carols – T E Shepherd

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some Christmas carols with @abingdonconcertband at @milletsfarm… #christmas???? #carols #music ????????????????????

Thomas — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 18:11:18 +0000

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some Christmas carols with @abingdonconcertband at @milletsfarm…
#christmas???? #carols #music ????????????????????

Little donkeys… #christmas???? #LittleDonkey #carols #carolling

Thomas — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 22:05:13 +0000

Little donkeys… #christmas???? #LittleDonkey #carols #carolling

The holly and the ivy When they are both full grown… #carols #holly #Victorian #Christmas

Thomas — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 18:22:43 +0000

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown… #carols #holly #Victorian #Christmas

Because its the 1 December and I like carols and flutes… #Christmas???? #carols #advent #abingdonextravaganza @abingdonconcertband

Thomas — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:24:49 +0000

Because its the 1 December and I like carols and flutes… #Christmas???? #carols #advent #abingdonextravaganza @abingdonconcertband

First Away In A Manger of the year… #carols #carolling #itschristmas

Thomas — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 15:51:53 +0000

First Away In A Manger of the year… #carols #carolling #itschristmas

On the eighth day of advent: Christmas concerts and American-themed Diners

Thomas — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:38:28 +0000

A bit of a productive day today, cleaning out the animals and such, but I did get some good reading time in there too – that is – when I wasn’t staring at the most gorgeous of sunsets…

After the sunset, we headed out into Bicester to watch Lucy in Bicester Concert Band’s Christmas concert in St Edburg’s Church. It was a joint one with a local school choir, and was fun, and good, and Christmassy…

…and then, because by then it was 8 o’clock and none of us had had anything to eat, we decided to go for a bite to eat with Lucy and Luke at the newly opened Dean’s Diner – an American 50s-style restaurant – that has just opened up in the town centre.

We had milkshakes, burgers and fries. Not really on-diet, but very nice, and it was nice to see Lucy and Luke again.

On the seventh day of advent: carolling in the square

Thomas — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:27:57 +0000

I never really think that Christmas has begun until I play some carols. Yes, we’ve been playing Christmas music at band since November but that is rehearsal for the concert next week and so doesn’t count. This morning Emma and I headed out, she too enjoy the Abingdon Christmas Market, and I to play my flute with a few others from the band in the square.

The Round Table were selling mulled wines and mincepies from the table behind us and the aroma just kept on wafting over us as we played. The market too was good, with a stand of lovely leather goods and some reasonably priced leather bound journals for sale. Must check out The Old Leather Works again sometime.

Between sessions, Emma and I headed across the square to the Throwing Buns cafe for a gorgeously warming hot chocolate and bacon and brie pannini before more playing…

Next, we’re off out to a pub somewhere near Abingdon for Emma’s work Christmas meal. Should be fun!

On the eighth day of advent: Let Christmas begin

Thomas — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Traditionally it is the weekend closest to my mum’s birthday (25 November) and Stir-up Sunday that launches my preparations for Christmas. It’s not until I play my first carols though that I truly feel Christmas. Today Emma and I headed down to Abingdon on Thames for two sessions in the market square amongst the Christmas Market. When we arrive, some of the band are already playing a last minute, third, session, and it is the perfect accompaniment to some impromptu Christmas shopping.

We have new carol books this year, which some of us have never seen before in our lives. What’s more many of the carols are in 6 flats! Six flats?! It seems the carol books are Salvation Army ones. That explains it then, Salvation Army carols would be written foremostly for brass, and thus the crap key signature for anyone in of a woodwind persuasion.

Following the morning of carols and Christmas markets (including a yummy stone cooked chicken salad on a bed of coleslaw for lunch), we returned home – Emma to a sleep, having only had 1½ hours sleep the night before, whilst I put the Christmas lights up outside and found a home for the large bale of hay we have acquired from Fringford Feeds…

On the seventh day of advent: carols in the cold

Thomas — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:28:00 +0000

I’ve missed the carols at Millets Farm for the first couple of years, first by car trouble, and last year of course by the great snow fall of 2010 – and when I say missed it, I really mean, missed it. Playing carols in the cold is the perfect start to the festive season and that Christmas is here. This year, for me, it really is here, as I am on holiday now through to the New Year.

