O Holy Night

No rain today, just a cold wind and bright sky busy with clouds. An early walk to the butchers after breakfast to collect our four kilo turkey, then a drive over to Bristol to collect Owain. But first, I had two bereavement phone calls to make in relation to the two funerals I've been asked to do in the next couple of weeks.The roads weren't too busy, and we arrived home in time for lunch at one o'clock.

A  few last minute things were needed from the shops, which apart from the Coop were closing earlier than usual. We got what we needed there however, and then went for a walk in Llandaff Fields as the sun was setting, producing the most spectacular display of pink, orange and grey clouds. We stayed out until it started to get dark. The sky was clear enough to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, but we were unable to spot it. Back at the house, at about half past five, we caught a glimpse of it at west-south-west from the attic bedroom window, descending rapidly towards the horizon, before other stars appeared. To my amazement it could be seen through the foliage of a nearby pine tree, shining unmistakably bright, before appearing briefly in the clear before going below our line of sight. 

At last! My photos weren't good, more 'proof of concept. The line of sight made it impossible to use a tripod, and a hand-held shot could only be as good as my ability to stay still in an awkward angled pose. But never mind. After a week of frustrated waiting a small reward.

Later in the evening we had a family Zoom call with Arizona and Kenilworth. No Midnight Mass for me this year. Before bed I watched a recording of the Papal liturgy from St Peter's Rome. Socially distanced congregation of laity, clergy and cardinals, a men's choir and a mixed choir. Everybody was masked and key participants with speaking parts only removed their masks to speak and then put them on again. A good example from the top down. The service started earlier in the evening while we were zooming, and then appeared on YouTube, where I watched it. It seems Italy has imposed an overnight curfew from ten until six, hence the early start time. Here with all the pubs closed, the evenings are very quiet. There are no smashed bottles or pools of vomit and discarded takeaways fouling up the streets, just a few cans, but fewer than usual. A lot pleasanter to be out and about that in previous festive season in the past couple of decades,

Dark times

Despite bad news, there were two dozen adults at the St Catherine's Eucharist this morning, no children, however. This afternoon's Nine Lessons and Carols has been cancelled, as that was to have involved a socially distanced choral contribution. Better safe than sorry. Hard enough to stop people singing along to popular carols in church. It can only be done in the street or the park. I sang 'Silent Night' aloud as I walked to the weir, but it provoked not a single response from passers by.

After doing a couple of recordings this afternoon I went for a walk as the sun was setting, hoping to glimpse Saturn and Jupiter converging after sunset. I think I was looking in the wrong direction to start with. Light pollution plus a thin high level wispy layer of cloud impeded the sight of all but a few very bright stars (and maybe Mars), and just as I was heading home, I caught sight of a very bright object about to disappear below the remains of the pink horizon, but to was to the west, not the south west as it had been reported in some news-feeds. I think its trajectory takes it from South West to due West as it moves down in the sky. The brightest night of the conjunction will be tomorrow. We're expecting clouds and rain all day. It really makes me long for the pure un-polluted heavens of Ibiza under lock-down.

After supper, I recorded the remaining three videos, and sent the New Year's Eve one to Mother Frances as requested. None of them are as good as I'd have liked them to be, but they'll serve the purpose, I think.

Owain and I had a long chat about his Christmas visit. As a government communications professional in a key agency, he's able to navigate all the complex info on rules and regulations, and find what relates to those in a domestic bubble. It's OK for him to come to us in Cardiff, and permissible for him to stay, as he and us have been living in isolation and not mixing with anyone at home. I shall drive over to collect him on Christmas Eve, so that he's not exposed to any kind of risk involving public transport. So glad that we are able to do this, for his sake and for ours. Such a long and lonely year. And the longest night is tonight.