shewhomust | Ten days of White Christmas: the first three days

The snow began to fall, and to settle, ten days ago, and we went bravely out to see THea Gilmore and her band on their Wintertide tour: promoting her Strange Communion album. I can't find anything on the net that gives a flavour of the evening, but here's the official video for the single, That'll be Christmas, one of the more mainstream songs. Picture instead the band in semi-Dickensian, semi-Cloudish garb, high hats and frock coats, Thea herself in a skirt festooned up to the knee; no orchestration but drums, fiddle (wonderful fiddle), guitar and above all that voice, rich and haunting. A concert staged like a mummers' play, and a fine start to the season.

On Friday we even more bravely drove down to London for the Bears' Carol Evening - though in fact the jorney wasn't too bad, since the main roads were quite clear and we were on main roads all the way. The carol evening was good, as ever: a chance to catch up with friends I haven't seen since last year, a chance to start the Christmas season with mulled wine and mince pies, but above all a chance to sing carols. We sing the same carols every year, though we are now up to three versions of While Shepherds Watched - this year we sang the version most of us had learned in school, as well as Cranbrook (Durham University discovers what we already knew; the Durham Times report has a scap of video) and Sweet Bells. I was distracted this year by the realisation of how very odd Down in Yon Forest is.

On Saturday we had agreed to drive the Bears - weather permitting - to GirlBear's brother's wedding in Bury Saint Edmunds; and weather did permit, although once we were clear of London it was surprising how thickly the snow was lying on the fields to either side of the road. But the sun shone, and it was a pleasure to sit back and enjoy the scenery (

durham_rambler, as driver, may feel differently about it, and certainly the return trip was heavier going). While the Bears were at the wedding we looked round Bury. It's an attractive old market town, and I'd probably have got more out of exploring it if I hadn't had hopes of finding some last minute Christmas gifts - and been almost entirely disappointed in those hopes. There was a splending market, and if I'd been looking for vegetables and cheese and bread I'd have been very happy, but there were very few of the quirky individual shops which are invaluable at this time of year. Never mind; have a picture: