Higham Church was mentioned in the Domesday Book and whilst the structure has undergone numerous upgrades since then the main structural elements of the building date back to the mid 1300's. It is a beautiful, tranquil, little place. But in its long existence I don't think it has come as close as it did last night to demolition. The Sandison family was gathered there for a carol service, roped in at the last minute to read one of the nine lessons in a father and son act. My gig was Luke 2, vs 8 - 16 after which Bob was due to relate a modern day version of the Shepherd's tale. Half way through the lesson preceding ours, I was lost in thought, wondering if I would be able to articulate my reading as clearly as the current speaker was doing and mesmerized by the gentle flickering of the candles we were all holding, when there was a violent banging on my arm from Bob who was sitting alongside me. "Daddy, daddy, it's on fire!" I looked to my left and the piece of paper with Bob's reading typed out on it, resting on the pew in front of him, was ablaze. Not just smoldering; properly alight. Flames leapt from the wooden desk and I knocked the sheet to the ground and stamped on it. Apart from the cloud of smoke hanging over our heads and a nasty burnt mark on the lovely wooden floor, the only thing giving us away was the violent shaking of my shoulders as I dissolved into hysterical stifled laughter. That boy is a disaster case.......
Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes.
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