Here are some photographs to form a sort of Christmas Card.

This ruined church in the snow tells a weird tale. Knowlton Rings is a prehistoric earthwork just north of Wimborne Minster in Dorset, a ceremonial circle somewhat erased by ploughing, in the middle of which stands a ruined thousand-year-old church. Two ancient yew trees guard the exit from the circle, perhaps descendants of yew trees planted by the people who dug the earthwork six thousand years ago. The odd thing is that the two yew trees are still a fully functioning sacred grove, in the minds of the many people who hang votive ribbons from their branches: each ribbon, I imagine, representing some prayer or incantation, rather like lighting a candle in a church. Hundreds of ribbons. An amazing place, and last Christmas Day at noon I was able to take an unusually seasonal photograph of it.

The next day I played for Carols round the Crib at the very unruined Fawsley Church, near Daventry. I’ll be there again this year. (And I’ll be passing Knowlton Rings on Christmas Day, on my way back from playing the organ in Poole Parish Church.) Fawsley has a very nice little Walker one-manual. And several thousand candles!

And now, a Christmas puzzle. Reading from right to left, here are Barney, Joz and me in the grounds of Holdenby House

(at the wedding reception of my niece Katie). Can we really be those shapes? (The clue is in Joz’s hand! And if you’re still stuck for an answer, hover your mouse over the picture.)

Hook’s Original Christmas Box
A marvellous new CD available to purchase online.
The first complete recording of a famous Christmas phenomenon…
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