In her master's steps...

Good King Wenceslas has never been a favourite Christmas carol of mine, until this year, when I heard the magnificent Barra MacNeils version, and found myself transported to a medieval forest with a benevolent king.

(Bear with me here - I haven't lost it - I know Christmas is over.)

I must have listened to it a hundred times over the holidays, but recently, snowshoeing, I was reminded of it one more time.

Apparently, the dog was feeling hard done by. After bounding ahead for the first half of our trek, she suddenly decided enough was enough, and fell in behind Andrew.

-

Page and monarch forth they went

forth they went together

through the rude wind's wild lament

and the bitter weather.