We had a holly hedge in our Hampshire garden and Ivy clung to one side of the house. Each war time Christmas I picked enough to fill the the tall silver wine cooler that sat on the dining room table, which is now in one corner of my drawing room.
In 1913 my Father was attached to the Ceylon Mounted Rifles, each year there was a long distance mountain ride in full marching order carrying 14 stone over 71 miles. Daddy's horse, named "Starlight" completed it in 10 hours (the previous record was 12 &1/2 hours) with a 1 hour stop @ 1/3d of the way.
They won the Race. After the presentation of the wine cooler, plus a bottle of Champagne, Daddy poured it into the cooler and proffered it to Starlight for a taste; however, in Daddy's own words "He drank the whole damn lot. Oh! well he did all the work!!"
Last week I was trying to move a heavy unopened box which I promptly opened to reduce the load; inside were a number of "Old" framed photos, the bottom one is a photo of Daddy sitting on Starlight the next morning after the Ride. I have never before seen inside this box. So now Starlight will sit right next to the wine cooler.
This tale all began because of the Carol "The holly and the Ivy". I was hoping to sing it in our Lessons and Carols service next Sunday afternoon. No such luck, but maybe on Christmas Eve service.
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