Monthly Archives: December 2016

Out for a spin on Boxing Day

Boxing Day
At the annual Boxing Day gathering of MGs, on Abingdon Market Place, some of the cars had their tops down.
Boxing Day
It is a social event for the MG Car Club, and a chance to take the cars out for a spin.
Boxing Day
Sailing boats from Abingdon Sailing Club also went out for a spin on the River Thames at Abingdon.
Boxing Day
After a mild Christmas Day, Boxing Day was sunny, and lots of people left the house to get some fresh air in Abingdon.

Christmas Bells – from Poets Corner (Tithe Farm Estate, Abingdon)

Christmas Bells
From Christmas Bells
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Christmas Bells
From In Memorium by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is dying in the night;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Christmas Bells
From Noel Christmas Eve by Robert Bridges

Tonight I can’t help thinking of those towers (the bell towers)
And I pray unto God for their souls and the souls of the world
That stand in towers and ring their bells tonight,
Arms lifted, clutching rattling ropes that race
Into dark above the mad and romping din
That to me heard afar is starry music

Christmas Bells
From Christmas Eve at Sea by John Masefield

The moon goes nodding down the west,
The drowsy helmsman strikes the bell;
Rex Judaorum natus est,
I charge you, brothers, sing Nowell, Nowell,
Rex Judaorum natus est

Christmas Bells
From Minstrels a Christmas Poem
by William Wordsworth

The minstrels played their Christmas tune
To-night beneath my cottage-eaves;
While, smitten by a lofty moon,
The encircling laurels, thick with leaves,
Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen,
That overpowered their natural green.

And who but listened?–till was paid
Respect to every inmate’s claim,
The greeting given, the music played
In honour of each household name,
Duly pronounced with lusty call,
And “Merry Christmas” wished to all.

Christmas Bells
From ‘A Christmas Carol‘ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Joy rises in me, like a summer’s morn:
Peace, Peace on Earth! The Prince of Peace is born!

(First posted on the Tithe Farm and Ladygrove Forum – Dec 25th 2003)

Christmas Eve Dressing Up

Christmas Eve
There were lots of people dressed up in town this morning. At Java & Co many of the guests had Father Christmas outfits – after the 5km Parkrun. There was also a dinasaur .
Christmas Eve
Outside Outdoor Traders, Batman and Robin were about to go back to the Bat Cave after their Christmas Eve cycle ride. Apparently there were a lot more super heroes earlier.
Christmas Eve
Today is a far more relaxed day than Frenzied Friday. People can now put up stockings by the fireside. Masons’ shop window has the ideal Christmas hearth.
Christmas Eve
Families will be going to Christmas Services this afternoon.

At Trinity we have the torchlight service at 4.30 pm when I will be dressing up as a wise man for about the sixth year in a row. There is also a Crib Service at St Michael’s at 3 pm, a Crib Service at St Nicolas at 4 pm, and a Christingle Service at St Helen’s at 4.30 pm.