Newer Christmas Traditions

London Calling
December 19th

Albert Hall singalong last year

For as long as I can remember mamma and pappa would drive us into London to see the Christmas tree from Norway in Trafalgar Square and the Christmas lights in central London, back in the 1970's London really stood out for Christmas lights compared to other towns in the UK.  These days all towns now dress up for the season to encourage shoppers to visit and I love the twinkling lights.

From the time our own children were old enough to appreciate traipsing into London, John and I too took the yearly Christmas visit to the capital but we began by taking the children to the theatre in the week before Christmas.  We were lucky enough to catch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver, Starlight Express, and the Lion King to name but a few.  In more recent years there has been less theatre and more sing-alongs at the wonderful venue that is the Albert Hall.  This year after having visited and sung to our heart's content for the past 6 years we decided to miss it and to try our hand at the theatre again and we were not disappointed.

We sing along with gusto

The wonderful Albert Hall,
to read more about it click here

Photo taken from the internet shows
Robert Lindsay as Scrooge

For two shows only this year the talented Robert Lindsay took the lead role in the London Musical  Theatre to play Scrooge in a Christmas Carol.  It was unlike anything I have ever seen before.  It was neither a narration of Dickens' well-known story nor was it a theatre production or even a musical. 

We had seats in the stalls, it does not do it
justice here, but we could see their faces very clearly

It had a full orchestra, a choir and lead singers who acted in a pared down way with no props.  The story unfolded beautifully but still allowing much to the imagination.  Lindsay was beyond brilliant, his comic timing, his expressions and his perfect Scrooge voice made it a night to remember.  John not known for overdoing the praise could not thank me enough for organising it and said how marvellous the whole thing was.  A snippet of the review from  Musical Theatre Review   says:

In the mix are waltzes, syncopated numbers, patter songs, wistful lyricism and more. And Michael Starobin’s  imaginative orchestrations make imaginative use of instrumentation to bring out the many moods the piece requires.

It goes without saying, given the cast list, that everyone at the front of the stage does an excellent job.

Robert Lindsay as Scrooge is nimbly charismatic – both funny and moving – and the fact that he may not be the industry’s finest singer matters not a jot in this context.

These old theatres have so much detail

There is, however wonderful, singing from Glenn Carter (has he ever done the Commendatore in Don Giovanni?) as the imposing Jacob Marley, from Sophie-Louise Dann as hilarious Brummie Mrs Fezziwig and from Gemma Sutton as the crystalline-voiced Ghost of Christmas Present. And Tobias Ungleson is a bit of a show stealer as Tiny Tim.

The whole performance (directed by Shaun Kerrison) is, in a sense, a joyous celebration not just of Christmas and a time-honoured iconic story, but also of musical theatre itself.

We left the London Lyceum, usually home to the Lion King on a real Christmas high.  Bring on the rest of the week and Christmas, we are READY...

Decorations by Seven dials, Covent Garden

Mistletoe and baubles in the market at Covent Garden

Oxford Street

♥  We are on Christmas countdown, have you much to do? 

Last Five of 2016

December 23rd



I had a crazy notion back in September that wouldn't it be great to make my own cake toppers this year for the Christmas cake.  I mean I usually do make my own cake decorations but what I am alluding to would be in crochet.  A mad idea but I think it worked.  The husband is yet to see it, waiting till Christmas Eve to finally do the big reveal but I can imagine it will have something to do with eye rolling and muttering the words, "Of course you would, why wouldn't you..."

I am not sharing the patterns now at such a late stage in December but if you wish for the patterns let me know.

It all began with the humble mini snowflake

And it wouldn't be a Scandinavian Christmas
without a Nisse now would it?

Ta dah!

I stuck the Nisse on with extra icing so the
wool was not in actual contact with the real cake itself

I realised that I was short on a present so the current Messy bun trend was spot on for me to make one of the quickest gifts I have ever ever made.  Have a spare hour?  Then you too can make that last minute gift for someone who has long hair, fun and genius don't you think?

Do you know how hard it is to take a photo of
the front and back of yourself at the same side, this was
attempt about 15, you're lucky you got anything!

In the dark this was the best shot I could get, but you
get the idea of a messy bun hat now don't you?

For instructions and how to make click on the link:  Messy Bun Hat


For me one of the great joys in my life is the month of Advent when we bake and cook so much in the kitchen.  At the beginning of December my son asked, "You are going to make all those biscuits and things this year aren't you?"  That warmed my heart and makes it all the more worth while.  One of his favourites are:  Almond cookies  He loves anything to do with almonds, but I am sure you could substitute this for any nut you prefer.

