Where did the time go?
In December when school was out we drove to Winchester to go to hear the carols sung by those boys in red and white, and there are girls too, to really kick off our Christmas spirit.
The girls really love a travel lodge and would happily just stay in the room.
Is our home really that bad?
The plan was to wander the Christmas Fair that wraps itself round the Cathedral, get some dinner somewhere, watch the carols, get a good nights kip.
Here is what actually happened.
It took forever to get there, I asked G to plan the route, although there was nothing wrong with it, it felt like we were going round the houses and I got grumpy.
P slept all the way, T didn't.
The rain was awfully miserable but we were wrapped up and ready for it.
There are sheds around the Cathedral and various gift wares are sold from these.
I thought that we could buy all our Christmas presents from here but actually, it was a bit pricey.
I saw about five things I would have liked to buy but didn't.
In the middle of all this festive cheer is one of these.
Which resulted in the girls asking me, can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?
No! because we are going to hear Christmas carols in the there!
Confusion followed for them.
I skipped the tea and went for the mulled wine, I was pulled by the wrist and I lost half of it into my folded umbrella.
Dinner was a stall that sold sausage and cabbage, confusion then for G but happiness at all these delights.
Then confusion again from the girls, why could you make such pretty treats and then fill them with marzipan?
Ok. The reason we are here is because I had heard the Cathedral Choir on St. Swithins Day and had just been so moved at the sound that I went on a mission to get tickets for a Christmas concert.
I rang the box office in July and asked them what had to be done, oh, they don't go on sale till about September, no we don't advertise the date because they sell out straight away.
Helpful.
Well it turns out they do advertise the selling date on the Cathedral website and by now I'd spoken to a few different box officers and I knew that it was the Lord Lieutenants Christmas Concert was the one we were going to see.
AND the tickets do sell out as you refresh the page, Glastonbury tickets would have been easier.
There are no discounts for children, so an affordable cost of four tickets gets you on row XX with not many rows behind us.
But your ticket helps fund a chorister so all good.
This shaky one shows us post empty your bladder and tuck in your shirt before we sit down.
We had a few glances from camel coats, I couldn't work out why.
I think it was, why are you bringing small children to this.
They can handle it and so can I.
I was on it. Small ornamental suitcase with colouring in things if it all got too much for small pain in the neck.
We were all excited.
See.
I now know why you can't bring small children and it's not their fault.
It's the fault of beautiful architecture.
The choir starts at the back around the big tree with Ding Dong Merrily On High, fantastic.
Then makes their way, WAY down the front, and we are at the XXXXX back.
When I was here in the summer the choir were in front of me and as they sung mass the sound washes over you. It's incredible what ever your choice of faith.
This evening as they sing, you can't move and no one does because if you do, you loose the sound, especially at the back.
Still, is an understatement.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is the special guest and knocks out Pie Jesu and we have to be still.
Unless you are accompanying on the piano, you don't move.
So opening an ornamental suitcase for the colouring in things and using the sharpener wasn't easy. The girls did not speak but P's leg was fidgety more than once and people around us had paid money and I wanted them not to be upset.
When she needed to go, there was no way to make it to the loo without sounding like a bull so we slipped out the back.
When we came back in there was a big carpet door mat to drown the sound of our 1940's partner dancing to White Christmas before we took our seats.
Special memory.
T melted my heart completely by bursting into tears.
What wrong?!
Nothing. It just sounds so beautiful.
My seven year old can be a still as a pin, but she cannot cry quietly.
Culture with kids is very exhausting.
If you want to hear one of the most beautiful tearful versions of Over the Rainbow click here
You need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the link
Lovely New Year to you all
CM
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