This is a poem written by Christina Rossetti, set to music first by Gustav Holst in 1906 and then by Harold Darke in 1911.
This is by Darke :
Swiss Bob 2025
In The Bleak Midwinter
Arts
The Holly and the Ivy
The words of the carol occur in three broadsides published in Birmingham in the early nineteenth century. An early mention of the carol’s title occurs in William Hone’s 1823 work Ancient Mysteries Described, which includes [more…]
Arts
Christmas Chestnut Soup and Bacon Croutons
I have one rule for Christmas Day: Everything must be home made. No pre-prepared shop stuff because it’s naff. This is an easy starter for Christmas Day. I love soups for Christmas Lunch/Dinner because they’re [more…]
Arts
In search of Christmas in mainland China
Hongkonger spent the weekend before Christmas over the mainland border in Guandong province. Different to Hong Kong? Oh yes. I can recall many years ago landing in Hong Kong in December to be confronted by [more…]