Almond cookies

Another bake but not counted as one of the 7 cookies makes of Advent were these rather delicious honey bombs, the best way to describe them is a cross between the texture of bread and ginger bread, spread them with lashings of butter and accompanied by a cup of tea, you won't go far wrong:  Afternoon Scandinavian Treat

And finally I leave you with what has become a tradition for us now over the past few years, our annual trip to see the lights in London and partake in a sing a long in the very splendid Albert Hall: Christmas in London

Christmas sing a long Albert Hall

Joining in with Amy  for the last time in 2016, thank you for hosting Amy, sending love xxx

♥  Wishing you all a very very jolly Christmas wherever you are and thanking you from the bottom of my heart for your readership and your very valued comments   ♥

Christmas traditions new and old

December 20th

Yesterday I posted about a new Christmas tradition and today again the same.  It would seem my enthusiasm and love for Christmas has passed down to my daughter and a few years ago she told me of a friend of hers whose mother bought her a glass bauble every Christmas since her birth and that her collection was now quite stunning.  Both Ella's eyes and mine lit up as we thought it a lovely tradition to begin too.

Unlike Ella's friend, Ella receives one every year on Christmas Eve but also the odd one or two in her Advent calendar and friends and family have also been on the look out and have gifted her a glass bauble.  The only stipulation is that the bauble must be made of real glass and be clear, other than that anything goes.

There are so many glass bauble designs to be had

Until last year my Christmas tree was only ever decorated in home made red painted troll deig (salt dough) shapes.  In the 23 years that I have had a tree together with my husband we are still only on the second home made set of troll deig.  Make it well and it lasts at least a decade!  For recipe for troll deig scroll to the end of the post here ~ Troll deig recipe

However last year Ella was keen to see her bauble collection on the tree and again this year, they take pride of place.  I quite like the look of our home made hearts and these very decadent elegant baubles.

Below I share with you some of her favourites.  Do you have Christmas tree bauble traditions or stories to share?  We agreed one could never be able to afford such luxurious baubles all in one hit but gradually each year adding just one or two, the collection grows steadily...

Even a bird shape bauble

This bauble is huge and not spherical
it's diameter is 10 cm

One's to mark the year baubles

Lots of glittery lines adorn this bauble

The glass on this bauble has an oily rainbow sheen

The Penny Farthing design is one of Ella's favourite baubles

Bauble with a tear drop end

White painted design on the baubles are very effective

This bauble has a glass tree inside

And Ella's latest bauble bought in D.C earlier
this month has a scroll inside laid on golden glitter

♥   Do you decorate the tree the same every year or do 

you change the scheme?   ♥   

Christmas in London

December 19th

I'm all for Christmas traditions both old and new and a new one for us as a family began 6 years ago when we first trekked into London dressed up to the nines and partook in the Christmas Sing a Long at the Royal Albert Hall.  It was magical and fun and mad the four of us feel very Christmassy.  Every year since then and despite the fact the children are teenagers they insist we must go each year.  If anything we all enjoy it more and more.  Christmas hat wearing is a must!

Emerging from the underground to see people
enjoying themselves at the outdoor skating
by the Naturals History museum

Arriving at the Albert Hall

Such an iconic building in London the Albert Hall began construction in 1967 and was completed in 1871.  Originally it was to be named Central Hall and was the brain child of Prince Albert who wished to promote the arts and sciences.  Unfortunately Albert dies of typhoid fever in 1861 and did not even see the beginning of it's construction.  Everything was put on hold until his fiend resurrected the idea and it became renamed  the Albert Hall.  Queen Victoria was so overcome with emotion she was unable at the opening to speak, instead stepping in her place her son, Price of Wales spoke.

The building itself never ceases to amaze me but it is at Christmas that I think it is at it's most spectacular with light adornments hung from the boxes and the joyous feeling that can be felt within.  should you ever get the chance to visit, jump at it.  The exterior of the building which you see a glimpse of here is built from over 6 million red bricks and some 80 thousand blocks of terracotta, which includes a continuous 800 foot long frieze.
History of the Albert Hall

Song sheet all ready, the concert is a mix of
listening to the professional singers
and choristers and we singing a long too.

A tipple helps the singing voice don't you know...

A snippet of the signing...

Just magical

The whole event is so well thought out

People really do make an effort to 'get into' the festive spirit

Once the concert is over we are always reluctant to traipse straight home so it has also now become tradition to head over to Carnaby Street and eat at one of the best burger places we know.  This is doubly good as we then have a feel of the London Christmas spirit.  Life here in the city is so buzzy and busy, love it.

