Forum Topic

Canned carols

Some local collectors have just called. Santa on a trailer, loud canned music. I said I would only give for real carol singing. The man smiled and wished me a merry Christmas. I reciprocated. He left. I can still hear the racket as I type.

Graham Weeks ● 6861d6 Comments

Tuesday 18th, place: Tesco EBC.The sshop had the most ghastly music coming from the ceiling mounted speakers. It was sufficiently bad that my wife and I complained to a manager in the shop.A short while later when we were in a checkout queue the fire alarm sounded and the shop was evacuated. After a short while we re-entered the shop. The music had stopped...

Alan Brainsby ● 6861d

My good but cold carol memories are singing round Noth Yorkshire villages with my late beloved Dad leading a choir of local Methodists. I have not done much in London but one year our church sang outside Tescos Brent Park. The then local MP, K Livingstone, refused my request for a donation in aid of Life Care and Housing Trust.

Graham Weeks ● 6860d

Graham, sad to hear of your dreadful canned carols experience.We've just returned from a truly excellent evening of carols given by Jane Salisbury and her colleagues of the St Matthew's Church choir in the King's Arms Ealing W5. Peter and Linda Wright were there as were other EalingToday posters - it was packed out with happy customers. It was a brilliant evening of superbly sung carols, a few quiet and contemplative but most jolly and boisterous. Well done Jane and her friends and thanks for your time and great singing.  ;-)

Gerry Tan ● 6860d

Yes Gerry a wonderful evening with superb singing - if they turned up on your doorstep you wouldn't want them to go!Lovely to see you and Sheila.As Linda and I keep attending all of Jane's performances think we are becoming Jane groupies!

Peter Wright ● 6860d

Thank you all for coming!  It's one of my favourite evenings of the year :-)Friends, singing and beer all at the same time!  Marvellous!

Jane Salisbury ● 6860d

I offer a contemporary update. You will know the tune.O little town of Bethlehem - 2007 versionO little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Your land's divided by a wall built up so very high.Israel has put it there they say for their securityHow sad we see the ancient place of Christ's nativityChristians are moving from the place where their dear Lord was born.Farmers cannot get to the fields. They cannot sow their corn.Ten percent of Arab lands enclosed by IsraelFor Palestinians, Holy Land is now a living hellHow silently, how silently, the West stays at this plight;Of suffering oh so far away, well out of narrow sightOf those who think that prophecy can justify the sinOf stealing land, dividing folk from their own kith and kin.O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;Cast out our sin, bring peace on earth, injustice take away.But first you must change hearts and minds, our Lord Emmanuel!May Jews and Arabs live as one renewed by your Gospel.

Graham Weeks ● 6858d