Saturday 24 December 2011

Happy Christmas!



I haven't been around much for a while but I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and hope you all have a wonderful year in 2012.


Sometimes telly isn't very inspiring, last year's Christmas output was dire. This year it's very different! We've already had the new drama series about the vet James Herriot and a new series of Garrow's Law. Tomorrow we're  spoilt for choice with the new Christmas Dr Who, Downton Abbey and Strictly Come Dancing Christmas programmes as well as the first of three new Absolutely Fabulous 20th anniversary specials. 


However they'll all be hard pushed to beat last night's very moving The Choir. It's an amazing programme about a group of wives whose husbands and partners were serving in Afghanistan who formed a military choir with the help of the inspirational choirmaster Gareth Malone.


Have to say it was very moving listening to their stories about their husbands and their lives without them. The letters to their loved ones inspired Paul Mealor (the royal wedding composer) to write a song for them, Wherever You Are. They performed it live at the British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall in November.  This week their record reached Number 1 and is the fastest selling single for six years. What a pleasant change from the X Factor hyped plastic songs produced over the last few years.


I can't upload the video from YouTube but here's the link:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hR6O7VxKaQ


If you can watch the BBC's iPlayer you can see the very moving programme here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0195vs2/The_Choir_Military_Wives_Compilation/

10 comments:

  1. Winifred, I have barely spent time on my blog and missed this post from you. I really miss your blogging and was happy to see you here. I always love your show recommendations because we have very similar taste. Here's hoping I will see you a lot more in 2012!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Winifred and have a very Happy New Year. A x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas,and wishing you a Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy New Year to you & your family!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry I haven't stopped back by to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hope Christmas was great for you and hope the new year has been so far. Thanks for stopping by and wishing me a Merry Christmas. Just goes to show you how slow I am. I do still try to post something everyday and I check out my Facebook everyday, but just can't seem to get around to the blogs like I would like ot.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Say, Winifred, you're staying pretty quiet lately.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Winifred I hope your Christmas was wonderful. I was in hospital and was in a "semi coma" - no one could wake me I then woke that night and thought my son hadn't even come to see me Christmas Day. He said he was there for at least 1 and a half hours, but I wasn't. Another friend was there also and the doctors saying "Wake her up" Now that is all behind me and I am managing looking after myself. I was in Rehab for over 6 weeks Nd I still have to walk with a walker
    but I am managing.
    Glad you liked the Wellington joke and could relate to it. Fancy them being high fashion now!!
    Take care my friend,Love, Merle.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Winifred ~~ I wasn't sure where to comment on your
    blogs. Anyway Thanks for your comments and I am doing quite well thank you. Still have to use the frame for walking and maybe for life,
    but there are worse things.
    I am getting on better with the new version of blogger,at
    last. Nice to see you back on Blogger. Take good care my friend, Love, Merle.

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear from you:

The End of a Reign & the Passing of an Era

It's the day that most of us have dreaded even those who are not royalists.  Many of us grew up with her and have seen a long momentous ...