Personal

The first noël

And so the season begins. This morning, the snow; this evening, carols on the Market Hill.

The service began well. The town band played as the townsfolk sang, loud voices expelling warm breath that took the edge off the chill. It made a great start to the Christmas season for me.

But I'm ever the cynic and I can't help but laugh. Half-way through, we were collectively chastised for allowing the square's Christmas tree lights to be vandalised; and at the end of the service, Father Christmas put in an appearance from the top of the church tower.

This is Christmas in all its English eccentricity, dressed up like the town mayor presiding over this evening's Noël.

Personal

Snow!

Yay!

That euphoria lasted until I remembered that last night - against my better judgement - I parked my car in a tight spot on my steep lane. (It's the middle one on this picture.) It took a while to get out, and longer to coax it up the road but I eventually slid all the way to work without hitting anything.

And now I get to spend the whole day here, when I should be out making snowmen, throwing snowballs and sledging.