You know how I said the previous post was number 431? It wasn't: it was post number 441. My mistake, and thank you to those of you who took the trouble to point out that my old age is already taking its toll. Most kind.

Dialogue between me and a Newtonian tonight:

N: Sir, are these old desks yours?

Me: Yes. I've had them for years. I acquired them in 1875.

N (in all seriousness): Were you really around then, sir?

Me: Yes.

N: Gosh, you must be old.

Well, there we are. That and the fact that when I opined (!) (the exclamation mark is especially for one of my readers who is very taken by the word) in my Third Year English set that I was probably as old - or older - than some of their grandparents, one wit rejoined with 'Er, great-grandparents - sir'. Oh well, at least he said 'sir'.

Tonight has been fun, with the implementation of the game 'Bananagram'. The whole thing looks like a rather anarchic version of Scrabble to me, but Miss (Harriet) Lade joined in wholeheartedly, and was sitting on the floor with a select number of Banananians in the DCR, thoroughly immersing herself in said fruity activity. (If you see what I mean.) Did I ever tell you (immodestly) that my greatest moment in Scrabble was while Mrs C and I were on holiday in Kenya (pre-school fees) and, during a most enjoyable evening's entertainment with friends, in the middle of nowhere, I managed 'xylophone', right down the centre of the board. The game was terminated at that point, leaving me with a very smug grin on my face.

Hot choc, bourbons and further fruit all added to tonight's portfolio of happiness, and all has been thoroughly enjoyable, after a particularly busy day. Oh, and by the way, talking of keeping people happy, yesterday's Thursday staff meeting in the HMDR (Headmaster's Drawing Room, for those of you with amnesia) incorporated the most delicious chocolate brownies! Now that really was an upgrade! (You see, the fact that this is read in the corridors of SF power has its advantages ..... )

Until tomorrow,

Goodnight.

Good evening, one and all, and welcome back to this cyberspatial corner, after what I hope have been excellent hols all round. We did have a lovely time, but unfortunately I succumbed to some kind of lurgy, which rendered me voiceless, although that did have its upside, as such a predicament prevented me from getting into spirited debate with my mama-in-law. Five years ago such was the vehemence of our Christmas cracker that it caused me to write a letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph, who kindly published my thoughts - about forgiveness! The most irritating thing of all, though, was that my arguee was (probably) right. Still, all's well now, and it was a pleasure to dispense (larger than normal) glasses of Stone's Ginger Wine throughout the Yuletide season. After all, 'tis the season to be merry ..... Wer-hay!!

I recal the beginning of my equivalent Lent term, back in 1966: I was in a dorm with a dorm captain I couldn't stand, and we were a little too close to the HM's study for comfort. Not a great start, but it got better, and all turned out for the best in the end. Today, in 2012, all the LMs have been in cracking form, and everything just got back to normal as quickly as it ended in December. Mind you, the football helped, and caused plenty of excitement .....

Our new gapper matron is Miss Harriet Lade, from Australia, and she has already begun to show that she's going to be a very capable and competent successor to Miss Alex ! The gapper ladies are, henceforth, going to be known by their surnames, and as Harriet herself pointed out, there might be some initial confusion when Mrs C is talking about items of clothing that have been, er, mislaid. (Oh go on, smile, at least ... !)

A short term, but I hope another fun, fulfilling and rewarding one. For those of you who are interested in such stats, this is post number 441, so my final goal is coming ever nearer!

Goodnight.

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.