Blogging A-Z Day 2: Birthdays, Bach

Let's hope that this one doesn't crash the server... Do enjoy  another all-time favourite of mine for Holy Week, J.S. Bach's St John Passion, sung here by the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir, conducted by John Eliot Gardner. This is another work that I've been fortunate enough to sing in in the past, although not, I would add, with the outfit above, (way, way beyond my capabilities). I find the opening particularly moving. When we sung  it, we had some liturgical dancers performing along to the overture. They   took it to a  truly different dimension.

B  is also for birthdays - mine! After 50 *ahem* years I'm growing accustomed to having my birthday in and around Lent and Eastertide. This year it falls on Good Friday. What a  dilemma! Do I celebrate or go along with the mood of the liturgy  for the day.  Any thoughts?

Now, thanks to the wonders of modern technology,  you should receive this post at  7 a.m. BST,  tomorrow, just in time to browse over with your morning coffee. If you live in the UK, that is. Or more likely, as this morning, you won't. I'm not sure if it was April Fool's gremlins in the works or my own ineptitude that did it. Luckily I just had time to press the magic button and send my bons mots soaring into cyberspace before I rushed for the train.

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday dear Greenpatch dog,

Happy Birthday to Youuuuuuuu!!!!

 We marked the Fete de St Nicolas  today by celebrating the 10th birthday of   our resident Gallic hairy horror. He even had his own  homemade cake with ten candles! 

Everything stops for tea!

I forgot to bring my camera...again! Never mind, you can see The Polly Tearooms, Marlborough,  where I celebrated my *Ahem* something birthday this afternoon, courtesy of my two partners in crime/prayer partners K and Y - just beautifully here. We demolished one cup cake, one scon (scohne?)  one slice of carrot cake and two (or was it three?) pots of tea between us.  What a wonderful surprise! I could get used to this. Do I feel a Teashop blog coming on, I wonder?

Mr GP and I then caught the curry night at our local Marstons, before popping back home to watch an episode of 'House,' the contents of which I won't divulge for fear of putting you off your food!

Off to bath and finish another chapter of the latest Ladies' Detective Agency saga. A perfect end to a perfect day.