Autumn is beginning to make its presence felt, the leaves are starting to turn, the evenings are getting darker and people are returning to usual routines or starting something new after the summer break.

We started back yesterday, Wednesday 12 September, with two new members and several new songs, some, like Red Gold and Brown, with a definite autumn feel. We finished up with an old favourite This is Home, and one which is on its way to being a new favourite, Cold Haily Rainy Night.

We began learning the Italian version of Santa Lucia which (according to Wikipedia) celebrates 'the picturesque waterfront district, Borgo Santa Lucia, in the Gulf of Naples, in the invitation of a boatman to take a turn in his boat, to better enjoy the cool of the evening'. It's a real ear-worm: we'll be singing it during all the coming week!

The same tune, different words, is used in Sweden as part of a ritual celebrating the return of the light in the depths of winter. Dave had an unexpected first-hand experience of this: he thought he'd died and gone to heaven!

Here is a video of the Saint Lucia celebrations in Mora, Sweden, from December 13 2007.