Skip to main content

A play day in Bristol

You could be forgiven, Dear Reader, for thinking that all we do on tour is rehearse, sing and go to Church. I think that this may well be how some of the choristers and our families may also feel.

 It is the point, though. That is why we have come.

 But every now and again we have an organised activity on a play day, and this week's was a visit to the ss Great Britain, Despite growing up with the sea outside my bedroom I would not have described myself as a nautical person. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of messing about on boats once again on this tour. 

 The ss Great Britain has been lovingly restored after being scuttled off the Falkland Islands. It had a number of roles over the years in trade and immigration. The English cricket team travelled to Australia on her.

 More importantly, the Great Great Great Grandmother and Grandfather of Sophie and Alice Crompton traveled to Australia on her. Here is the evidence. 



This is not some random identification with someone with the same name, they really are related to Mary and Joe Crompton, who sailed to Australia on the ss Great Britain. Mary Crompton's diary has recently been republished and is for sale in the gift shop. It was researched by Bill's father - there are now three copies heading home to the Crompton household. The model in the dining room with Sophie is thought to be Mary.  By us at least.

 Here are some more photos from the ship.  The ss refers to her being a steam ship.  
















We had lunch in the Pitcher and Piano. Here is evidence.



After this we headed back to the hotel where poor Wee Alice and her grandies were holed up. (She has been a bit of a worry to us but is now on the improve). We convinced her to get up and go for a ride on the hop on hop off bus. Oops. It doesn't run in Bristol from New Year's Eve until 31 January. So we headed off to the Science Museum, @Bristol. Sophie was already there with Uncle Geoff and Auntie Alana. This was a lot of hands on exhibits, and a lot of fun. We had particular fun with the animation exhibits, and I *may* have cause giggles when presented with two horses to use in my animation. Horse husbandry for beginners. 

 Here are a couple of photos



Exhausted, we decided to dine in at the Radisson Blu for dinner, we being Annabel, Sophie, Alice, David, Heather, Alana and me.

 So that was our day off.

 Ciao for now

 Cxxx


Comments

  1. JudyBJanuary 13, 2015 at 4:04 AM

    Lovely messing - it's been Britishly wet in Adelaide after being stinking hot and then tropical sticky and dare I say it - uncomfortably moist....so the rain has actually been a blessing. Softball was good this evening even though Jac didn't hit the diamond. Beat the ACT 2-0.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Big One, St Paul’s

  Dear Reader Today was the Big Event of tour. St Paul’s Cathedral, London. If you are observant, you will notice my absence from the photo above, along with several of my colleagues. Sadly, this happened.  After nearly four years and six vaccinations I finally succumbed to the dreaded Covid. At the worst possible time. My multiple vax status has meant I only feel a bit rotten, like a cold, but I do feel sad to have missed the day. And to miss Windsor tomorrow. I was grateful for the considered medical advice provided by Dr Ritesh, father of one of the trebles, who also updated my supply of paracetamol and ibuprofen.  So I am relying on others for the report about this special day.  The good bits started with four of the young Lay Clerks heading to St Paul’s for singing lessons with my friend Patrick Craig, who is an Alto Lay Vicar at St Paul. In have yet to hear from Nicholas, Marco, Charlie or James, but Patrick was very complimentary about their singing. This is w...
10 comments
Read more

Worcester - that’s a wrap

  Dear Reader Well, that’s a wrap. After a free morning to shop, skate, scoff scones or the like, we boarded the coach to Worcester. Annabel Crompton continued the proud tradition set by her late father, the beloved Prof David Thomas, and shared history and interesting information about the Cathedral, always including the South Australian connections. We had a very warm welcome from the Interim Dean, Canon Stephen, and Anita the Virger. On the musical menu was Hunt Versicles and Responses, Howells in G Canticles and Be Present O Merciful God  by Australian composer, Owen Elsley. I thought the Anthem went particularly well. We sang two psalms, 131 to a Willcocks chant and 132 to a chant by a random (will update later). Turns out the second chant was by Richard Massey. David played a beautiful postlude, Rhapsody by Daniel Cook (b1979). When we arrived in Worcester it lived up to the reputation England has for wet and rather miserable weather, so we headed straight into the build...
7 comments
Read more

Abbey on a Sunday

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...
6 comments
Read more