Christmas II

William Batchelder Bradbury

Thanks go to Derek for the report on this week's session. As usual, I have linked to some songs on YouTube. Since I wasn't there this time, some of the songs may not be quite what was sung. There may even be the odd intentionally wrong one in there in the spirit of the season :-)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Bridge

Our second week of partying-down began, as the first, with Maggie L producing a sumptuous, not to say scrumptious and beautifully presented, repast, ably supervised by chief crumb-hoover Gertie.

The Guest of Honour/High Receiver of Abuse was of course Richard the "Right Reverend Archbishop of Casnewydd", to accommodate whom we had to have this additional Humbug Day.

Whereas last week's activity had been concentrated on the inclusion/avoidance of the fineable 'C' word, this week we quickly settled into an attempt to find the least tasteful Christmas song. Entries included Mike's Pig Song and a few vaguely repeatable verses of Private Shortarse's Christmas, Derek's rewrite of Boar's Head Carol, Richard's Christmas Waits and John's Where does Father Christmas Go. Colin however triumphed with a full house of barrel-bottom material ranging from the Australian 12 Days of Christmas to Someone Snitched to Santa.

Only Keith remained aloof from the Xmassy and raised the tone with I'll Always Be Around and Dock Of The Bay.

In an attempt to get all the food eaten, the traditions of the club were cast aside and we had TWO breaks – but fortunately only one raffle, in the course of which Colin dazzled us with his sleight of hand in drawing no less than 12 of the 10 tickets he had bought. The tradition of our being interrupted by the Drunken Friesian on her way to the toilet was however retained.

The evening concluded, as we all knew it would, with John's manic-gestured Kris Kringle and his Krismas Tree [Ed: Actually, The Christmas Tree, composed by William B Bradbury and adopted into the Sheffield Carols tradition].

The club WILL meet next Friday. Until then, seasonal greetings to you all.

Here's a selection of these songs plus some others sung during the session.