Quite why the players of flutes choose to play what is essentially a tube of cold metal which they press to their lips in the freezing cold is beyond me (hey, I’m one of them!), for it was flippin’ freezing today, if beautifully clear and bright – that kind of perfect midwinter’s day. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, even if has taken a while to thaw out and get warm again!

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On the twenty-first day of advent: the shortest day

Thomas — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:03:00 +0000

It’s been a weird day at work today. The students are all off on holidays, the lecturers are all conspicuous by their absence, and much of the site, in grey gloom, resembles that of a ghost town. It’s weird working somewhere where you get these sudden shifts in activity to non-activity; having worked in offices before I’ve never really experienced that. It’s quite useful though from a point of view of rattling through one’s to do list with no interuptions.

Of course, part of today has been spent watching and waiting for snow…

…which did, in the end come to us; laying an even, if thin, covering of seasonal joy to the roads that was very much appropriate to going round to Lucy’s in the evening to enjoy mince pies, mulled wine and a good Christmas sing song around the piano. 🙂

On the twelfth day of advent: it is the season…

Thomas — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:05:00 +0000

It is the third day of our little, mini-holdiay, and the first day of Emma’s birthday weekend. Sue came over to see us for the day, and after an early lunch, we headed into Oxford. We started off the afternoon at the newly opened Ashmolean. The new museum is, quite simply stunning. From the grand entrance of the origninal building you pass through the first hall into a the main stairwell, with stares of to the right. The stairs are set back further at each level, and rise to the entire height of the building allowing you several vistas from each level down into the heart of the building, and through to virtually every room allowing you to choose where to go next. We wandered, picking things to go and see and getting waylaid by others as we went.

After the Ashmolean we made our way to the Oxford Castle and took a tour around the Christmas German market, which was fun and festive, if, for the the most part full of expensive gifts you probably don’t need or really want. But I did buy myself a bag of roasted chestnuts which I proceeded in munching my way through.

Wandering back through town, we showed Sue the covered market with its real butchers and the racks of deer and game hanging outsde dripping blood in a very organic way; and on to Blackwell’s where I worked out what present to buy Nick, if not there.

Heading for home we parked in Bicester Market End, and had a little wander in Lisseter’s antique shop before having a hot chocolate at the Swan and then, by 5.30, arriving at St Edberg’s for the Bicester Concert Band Christmas concert and carol service. At the end of the day we were very much in the Christmassy, festive spirit!

On the twenty-second day of advent: Christmas comes early

Thomas — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:22:00 +0000

This morning, Emma and I got up and set off from hers in time for lunch at my mum and dad’s. We had a delicious rice and cheesy bake, before taking Barney for a little, local walk before returning back to the warmth and coziness of the lounge for the cutting of the Christmas cake, a cup of tea, and presents from the tree. This year, we brought forward the Father Christmas ‘tree’ presents from Christmas Eve together with one’s to and from Emma and had a little mini-Christmas.

Presents under the tree
Originally uploaded by shepline on 23 Dec ’07, 11.57pm GMT PST.

First Present haul
Originally uploaded by shepline on 24 Dec ’07, 12.03am GMT PST.

Barney unwraps his present
Originally uploaded by shepline on 24 Dec ’07, 12.01am GMT PST.

Emma loved her guitar from me, and she got me a really nice butter and cheese knife set – I’d been saying that I really needed a cheese knife… Meanwhile, whilst Barney was a little less impressed by his waterbottle and drink tray for walks and stuffed turkey (by unimpressed I mean scared!) Bella and Arthur have taken to the feather stick and toy mice.

Then we headed out to a very pretty Salisbury for the now-traditional candle-lit carols in Salisbury, and I made my pilgrimage to the papermaché crib, and took my usual photographs…

Nativity
Originally uploaded by shepline on 24 Dec ’07, 12.22am GMT PST.

Angel Gabriel
Originally uploaded by shepline on 24 Dec ’07, 12.12am GMT PST.

On the Third Day of Christmas: the inner child

Thomas — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:11:00 +0000

Today the entire Howell family descended on us for the day. Or at least it felt like the entire Howell Family. In actual fact, Gareth and Andy and their three (very Welsh-named) kids didn’t, being in America now. But Carys and Bari were there along with Lynn and Andy and Becky and Bethan, which added to our numbers, already swelled with the addition of Ian and Andy (yes, they all married Andy’s – I swear I will run a mile if I meet a girl called Andy/Andi/Andrea) and Ben.

