A Joyful Noise

Last week was the school Christmas Concert. Having bemoaned the lack of Christian symbolism thus far in the run up to Christmas we were richly rewarded by an all singing, all dancing performance that contained two classes of Y01 angels in identical white satin nighties, two classes of Y02 shepherds and two classes of Y03 wise men resplendent in crowns and Chinese silk pyjamas; one third red, one third gold and one third midnight blue, all expertly and rapidly knocked up over the border in Shenzhen. Our seven year old was one such wise man and beamed throughout whilst he rapped along to ‘Destination Bethlehem, we had to try, Guided by nothing but that star in the sky.’

Musical accompaniment was supplied by the recorder group and the inaugural performance of the school’s orchestra in which our nine year old loudly and proudly played his trumpet, representing as he did the complete brass section of this fledgling orchestra. To remind us we were neither in Bethlehem nor London, Mary and Joseph wore shiny his 'n' hers dressing gowns decorated with Chinese characters whilst between them lay a baby doll in a Moses basket. They looked less than comfortable in their roles as new parents and did their utmost to resist any sort of recognition of their other half but sang like superstars into their microphones, eyes closed and faces turned heavenwards when their time came.

Whether it’s the innocence of children as they enact the wondrous story, blinking into the stage lights whilst they search for parents in the audience, or whether I am struck each year anew by the privilege of witnessing such moments of joy in childhoods that pass so swiftly, I do not know, but such events always move be to tears and I have learnt from experience to arrive with a good supply of tissues to hand.

Exactly a year ago at our eldest’s school carol service we had just returned from our initial look and see trip to Hong Kong. On hearing that we were likely to be off in the coming year a fellow mother and friend stood with me watching the sea of red blazers pour out of the church, bubbling with joy as the end of term approached. How can you leave? Won’t you miss all this? She asked. Yes, I thought, I’ll miss it for sure, but there’s more out there, of that I’m equally sure. This may be lovely, but it isn't everything.