A Sheldonian Sort-Of-Evening

Mark and I managed a textbook “May–Johnson misadventure” last night. We turned up at the Sheldonian, feeling very pleased with ourselves for being early (for once) and ready to support the Oxford Bach Choir at their Carols for All.

We were met by a handful of slightly puzzled – but wonderfully warm – staff and volunteers. You know that moment when you can feel something’s off, but you can’t quite place it? Yes. That one.

A beat later, it dawned on us.

We were two weeks early.

Instead of carols and cosy festive glow, the choir were performing Mozart: Mass in C minor and Haydn: Te Deum. Now, under normal circumstances, we might well have accepted the kind invitation to stay — but given we had very much arrived in “carol mode,” we decided the wisest course of action was to retreat gracefully and make for the sofa, a blanket, and a well-chosen film.

So that’s exactly what we did.

We’ll try again — on the correct date this time — and are both really looking forward to joining the choir (and for me, reading one of their secular readings) at Carols for All on Saturday 20 December.

Third time lucky… though technically, we’re only on attempt number two.