From the BBC website I learn tonight of a wondrous tale of an eccentric and faithful Christmas tradition - people who queue for up to three days and nights in the cold and sometimes rain in order to gain a seat in the chapel of King's College Cambridge for their famous festival of 'Nine Lessons and Carols' on Christmas Eve.
Patiently they sit and wait as others scurry by in their frenzied search for that last special purchase, simply in order to hear one of the great choirs of the land herald the arrival of God made man - Emmanuel - in word and music.
Like all good British queues there is total decorum and manners - no one pushes in, no one loses their place for taking a 'comfort' break. Some pilgrims are even so tired after their vigil they fall asleep once inside the warm chapel as the divine music wafts to the heavens, though that hardly matters as they are there in spirit as well as resting body.
Most - as you would expect of eccentrics - are from this country, though there is one American who saves all year long just to be able to fly in for this especial moment. Pray the Lord he is not stranded by the fog tonight!
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