11.28.2004
advent
The season of advent is upon us, which is the more religious side of the Christmas season. Today I didn't sing at Queen's College and instead went to the Keble College Chapel's advent carols service. It was beautiful: almost exclusively candle-lit (the organ does, however, need an electric light), and with a wonderful choir to sing carols and a deep and relaxing meditative darkness and warmth, the service was really mind-clearing and very, very spiritual. I know a lot of people don't like it, but the pomp and tradition do a lot for me.
And afterward, it was followed by the Keble Christmas Dinner, at which the high table and us common folk are served exactly the same food, the choir sings carols while we eat, and we get those nice Christmas cracker noise-maker things with fun paper crowns inside them. I took photos, but there's a problem here:
a) my camera is kind of broken (the lens-cover has become un-automated), so I have to manually move the sliding door to the lens.
b) I don't have the cable which goes from my camera to my computer. This is a severe problem, as it compromises my ability to see or post my photos online.
But anyway, back to the food: mmm... Starter was a salad of vermicelli and pear in a light mayonnaise dressing, with english mustard and spring onion. The entree was awesome: Three slices of roast turkey, inside which were sandwiched a delicious chestnut stuffing and a sausage wrapped in bacon. Also a rich gravy, roasted potatoes, carrot strips and brussels sprouts. And the Keble house red and house white: neither of these was good. Finally, a Christmas black pudding. Not bad, but it certainly looked horrible.
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So the ladies of Keble College came in second at the Christ Church regatta. Keble B boat came in 4th. Outstanding effort on both of their teams! Christ Church was a bit off when they rowed by us on Saturday, and Keble Boat Club was certainly not on its best behaviour when we yelled abuse at them in their vulnerable state. So they came up and had a nice "discussion" squad to squad, which was essentially the Christ Church folks and the Keble folks in one of those primary-school fight huddles. No actual fighting, though some rather angry words were indeed exchanged. But cut to the chase, Keble Novice Men's A have been challenged to race the Christ Church Novice Men's A to a head-to-head race. Don't know if we have the time to take them up on it, but I'd love to.
And afterward, it was followed by the Keble Christmas Dinner, at which the high table and us common folk are served exactly the same food, the choir sings carols while we eat, and we get those nice Christmas cracker noise-maker things with fun paper crowns inside them. I took photos, but there's a problem here:
a) my camera is kind of broken (the lens-cover has become un-automated), so I have to manually move the sliding door to the lens.
b) I don't have the cable which goes from my camera to my computer. This is a severe problem, as it compromises my ability to see or post my photos online.
But anyway, back to the food: mmm... Starter was a salad of vermicelli and pear in a light mayonnaise dressing, with english mustard and spring onion. The entree was awesome: Three slices of roast turkey, inside which were sandwiched a delicious chestnut stuffing and a sausage wrapped in bacon. Also a rich gravy, roasted potatoes, carrot strips and brussels sprouts. And the Keble house red and house white: neither of these was good. Finally, a Christmas black pudding. Not bad, but it certainly looked horrible.
---
So the ladies of Keble College came in second at the Christ Church regatta. Keble B boat came in 4th. Outstanding effort on both of their teams! Christ Church was a bit off when they rowed by us on Saturday, and Keble Boat Club was certainly not on its best behaviour when we yelled abuse at them in their vulnerable state. So they came up and had a nice "discussion" squad to squad, which was essentially the Christ Church folks and the Keble folks in one of those primary-school fight huddles. No actual fighting, though some rather angry words were indeed exchanged. But cut to the chase, Keble Novice Men's A have been challenged to race the Christ Church Novice Men's A to a head-to-head race. Don't know if we have the time to take them up on it, but I'd love to.
