Happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year

from

All of the Newtonians!

And especial greetings to those of you reading this in India and the Isle of Wight!

Wow! 60 views on the Blog yesterday! And views from all around the world, too!

It's been a much simpler day today, incorporating a carol service rehearsal and various other things, and I do have to say that all three choirs sounded great in St Michael's Church, as did all the congregational singers - once I'd managed to get the organ wound up! (I'm sure there are many opportunities there for references to metaphorical monkeys and organ grinders, but I'd probably upset the Director of Music if I used any of them ..... !)

I forgot to tell you how lovely your LMs were at the end of the lodge party last night, and a goodly number offered a second thank you this morning, which was very touching. It was a super occasion, and in my end of term, state of Newton address, I thanked Mr Porter and Mr Bryan, opining (!) that they were the best assistant lodgemeisters I could wish for, Mrs C for holding the whole lodge together in the superbly efficient way that she does, and telling Miss Alex that she'd been the best gapper matron we have had, in our 18 years (well, nearly) of lodeparenting. And I meant it, too.

Once the league-feasters had returned from New Room (Moseley, in case you didn't already know), Mrs C and I sat down to the final of the Young Apprentice. Zara and James were both superb, especially when you remember, as Lord Sugar reminded us, that they are no more that teenagers. But yes, Zara did have the edge, and we both thought that the right person won. And just in case any of you from the Young Apprentice should accidentally have landed in this cybersatial corner by googling the programme, many congratulations on a really excellent series.

Well, that's nearly it for this term: I suspect that packing will take over tomorrow night, so if you don't hear from your Blogmeister again, thank you so much for reading. It means a lot.

Goodnight.

My word! Some day that was! For your correspondent, it started with choir practice at 8.55am, which segued into the School Eucharist at 9.45, at which I had been invited to preach. So I did, offering a few thoughts about Advent and the like. This led on rehearsals with various colleagues, who had generously asked me to act as their accompanist in the post-Bombers and Fighters staff entertainment; and so to lunch. After lunch, as MC for the entertainment, I then went to ensure that the finer details had been addressed, which, thanks to the expert skill of Mr Randolph, they had. Down to the far fields then, to officiate as an observer in this year's B and F, and thence into Macmillan for the entertainment. I'm glad to report that all went very well, and Mr Bishop pronounced himself pleased, which was a relief. A most enjoyable cup of tea (enhanced) with the Ives family, and then we were back on duty in Newton, and preparing for the lodge party, which consisted of the boys circulating, in their dorm groups, between three rooms for individual games (mine was charades; the others were Pictionary and the chocolate game), which was followed by what we hope were nice nibbly-type things like crisps, sausage rolls, chocolate chip block, Pringles, that sort of thing, plus a wonderful cake made by the kitchens. I managed to locate a bottle of fizz for the lodge staff, and everyone, including the birthday boy (although he was not offered any of the aforementioned bubbles!) seemed happy. We rounded off the evening with a few carols around the piano in our drawing room.

So that was today, really. Tomorrow the end of term starts with a vengeance ..... !

Goodnight.

Good evening, all, and a warm welcome if you are reading this in Ecuador or Sweden, as my stats tells me a few of you may be!

Mrs C and I have just returned from Dorset, where we had the great pleasure of enjoying our daughter's final Carol Service at Milton Abbey. As a senior prefect, she was, as her parents will be in a few days' time, begowned (but not behooded) and looking every inch the graduate-elect as she strode purposefully around the abbey! The music was lovely, the organ sounded magnificent (although, sadly, the assistant organist had to play, as the Organist was unwell and had to miss an Abbey service for the first time in 54 years!! That means I was just six when he was appointed organist!), and the surroundings were, as you can imagine, superb.

It was quite good to step out of the freneticism of SF for a few hours, not because it isn't fun, but simply because there is so much going on at the moment! You just have to be here; it's manic. (But, as I say, fun, too.) What a lot of commases - as Victor Borge would have said.) (And what a lot of parentheses, too!)

Quote of the day from Our Leader, upon seeing the Chaplain's transparent tupperware box of locusts for his son's pet lizard: "

"Good Lord! They look dead, but they're really alive! Just like a staff room!"

Ha, b***** ha. At least the Thursday biscuit upgrade is good now.

Goodnight.

