2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,200 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 37 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Skating in Winchester

We managed to get to Winchester Christmas Market and Ice Rink again – although just a few minutes before the market closed. It is a year since we went ice skating – and it felt like it. The juxtaposition of the ice rink right next to the cathedral makes for a wonderful view and hour’s skate.

Livi on the ice

Livi and Bex arriving at the market

Winchester - old and new

Playing with the iPad…

Interesting to record what a wonderful group the Annings are…

Dad - not happy

Mum - happier

Bex - perfect symmetry

Me - happy

Bryony - big eyes

Milly - nice hair

Livi - nice eyebrow!

Totts - nice legs

Caitlin (honorary Anning) - nice smile

St Oswald Singers return to Compton Greenfield

26 years after we first got together, the rump of the St Oswald Singers got together for a very convivial afternoon of singing to help raise funds and awareness for Compton Greenfield Church just outside Bristol. Rather concerning was the need to get larger copies for the singers as our collective eyesight has deteriorated so much we could no longer read the original copies that had our names on. However, the notes seemed to flow and the passing of the years did nothing to dampen our enthusiasm for singing together. Well done Sarah!

If anyone can stand it, a couple of recordings were made (on an iPad, in the dark, with a slightly large cover). Amongst others, we sang Lobet Gott and My Evaline (click on the title to jump to YouTube; My Evaline takes a while to get going due to getting notes in advance for the next piece…).

Compton Greenfield Church

Did I leave my glasses here?

Visiting da Vinci in London

We visited the brilliant da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery in November, as part of Bryony’s coming of age. The colours of the paintings were vibrant and exquisite – hard to imagine they are 500 years old. The walk through the gallery to the copy of the last supper (itself about the same age) unfortunately temporarily put some of the other pictures into the shade.

We then revisited Hard Rock Cafe (via a wonderful Routemaster) with B suitably embarrassed by a loud rendition of Happy Birthday. A walk through Hyde Park’s White Christmas (with a quick break for Boris bikes) led to an equally full Harrods and a dash for the train home. Still not sure how they can sell appartments at One Hyde Park for the price they do.

The Lady with the ermine - on a bag!

Ready to go into the exhibition

 

Suitably embarrassed...

 

 

A Christmas Miscellany

A Christmas Miscellany

Southern Voices’ Christmas concert takes place in St Cross on 17 December at 7.30pm. This will be our conductor’s last concert with us and promises to be a memorable occasion. Music  from 13th Century to 2oth (potentially 21st with Simpson), including the German Magnificat from Schütz, O Magnum Mysterium from Lauridsen and various congregational carols. Tickets from the Box Office (https://www.tickets.winchester-cathedral.org.uk).

50th celebrations continue at Silverton Park

We continued the 50th celebrations (!) at Silverton Park Stables, a wonderfully restored stable block dating from the 1840s. Based just outside Silverton in Devon, the parents, Rachel and Roobs and Paul, Clare and Tilly joined us. Trips included Ladram Bay, Sidmouth and the Warren House Inn. All the rooms were very well appointed (Landmark style) and the main reception room was larger than the floor plans led us to believe.

Wednesday night dinner, care of Rebecca

A – Z quiz provided by the old man (and Livi and Tilly on Thursday)

Silverton Park Stables – from the front

Silverton Park Stables – from the back

Lunch at the Warren House Inn