Three Christmas feasts and a church service

Three Christmas feasts and a church service

Christmas Day

Having spent Christmas Eve daytime travelling down to Boscombe including a brief detour to Stratford-Upon-Avon, we finally arrived on the south coast just after 6.00pm, somewhat later than we intended. My brother Chris had informed me that we were going round for a meal at the Verger’s house at 7.00pm. No chance of stopping off at the hotel first then, that would have to wait! It was the first of three Christmas feasts.

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We arrived at my brothers, quickly downed a cup of tea and set off straight away.

Andy & Chris

Ernie had made a fantastic Christmas Eve meal, and considering he has only met Sarah and I a few times it was a tremendous act of kindness.

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Above – Christmas  at Ernies. Ernie, John, Sarah and Ernie, Chris and John.

Now …we enjoy the food and the presents at Christmas, however for us the ‘Christ’ in Christmas is what it is all about. So the following morning we left our hotel and walked to St John’s Church, Boscombe where Chris, John and Ernie normally attend.

This isn’t any old walk however. We were staying in Bournemouth Seafront Travelodge and to get to St John’s meant a two miles plus walk alongBournemouth seafront.

Bournemouth Pier

There is something fabulous and peaceful about walking along the coast on Christmas morning.

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We had got about half way along the promenade when the rain came down, and we were very quickly soaked!

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This helped to make a dramatic coastline even more so.

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Boscombe Pier

We arrived at St John’s Church, Boscombe and sang some carols, enjoyed watching the children interpret the Christmas story, and listened to Christmas message.

St John's Church, Boscombe

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Following church it was off for Christmas meal number two.

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Cutting Christmas cake is funny!

After an enjoyable Christmas day – nothing to report here, just like everyone else we ate, we drank, we watched, we exchanged presents – it was then back along the seafront.

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Boxing Day

In the morning we decided to go cycling (the subject of the next post). The afternoon saw us repeat the journey to Boscombe along the coast and back again on the way to and from a third feast. It also brought us a further soaking! Below are some additional photos.

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We are on our way home tomorrow. We have enjoyed our Christmas on the south coast, indeed it has gone far too quickly. Tomorrow is a journey back …via Salisbury.

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