Monday 1st December - take that, Blogger! You won't win so easily...

 Here we are, at the beginning of a year - heading towards the Winter Solstice. There are hidden advantages to these cold mornings... I realised today that getting up before dawn (currently at about 7:45) means that I can listen to the dawn chorus without having to get up at silly-o'clock. 

I was in the bathroom which is at the back of the house, where the little window is always a little open, and it is away from the oxygen concentrator chugging away in the bedroom, and stood in amazement listening to the birds - not many, robin and blackbird were all I recognised but that will do me nicely.

Now, at 5pm, with sunset having been about an hour ago, the curtains are already closed and it feels warm and cosy. 

I'm looking at the three wise men that I was given last month. They have already started on their journey round the living room, keeping their spirits up with a little sing-song session, accompanied by a miscellaneous choir of felt animals. Here they are...

Oh piffle. Everyone has been posting that they cannot get their photos to load in blogger anymore, and neither can I. I wonder if it's because I'm using my laptop instead of the tablet? I shall type up my typingness and then open up the post on my tablet and see if I can insert the photos. Just hang on a mo....

Yup, that worked! I got the photos in, and I'm back on the laptop. But honestly. Updates. I blame updates.

We haven't touched the chocolate Advent calendars yet, however I've started on the Roger de Borde tree house. The tree and the house could have been assembled in advance, I now discover. Today's real addition is the Christmas Tree.

While looking through my selection of carol books, mine, my mother's and my grandmother's, I found this;

There is a faint date stamp on the cover; 22 JAN 1950. I don't think the children of today would be too impressed. Although, they might enjoy a waltz or a polka, thanks to 'strictly'.

I leave you with the first conundrum from the booklet ... 'why is U the merriest letter in the alphabet?' Answer (if I remember) tomorrow.

The poem in 'Haphazard by Starlight' for today is called Advent Calendar by Rowan Williams (previously Archbishop of Canterbury).

You'll find it if you google; I'm reluctant to post someone else's Advent book online in its entirety (but I do recommend the book!). It is a magnificent poem.

However, on youtube I have found a setting of it - with the words... now I'm feeling rather conflicted... Here's the song...

 Words Rowan Williams, setting David Ogden, sung by the Exultate Singers.

I'll work out what to do for other days!