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"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the corner-stone.
It was the Lord who did this –
it is marvellous to behold.
This is the day that was made by the Lord:
let us rejoice today, and be glad."

Lauds on the morning of Christmas Eve. The sun has not yet risen so I cannot see the sheep as I sit before the sunbox and soak in the fake rays. I chant my morning prayer with scratchy voice and a big smile.

This is the last Sunday of Advent and tomorrow is CHRISTMAS!!

Adeste, fideles,
laeti triumphantes,
venite, venite in Bethlehem!

Venite, adoremus!
Venite, adoremus!
Venite, adoramus Dominum!

O come let us adore Him...O come let us adore Him...O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Later that evening I dress in my bright regalia. I live in Orkney but I am still a Crow woman just the same. I shall soon celebrate Midnight Mass (at 5pm due to space restrictions) and I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I have decided to honor God the best way I can: by wearing my most ceremonial of clothes for this most holy of days.

The Christmas Vigil Mass is lovely: celebrated in Saint Magnus Cathedral with all of us singing lovely hymns and Father at his liveliest. The street in front of the Cathedral is all lit up with dozens of Christmas lights strung back and forth across the road and a tall tree decorated from top to bottom. Our church Advent wreath is lit up and the chapel soon fills up. Father leads us in prayer and then blesses the Nativity crèche - the holy water is contained in a little silver quaich.

(Is a quaich an Orcadian thing?? And how on earth do you pronounce "quaich" anyway???)

When Mass is over I return to the farm to find that Erlend has switched on the Christmas lights that hang cheerfully along the top of our blue stable. Several barn cats scurry across the steading courtyard and one of them yowls at me for food - it's Barn Cat Tea Time and how dare I be late! Christmas Eve or no Christmas Eve the Cat Slave must still serve meals on time - or else!! As I walk into the upper court where Davie (our Limosen bull) dwells I can see several pairs of beady eyes glowering at me from the rafters. The barn cats are not pleased! **Sigh** Cats.

When it is bedtime Erlend and I sit up in bed singing Christmas carols (when we can figure out the tune...) until we are ready to snuggle down and go to sleep. I had stuck a big sprig of fake holly into Erlend's bedside lamp and it adds a note of Christmas cheer to our otherwise ordinary yellow bedroom. As we lay facing one another we grin in delight and picture the pile of presents that are waiting to be torn open the morn. And then...we fall asleep.

Venite, adoremus!
Venite, adoremus!
Venite, adoramus Dominum!