Signs of the times

 The two youngest grandsons were both in nativity plays this Christmas, both very different in style.  One took place in a catholic church, the other in school.

The church one was very traditional and of course, there were quite a few of us shedding emotional tears. My grandson was the Innkeeper and also did some of the narration.

The school one was a musical play called 'Christmas with the Aliens' and was more of a 'fun singing and dancing one'.  A spaceship full of aliens (about 12 of them!) land on Earth because their spaceship has 'broken down'.  They meet some earthlings who take them to see a nativity play, where they learn about the birth of Jesus.  The earthlings are able to start their spaceship for them and the aliens set off home to 'spread the word'.

This was on the door where we waited to go in to see the performance.

Also waiting was this wooden reindeer, which I think is a very clever use of wood and branches.  Behind him is a bin for people to donate groceries for the less well-off.  There are a lot of those these days, and distribution centres have been set up to help families who cannot afford to buy enough food.  Sadly, bins like this are now a frequent sight in supermarkets etc.

I hope your Christmas is a happy one. xx

Christmas Shopping in York

We spent two nights at the Premier Inn in York as we had booked tickets to see Harry Christophers and The 16 at the Minster on Thursday evening.

We were able to walk about before the performance and during the interval but could not take pictures whilst the 16 were singing.  They were marvellous of course! (Here is a link to them on Youtube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFSdL5eCVk

The following day we visited the Museum:-

http://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/Page/SpecialExhibitions.aspx

Ancient Trollbeads!

and of course we did some Christmas Shopping! 

Nice carrier bags, eh?!

Grasmere, Cumbria - July 2013