As promised, here’s the update.

Date: 24th December 2020
Start time: 19:00
(though you might hear something going on before then)…

Playlist

A mixture of old and new(ish), fast and slow, in English, Latin and Welsh.

1. Silent Night
2. Oh Come All Ye Faithful / Adeste Fideles
3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
4. Away In A Manger
5. Deck the Hall / Nos Galan
6. In the Bleak Midwinter
7. Jingle Bells
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The words and recordings (and sheet music) are here. It’s a truncated playlist, but, to make life easier, the carols (and the verses we’re singing) are in order in the song books. 

“Hear you then”.

Please make sure you keep to the social distancing rules!

For the last nine years we’ve sung carols with a small brass band around Highfields shortly before Christmas. Starting with a few drinks and mince pies (just to warm up of course), followed by an hour or so moving around outside, and usually ending with a few nibbles (and another tipple or two) near to where we started.

No collections. Just for fun.

Those of you who’ve been involved have possibly thought (wistfully perhaps) that, because of Covid, it wouldn’t be happening this year, the tenth year …

Weeelllll….

We’ve come up with a way of making it work (sort of) in a socially distanced way.

Carols 2020 is on!

This year we’ll be having a static carol singing event on our own doorsteps. Matthew et al will be in front of their house in Whitehall Road with their instruments. The rest of us will be in front of our own houses where we will be singing and playing our own instruments (and possibly keeping warm with a little bit of mulled wine as well).

Taking part depends a little on being within earshot of Whitehall Road… However, we’re taking steps to increase what “within earshot” means. Quite apart from singing and playing very, very loudly, we hope to have a little amplification (and possibly even streaming).

When are we doing this?

In previous years we’ve had to juggle school holidays, people being away at different times and all that sort of normal stuff. This year no one is going away..

So we’re doing it on Christmas Eve!

The start time, running order and more details will be published here as soon as they’re known so watch this space.

In the meantime…

To get you in the mood (and just in case you don’t know the words and music) here are the carols. We won’t be singing them all so if there are some that you really, really want to sing/play let me know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!. We’ll try and make sure your favourites are included.

I would normally say “See you then” to sign off. But this year it’s going to be “Hear you then”.

Tomorrow is the day. We’re starting at Number 8 Whitehall Road and finishing at number 6 Whitehall Road.

Don’t forget to drop off pre carols contributions (mulled wine and mince pie type stuff) at Number 8 Whitehall Rd  and post carols contributions (mulled wine, wind, spirits, soft drinks, mince pies, savouries, snacks, cake, whatever you fancy eating and drinking type stuff) at number 6 Whitehall Road some time tomorrow.
The music/words, etc can be found at here. Bring a copy with you.
See you all at 7:00

Yes it’s on!  This year we’re going around the houses on Monday the 23^rh of December. It’s our 9th year so you all know the drill.

We’ll be gathering at number 8 Whitehall Rd at 7:00 for a 7:30 start.

The songbooks are the same and can be found here along with other musical resources. In previous years people have had great success with downloading the PDF’s to their phones (yea tech!) so feel free to save a few trees by doing that. I’d advise downloading beforehand in case the site isn’t available at the critical point.

After singing…

Hmmmmmm

Ideally we’ll be gathering …   …somewhere. I’m just not sure where yet. Now is you chance to gain the approbation and admiration of all your neighbours. Contact me via e-mail to volunteer.

Yes it’s on!  This year we’re going around the houses on Sunday the 23^rh of December.

We’ll be gathering … somewhere (still time to volunteer – keep an eye on your email) at 7:00 for a 7:30 start.

The songbooks are the same and can be found here along with other musical resources. In previous years people have had great success with downloading the PDF’s to their phones (yea tech!) so feel free to save a few trees by doing that. I’d advise downloading beforehand in case the site isn’t available at the critical point.

The after singing bit

Hmmmmm. Not sure yet. Again, any volunteers?

See you on Sunday…

Yes it’s on!  This year we’re going around the houses on Wednesday the 2o^th of December.

We’ll be gathering at Phil and Sian’s place (corner of Gillian and Llantrisant roads) at 6:30 for a 7:00 start.  Please drop off a few bottles and mice pies with them during the day to get things going.

The songbooks are the same and can be found here along with other musical resources. In previous years people have had great success with downloading the PDF’s to their phones (yea tech!) so feel free to save a few trees by doing that. I’d advise downloading beforehand in case the site isn’t available at the critical point.

Llinos and Joe will be doing the after singing bit – just follow the crowd) so please drop off some stuff with them as well.

I’ll circulate the addresses by email later, but in the meantime please plan to bring (or drop off beforehand) a plate or two of food and some bottles. All additions to the feast will be welcomed.

More to follow anon (probably by email)

We’ll be gathering at Elan and Ian’s place at 6:30 for a 7:00 start.  Please drop off a few bottles and mice pies with them during the day to get things going.

The songbooks are the same and can be found here along with other musical resources.

Caroline and I will be doing the after singing bit (flashing hedge – you can’t miss it).

I’ll circulate the addresses by email later, but in the meantime please plan to bring (or drop off beforehand) a plate or two of food and some bottles. All additions to the feast will be welcomed.

More to follow anon (probably by email)

Yes it’s on!  This year we’re going around the houses on the 21^st of December.  More info to follow soon.

The Whitehall Road gnomes (and others) have been beavering away and have come up with a whole host of street party goodness for your delectation.

Timings

The road will be closed at 10:00 am on the 12^th and we’ll be decorating and preparing like mad until the main event starts at 2:30 pm.  We expect to have tea at around 4.

Helping

Please come and help.  We’ll need people from 10 am to help decorate the street, put out tables, set up stalls, and so on.  We’ll then need people to run stalls (Whack a rat, raffle, games, etc) from about 2:00 pm.  Finally, when it all ends we have to tidy up.  So the more help the better.

Food

Please bring as much as you and yours will eat at or around 2:00pm.  The food will be put out on tables to be shared (so if you really, really, really like your homemade  cakes make sure that you’re sitting in front of them when we sit down to eat).  Anything goes, sweet or savoury as long as it can be eaten with fingers (we will have paper plates and cups).

Drink

Tea and squash will be provided.  If you want to drink anything else bring it with you (it is legal to drink alcohol if you wish).  Drink won’t be shared out like the food (unless you want to share it of course) so be prepared to carry it around with you.

Entertainment

There will be games, music, a fancy dress competition and stalls for young and old.

Labelling

If you bring anything that you want back (plate, chair, bunting, etc.) then put your name and house number on it so we know whose is whose.

Decorations

More, more, more.  If you have balloons, bunting, etc. please bring them to number 2 by 10:00 am on the 12^th (the earlier the better so we can decide where things will go).

Chairs, tables and gazebos

We are borrowing some tables from the school but need more to go down the centre of the street.  So if you can, please bring one along at 11:00 am.  If you want to sit bring a chair.  If it looks like it might be damp please bring a gazebo if you have one as well.

Quiet zone

There will be a (relatively) quiet area for the less mobile.  If you have neighbour who falls into that category please offer to escort them to this place of refuge when we start so that they don’t feel intimidated or left out.  It might be an idea to include them in your food and chair preparations as well.  Don’t forget to help them to get home again later.

Raffle

There have been a few expenses to date which so far have been kindly underwritten by individuals.  We’ll be having a bucket for donations and a raffle to try and pay them back.  If by any happy chance we end up with a surplus it will be given to charity   If you have any items than can be used as raffle prizes then please bring them to number 2.

See you there!

Planning for the street party.

8:00 pm on Sunday the 29th.  All welcome.