1. Emma arrived after breakfast this morning, and we did a quick turnaround and headed down to Millets Farm near Abingdon for the now annual (and dare I say, traditional) Abingdon Concert Band carols. Emma was kindly helping out shaking holding the collecting tin. During the morning session, in the sun with the first outing of our brand new banners on display we raised just shy of 100 quid, but the afternoon was a bit more of a washout. Unsurprisingly we didnât even reach half of the mornings total, but then we were (if dry) out the back of the garden centre sandwiched between the pond-liners and the Christmas trees.
2. Driving back up towards Oxford after the carols, the sun came out again, and with it the most amazing of rainbows. At times, double- or triple-arched, the main one was a complete semi-circle and vibrant in colour. Joyful.
3. Over a cup of tea, whilst Emma checked her emails on my wireless connection, I decorated my tree. I always love the simple act of fetching the decorations out of there box and meeting them each year like new. We listened to Hele-Hutchinsonâs Carol Symphony at the same time. Considering that its not a hugely popular piece of music, we both find it amazing that we have ended up with someone who loves the same music so much. The arrangement of The First Noel has got to be my favourite.
4. Tonight we made the annual pilgrimage to Creation Theatreâs Christmas offering. Back in an antique mirror âspiegeltentâ situated in the BMW car factory car park(!!) this year it was for a production of Tales from The Brothersâ Grimm. With just a cast of 7 (six tonight as one was ill) it was brilliant, and very very clever. Plus the tent is just such a wonderfully fabulous location. You canât describe it.
5. Today has been good. 🙂
