Dear Reader
I've chosen Miss Alice's moves at St Paul's from last tour to represent how it feels right now.
We are now in the home straight. The home straight to departure, that is.
55 days. Fifty-five days in words. LV days in Roman numerals.
We are a long way from the home straight of tour itself.
I am grateful for so many things at present.
For Annabel and Geoff, who are organising the hard bits. That is, the accommodation, coach, transfers, airlines and all such really important things. I am a details person, but they are dealing with the stuff that matters. Thanks you two. I am so grateful for you.
For Leonie, who will decide what we will sing. Please can we have some nice Alto bits? Just a hint, our favourite note is NOT D.
For Alana and Andrew, who are working with the Cathedrals we will visit, and making sure that we will arrive and know what to do.
For Coby, the Director of Fun. I can already see some really exciting extra-curricular activities. Bags not walking up the 702 stairs of the Eiffel Tower. I will make virtue out of inclination, and take the kids up in the lift (note to little and not so little kids, please request to go in the lift!)
For Penny, the McPharlins, Terri, James, Alison, Colin and any others on the committee that I may have forgotten, for making sure that I only have to think about getting robes and music and myself there, confident in the knowledge that I will be well fed, well dressed, well travelled and well informed.
For Keith Stephens, our Music Foundation Chair and his lovely wife Sarah, who are spending their holidays following us on our tour. You are both brave and loyal.
For the families who are entrusting their beloved young ones to us, especially the families of Brianna, Kate, Imogen, Peter, Jola, John, David and Josh. We will take care of them. If you want to know what they are up to, please check this blog. I will make sure that these kids'activities are well documented in this blog, so you can be a part of this life-changing experience along with them.
For my friends who will travel with me, and for the parents and families who will be travelling us. Please note - I respond to both bribes and wine.
For my family and friends, who love me unconditionally, all the time, even when I am difficult.
For Rev'd Jenny (and her consort Nick). We value your physical and spiritual presence with us.
For the Cathedral Community and the Cathedral staff, and the Music Foundation, who are supporting us financially and in prayer. We need both.
So, whether it is 55, fifty-five or LV days to go, IT'S NOT LONG NOW!
Pray for us, send us messages of love or just think of us.
Know that we value all of the above.
Cxxx
Dear Reader Today we sang at Westminster Abbey. It was a thrill five years ago, and again a thrill today. Musical Menu up front: The day belonged to Jonathan Dove, musically speaking. For the Eucharist we sang the Dove Missa Brevis sans Kyrie, the psalm appointed, three hymns and for the motet, the beautiful Gjielo Ubi Caritas . We were well received. We fronted up again after a short sandwich lunch with Evensong. Stanford in G canticles, with Luca Shin and Andrew Chatterton as soloists, the psalm appointed, which was really quite long, and for the anthem, Dove’s The Three Kings , with Maxwell, Archie, Crystal and Henry doing the honours. And Hunt responses. Dear Reader, Anthony Hunt wrote these responses in 2006 for our first tour, and they hold up well. They also herald the exciting future, when Anthony succeeds our dear Leonie Hempton as Director of Music. Now, the sandwich lunch was one of those occasions when your tour leaders n...

Wonderful! We can't wait to see you. X
ReplyDeleteAnd we can't wait to see you Eloise and Aaron!
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