days to Christmas Day, and already I feel as though I'm well on the way to Christmas.

I've just completed my third (and final) dress rehearsal for one of the local Primary School's Nativity Plays.

Next week we have performances on Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon, by which time, if my calculations are correct, Mary & Joseph will have travelled further on the school stage than the real Mary & Joseph did to get to Bethlehem! The Three Wise Men will have delivered twelve presents in all, and Mary will have given birth to four babies!

That's not all. The multitude of Shepherds, Angels, and Animals will have performed their magic, and no doubt reduced some of the proud parents to tears.

The highlight this year has to be the two little children (a boy and a girl from the infants class) who sing the first verse of "Away in a Manger." I reckon there won't be a dry eye in the house!

The reason we have to do four performances is that the school hall will not hold all the parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles who want to come and support their children..

If  you really want a good laugh, with a nativity flavour to it, you will do no better than read a book by the 1970's comedian Mike Harding called "You can see the Angel's Bum Miss Worswick"


Just to give you a flavour of what you can expect.......

There was no room for them to go behind the manger to adore the tiny infant lying in the straw, so they stood with their backs to the audience, facing upstage. At the words "The Angel of the Lord came down, and glory of the Lord shone around" all three angels bent to adore the child in the manger.

Michael Coffee, second chime bar player, who was sat next to me, threw his chime bar over his head, and in a voice that could be heard several streets away, screeched, "You can see the Angel's bum, Miss Worswick!"

There was pandemonium. Children all over the hall shouted in horror. Miss Worswick, anxious to quell the riot, gave the signal for the angels  to ascend into Heaven. Heavenwards they went, one of the angels being pulled too enthusiastically hit the ceiling, dislodging a lump of plaster and snapped his cable so that, without Heavenly aid he descended unangelically on to the piano, where he landed with a bang that shut the piano lid on Miss MacGoebel's fingers......... 

Having been involved in school Nativity Plays for a goodly number of years the above really rings true!

Do yourself a favour and buy a copy of the book! I have had my copy for about 20 years, and I still cannot read all the way through the "You can see the Angels bum Miss Worswick" episode without breaking down with laughter.

It is obtainable from Mike Harding's own website and published by Robson Books.


ISBN-10: 0860513467 (softback)
ISBN-13: 978-0860513469 (hardback)

Inner Calm

I had the following e mailed to me today by a friend and I thought it would raise a smile or two............



I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me today, and we all could probably use more calm in our lives. Some doctor on TV this morning said the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished - so I've managed to finish off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, a pockage of Prungles, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valiuminun scriptins, the res of the chesescke an a box a chocletz. Yu haf no idr how bludy fablus I feel rite now. Plaese sned dhis orn to dem yu fee ar in ned ov iennr pisss. An telum u blody luvum!! Xxx

Keep Away Winter Weather

I've just arrived back home after playing a rehearsal for the Reception/Year One children's Nativity Play.

As my play script is liberally littered with cues for songs, music effects etc, I thought it would be a good idea to retype it and type my music cues on to the copy. It's only 4 A4 sheets of type so it doesn't take too long, and to be honest with everything typed up it is much more easy to follow!

I was about half way through doing this when Dot called me to the front bedroom window. This was what I saw.

It was a very dark sky with a rainbow protruding from the lower edge of the rainclouds.

I then went into our back bedroom and once again a peculiar sky caught my attention. This time there was a very watery and hazy sky with the sun trying its best to penetrate the sleet showers.

A couple of minutes later, the sleet shower had passed and there was much more daylight in the sky.

So far we have been very fortunate with the weather. There has only been some signs of wintry weather this last week, and that has been a drop in temperatures to around freezing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the snow stays off until after Saturday as I have a wedding to play for at Hazlewood Castle (near Tadcaster) which is about a 55 minutes journey from home.

 Hazlewood Chapel - (The organ is to the right behind the three candles)

Hazlewood Chapel - exterior

Hazlewood Castle. (The chapel is the building on the left.)

