just another morning here

Josiah went to stay at the school boarding house for the past couple of days – his Christmas treat! We spotted him at services yesterday but he hardly even looks at us really, we have to try and thump him as he processes by. He did deign to talk to us a bit when we went across to the boarding house for a buffet after the big Christmas Eve service yesterday but I think that was only because we had a present for him! It’s a bit strange on Christmas Day without him in the morning but he’s very happy being ‘in the zone’ as a chorister, and it means we don’t have to rush out of bed … we’re not committed enough to make it to the Cathedral for the first service of the day!
We opened stockings with the girls this morning, then got ready and arrived at the Cathedral in time for Mattins – met Steve’s parents there too. After the service we bundled across to the school with around 20 other chorister families for drinks and then Christmas dinner, which was fantastic.

Last time we did this it was Josiah’s first year and we felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing but this year we really enjoyed it. Well, the girls moaned about having to go back to evensong after lunch but they had to lump it!

Once home Josiah opened a couple of presents, the cat opened hers (!!), and we all loafed around enjoying presents, eating rubbish food, then eventually watching Dr Who.

We tried to get a family photo too, almost got a decent one but decided that the silly one was probably the best!

Anyway. The nice thing about having spent the day in the Cathedral is that we still have two family get-togethers to go, so we still have lots of festivities ahead of us

We were at evensong tonight; I often go on a Thursday and Friday anyway but Steve joined me this evening because Josiah had told us that he had a little solo. Just one line but he sang it beautifully … listen for the running down ‘holy is his name’ at about 1min09s.

In other news – I didn’t get shortlisted for a job that I really wanted. Perfectly happy where I am though so no worries really, just marginally disappointing and very annoying to not even get an interview. Kids all fine; Anna went out busking with school/choir tonight and had a nice time, Abbie is planning birthday events despite the fact that she’s had a birthday treat already, Josiah’s just chugging along with choir and school. Steve’s thinking of new ways to make a million, as usual … and Suzie is enjoying having a new catflap to the big wide world outside. She still comes to give me a cuddle every morning though – and hasn’t brought me any special gifts yet thank goodness!

I played the piano for my school’s tree decorating assembly today which was fun as ever, and we went out for a team Christmas meal this evening; I love Christmas, I really do. People think I’m mean for not really doing decorating at home, or presents at home, but I don’t think my children are going to suffer that much, honestly

Weekend happiness began on Friday night – Anna opened the post, in which she received the offer of a place at SWMS – she was thrilled.
Friday night we were all out in various places: I went to my school prom, which was great fun – absolutely lovely to see my students all dressed up and enjoying their night out – many of them really don’t do that sort of thing very often. Josiah had a school concert, as did Abbie … Steve opted to go to Joe’s (with added wine and cheese). Anna was playing in the band for Pinhoe Panto’s Summer Show (second of a three night run).

Saturday was workish – garage for Steve, choir/orchestra/Suzuki group/schoolwork/housework as appropriate for the children and me – but the sun came out so it’s all felt lovely. We ended the day with friends over for Abbie and Joe; Anna baked cakes, and we played Amy Grant loudly In the evening we went out for the last night of And The Beat Goes On. Great entertainment, nice to see Anna playing all night long. She’s talking about ‘next time’, I’m thinking that when it comes around again (they’re every other year) she’ll be in her GCSE year so perhaps not – but we’ll see …

Sunday has been another happy day – Steve went out hillclimbing. His goal was to take back the class record but he only came second in his class today. Apparently if he hadn’t run out of fuel on one of his timed runs he would have done it Joe had a day at the Cathedral, and I went to the morning service, which was a Jazz Mass – they’ve had jazz/gospel events on all weekend. It sounded amazing, the choristers really enjoyed themselves, and I did too. The girls have pottered, tidying their room and got homework and music practices done. Oh, and I went geocaching – found 25 today I think. A beautiful day for it, and we had dinner out as well which was an unexpected bonus

It’s the usual round of orchestra, homework, housework etc. here today. Josiah had evensong to sing, and Exeter Cathedral Choir were being joined by Truro Cathedral Choir, so I decided to stop work for an hour or two, and go in for the service. It was an incredible difference to have double the volume there – it sounded amazing. Yet again (as I guess will frequently happen over the next few years) I am astounded by what Joe has the opportunity to be part of – and it all just seems so normal to him!

Anyway, he’d particularly mentioned that he liked the anthem today, and it is rare that he comments on things like that, so I was interested to hear it The hymn at the end of the service was Love Divine, which happens to be one of my all time favourite hymns, so that was good too – amazing to feel the vibrations of the organ through your feet while you’re singing the tune and the choir is singing a descant – just wow. There’s something incredibly special about the whole shebang and I love it.

Nose firmly back to the grindstone now though, the rest of the family are watching a film but I have made myself sit in the uncomfortable kitchen so that I don’t get distracted (ha, other than by blogging, of course!), and get on with some more work …