Sunday, December 22, 2013

London as Christmas approaches...

..has some heart-warming sights. A troop of children in long golden robes and with circlets of golden tinsel on their heads, carrying carol-sheets and walking along two by two, with a teacher at the head and rear, heading for a nearby church for a Nativity play. An angelic choir, but giggling and excited and messing about...

Some shops have lovely window displays, and there are lots of Christmas trees including one in New Palace Yard by the Houses of Parliament, and of course the big one in Trafalgar Square.   But...some shops have ALREADY (BEFORE CHRISTMAS HAS EVEN ARRIVED!) taken down their Christmas decorations and put up signs for post-Christmas sales...aaargh!

We - that is LOGS, the Ladies Ordinariate Group - gathered in good numbers at London Bridge station to sing carols. This involved some  formalities beforehand, reporting to the Network Rail Office in Tooley Street and being given a formal Briefing ("In the Event of Fire, you must Leave by the Nearest Available Exit" etc)...and then there is always a moment of awkwardness as the group forms up on the station concourse and carol-sheets are distributed...but then once we really got singing, it was all absolutely superb.. We sang and sang, and there was lots of goodwill, people coming up to donate money, to thank us, to wish us a Merry Christmas. People especially like to bring their children up to put a coin in the box and to enjoy the carol-singing...

Our singing filled the station: we found that the acoustics worked really well if we stood facing outwards, with the trains behind us...and people in fact could also hear us even as they approached from the steps and escalators.

All heartily enjoyable, and then afterwards, a cheery gathering back at Precious Blood Church with mulled wine and mince pies...

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