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Caroling On The Green

There was caroling on the village green last Thursday night, and despite frosty and foggy conditions many villagers came out and braved the elements, ourself among them, not being the type to miss an opportunity to gather and celebrate with song and good cheer. Thankfully we were supplied with lyric books, because the carols sung here are not all the ones that are popular and traditional in the states. This being our third Christmas here we are getting to be more familiar with them, but still not up to speed on all 7 verses of each carol. And trust me - they sing every.single.verse.every.time.

Some nice people from The Swan provided some delicious mince pies and hot mulled wine to warm the carolers and spread a little cheer. Once the pies were eaten and the wine sipped appreciatively, the caroling resumed with a murmur of excitement as the song leader announced that the next song was The Holy And The Ivy. And so it went into the evening until the group disbanded to do a little 'late night village shopping' on the one day a year that the shops stay open until around 8:30pm according to a leaflet I saw posted. Its true when I say its a different life here.

Axel took this picture of Anja riding a donkey at the Michael Hall School Christmas Fayre a couple weeks ago. Yes, she has no front teeth. She has,as far as I know, not asked for them to be replaced by Father Christmas.

Pigs Really Do Fly, It Turns Out

If anything can make swine take flight, what I did today would be the thing.


I mailed Christmas Cards in time for arrival before Christmas. I mailed Christmas Cards to people that I promised cards to.....2 years ago.

I even completed some gifts that I have been working on and am starting into my 'only if I have time' list. Nothing big of course. Little things that I can make whilst I am limited in what I can do. Writing cards was a full mornings activity for me, and involved adventures digging for addresses at the bottom of drawers. (I have never been good at keeping an address book. I need to fix that. ) And while it may not seem like much to most of the world, to me it was an enormous achievement and proof that the holiday spirit does indeed work miracles.

Three Cheers For Kiah!!!

After waiting oh so patiently for a couple months, Kiah got notice today that she made it to the next level of the application process to The Brit School where she is hoping to do her A-levels in the Theater program. She has been busy applying to other schools as alternate choices, but her big dream is to go to The Brit. It is very competitive and she understands this. So far she has shown dedication and self motivation which are so important in pursuing this sort of work. Now comes hard work in preparing for a character development workshop, individual meeting and performance of a self written piece. GULP!

So wish her well. This is no lightweight pop idol sort of dealio. This is a tough school. And I know she can do it.

Here is a picture of Kiah getting the good news today. Poor sweetie hasn't been feeling too well. (Dylan has been sick with a terrible cough, Anja is snuffly and Kiah has had a sore throat.) But the good news brightened her day right up!