Christmas Weekend (Oh wait, it wasn't).
Friday (Sunday):
We headed to the Shepherd's Bush tube station at 6AM, expecting regular service to King's Cross Station, where we would catch a train to Cambridge. The large, cold iron gate shutting us out brought us to the harsh realization that it was NOT Friday, but Sunday. Thankfully, we managed to secure a shady cab-service for 15 pounds. The fact that we had to wake the driver and clamber into his swerving Toyota minivan was slightly disconcerting, but we made it with time to spare. Arriving in Cambridge, we joined the queue (great Scrabble word) for the King's College service of "Nine Lessons and Carols" (maybe you've heard it on NPR). The service, which takes place at 3:00PM on Christmas Eve, is broadcasted to millions of listeners, but only 600 have the priviledge of listening in the gorgeous chapel, the epitomy of high gothic style. For this reason, the first die-hards arrived Thursday evening and enjoyed three nights on the lovely rural campus. Evan and I arrived at 8AM, waiting until 2PM in the freezing cold before being allowed into the chapel ("whew, we were two of the 600"). We noted that this occasion broke the record four hours spent on Thanksgiving Day in front of the National Gallery's Van Gogh exhibit. Anyways, the service was fantastic, including the classic lessons, some excellent organ works by Bach and Messiaen, carols sung by 14 choir-boys and 14 undergrads, and several singalong hymns. After the service we walked around Cambridge for an hour and then caught the train back to London.
Saturday (Monday):
Christmas day we again got up early to catch a ride with Evan's friend Peter to his parents' house. We cooked a rather large breakfast considering lunch was scheduled 4 hours later, but once potatoe bread had been added to the menu, we had to add eggs, and so on. The first course of dinner was smoked salmon, salad, and rolls, and was followed by the main course: roasted potatoes, mock-chicken and red onion streudel, various vegetables, turkey, etc. I was slightly taken aback by 3 sets of forks and knives, but thankfully I remembered to start at the outside and work my way in. After the main meal we watched HM the Queen's speech on the tele and then had dessert. After dessert we had coffee and each had a reading. Peter's mother chose the section of Little House on the Prarie that describes their friend fording the raging river to bring them Christmas presents. Evan read a story by Sufjan Stevens entitled "Christmas mysteries of the Chicken McNuggets as explained by macrobiotic star people and Aunt Harriet's Ouija board" and I read "In the Bleak Midwinter". After the readings we had cheese (stilton, brie, and mature cheddar) and crackers.
Sunday (Tuesday):
We slept in until 11 or so and then Evan's friend Simon arrived to spend 30 hours with us. The rest of our day was devoured by 6 hours in the pub watching football. We first watched Liverpool loose, then Chelsea draw (thanks to an own goal by ex-Arsenal player Ashley Cole), and finally Arsenal win. It was a satisfying day, largely due to the fact that it was so relaxing.
Since this entry is so long, I'm awarding a prize to the first person who reads the entire thing (no cheating). If you e-mail me at alban.exe@gmail.com with the words I WON in the subject line before anyone else, you might get a prize. Cheers.
We headed to the Shepherd's Bush tube station at 6AM, expecting regular service to King's Cross Station, where we would catch a train to Cambridge. The large, cold iron gate shutting us out brought us to the harsh realization that it was NOT Friday, but Sunday. Thankfully, we managed to secure a shady cab-service for 15 pounds. The fact that we had to wake the driver and clamber into his swerving Toyota minivan was slightly disconcerting, but we made it with time to spare. Arriving in Cambridge, we joined the queue (great Scrabble word) for the King's College service of "Nine Lessons and Carols" (maybe you've heard it on NPR). The service, which takes place at 3:00PM on Christmas Eve, is broadcasted to millions of listeners, but only 600 have the priviledge of listening in the gorgeous chapel, the epitomy of high gothic style. For this reason, the first die-hards arrived Thursday evening and enjoyed three nights on the lovely rural campus. Evan and I arrived at 8AM, waiting until 2PM in the freezing cold before being allowed into the chapel ("whew, we were two of the 600"). We noted that this occasion broke the record four hours spent on Thanksgiving Day in front of the National Gallery's Van Gogh exhibit. Anyways, the service was fantastic, including the classic lessons, some excellent organ works by Bach and Messiaen, carols sung by 14 choir-boys and 14 undergrads, and several singalong hymns. After the service we walked around Cambridge for an hour and then caught the train back to London.
Saturday (Monday):
Christmas day we again got up early to catch a ride with Evan's friend Peter to his parents' house. We cooked a rather large breakfast considering lunch was scheduled 4 hours later, but once potatoe bread had been added to the menu, we had to add eggs, and so on. The first course of dinner was smoked salmon, salad, and rolls, and was followed by the main course: roasted potatoes, mock-chicken and red onion streudel, various vegetables, turkey, etc. I was slightly taken aback by 3 sets of forks and knives, but thankfully I remembered to start at the outside and work my way in. After the main meal we watched HM the Queen's speech on the tele and then had dessert. After dessert we had coffee and each had a reading. Peter's mother chose the section of Little House on the Prarie that describes their friend fording the raging river to bring them Christmas presents. Evan read a story by Sufjan Stevens entitled "Christmas mysteries of the Chicken McNuggets as explained by macrobiotic star people and Aunt Harriet's Ouija board" and I read "In the Bleak Midwinter". After the readings we had cheese (stilton, brie, and mature cheddar) and crackers.
Sunday (Tuesday):
We slept in until 11 or so and then Evan's friend Simon arrived to spend 30 hours with us. The rest of our day was devoured by 6 hours in the pub watching football. We first watched Liverpool loose, then Chelsea draw (thanks to an own goal by ex-Arsenal player Ashley Cole), and finally Arsenal win. It was a satisfying day, largely due to the fact that it was so relaxing.
Since this entry is so long, I'm awarding a prize to the first person who reads the entire thing (no cheating). If you e-mail me at alban.exe@gmail.com with the words I WON in the subject line before anyone else, you might get a prize. Cheers.
posted by Alban at 8:18 AM
5 Comments:
I LOVE that story from Little House on the Prairie where Mr. Edwards brings them all of those goodies for Christmas. Doesn't he bring them some oranges? I always loved how quaint it was that they were excited about oranges. Your concert experience sounds awesome--once in a lifetime! I'm glad you had such a wonderful "weekend."
I listened to "Nine Lessons and Carols" on NPR - live! I had no clue that anyone I knew was there. Now I feel as though I spent some of my Christmas with you and Evan...sort of. :)
Hey Alban, I'm back from Harare and very happy to be able to access your blog again. Thanks for the the account of your adventures in England. What a nice idea to ask each participant at Christmas dinner to give a reading.
We did a lessons and carols at our home, but I doubt it held a candle to the version you witnessed. Maybe I'll see the real deal next year.
i miss james.
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