I am still working hard to live the Advent season at home, every day.  Have a look at one of the things I’ve been up to recently on my blog: It seems as if it was just yesterday that the season of Advent was beginning, and yet here were are, almost at its end.  It would be easy for me to relax now and get caught up in all the excitement of last minute preparations – Christmas is so close, isn’t it?  And I’ve been blessed to have already attended a couple of Christmas gatherings with friends or family.  It’s often at this time of year that I get to spend extended time chatting and doing quizzes with those who are important to me.  But, I have also been aware of moments of creeping panic. There has been panic about presents, (what do you buy for an Uncle who doesn’t need anything?), about cards (I missed the second class post deadline, yet again!) and about food (what if nobody likes my cooking, will it ruin their day?)  I know in my head that these things a

A record bellringing performance is being attempted at St Martin’s on Friday 28th December. This will be the longest ever peal rung on14 bells and will comprise over 10,000 changes (different orders of the bells). It will take around seven hours, and the 14 bell ringers will ring non-stop without refreshment! A team of umpires will be checking the performance for verification.  As well as being a long peal, this particular performance is technically complex in terms of the changes being rung. It is by no means assured of success, but the ringers havepracticed using shorter periods of ringing.  St Martin’s is one of only five places in the world with 14 change ringing bells and so we are delighted to be able tohost this performance. It is being conducted and composed by our own bellringers, and includes a number of other members of our regular team. There have only been two bellringing performances of this duration before since thecurrent ring of bells was installed at St Ma