Harlaxton Family Christmas

Father Christmas paid a call to Harlaxton Manor yesterday! As is tradition, the college puts on a holiday lunch for the staff and their extended families. It was a lovely day for them and especially for the children. Each of the 120 of them had a chance to sit on the knee of Father Christmas and pass on special requests for this year. As one might expect from such a generous person as Father Christmas, each child received a special early gift from him. Let's just hope they didn't notice that FC had an American accent, being our own UE engineering professor John Parr under all that regalia.

Later that afternoon, it was time for a replay, but this time for the students, their "meet-a-family" hosts, and the faculty. The night began with a reception complete with punch and Christmas crackers so the students were introduced to the fine tradition of wearing paper crowns, telling awful jokes, and playing with tiny toys. They all got into it after the first waves of disbelief went away.

Dinner followed and for the first time I actually ate in the State Dining Room where I taught all semester. The food was good...mostly turkey, ham, and roast beef, shrimp, a cheese board, and of course lots of sweets, including overly sugared mince tarts. After dinner, we call gathered back in the great hall to enjoy the roaring fire and some carol singing before a small group actually headed out to sing carols in the village. As it had turned into a rather bleak mid-winter evening with rain coming down, I decided to prop myself by the fire and enjoy some port with the other faculty that stayed behind as well.

I include a couple of pictures of my students once again. All having a grand time in the lull before final examinations when all still seems right with the world.