A Nostalgic Trip back to the locations of the BBC series "All Creatures Great and Small"

We usually have a post Christmas break up at the Kings Head in Masham Market Square.

A couple of weeks ago I booked it over the Internet, and just as a precaution I rang them later to make sure they had received the details. (I had had a confirmation e mail, but the confirmation didn't mention that they knew we would be taking Ruby with us, as we have done in previous years.) I know from previous visits that they have certain rooms specifically for accompanied dogs. It was a good job, as they hadn't seen (or read) what I had put on the e mail. Fortunately there was a doggy accompanied room they could book us into!

It's strange how things pan out sometimes.

I was reading the Mail on Sunday last week, and in the travel section was an article written by Carol Drinkwater (the actress who is currently in Calendar Girls, but some years ago - in the seventies and eighties, she was Mrs James Herriot in the much loved BBC Series of "All Creatures Great and Small." The series regularly achieved viewing figure in excess of twenty million viewers.)

Whilst we are in Masham we usually spend some time visiting the local villages/historic homes/castles etc. One year we had even been on a trip on the Wensleydale Railway.

Diesel Multiple Unit approaching Leyburn Station on the Wensleydale Railway

The article Carol Drinkwater had written was a trip back to all the locations where they had filmed at in Wensleydale, and included Middleham, Castle Bolton, Bainbridge, Askrigg, Low Row, and Reeth. She mentioned the lovely little old church of St Oswald at Castle Bolton, the King's Arms in Askrigg (used as The Drovers in the BBC Series), The Punch Bowl at Low Row, where Robert Hardy stayed when they were filming and the water splash  near Reeth (in Arkengarthdale) seen in the opening credits.

There it was - an instant itinerary for a day trip whilst we are in Masham! So I am planning on doing a trip based on the locations used in the BBC Series of "All Creatures Great and Small" 

...."In which I join the Academics"

It's a funny old world isn't it? I've played an organ for nigh on 52 years, and for most of that time nothing has particularly phased me.

Then I get a phone call from one of the vicars who helps us out at church (as we are vicarless at the moment.) It goes something like this......

"Hello Malcolm it's Barry here. Are you doing anything on Tuesday 6th December around tea time?" [Wow I wonder. Am I being invited to a tea party?] "Because if not I'd like you to play for the Graduation Ceremony for the Education Students of Bradford College at St Georges Hall!"

After ascertaining what it entailed - about 30 minutes music to entertain the assembled parents and friends, followed by some suitable music to be played whilst the stage party processes, and something similar at the end of the ceremony, I decided it would be a novel experience. The fact that Barry pointed out there would be some monetary reward had nothing whatsoever to do with me hastily responding "I'd be glad to do it Barry!"

St Georges Hall, Bradford

A few days later a very nice lady from Bradford college contacted me to ask what pieces of music I would be playing for the entry and exit of the stage party, and how tall I was, so that I could be kitted out in the necessary gown. Being part of the stage party (I didn't know about this!) it was expected that I would be garbed in the appropriate academic dress!

In also learnt that I would be on the stage, playing the organ. The thought of a full St Georges Hall with me in full view was just a little disconcerting. Then I learnt that the whole ceremony was being recorded and DVD's of the event would be available at a later date for those who had received a degree! No wonder they wanted me garbed appropriately!

 

Graduation Booklet

By now, just a little panic was beginning to set in. Playing an organ in a church, hidden away in some dusty corner is no problem,  but the thought of being on stage in front of all those people was just a little disconcerting.

I arrived in plenty of time, just to have a close look at the instrument and get used to playing it. After about 30 minutes I found myself thoroughly at home with the instrument, and by the time parents and friends were beginning to assemble I was starting to enjoy the experience. [It must be the showman in me!]

The whole event went very smoothly - no mistakes from me, and the length of music just right for the academic party to parade through the hall and take their seats.

