Monday 25th December 2023

Merry Christmas.

The big day dawned with strong winds, light drizzle and temperatures of nearly 15 degrees.

We had time for a coffee and wrap the last of the presents for family, before Jools took me to Jen's to collect her and Sylv so we could go to church.

Just the other side of the Deal Road, north of East Langdon is West Langdon, and they have a church that I have never been in, so we would go there.

Sylv was ready, so they both climbed in the car and Jools took is via narrow lanes to West Langdon, and because the church is at the end of a narrow single track lane with no parking, so Jools dropped us off at the fingerpost, and we walked up the lane, dodging horse eggs flattened on the road to the church.

Where we were greeted warmly upon entering.

St Mary is a simple Victorian church, with just stained glass in the east window.

I explained my project, and went round taking shots, before we took our places in a pew near the front.

This is not usual for me, in fact I can only remember going to church a couple of times at Christmas before.

Now, churches.

Thanks to the project, I know of low, high, nonconformist, traditional. But staying for a service is unusual for me.

With about a dozen of us, the service began, all taken from the Common Book of Prayer, another first for me too, with just the one hymn, a carol, but at the end.

Jen and I were the only ones who did not take Communion, I'd have no idea what to say or do. But Sylv did.

We ended with Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and that was it.

We walked back down the lane, where Jools was waiting, taking us back via Whitfield to drop them off, and then back to Chez Jelltex for brunch and brews.

At one, we drove back to Jen's, where we had a drink while we waited for the others to arrive: Mike, George, Trinny, Cath and two family friends of Jen's.

So, there was nearly ten sitting down to turkey, ham and all the trimmings at three, as Charlie delivered his address to the nation on the wireless.

The meal wasn't huge, but enough. I had double portion of sprouts as the carrots had gone, but hey.

Two glasses of fizz, crackers and laughs.

And then retiring to the living room for the exchange of presents, with more drinking and laughs.

We drifted back home at just gone five, with us heading back along very deserted roads back to St Maggies, as the cats needed their dinner.

In fact, Scully was in the wood store, waiting, and meowed loudly as I walked down the drive.

Merry Christmas.