Come the first evening star in the sky and what happens? In the Polish tradition Wigilia begins... a table is set with a white cloth over a bed of hay, symbolising the hay in the manger and the white cloth Mary swaddled Jesus in. The oplatek is in the center of the table and we all take some of it and wish good tidings and blessings to each other as we share it. Leona loved the oplatek. Traditionally you have 12 dishes of fish but we only have 3 courses, one of fish and our table did not have hay undter it but we did lay the oplatek on hay. This year grandad was with us aswell, he seemed to enjoy it. We then open presents, being part English part Polish we open the prezzies from Polish relatives on the eve and the English ones on the day. After watching Blackadder christmas carol (not a traditional Polish activity) we went to midnight mass with my dad to Holy Cross. Fr Pat talked about the gifts the three wise men brought and how sometimes we can be given gifts that we are not sure how to use, but also the lambs brought by the shepherds... maybe a meal for Mary and Joseph, an apparently more useful gift, but showing us the importance of remembering those who are less fortunate than oursleves, the shepherds themselves were poor but gave what they could. We thought of those who were homeless but also those who have no-one at this time.

We all played with the band, a timeless classic run by Arther and Kathleen, it was great to see Gwedalin and Dermot there too. Kathleen occasionally got carried away when she forgot how many verses she had played and I am sure the congragation had found the hymns before Arther had anounced it she "whispered" them too him so loudly :o)

Christmas day though we were back and forth like yo yo's the day did not go by too fast and we got to see everyone and we did not feel like we were rushing too much, we had a wonderful christmas day!

Boxing day came and as is traditional we went to see the morris dancing at Brantingham, it was all really good and I was encouraged to join the garland side, which Nat goes too. By the time that ended we went back to my parents for dinner and a few games. Tommorrow I think we will have a day in!

It is that time of year again it seems to arrive so quickly!! We were all there with our trendy black folders which you could only just fit all the music in, in a rather cunning manor!

The head opened the service with some nice words and then on with the carols which were interspersed with several readings. James was dissapointed that there was only one reading from scripture but the others were themed with the preparation and waiting of advent. The reading about The Indescribable Gift was nice focusing on Jesus coming to forgive and save us, a really good link between Christmas and Easter which come hand in hand. We sang a few classic carols. with the senior choir singing harmonies which James said sounded good (naturally he is an expert in this) Kevin seemed to be enjoying himself and it was certainly a job well done.

Both the two pieces performed by the senior choir and the one by the junior choir sounded wonderful. I think the choirs have been excelling themself more and more and I will really miss singing with them, maybe I can pop back every now and then. Kevin did not look like we were strangling a cat so it can't have been that bad. Kevin also tried to test our lung capasity with some of the endings! I was worried I would flake out but we had time to recover between readings :o) It is also nice to sing parts to the carols, maybe I can dazzle them round the christmas table when we sing a few this christmas.

Fr John said the last two blessings and then Fr Pat jumped in with a surprise blessing... one of the sixth formers (you may remember him for Joseph) had said that he had been in the school for 7 years (and he was rather involved) and it would be nice to have a special blessing. I have to agree, particularly those students who stay right through, they are a member of our christian community and the school prepares them for the trials ahead, particularly trials as Cathoilcs. Fr Pat did a celtic blessing and it was very apt talking of being the light (and witness) of Christ. It is important to remember that we do not only think of our sixth form (and GCSE students leaving for pastures new) on the day they leave. At the start of the Churches caledar it is only right to start them on their journey into the real world where they are to take Christ with them.

As with these things there is always the worry that you have a story from I dont know... the donkeys point of view, but this evening proved to be a beautiful way to celebrate advent. Well done All.