It was reported on Radio 4 that there are some people on this island who have not sung carols in years; and some who wouldn’t know what a carol was if it jumped up and bit them on the nose.

I find that pretty extraordinary; but maybe it illustrates a one of many cultural gulfs there are in this country; we all live in our own little worlds each thinking it is truly representative of our common culture. How delusory is that I wonder!

I have been rehearsing carols since September both with Moor Harmony and the St Andrews Church choir. I have been involved in two formal and one informal concerts (one being followed by the annual Christmas Dinner at the Seven Stars – see the pictures), the Carol Service, the Christmas Eve carols around the Christmas tree and the somewhat raucous carols in the Kings Arms also on Christmas Eve (more pictures). I don’t want to hear another carol ever again. Well, not until next September anyway.

December was scarcely any more busy than any other month in the village calendar and there were many events around which I could not get to – no doubt much to the relief of those who attended, but for what it is worth here are some photos of other celebrations that I did attend.

The Friends of Church House celebrated another successful renovated year with a party on site with some excellent food as the pictures show.

I also attempted to get shots of the Christmas lights around the village. The results are not exactly brilliant as you can see, but you might be able to guess the location of some of them.

I normally attend the Kings Arms Fancy Dress party to celebrate New Year’s Eve; I couldn’t do so this time, but I managed to get there to take a few shots – and I leave you to judge them!

The final pictures are of the hunt on New Year’s Day; apologies for including a couple of Issy riding Rubia showing an evil eye on that day – Rubia not Issy I mean (well actually maybe not!)

Robin Tilley - January 2008