Masham - The NHS Tour......

You know when celebrities have a concert tour going, they usually give it some catchy subtitle? Well those of you who follow my blog will know that we were out of circulation, and on a tour of sorts.

We went to spend a couple of nights at the King's Head in Masham, and I had planned an "All Creatures Great and Small Nostalgia Tour". Unfortunately the plans of mice and men............

Let me take you back a few days. Last week Dot had phoned the GP for a repeat prescription, and the upshot was that I went to collect it and have it dispensed at the chemists next door. I had seen the prominently displayed notice which warned that certain drugs were difficult to come by and may not be immediately available, so I was hardly surprised when with the prescription I was handed a note that asked me to call back at 11.00 am the following morning, as part of the prescription drugs would not be available until then.

On calling back the following morning I was told that there was a supply problem and they would not be available until early January. Dot, being a nurse, and knowing the ins and outs of the profession said we'll go and get the prescription and have it dispensed somewhere where they have the necessary drugs. Unfortunately as part of the prescription had been dispensed we were unable to do this, so a return visit to the doctor the following morning (as an emergency) to get another prescription ensued. Another nearby chemist had the necessary drugs in stock and was able to dispense them!

As Dot had been examined by a locum, there was the suggestion that (after consultation with the specialist at BRI) she should go there to be looked over! So on Wednesday morning we made a visit to BRI and a wait (for me) of an hour and a half followed.

We set off up to Masham, and Dot was not too good on Wednesday night, so she visited the local GP in Masham (again as an emergency) and after about an hour and a half, during which the Masham GP had spoken to a consultant at Harrogate General Hospital it was suggested that Dot should go either there or to Darlington as it was suspected that she had contracted shingles, and there was pressure on her optic nerve!! 

Dot's response was, "We're on holiday, can it wait until Friday morning, when I can call in Harrogate General Hospital on the way home?" This was the agreed plan, so after more medication being prescribed we set off for a run, calling at Leyburn, Redmire, Castle Bolton and the local St Oswald's Church, and then on to Bedale, [which we had planned on visiting on Friday morning instead of the now planned visit to Harrogate General Hospital!]

So Friday morning, after breakfast we bid adieu to Masham and headed for H.G.H., where Dot had her eyes examined by a consultant, had umpteen boxes of pills, potions and drops dispensed and told to call back on Tuesday morning. Some two hours later we were heading for home!

Oh! I did manage to get some good photos of Masham, both during the daylight hours and at night. I had taken my camera tripod up with me this time, so could time expose during the darker hours!

 The doctors surgery and nearby chemists shop in Masham

 Masham Parish Church,  at the eastern end of the square

 The shop on the left is known as Joneva and sells all the old fashioned sweets you will remember from your childhood

 Christmas decorations and illuminations in the square

 The King's Head at night time

 The Parish Church, illuminated at night time

The stable block, at the rear of the King's Head.. (We stayed in the building on the left in the foreground)

Our room during the hours of daylight!

Escape for a bit of peace and quiet!

We commence our annual pilgrimage to the King's Head in Masham on Wednesday! Those you who are very observant will have noticed that this photograph was taken a couple of years ago when we still had the Vauxhall Zafira. (The red bus in the centre of this photograph.)

We have visited Masham for four years now, and have seen it in all kinds of weather - crisp clear sunlight, icy, and foggy at different times. However there has always been a warm welcome from mine host and the staff at the King's Head.

The hotel can look quite inviting when it is lit up at night, and being on the side of the market square it is ideally situated.

The King's Head, is a fine Georgian building dating back to the 18th Century. From the outset The King's Head was always more than an Inn. In its time it has been combined with a Posting House and surprisingly, an Excise Office.

A typical bedroom situated in what used to be the stable block.

Part of the old stable block. We have stayed in the room in the centre arch, which has a mezzanine floor, with the bedroom upstairs.

One of the rooms we have stayed in which is part of the old stable block.

Part of the dining room, looking out towards the market square.

The Angel on the Christmas Tree

The Bishop preached at the Midnight Eucharist service this year, and I must recount his sermon opening.......

Santa had been busy all day packing the presents, Firstly he ran short of wrapping paper, then he ran out of sellotape. He paused and muttered "Things can't get any worse!"

So he decided to put his heavily laden sack on the sleigh. He tripped and his foot went straight through a runner."Things can't get any worse!" he muttered.

He went in to the stables to collect the reindeer. Two were sick, two had gone on strike, two just refused to get up and pull the sleigh and two demanded more food and shorter working hours, and as for Rudolf, he had lost the glow on the end of his nose."Things can't get any worse!" he muttered.

He went to the cupboard where he kept his favourite tipple, only to find that someone had been there before him, and there wasn't a drop to be found in any of the bottles. Then he heard a strange sound. Opening the door into the elves quarters, he found them rolling around the floor in a drunken stupor! "Things can't get any worse!" he muttered.

He went into his house to be met by Mrs Claus who said, "Did you know that mother is coming to stay with us for Christmas.............

and for a couple of weeks afterwards." "Things can't get any worse!" he muttered.



He heard a knocking at the door, so he went to open it. There stood the sweetest little angel you ever did see. She smiled sweetly at Santa and said, "Isn't it a wonderful night? I've brought you a present", and she produced a Christmas Tree. "Where would you like to put this?", she asked.

And that is how the Angel came to be stuffed on the top of the Christmas Tree!

Christmas Day 2011

Being a regular attender at church (owing to the fact I have to play the organ for all the services) means that I sometimes takes the church decorations for granted! I expect to see a Crib, a Christmas Tree and various floral decorations each Christmas time, but my mind tends to be occupied with how many verses does this carol have? Do they match up with the words in the music edition?  Is there a descant to sing on the last verse etc.?

So I went down early for the 10.30 am Christmas Eucharist Service to record for posterity some of the church decorations.

 The Christmas Crib

 The new Christmas Tree

 Flower Decorations

 The Font

One of the new Christmas Banners

We had been invited down to our youngest daughter & her husbands for Christmas Dinner, and it was a superb spread. The table was laid out with home made decorations and Christmas crackers.

The menu consisted of a large mushroom topped with asparagus wrapped in bacon covered with a poached egg. The main course was the traditional Turkey, sage and onion stuffing, with home made cranberry, orange and rum sauce, bacon, sausage, roast parsnips, roast potatoes, sprouts, carrots, cauliflower in a cheese sauce and gravy. All washed down with wine!

Home made truffles completed the menu.

 Sparkly home made chocolate truffles.

Even the dogs were suitably attired - Macy in her Santa Baby coat.
 

I'm not sure if she had had more than enough Budweiser, or was just guarding the box full!

Later on in the afternoon we were joined by the rest of the family and dogs, so with 11 people and five dogs we filled the house, and had a convivial time opening the Christmas presents.

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.....