It's getting close to Christmas

We are really getting into the Christmas spirit now.  We went to Carols on Monday.  There were 3 choirs there, an all male one, an all female one and a school girl choir from the "The Red Maids" School  (the oldest surviving girls’ school in England.  It was founded in 1634 mainly with the money from a local Mayor and Member of Parliament.  Like many schools it started as a home for orphans and destitute daughters where they learnt to read and sew).  Also, there was a small brass band and an organist. The audience (that's us) were allowed to sing 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'Oh Little Town of Bethlehem', 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' and 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' but most of the time we listened to the choirs and musicians (best bit was when the brass band played Troika by Prokofiev - one of my favourite tunes - and first heard by me as a little one when I listened to the Sunday morning request (while parents snoozed!!) - it was played during the story of Diana and the Golden Apple).  Anyway, the men's choir did sing the 'Holly and the Ivy'.  I am not sure if I have ever listened closely to the words as it came as a surprise that the Holly has a white flower in Spring time.  So, next year will find some, take a photo and post on the blog.

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

And then on the Friday night we went with Jane and David to the Westonbirt Arboretum to see the trees all lit up.  I was thinking when sitting in traffic on the way there that NZ doesn't really have Arboretums and decided that it is probably because we are so lucky to have lots of protected natural forests rather than little clumps of trees in the middle of farm land.  Anyway, the trees were lit up to highlight the variety of trunks and bark (especially the variegated holly that seems to grow with twisted branches).  On the way around, while trying to keep our shoes reasonably mud free I began to think about Wellington's summer city - something we have always enjoyed.  We used to try and go to a few of the shows - after work and with our picnic and blanket under our arms - and after listening to some great music wandered around the lit up gardens before going home to bed.  This year we'll be missing great groups like The Beat Girls, The Aviators, Sheba and the Frombombastic Orchestra, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Bella Kalolo and the Soul Symphony and the Triptych Trio Featuring Aaron Jackson. After our not so long walk around the Arboretum we found a local Chinese for tea which we hadn't been to before.

Saturday, was a bit of lazy day which felt like a real treat for us.  We went to the library, did some shopping (like more warm socks for our Christmas trip and some food), made a half hearted attempt at packing our clothes for next week and then went out for dinner with Chris and Glen in the evening.  Sunday dawned we got up early to drive to London (well Kew Gardens where we caught the tube into the city).  We did think about catching the train but for £50 each it was a bit steep.  I felt quite disullusioned as earlier in the week I had received an email from a train booking website with the following words...
Dashing through the snow
In a comfy cosy train
O'er the fields you go
Laughing all the way
We’re in the Xmas swing
Making spirits bright
We’re giving away some fabulous stuff
So, book online tonight!
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Raileasy all the way
Oh what fun it is to go by rail, so book today!
Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Raileasy all the way
You might just win a fantastic prize! Book by the 15th - don’t delay!
Yeah right!!!
We had a nice leisurely lunch with Rebecca and Nylan and went to Stomp in the late afternoon.  In the brochure the show was described as "Stomp is now Fresher, Faster, Funnier than ever before with new routines, new choreography and new music.  Every night Stomp thrills audeiences around the globe with its  unique combination of theatre, dance and comedy.  Eight performers use everything from Zippo lighters, plastic bags, bin lids and even the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel good rhythm".  We all came away thinking it was quite good and different - and it had that 'personality' that I look for in a show.  We weren't allowed to take photos at the show so the ones below are courtesy of the google search on 'Stomp Photos'.

Monday, I am off to Swansea, there's dinner with Jane and David at a local restaurant and more bag packing. I don't think there will be much left in our wardrobe by the time we have finished (high teens and minus temperatures all in one holiday!!).