Christmas is here! Well, as far as Festial is concerned, anyway. Yesterday (Christmas Eve) we cycled to Wood Dalling in beautiful (if frosty) sunshine and spent time in the church taking photographs and feeling the atmosphere. That builders' plastic sheeting is such an asset when it comes to intriguing ephemeral light effects. I was concentrating on the weird un-human heads, mainly, as well as some rather wild magical creatures that are actually heraldic devices on the ledger slabs.
Speaking to the keyholder afterwards, I learned that the subcontractor has sold the lead from the church roof and declared himself bankrupt, so nobody knows when the work is to be finished. The tiny congregation will presumably have to find the money for new lead now. I was sad for them as I love the place to be dusty and crumbling but it's clearly not a sustainable position long term.
Then, last night, Trevor and I returned for a Christmas Eve Vigil. Trevor had sorted out the technicalities of using the webcam (not without a measure of frustration: computers!!) and we had a great time filming and photographing candle flames in the dark church into Christmas morning. At midnight, we wished each other a Happy Christmas and returned home for a foaming glass of Festial Ale!
Lots of material there, but now I'll have to decide what it's all about …
http://www.world-tree.co.uk/festial
imogenashwin[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk
