One day I will go inside King's at Christmas with my camera - they've made it harder though by introducing a new card for residents so it may be next year - have to have something to aim at!
A grey day shot from Friday when the outside broadcast team were filming Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College. This afternoon I caught the tail end of a Radio 4 programme about the service and there was a discussion about the bidding prayer which I confess to never having really listened too (it's quite a long service & I just sing along while I'm boiling giblets on Christmas Eve!) There is a section written in 1918 (I think) - and according to the programme it's considered to be the last of the war poems. 'Lastly let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.' King's College, in common with the other colleges bore a heavy loss of staff, fellows (including Rupert Brooke) and students during WW1 so I will listen to that line with deeper understanding this year.
Three GT:
1. A morning with the accountant learning a new on-line system which after quite a bit of initial hassle will be much better.
2. Being followed down the towpath by a lively flock of long-tailed tits.
3. The primary school carol service tonight - it won't be as 'perfect' as King's but will be no less enjoyable for that.
An old man and an even older building - what a nice composition :). So that means you will also stay on for another year? I probably would have given up but as next year will be exciting, I just have to stay :). And I'd really miss this community here deeply if I stopped...
Perfect for this time of year, I always listen to the King's carol service and only on the radio - its not the same on tv. Thank you for adding the info about the bidding prayer - I too will listen with more understanding now.
I like to listen to the service from Kings too. I would love to be able to get a ticket! So - if they recorded last week do they repeat the service on Christmas Eve?
A thought provoking shot and a thought provoking bidding prayer too. I love to hear little children singing their carols and I'm sure it will be just as enjoyable although in a different way to the ones from King's. It always puts a lump in my throat when I hear little children singing as they are so innocent and lovely
A beautiful capture, with lovely soft muted colours. I've always found the bidding prayer very moving- especially that bit about on another shore. I used to listen to this service with my mother as a child, as far back as I can remember. I read a lesson at the televised service some years ago.
@busylady I think they pre-record the TV one with students & their guests and then the Christmas Eve one is live on the radio with the general public - that's the one that's a gift to the city.
@busylady They record the televised version, but the Christmas Eve service on the radio is always live. During the IRA bombing era, I was told that they ran a recording for a previous year alongside the live broadcast, so if there was a bomb they could seamlessly switch and the listening public wouldn't know. Not sure that this could actually work though!
I will take more notice too ... I tend to switch my mind off all except the actual singing.
I had cause to speak to the accountant today too...tax returns in by the 30th & all that plus a shock tax bill....grumpy faces I'm sure Harry thinks it's the accountants fault that we pay too much...he is threatening to change....I said that's OK if he deals with them...I am used to the ones we are with now. We have shelved that discussion until after Christmas!!
@dolphin Did you? How brave!! But lovely - you must have been proud. @happypat well I'm getting lots of invoices from our accountant but they'll have earned their money once I've rung them up every 5 minutes.
i like your tones judith ...photography ones...although i don't doubt your singing to carols 'tones' are just as nice........the old gentleman in the scene really adds to the image
Absolutely elegant architecture and a stylish gentleman as well. I'm certain that the King's College Lessons and Carols is a beautifully sophisticated service. All things refined and Cambridge-esque.
Carols from Kings is the start of Christmas for us - one of those long standing family traditions. Thank you for the info about the prayer as I had not really listened or understood the meaning before.
I'm glad the radio one is live - I was temporarily disillusioned! I love the Kings service. We went to my son's school 9 lessons and carols on Wednesday - it was so beautiful, both to look at and to listen to
I had cause to speak to the accountant today too...tax returns in by the 30th & all that plus a shock tax bill....grumpy faces I'm sure Harry thinks it's the accountants fault that we pay too much...he is threatening to change....I said that's OK if he deals with them...I am used to the ones we are with now. We have shelved that discussion until after Christmas!!
< chokes >