Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 24

Advent, door eight...

Time for some music, in this case to decorate the tree to. Because although this is Advent, we're all in the habit of celebrating early, aren't we? In our case, the tree goes up at the beginning of December and stays up till Candlemas (the traditional end of Christmas, in February) if I have my way.



Anyway, what better than a bit of Maddy Prior to get you into the festive mood. Here's God Rest you Merry, Gentlemen as it really should be sung, nothing like a cathedral choir, not a bit like a King's College Chorister but every bit as authentic as these carols (which weren't ever, originally, 'church' tunes) demands...

Advent, door seven...

Yesterday, Clare Bevan was our Advent poet. But behind door seven of this year's digital Advent calendar is Brian Bilston with one of the simplest, most effective and most moving Nativity poems ever written.



Brian is the 'Poet Laureate of Twitter', or - in the words of Ian McMillan - 'a laureate for our fractured times, a wordsmith who cares deeply about the impact his language makes as it dances before our eyes.'



Richard Osman has written that 'if you like a) like laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston.'



Well, Bilston's poem 'Nativity' (reproduced here with permission) proves that he can make us cry as well as laugh, or at least pause and reflect, as is fitting for the season.



Oh, and if you like this, you'll love the book. Brian's poetry collection 'You Took the Last Bus Home' was published in October by Unbound and is available to buy here: https://unbound.com/books/brian-bilston/

Nativity Brian Bilston

Yesterday, Clare Bevan was our Advent poet. But behind door seven of this year's digital Advent calendar is Brian Bilston with one of the simplest, most effective and most moving Nativity poems ever written.



Brian is the 'Poet Laureate of Twitter', or - in the words of Ian McMillan - 'a laureate for our fractured times, a wordsmith who cares deeply about the impact his language makes as it dances before our eyes.'



Richard Osman has written that 'if you like a) like laughing or b) words which rhyme with each other, you will love Brian Bilston.'



Well, Bilston's poem 'Nativity' (reproduced here with permission) proves that he can make us cry as well as laugh, or at least pause and reflect, as is fitting for the season.



Oh, and if you like this, you'll love the book. Brian's poetry collection 'You Took the Last Bus Home' was published in October by Unbound and is available to buy here: https://unbound.com/books/brian-bilston/

Advent, door six

There's something very special behind door number six, something every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, family friend and even family enemy will probably be involved in in some way, shape or form during the festive season, whether as acting coach, costume designer, or simply audience member. Because for those of us with children, this - the annual school nativity - is as the poet Clare Bevan says, 'where Christmas begins...'




 

Advent, door five

Day five of the digital Advent calendar it where is gets serious. Behind today's door is a letter. I've shown it here before, so if you want the full story take a look at this post.



But it's worth sharing again at this time of year as it reminds us how important the message of Christmas continues to be, how the tragedy of poverty and powerlessness still prevails in the land where it all began and how the so-called representatives of god on earth don't always (seldom, maybe?) seem to practise what they love to preach.



So, here's a letter from the Archbishop himself about the plight of today's Palestinians. As you can see, he - or his representative - doesn't seem any more concerned about the Innocents than Herod was two thousand years ago. Plus ça change...



Incidentally grammar nerds, classicists or etymologists out there, why 'Ar-tch' bishop but 'Ark' Angel? Anyone know?

Advent, door four...

Today's door in the digital Advent calendar opens up a bit of timely advice: how to best write (if you do) those 'round robin' Christmas letters. Because, if you do, you'd better start soon. You've already missed the last post to Africa and the Middle East!



Anyway, having been inundated by at least one request to share my tips, here they are as broadcast on BBC Radio Lincolnshire a few Christmasses ago...

Round Robin Christmas Letters

Door four of the Advent calendar is a bit of timely advice: how to best write (if you do) those 'round robin' Christmas letters. Because, if you do, you'd better start soon. You've already missed the last post to Africa and the Middle East!



Anyway, having been inundated by at least one request to share my tips, here they are as broadcast on BBC Radio Lincolnshire a few Christmasses ago...

Advent, door three...

Ok, well, you asked for it. (Well, maybe YOU didn't, but someone did!)



Day three of the annual Advent door-opening and, what a surprise! Yours truly appears, singing a little seasonal song, all on me own. It's 'The Carol Singers' by a rather neglected English composer, T.C. Sterndale Bennett (the words are by Charles Hayes) and this particular performance (what a performance!) is taken from a concert given at the Burty Fen collection, Lincolnshire, in 2003.



You really had to be there...

Advent, door two...

Ok, we had Mary yesterday so - although it's a bit early for some of the sentiments here - let's add Joseph to the mix.



As the song says, he's an oft overlooked figure in the Christmas story. Apart from procuring a donkey, and doing a bit of door knocking ('Sorry, no vacancies) Joseph doesn't get much to do. And 'nobody sings [him] any serenades.'



So here he is, celebrated in his own song by the Yorkshire chansonnier himself, the late, great Jake Thackray...

Jake Thackray Joseph

Ok, we had Mary yesterday so - although it's a bit early for some of the sentiments here - let's add Joseph to the mix.



As the song says, he's an oft overlooked figure in the Christmas story. Apart from procuring a donkey, and doing a bit of door knocking ('Sorry, no vacancies) Joseph doesn't get much to do. And 'nobody sings [him] any serenades.'



So here he is, celebrated in his own song by the Yorkshire chansonnier himself, the late, great Jake Thackray...