It Felt like Christmas to me!

Christmas has flown by this year. Mind you, it always seems to. I know I'm a big kid but I always miss it when it's gone and all the decorations come down and only highlight how boringly drab your living room was before! Anyway, it comes round every year and I mustn't wish the days away, since there's always so much to get done in a year.

Even though Christmas went by quickly it's been really lovely. One particular event really helped to create the festive spirit... United Voice's concert "It Feels Like Christmas!" 

Well it really did feel like Christmas. My choir, United Voice North West took the the stage at the Temperance Institute Ballroom again, this time with a seasonal repertoir, including many UK Christmas number one hits and some of our favourite traditional songs.

They put on a great show and I know from feedback that the audience had a fab time. The evening had a great mixture of good music and laughter and the choir and soloists were on top form.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Sefton were in attendance again after enjoying our summer showcase so much and we even had them joining in with the daft actions we had the audience doing for "The Christmas Alphabet" song!

A great time was had by all and it really gave our Christmas a magical start... oh and most important of all... my stained glass windows turned out great. (Thanks for your help Dad!)

Really proud of everyone. Thanks for all who helped make the event a big success!

My lovely Mother in law with the President of the Southport and District Temperance Society and the Mayor and Mayoress of Sefton:

The Ensemble sings "I Have a Dream" - 

Take note of the brill stained glass window! :)

Bit blurry, but here Kermit the Frog makes an appearance, as we sing "It Feels Like Christmas" from the Muppet Christmas Carol:

Lots of fun as we even get the Mayor and Mayoress doing actions for "The Christmas Alphabet!" Think this was "S" for "Santa" :)

Jim (Fran's Dad) has always wanted the Temperance's windows like Harrods'. This year he got his wish!

Out of sync, but well worth a mention...

Back in September, our good friends Dennis and Sally DeFord, from Colorado, came over to the UK for a vacation. I was so much fun for Francesca and I to be able to take some time off ourselves and join Sally and Dennis as they explored some great places on our lovely island, which we definitely take for granted.

It's funny how you notice and appreciate everything around you so much more when you have guests to show around.

below are a few nice pictures we took along the way, but click (here) to read Sally's blog entry. She has managed to nicely and concisely capture the main highlights of the visit. (I would ramble on for hours!)

There was one particular highlight that I must mention though. I was so glad that we were able to organise a musical fireside while Sally was over. (For those who don't know what that is, it doesn't involve a fire at all, it just means a gathering where there is some sort of inspirational presentation. I guess back in the day, the pioneers would have sat around a fire, so there ya go!)

The fireside took place at the Stake Centre over in Chorley and the place was chock-full of people. It was a lovely evening. Sally shared inspirational stories and background on some of her music, with performances by the Chorely Stake choir and myself.

It really was a very moving presentation, especially with the audience being so eager to join in with the songs they were involved in. One particular moment that I won't forget in a hurry though, was when I sat back down after a song, with what I thought was only my lyric sheet and left Sally with no notes and a perplexed look. I of course, rather than quietly handing the notes back, broke the awkward silence with "oh, sorry luv. Here ya go!"... trust me!... She's such a good sport!

It was a real pleasure to sing beautiful songs like "Whole Again,"   "I Have Not Seen, Yet I Believe," "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," and "For Me Alone" live and be accompanied by the composer herself.


The very grand Bath Abbey:

Roman Baths. This was very cool... can't beat a bit of geothermal heat!

The very impressive Circus and Crescent below it.

It so difficult to show how impressive they are on camera:

The amazingly untouched quaint village in Castle Combe:

Had to have a photo of this. A resident of Castle Combe, selling cakes outside their house, 

with a little sign saying "please just post payment through the door"

I love it! Why can't things be like this everywhere. So glad some people still trust their neighbours :)

Fireside Sunday,Sep 13th 2009