All in all it was an interesting way to spend an evening!



There's been a takeover (of my bed)

Hello there Blog Readers. It's Ruby here. I've finally managed to get my paws on the keyboard whilst his lordship was out!

I don't know if you have heard. but I have three lodgers staying with me at the moment. Their "parents" have gone off to the sunny side of the world (Jamaica to be exact) and I have been left in charge of them. You'll no doubt have heard of them - Macy, Pixie and Twig.

It's quite nice to have a bit of doggy company, and we all get on really well. The only problem is they have taken over my bed. Every time I get off it one or other of the lodgers leaps on it, except for Pixie, who burrows into it. You be amazed the number of times we thought we'd lost Pixie, only to find her burrowed under my duvet.

You can see what I mean about them taking over my bed in the photo above. Mind you I sleep on their bed and it's next to the radiator, so I reckon I have the best of the deal!

Pixie and Twig enjoying my bed.

Minus Two, Plus Three

You might wonder why the photo of Ruby, Pixie and Macy is at the head of this blog, and what it has got to do with the heading Minus Two Plus Three. Read on and you will discover more.....


Yesterday teatime I took Hannah and Ben to Manchester Airport. They are due to fly out to Jamaica for a belated honeymoon!

I have just checked on Live Flight Stats and can tell you that Hannah and Ben left Manchester Airport on flight BA2903 at 08.40, and have touched down at Gatwick at 09.22.

They then change flights and board flight BA2285 for Montego Bay (Sangster Airport) Jamaica, which is scheduled to depart at 11.15 and arrive at Sangster Airport at 16.18 (Jamaica Time). Their flight time is around 11 hours.

[That's the "Minus Two" bit of the title.]

Those of you who know Hannah and Ben will probably also know that they have a cat called "Dolly" and three dogs - Macy a Shih-Tzu, Pixie and Twig - two Miniature Pinschers. Despite the fact they are much loved pets, they are not taking pets with them!

I took Ben and Dolly to the Springs Kennels and Cattery yesterday afternoon (I should add that they didn't keep Ben!!) and circumstances dictated that the three dogs came to stay with us.

[That's the "Plus Three" of the title]

I was expecting a disturbed night last night, but after taking the dogs for their final walk [Dot took the Pixie and Twig, and I took Ruby and Macy] they settled down and nothing more was heard until around 07.30 this morning.

All the dogs have been fed and watered, ablutions have been performed, and as I type this there are four dogs dozing contentedly at the end of the hall!

How Green Was My Valley

Last night our house was invaded by lots of ladies. (No it's not my fatal attraction to opposite sex!) My good lady had thrown a Girlie Gardening Party. She had been to the Harrogate Showground to a gardening event, and a stall there was occupied by "Girlie Gardening" - a couple of ladies who specialise in producing gardening requisites (usually in pink) for lady gardeners.

As a result I was persona non grata, and relegated to the office for the duration of the party.

Those of you who follow my blog will have gathered that I am something of a "movie buff", so last night I decided to sit down in my office and watch a DVD from a set of five classic award winners I had purchased some time ago.

This was the 1941 5 Academy award winner "How Green was my Valley", starring Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara and a very young Roddy McDowall. It tells the story of a Welsh Valley at the turn of the century, and its change from a pastoral paradise to a despoiled mining region.

It is seen through the eyes of the youngest son of the Morgan family, Huw, who recounts the trials and tribulations the family has to endure when the miners wages are reduced, and how they are victimised for trying to stand up to the mine owners. The family have to struggle with poverty, hunger and hardship, as well as the conflicting demands of faith, economics, education and family loyalty.

The film is based on a novel by Richard Llewellyn, and has a soundtrack of much treasured Welsh Choral Music. 

Although somewhat dated in its attitudes and depiction of family life, this is a most enjoyable film, with a socio-economic message, which could very well be pertinent to our nation today!