Becky and Bethan, being 6 and 4 and Ben being just 2, we had a good spread of ages and toys, and we played lots and lots, building the trainset and the road system and the Lego zoo, and I had great fun returning to the my childhood home.

The culmination, or finale to the afternoon’s fun was a spot of Christmas caroling with a slightly bizarre range of instruments. Carys played the 1980’s electric keyboard with missing keys and was about as musical as a circa 1980s electric keyboard (with ‘interesting’ drum selection) will allow. A more measured musical performance came from the 1st in C’s over in the corner, courtesy of me on Flute and Lynn on Oboe (and subsequently my piccolo) after her lip went. Over in the second and thirds were Mum and Bari on clarinet, and Dad on Trumpet (although Ben did have a go too!) and then miscellaneous recorder and/or plastic-mixing-bowl-drum from Becky, Bethan and Ben. The two lapsed-flautists, Andy and Andy, watched – in horror – from the sidelines at the musical carnage that ensued (and recorded it for posterity on video…)

Great fun!!

The Twenty-first Day of Advent: Carols in the Cathedral

Thomas — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:27:00 +0000

It’s been 72 hours of fog me so far, and I’m getting a bit tired of it. Still it was very festive and Christmassy in Salisbury as we walked through the centre to the cathedral, and our annual pilgrimage to candlelit carols.

In stable…
Originally uploaded by shepline on 22 Dec ’06, 9.21am GMT PST.

Homage
Originally uploaded by shepline on 22 Dec ’06, 9.22am GMT PST.

Three Angels
Originally uploaded by shepline on 22 Dec ’06, 9.22am GMT PST.

Looking Down
Originally uploaded by shepline on 22 Dec ’06, 9.22am GMT PST.

Cathedral nave
Originally uploaded by shepline on 22 Dec ’06, 9.23am GMT PST.

The Ninth Day of Advent: Carolling and Chocolate Making

Thomas — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 23:20:00 +0000

After the storms of last week, and in particular the gales of Thursday night, we were scared for our plans to play more carols today. We should have feared not though, for today has been – like last Saturday – the most glorious of cold, crisp, sunny, blue-sky winter days and the perfect scene for gathering at Millets Farm to play some more carols. Adorned with silly hats and tinsel we carrolled to the shoppers in two sessions, raising another stonking £125 in just one hour in the morning, and probably a similar amount in the afternoon. During the lunch break we went and enjoyed a hot soup and hunks of bread by a roaring wood fire, and counted the loot before having a little look round the garden centre, craft shop, and the animals – such cute little goats and pigs and alpacas.

This evening, whilst cooking my roast, I made up the chocolate truffle mixture in readiness for making into pressies…

…and now I have to think about that Christmas letter, and my cards!

The Second Day of Advent

Thomas — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:55:00 +0000

Today has been a glorious winter day. After the rain and the wind and the gloom of last week, today has been crisp and sunny. Heading out early I descended with the rest of the band to Millets Farm for two sessions of caroling. During the morning hour alone, we raised a cool £120 so hopefully we will have got an equal sum in the afternoon session as well.

Then as the sun started sinking I headed on into Oxford to buy some new shoes/trainers. Mission successfully completed, it was by then dark, and the Christmassy lights had come out so I had a wander round – buying a copy of the second Pirates of the Carribean film on dvd for tonight, and the first part of the various Christmas presents. Then I wandered off home to my waiting cats and a roast beef supper…

Carols at Salisbury Cathedral

Thomas — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 23:56:00 +0000

Carols at Salisbury Cathedral
Originally uploaded by shepline on 23 Dec ’05, 11.45pm PST.

Carolling at Christmas

Thomas — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:43:00 +0000

I’m feeling properly Christmassy now. On a cold, crisp, sunny winter’s day I got myself up early on a Saturday morning to head on down to Millets Farm Centre, outside of Abingdon, and play a few carols. It’s good fun, and makes one happy and festive. And in the first hour’s session we raised £115 which will help nicely with the buying of a new pair of timps for the band…

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