Carnaby Street lights

Oxford Street lights

Oxford Street

♥   Have you begun any new traditions in your family?   ♥

Albert Hall Sing a long

December 20th


For the fifth year we have travelled into our capital to one of my favourite buildings, that of the Grade II listed building of The Albert Hall found in south London.  Here we all wear our Christmas hats and partake in what is essentially a giant karaoke of Christmas favourites.  We are also royally entertained by a professional choir, conductor, orchestra and professional singer.  It's a concert and a sing along and it begins the Christmas spirit in a jolly way.  Tickets are always booked in the summer to ensure good seats, despite the fact it holds 5272 seats sell fast.  Each year I ask the children if we should miss it this year and I am greeted by a resounding 'We want to go, it's Christmas!!'

Albert Hall built in 1871

Albert Hall was originally going to be called Central Hall and was the vision of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert.  He wanted it to be the core for sharing science, art and culture but he died from typhoid in 1861.  His collaborator, Henry Cole, began the idea again in his name and is one of London's most iconic amphi theatres. To find out more click here

 

The Albert Hall seat 5272

Such a great show and sing a long

It's a Christmas show stopper

The interval is a good time to have a tipple

People decorate the boxes with lights and
Christmas paraphernalia

The acoustic mushrooms play a vital role as well as
being aesthetically quite pleasing

 

The mushrooms were added to the ceiling to remove the echo that occurred during performances.  Originally there were more but it was later discovered not so many were needed.  To find out more about the mushrooms click  here

 

My favourite moments of the night are, singing the Twelve days of Christmas with added actions, watching the entire audience participate is quite something and of course watching the children in the audience stand up and sing Away in a Manage to a professional orchestra, pure magical moments.  I am so glad my children wan to continue this tradition. 

 

 

After the interval, all children are asked to stand
and sing Away in a Manger. 
Several tears are shed at this point.

♥  It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas  ♥

Christmas Day 2014

25th December

This year our house was blessed by many of the family members and friends willing to share this special day with us.  As the children are becoming older so are our Christmas morning wake up calls becoming later and later.  I must confess to preferring an 8am wake up call to the 6am of a few years back.  In our household the children wake each other up with whispered excitement and bring their stockings in to our room and onto our bed and share their surprises from Father Christmas with us.  This is such a magical time of the day and season and I love the fact that the children seem to cherish these traditions too.  This year the children were sharing a bedroom  to allow other family members visiting to have their own room whilst staying with us.  Our daughter told us that her brother had actually suggested from about 6 am they should sneak into to us and begin opening the stocking, but her adolescent age obviously wanted and needed more sleep, so she would not accompany him in and he would not come without her!  There are some advantages to having teenagers!

 

Stockings made when the children were small, look
how tiny their handprints were.  Somehow I never finished
them off, and now cannot quite bring myself to do it. 
Strange, I know!







Stockings opened and many ooohing and aahings later we bundled downstairs in PJ's ready for a lightish breakfast accompanied with lots of fizz and cups of tea.  Some years previously we used to go all out for breakfast as well but our stomachs found that a rich breakfast followed by a huge Christmas dinner was not the way to go and so we are much more restrained these days.  Much of our entertaining philosophy is to share the burden, thus reducing stress a little on us, but the main reason, to include everyone and give everybody a sense of purpose and pulling together.  It generally works well and people like to have something to do.  Thanks Ninda for breakfast this year.



Traditional hats hanging in the hall ready to grab for the pub walk

After present exchanges round the Christmas tree and more fizz drunk, the Christmas table was laid, the turkey was stuffed and placed in the oven and the last guests arrived, it was time for another British tradition .  The pub on Christmas day.  I was not brought up with this tradition and is only one that I have been introduced to since I have been married, but one which I have adopted whole heartily and LOVE.  We all insist on wearing silly Christmas hats, there is no forced cheer as suddenly everyone is in the mood as we trudge to the local hostelry.  If you have never partaken of visiting a local pub on December 25th then I recommend it.  Everyone in the pub on Christmas day is in such a good and cheery mood.  A quick couple of drinks and we are soon back in the warmth of the house with the roast cooking smell permeating throughout the house.  Wonderful.♥

I am sure our house is no different to anyone elses, we go the whole hog to make it perfect and often something is forgotten or omitted, but it does not really matter or make a difference to the day.  Crackers are pulled, jokes are shared and the competition begins to see who can keep their cracker hat on the longest and so the game playing commences.  This year Mr H introduced us all to a new game he made up, of having to chase each other around the garden (wearing one of the above hats) and trying to grab an others hat without loosing your own.  It was hysterical and despite many of us sliding and falling over on the lawn a good time was had.

Compulsory charades were played and moved into a new phase by having a few rounds via skype with aunts and uncles on the south coast.  It brought us all together and made us laugh all the more.  Try it, it works a treat!

Many presents and drinks later

we all fell into bed happy and exhausted

and Christmas day was done for another year.♥