The Laboratory

Today's post is all about carol services! Maybe you're going to one this Sunday, or next Sunday, or on Christmas Eve. Or maybe like me, you are doing all 3! So many different songs going round in my head as we practice all the choir pieces... But the best one will be my school's carol service on Tuesday - 5 different choirs, congregational carols on the organ, readings and soloists. It's a fantastic time! Nothing sounds better than a choir of children singing their hearts out. Here's a video of one of my favourite carols, "Tell Out The News": And a carol I heard sung at St Alban's Primary School that is really beautiful, "In a Stable": But in case you need something to dilute all the shmaltz, here is your cut-out-and-keep Carol Service Bingo card - just don't shout "House" too loudly! (thanks to The Church Sofa )

We went to Kingfield School's Frost Fair on Saturday; our local primary now holds it outside, hence the frosty name. Sarah won 2 bottles of squash in the bottle tombola. We weren't as lucky with "Rudolph's Lucky Carrot" game, where you had to find the special red carrot to win a prize. Adam was just sad there wasn't a "Splat The Rat". Bonus beats: if you want an abundance of Christmas stalls selling everything from reindeer burgers to toys to jewellery, the South Bank market in London is open until February (probably).Our favourite stall is the one selling German handicrafts.

As archivist at school, I found a complete set of photos of the Head Boy and Girl from every year from 1971 to 1988. They look absolutely fantastic and show the changing fashions of the day. See the whole collection on Flickr .