‘Tis the season. I’ve taken a break this week from my work (and blogging) as I’ve had a lot of practising and rehearsing to do for tomorrow’s Eltham Choral Christmas Concert, at Holy Trinity Church, Eltham. It’s also a Christmas Fair (mince pie scoffing, the raffling of hampers, quoffing of mulled wine – the usual stuff) so there are carols to sing, as well as the Handel (Coronation Anthems) and the Britten (Ceremony of Carols) one of which I’ve not sung before; this one above, which is from medieval times.  There’s one more rehearsal (tomorrow afternoon) before the concert in the evening.

Other than that, I’m singing at three other venues before Christmas, the last of which is under the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square on 22 December.

That will be a fun adventure. We will make a day of it, lunching in the Members’ Room at Tate Britain, then after roaming London a bit, taking coffee and cake in the Crypt Cafe at St Martin’s-in-the-Fields (opposite Traf Square) or maybe in the National Gallery.

The Traf Square gig is for the charity Making Music.  Here’s its mission statement:

As the membership organisation for amateur music in the UK, we support, connect and champion everyone who makes, performs and presents music on a voluntary basis.

Lots of charities are carol singing in Trafalgar Square. Each gets a one-hour slot. Ours is between 6-7 pm. So if you’re going to be in London on 22 December, I hope you’ll come along. Make yourself known. I’d love to meet any of my Internet friends.

I will be wearing a Santa hat and I might be drunk.

Did you know where the Christmas tree in Traf Square comes from? Since 1947, it’s been an annual gift of Norway, the people of Oslo, by way of thanks to Britain for its support and friendship during World War Two.

How is your Christmas Season going? I hope it is full of adventure.