Witweg: December 2015

I did not add any posts to my blog in December, although it was a month in which much happened. But those events followed such a familiar pattern, that I did not want to bore any potential readers of this blog with it.

From November on there is always a feverish choir activity leading up to the first Sunday of Advent and on towards Christmas. The Advent Carol Service, Lessons and Carols in many different towns with different choirs, it is all familiar. Being sick with bronchitis and pneumonia is also familiar around this wet and dark time of year. Nevertheless it is a beautiful month, intimate in a way.

To begin with there was the Christmas Fair, busier than ever.

There were concerts, one a concert by candlelight, unfortunately a bit early on one of the very rare sunny afternoons this month, and there was a visit to Het Loo, one of the royal palaces which is more like a stately home. During December the rooms are decorated and in various rooms tables are laid, this year exact replicas of how they were laid on several special occasions. For example the visit of Heads of State, the installation of Alexander as King. All very beautifully done with a variety of exquisite and most expensive china, crystal glassware and artistic floral displays.

There was Christmas Day when I was invited by friends to celebrate with them in their home, as well as Boxing Day when the organ recital by candlelight was followed by a bring and share dinner with a group of musical minded friends. And the following Sunday, the third day of Christmas, I was the guest of a nephew and his young family. I was indeed very fortunate to be invited to share Christmas with so many friends and family members.

Voorburg, village church

For New Year’s Eve I went to visit my niece in her second home in Germany and spent a couple of days there. Alas, no snow, just fog and very little views. But a wood burning stove, lights along the wooden verandas and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, straight from the woods. And of course most important of all, being with loved ones, however briefly.