Firstly I would like to apologise for not writing in a while...it has been a busy busy few months but I am back and ready to throw some stories your way!!
Last night, a group of 12 of us in the Clophill Christmas Choir went around the village popping in to 8 different houses to sing some carols and get people in the festive spirit so we met at Ali and Jon's at 4 ready to make our rounds.
Upon arriving at the first house, we were ushered into the living room and all 12 of us stood around the tree...I personally felt like the angel sat at the top with the branches sticking right up my... Sorry, I digress. Once we finished, we were handed a glass of wine. Not that we had any time to drink it; 2 minutes after being handed said glass Jon (our conductor) piped up with "come on guys, drink up, coats on, lets go" Wine downed, coats and scarves on and out the door we go to house number 2.
This house was a very different group of people all very much in the party spirit shouting out "Sing Fairytale of New York, that's my favourite carol!!" This house offered us champagne and the most amazing platter of food so we got to stay there for more than 1 drink so when the champagne bottle came around again I thought I had time for another. Unfortunately that wasn't the case; "Drink up, coats on, let's go"...so I downed the champagne and we left.
For those of you that know me will know that having now had 3 glasses of the bubbly it had started going to my head and I was starting to get the giggles. House number 3 was no different but this time a wonderful Rioja was offered to me and I was left next to the cheese board. Yep. That got devoured! House number 4 was more up market as it was a black tie event so we all felt a little out of place all in our red christmassy jumpers and comfy boots. And then in front of 30 or so people, Jon turns to me and says "OK Charlie, can you sing the opening to Away In A Manger? Brilliant, David notes please. And...." Thank goodness for all that wine now in my system, no chance to get the wobbles.... "And now Once In Royal...Charlie if you will?" Umm...WHAT?!?! Have I drunk too much?? Did I just get asked to sing solo again? OK...Let's do this!! Yet another glass of bubbly downed and off we went again.
The next house was an emotional one for most people as Bob, the man of the house, died earlier this year and his favourite song was Silent Night and he always wanted the choir to sing it in German so this year in memory of Bob we did (not entirely sure if the pronunciation was correct though!) and it was so beautiful. I am not sure how my Mum, the soloist in it, managed to get through without crying as everyone else was in tears. We all wished we could stay at this house longer as it had such a lovely, warm and positive energy surrounding it but there was Jon "drink up, coats on, let's go"---bubbles downed, coat on and out the door we went.
Now by this time I have the equivelant of a bottle of wine in my system and an entire cheese board floating around in the stomach. I am lactose intolerant. I shall just say I sat the next house out... Meeting back up with them ready for the next house I was greeted with the lovely choirs harmonies of "Yay, Charlie is back" it seemed clear to me that now everyone was feeling very jolly from all of the wine.
The last 2 houses were much the same as the rest and made me realise a few things; I was drunk, I love village life and I am a nosy begger---nothing like looking around a house which you have walked past on many occasions but never had the chance of looking inside. You can forgive a girl right?
Last night was such a magical and Christmassy atmosphere and I loved every second of it. What a great way to end the dark and the cold with the Winter Solstice coming tonight. It was such a great evening and I am very grateful that I got to be a part of it. I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Lots of Love from me and lets chat in 2015 xx
