12. Albert Hall; Christmas Eve

Sunday 22 December.  We attend eleven o'clock mass at Farm Street church, then walk around Shepherd's Market, before setting off to Albert Hall for the Bach Choir Christmas Carols.  Robert, Mara and Jeffrey get to go up on the stage and sing.  Lovely!  Bill and I walk back.  We have dinner at Rule's, things like salmon, pigeon, zander and partridge.

The Palm Court at the Waldorf
with Pearl and Bill

Lunch at Shepherd's Market

Albert Hall

Monday 23 December.  The Underground is closed in the a.m. for fear of IRA incendiary devices.  (They found one on the Stanstead Express.)  We visit Santa Claus at Harrods and have the requisite pictures taken.  We eat a late lunch at the Waldorf Brasserie, then return on the 4:30 Stanstead Express.  The ground is wet at home, it's colder than London, but no rain is falling.

Seeing the Christmas Sights in London

With my New Hat
at Green Park

Outside Harrod's

Tuesday, Christmas Eve.  Frost.  Sunny with clouds and a breeze.  I pick up the goose and steak.  I buy bricks for the Christmas tree stand and set that up.  We all leave for Cambridge at 12:30 and see "The Gingerbread Man" ("Hey, hey, I'm the Gingerbread man."). Return by five.  Julie Binocci arrives at 6 or 7 with her boyfriend Adrian, who plays rugby for Oxford (not the team, but a team).  The steak dinner we planned for Christmas dinner works better tonight.  Cathy and I stay up late wrapping presents (of course).  Julie sleeps in the drawing room and guards the Christmas tree.  The children stay up late watching Indiana Jones.

The Tree in the Drawing Room

Julie, Pearl and Bill

Christmas Cheer!

"Just What I Wanted!"

A Bit of Peace and Quiet:
the Christmas Day Movie Fest

Wednesday, Christmas.  Frost.  Sunny.  We open presents at nine or so.  Even the children, except Mara, sleep in until 8:30.  Mara had gone to sleep around six thirty, after the show, she was soo excited.  She was back up at nine, then down again, finally up for good at 4:45, but all she could do was play with her doll house and stack her presents inside.  Big gifts:  Mara and Robert, briefcases; Cathy, coats and pearls; Jeffrey, toy castle; me, Saffron Walden art work.  Even Julie receives presents.  Eleven o'clock mass, then we cook the rest of the day.  Quite enjoyable.  Nice dinner at six'ish: goose, wild rice, two stuffings, Christmas pudding, etc.  Jan calls.  Brian calls.  We watch the Queen's speech.  Workmanlike.

Thursday, Boxing Day.  Ten thirty walk with the walking association.  There is a big turn out for Ned's guided tour of Littlebury Green.  Sunny in a.m., cloudy later.  TV feast: "Babette's Feast," "Superman II," "Fish Called Wanda."  Goose sandwiches and a fire as well.  Nice relaxing day.

The Boxing Day Walk

Friday 27 December.  We're off to London on the 9:06.  We walk and shop the sales.  I make train reservations for Scotland.  We see the Tolouse Lautrec exhibit at one.  The Thames view, walking is the bridge was lovely!  We have tea at the Ritz: there are separate place settings, but I still like Brown's.  I'm getting tea'd out. 

Saturday 28 December.  Nursed my cold and cleaned my desk.