Christine's Blog

This message comes to you from the City of Salisbury, where we are about to have dinner before our big night tonight. We are required back at the Cathedral some time around 11pm for the 1130pm Watchnight Service. But my readership has likely already seen in the New Year and are either sound asleep or nursing sore heads. To be honest, if I were able, my average NYE would be spent either having an early night or just seeing the New Year in and heading for bed at a minute past Midnight. But this year is very different, and very exciting, and it is wonderful to spend it with so many of my friends. We have already had a rehearsal in the Cathedral, which was uncharacteristically warm. Even the Choir Vestry has underfloor heating. Tonight we sing “What Cheer” by William Walton and the Ralph Vaughan Williams setting of the Wassail Carol. And three hymns. Don’t know any of the words, but the tunes are vaguely familiar. And the harmonies are nearly what I know, but not quite. We are staying in a...

...these are a few of my favourite things. Singing an impromptu "Away in a Manger" in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral, with an 9 second reverb. Spine tingling, even for those singing. In Stilton England, dining at an Indian restaurant, being entertained by a Welshman singing Jewish showtunes to an Aussie crowd, who reciprocated with Waltzing Matilda. Better than the United Nations. Hospitality from the Cathedral at Peterborough. So very generous. The Cathedral in the mist during the day turns to fire at night. Mathias "A babe is born". Especially with a wonderful acoustic. English Breakfast - save lunch money for wine time. Case Captains, Music Team and Crate Carriers. Make is easier for everyone. Peterborough Cathedral Just outside Peterborough Cathedral Close With Harriet at the Carousel Head Chorister Harriet Iles On fire More manger scenes Alice dancing in the Quire, Sophie more serious Alice's dancing was to feature...

Annabel, Alice and Sophie Crompton with Tour Grandparents, David and Heather Thomas in Ely Cathedral Alice and Sophie in the Minster in Ely Alison, John, Eleni and Christine in the Minster, Ely (pub, that is)

Well here we are, on the coach again. After another wonderful breakfast we have set off for Peterborough. We will rehearse this morning then spend the middle of the day doing our own thing. After that we will go back to the Cathedral and rehearse for Evensong. The generous people of the Cathedral are putting on drinks with the Dean and Chapter afterwards for our whole touring group. Just a few more photos to let you know what a good time we are all having...

Can anyone shed light onto why several of the landscape photos are ridiculously wide?

We returned from Ely about an hour ago. After we returned the Wonderful Wizards of Music came and sorted music for tomorrow and the next day, thanks team. We set off at a reasonable hour this morning by coach from Cambridge to Ely, where we had a rehearsal in the Song School. This was interrupted before it started with a fire alarm, which led to us warming up in the porch outside the West Door. The Song School in Ely Just before the fire alarm went off... Warmups outside the West Door while waiting for the Firies Following this it was freet time in Ely, lunch at leisure (at the local pub, where the beer was Wooly Pig) and a tour of the Cathedral. Evensong was lovely, if not a little chilly. It is rare to see your own breath as you sing the Office. Tomorrow we are off to Peterborough. Gotta sleep now. The whole time issue is still a bit peculiar. Has been dark for ages and it is only 9:30pm. Cxxx Ely Cathedral I made Alice stand here as I wanted to...

Well, here we are. Far too many feet above sea level for my liking. We are currently somewhere over India. Bay of Bengal, apparently. Row 49 is obviously the “special” row as we have had some interesting experiences. They ran out of gin. Poor Phil. They ran out of white wine. Poor Terri. So far they still have red wine. Lucky me. When lunch came we had a choice of turkey and mashed potato.   The beef and pasta had run out. I did suggest that a choice of one was not really a choice. So if we are looking for a person to fulfil the role of “Idiot of the Day” I think it might be me. Whether it is making virtue out of inclination or not, I think I am in the market for a new iPod. I think mine might just be on the bed in the hotel in Kuala Lumpur. I had been wanting to upgrade for some time, but this was probably not the way. And now we are some hours (4:15) into a 13+ hour flight from KL to Heathrow and I am without iPod. Without novel, as I finished mine about 2 hours into the flight. ...

So that was Christmas. We have sung Lessons and Carols, Midnight Mass and 10am Mass for Christmas. Then the magnificent Case Captains and Committee swung into action and packed the cases. Seven of them, weighing a total of 125kg. Only a little over the 120kg we were allowed as excess. Do you think they will be more friendly about it if I tell them that I lost more than 5kg in weight in recent months? Thanks everyone for making the packup so easy, and to Anna and Glen for coming to mine with the cases I could not fit in my car. In 14 hours my car arrives for the journey to the Airport. Here we go! Cxxx

Dear England. Please open. That is all. Thanks.

This appeared in The Advertiser recently. My physio pointed it out.

http://www.petrus.blog.com This is the official Blog for the tour, being done by Alison Campbell. Please check it out. She has done a lot more work than I have done!

In 217 hours and 20 minutes our plane leaves Adelaide. Oh Dear. So much to do between now and then. Sleep is superfluous I hope.

It is getting SO close now. Tomorrow night we get our tickets, and all our final payments have been made. So much to do between now and then. We will all appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  Trebles at the ready  The Boss at the 24 Hour Sing  24 Hour Messiah  Trebles and The Boss What we are leaving behind...

Wednesday 29 December   5:30pm             Evensong, Ely Cathedral Thursday 30 December 5:30pm             Evensong, Peterborough Cathedral Friday 31 December 11:30pm            Watchnight Service, Salisbury Cathedral Saturday 1 January 5:30pm              Evensong, Salisbury Cathedral, (Lay Clerks only) Sunday 2 January 9:45am              Eucharist, Wells Cathedral 11:30am            Mattins, Wells Cathedral 3:00pm              Evensong, Wells Cathedral Tuesday 4 January 5:30pm              Evensong, Winchester Cathedral Wednes...

In five weeks we will be in England. Or nearly in England. So I thought I would set up a blog to keep the one or two interested folk up to date with what we are doing.