Hi, Rusty!
In my "youth", a group of us from church (up North) used always to go carol-singing on Christmas Eve! We went to pre-arranged houses where the church members had "booked" the carol-singing and donated to charity. It was a wonderful experience!
Especially as we walked miles from house to house - and on a beautiful starlit frosty night - or if it had just begun to snow...it looked like Wonderland !
We would get treated to Supper at several of the houses!
Ah, nostalgia!!
I've heard about Clare Balding's book...she seems to be a very genuine person - and I know you like her. I am sure you will enjoy reading it.
Moors and hills sound just like Lancashire where I hail from!
Re Tube maps.......the Underground organisation prints out tube maps that are provided free - bigger print than those in the back of diairies. You wouldn't get lost! no -one can get lost on the Tube anyway - it is so easy to follow the map! (And if you did make an error, so easy to rectify - just get out at the next station and go the other way!)
When I first came to London, I always travelled everywhere by Tube - I just "popped up" out of a hole in the ground when I reached my destination!
Easy!