Christmastide ends

An overcast day waking up to 'Sunday Worship' on Radio 4 from Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral, with the Latin Ordinary and Propers for the celebration of Candlemass, a refreshing change despite the awkward r English translation of the Collects and Eucharistic Prayers. I walked to the Cathedral for the eleven o'clock Solemn Eucharist, in which the girls choir sang the English setting written by Herbert Howells, in place of the boy choristers. It was beautiful and uplifting, a lovely conclusion to the forty days of Christmaside.

Precentor Ian Yemm preached a fine sermon covering all St Luke's stories about the infancy and youth of the Christchild. He also devised a candle processional set of versicles and responses for celebrant and congregation, to end the service after a procession to the font. Dean Jason presided, and I had a chance to welcome him to Llandaff afterwards. It's the first time I've been to a Cathedral service since he was inducted. I was surprised when he said that he attended my licensing and induction at St John's in 2002!

Straight back home for lunch, a snooze and then a walk in Llandaff and Pontcanna Fields afterwards. On a corner of Pontcanna Fields where I saw a youth football match was played yesterday, I caught sight of a pile of rubbish gathered into one spot fifty yards from the nearest bin. Fifteen plastic bottles, four energy drink cans and two coffee cups, plus a couple of strays on the other side of the pitch that I also collected, binning them all; some on my way down to Blackweir Bridge, others on my way back in a different bin. At the site of a second match played yesterday, no rubbish had been left. It speaks volumes about the difference in quality of team supervision and leadership between the two matches.

I spent the rest of the day watching the remaining episodes of the current series of 'Wisting', before and after supper. I think I've watched all 26 episodes over the past five years. A good police procedural drama with a layer of family stories with grown up children. The protagonist is widower in his late fifties, solitary, wedded to his work, but not a lonely man. A thoughtful sympathetic character. As with other Norwegian telly dramas I've watched, the dialogue in context flows naturally between Norwegian and English. It's the same with other series produced for the European market over the past decade, and I'm pleased that Welsh and Gaelic dramas showcasing minority languages have featured in this cultural  development.