I was awoken by mum in the morning (around 5:30am) before the sun had started to rise. Its a tradition that we started a few years back about going to Church for the New Fire Easter Service at 6am. So early but well worth it! I've always loved driving down Ealing Broadway in the early morning (it reminds me of when we used to wake up to hear the dawn chorus in Perival Woods when I was a kid) as there is absoultly NO-ONE around. Once at Church, we met up with the rest of the early risers who'd made it (everyone looked very tired!).The service starts with the lighting of the fire outside the Church which is used to light the Easter candle. Then we proceed into the dark Church dimly lit by the pre-dawn light and everyone's candle is lit. The service is then followed by hymns and various Bible readings (my favourite is the first one when people talk about the creation of Earth and the "creeping things that creeped on the ground" ^_^. Everyone also brings instruments so we make as much noise as possible when the vicar pronounces that Jesus has risnen (Chesca always gets really embarassed when dad brings this old fashined hooter which is REALLY loud).
After the service we went for breakfast in the Church hall complete with croissants, cereal, yoghurt, toast and other yummy things. Some people stay until the 10am service but we all went back home and started to get ready for the Easter meal. Mum had to sing in the choir for the 10am servce so Chesca and I tidied the house mealwhile. Later, Talida and Chris arrived for Easter Lunch followed by the Easter egg hunt...ok, so we're a bit old for this but its one of those traditions you can't stop! Chesca and I stayed outside to take pics while everyone else went for some tea next to the fire.. The sky was overcast with thick clouds and it had just rained so the light was really clean and clear which is why the pics turned out so detailed. I've never appreciated that type of weather so much..
