Kate Rusby live at the Union Chapel.

The annual (well it would be) Kate Rusby Christmas concert really starts the season. We've seen her Christmas concert many times over the years and while they've all been excellent, this was more excellent than usual.

Arrangements for the evening ensured we had front row seats to getting up close and personal to all the performers, including her husband Damien O'Kane who was directly in front of us. The musicianship, songs, banter, participation of the audience all combined to make this a magical evening. And the band were clearly enjoying themselves too in a very special place. And I managed to acquire the set list to add to my growing collection of such memoribilia.

Up to mid afternoon the fates had conspired against us delaying departure to the gym through a myriad of little tasks that stole time away. We were late setting out for the train, then had to go back for specs and so were resigned to catching a later one. However, this was where fate turned in our favour. The train we were expecting to miss was late so, despite not rushing to the station we were able to buy tickets just as it was arriving at the station.

After that, everything fell neatly into place. An enjoyable drink at Wetherspoons at Victoria and direct tube to the venue. We'd booked a meal in their bar at 6.00pm so arriving at exactly 6.00 we were able to go in, find our reserved table and order food and enjoy it, relaxing after a stressful day. When the main doors opened at 6.30 we were able to go and put our coats on seats to reserve them (as everyone else does) and a nifty bit of footwork enabled us to get the front row seats, returning to the bar and more refreshement until the show started.

It was only after the concert ended and we were on our way home, elated by the evening that I discovered that somehow, somewhere I'd lost my hat! So fate came to bite us on the bum at the very end!