The little man sat, cross-legged on his upper bunk, and with Santa's hat fixed firmly about his head, unaware of his preceptor looking on from the open door. In the lowered light, silver and gold tinsel glistened, gently, as he gazed, entranced, at his emptying advent calendar and all the familial photos that, having given so much comfort during the term that was now beginning to take its toll, but whose spirit was still very much alive, now became part of his own private nativity. He was in his own world: a world that was no-one else's but his; a world that said, quite simply, 'This is Christmas'. And he beckoned me in. For just that moment, our worlds were one. His the innocent longing of days to come; mine the reflection of days that are passing, all too quickly. The little man turned his head and said, softly, 'Sir, how does it look?'
'Terrific', I replied, and, turning away, I knew that, for us both, this is Christmas.

Funny how creativity gets the better of one, is it not? I just felt I wanted to write that down - so I did. Perhaps it gives you just a tiny glimpse of Newtonian life at the moment, bourbons, pink biscuits, apple juice and shoe-cleaning notwithstanding!

Last night went well, I'm pleased to report, although as I said to several people today, I was far outside my comfort zone up in the organ loft of that mighty instrument! But what a privilege! I'll never forget it.

Before I forget, congratulations - sincere ones - are due to a Newtonian parent on his graduation as an MBA today! Wonderful news, and I hope the celebrations went really well. I can't mention any names, of course, but his son's name begins with an R. And his surname is hypenated.

We had the senior poetry reading comp tonight, in Macmillan, and I'm glad to say that many Newtonians participated, and that one Newtonian won the third year section! No names of course, but the LM in question's name begins with A and his surname ends in -ton. Two others, whose names I can't mention, but whose initials are G.C. and C.M. did really well, too and made their lodgemeister very proud.

That's it, then, for tonight, so until tomorrow,

Goodnight.

My friends, I'm writing post number 435 at 6 o'clock in the evening, because I won't be here later. I shall be endeavouring to aspire to the very zenith of my Oxford organ playing career, accompanying the SF Red Choir in a charity concert in Christ Church Cathedral, and, right at this moment, I am rather anxious about it all. You see, I'm not really a top, top drawer organist like our esteemed director of music, and while the privilege of being asked to do a gig like tonight's is one that is beyond compare, the fact that people like Tom Ward (Harry off Silent Witness), Rula Lenska and Tim McInnerny (off Blackadder) are the readers, and the cathedral will probably be full to capacity, does make me just that tiny bit terrified. So I've reached for the Newton Blog for solace - and you know what? I feel better already, because I know that if any of you log on to tonight's meanderings you will be sending your support through the ether. And added to that, my friends on the staff (of whom there are very many) have also made encouraging noises. So thank you for caring. I know the choir will perform brilliantly: I can only hope I won't let them down. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Mrs C will be looking after Newton tonight, along with Miss Alex, and I'm quite sure they will manage without me. Can you believe that this time next week the term will all be over? Impossible. But true.

I must go. Have a nice evening - or I hope you had one, if you're reading this late at night.

Good evening.

Good evening, one and all, and especial greetings tonight to our new Followers in Georgia and South Korea!

I hope those of you who have had your young at home this weekend have enjoyed the time: Mrs C and I went off to our hideaway in West Dorset (although it's not so much of a hideaway now, since the Chaplain told his flock the name of our village ...!) and had a wonderful time. Quite a bit of it was taken up by report-writing, but we still found time for some glorious walks along the coast and in our own extremely photogenic locality. Isla loved it all as much as we did, although she didn't do as well as she hoped at Sunday lunch, not least because she's not as much of a connoisseur of Ch. Nenin '98 as your correspondent.

I must make mention of all the Newtonians who took a part in 'Peter Pan', which everyone enjoyed. In particular, of course, I must highlight the lead, whose performance, I thought, and so did many others, was superb. I think there's a real dramatic future there. It never ceases to amaze me just how splendidly the SFian boys learn their lines faultlessly and give such fantastic performances. I've produced ten plays over the years, and I haven't had a prompt for any of them. (Yes, I know that's a risky business, but you'd be amazed how much it sharpens the wits!) (Especially mine!)

So here we are then, ready for the home run. It seems no time at all since the term began and we were welcoming our newcomers into Newton. All of them seem to have been here for ever now, and it's a real credit to them all that they have settled so well. They're all real Newtonians now.

As for now: let the frenetecism of the end of term begin!

See you on the other side.

Goodnight.