Suitcases, celebrations and singers

So...what's with the pink?  A week or so ago I bought a child's toy lamp which doubles up as a 'Northern Lights Projector'. Mostly it's more subtle than this but the pink is what you're seeing today. It saves me from rushing around in the dark looking for the Aurora with friends who insist on going home to bed at 11pm. 

Anyway...today. I took the bus over the common to Nailsworth. I was glad I'd decided to go out early because the roofers were back, sounding as if they were giant rats gnawing at  the corner of the roof.

I got a bit confused on the way 'over the top' between Minchinhampton,  Hampton Fields and Hampton Green. As there's a place nearby called Frampton Mansell, I wondered if there's also room in the Cotswolds for a Frampton Hampton ? 

Nailsworth was crowded and cold. I saw a lovely suitcase in a charity shop, but had no need for it. I bought what I did need, and zigzagged around between shops until my fingers were numb with cold, and then repaired to a cafe for a pot of tea. 

Eventually it was time to join three friends GG, A and G for lunch at the Olive Tree. GG had the Christmas dinner. I had the spicy pumpkin soup and a pizza. Much mulled wine was consumed. GG is stressed at present because her brother is in hospital and it's not certain where he's going to be living when he is discharged. 

We paid and left, then had to walk back to A's car. G was struggling under the weight of her rucksack, but was intending to take it on the train to London. I remembered the lovely wheeled suitcase I'd seen earlier, and ran back to the charity shop to get it for G. She was delighted with it. We dropped her off at the station in Stroud, and I dived into the shopping centre to collect my library books and order a chicken from the butcher's for Christmas. 

Back home, I had a few hours to carry on with endless household tasks/pre Christmas cleaning, before Steve and I went out to St Laurence's church to see the Gesualdo Six singing in harmony, mostly in Latin, mostly Advent/Christmas/Epiphany Carols or plainchant.  https://youtu.be/yHe2FDlHHa8?si=q-G72XMgTxQchPNe They are world-class British singers, freshly back from Singapore and Shanghai. We are so lucky to have them in Stroud! 

We came home again and switched on the heating. I am exceedingly cold today, despite all the layers I'm wearing.