Favourite Things (2016)
It would be churlish, even wrong, to leave without a cheerful note; after all 'tis the season to be jolly.
So here are ten things that make me jolly; a bit predictable, I admit, but that is part of our pleasure:
- The advent Calendar (without chocolate) unfolding the story.
- Advent Carols which are, on the whole, much more rewarding than Christmas Carols and, anyway, it's better to travel than arrive.
- Sending Christmas cards. A bit old fashioned now but still gives the illusion of keeping in touch.
- Making lists.
- Buying and dressing the tree, putting quantity of decoration over good taste.
- Carol singing in the cold which rarely happens because of climate change.
- Christmas Eve at King's College which I've only missed twice in 55 years.
- The smell of turkey when you wake up on Christmas morning.
- Playing Bach's Christmas Oratorio after the Parish Christmas Eucharist.
- My pile of Dickens and Jane Austen waiting to be read or viewed in lengthy DVD sessions.
I know, I should have said all sorts of other things about being in church, enjoying family and friends but we do these all year round.
I was about to wish us all a Happy New Year but I'm not that optimistic. So, a quiet, purposeful, reflective new year to us all.
Kevin Carey