The past three days, Dear Reader, have been spent in Bristol and Exeter, with our home base being the supremely comfortable Radisson Blu Hotel. You see, we use a hub and spoke model, where we find accommodation and then travel out to other places. This is a very fine idea, as it means you only need to pack up your suitcase every few days and cuts down on checking in and checking out procedures. On that note, it is timely to comment on the excellent hotels we have stayed in, and to thank those who researched them and especially Bella, who negotiated our stays. I am aware of the mammoth task that this has been, and the cost to her family time as well. Annabel Crompton, you are a hero.
As so frequently happens when numbers of people live in community, in close proximity, there can be sharing of various respiratory and viral illnesses. Fortunately they are largely self limiting but it has meant that sometimes singers have missed the odd service. Fortunately we have a caring group of colleagues and families, who are offering care and support for one another and medical support from those qualified.
Back to Bristol. After a rainy trip from Oxford we arrived in Bristol where the rain had eased and we were able to get around in Bristol. The Choir went straight into a rehearsal while the ever supportive parents and other non-singers emptied the bus into the Hotel luggage room. Actually, we usually take over a meeting room rather than luggage room when we need to put all our stuff in storage. Free time followed in Bristol before check-in at the hotel, Choir practice and Evensong. Unfortunately this was my first miss, but the advantage was the rare opportunity to hear my choir sing. They are not bad at all.
The Musical Menu consisted of a psalm, the Hunt responses, Wood in D canticles, and Mendelssohn's There Shall a Star. It was heavenly. Here are some photos.
We had dinner at the The Famous Royal Navy Volunteers hotel, who looked after us admirably. (Sorry about that pun).
The next morning we set off for Exeter, which is a delightful cathedral, with both Norman and Gothic features. Here we were treated to tours of the roof and the floor. Photos of this will follow when I get a chance to upload them. This was great fun, but did involve climbing helix (not spiral) staircases. Being somewhat claustrophobic I asked John our guide how many steps there would be. He reassured me that there were 130. Well, that seemed a doddle after the 275 in York. But, Dear Reader, he was only guessing. When I reached the 130 I was still going up and around. Fortunately I was with friends and in the middle of the pack, which meant I coped very well.
We learned a lot about Exeter, its Cathedral and life in Norman and Tudor England from our most knowledgeable guides.
Lunch was, as always, "own arrangements" so I headed off to Tea on the Green with Heather and David Thomas, Sophie and Margot. Bella was back in Bristol with Wee Alice, who was feeling a little poorly. The staff here were very lovely and most caring when there was a pasty vs floor moment, getting us a fresh one immediately. This was where the beer was called Proper Job. It was lovely.
Back at the Cathedral after lunch we had hospitality provided by the Cathedral, which was most welcomed. It even included Kit Kats.
The Evensong menu for this service was Ives responses, Howells Gloucester Service canticles and Stanford's beautiful Beati Quorum as the anthem.
We then walked down the hill to the Mill on the Exe for another group meal before heading back to Bristol for the night.
Dear Reader, please forgive the extensive verbiage without pictures. You are on a promise for them. And many more, as the following day was spent messing about on boats. This post will come your way soon.
Much love
Cxxx
As so frequently happens when numbers of people live in community, in close proximity, there can be sharing of various respiratory and viral illnesses. Fortunately they are largely self limiting but it has meant that sometimes singers have missed the odd service. Fortunately we have a caring group of colleagues and families, who are offering care and support for one another and medical support from those qualified.
Back to Bristol. After a rainy trip from Oxford we arrived in Bristol where the rain had eased and we were able to get around in Bristol. The Choir went straight into a rehearsal while the ever supportive parents and other non-singers emptied the bus into the Hotel luggage room. Actually, we usually take over a meeting room rather than luggage room when we need to put all our stuff in storage. Free time followed in Bristol before check-in at the hotel, Choir practice and Evensong. Unfortunately this was my first miss, but the advantage was the rare opportunity to hear my choir sing. They are not bad at all.
The Musical Menu consisted of a psalm, the Hunt responses, Wood in D canticles, and Mendelssohn's There Shall a Star. It was heavenly. Here are some photos.
We had dinner at the The Famous Royal Navy Volunteers hotel, who looked after us admirably. (Sorry about that pun).
The next morning we set off for Exeter, which is a delightful cathedral, with both Norman and Gothic features. Here we were treated to tours of the roof and the floor. Photos of this will follow when I get a chance to upload them. This was great fun, but did involve climbing helix (not spiral) staircases. Being somewhat claustrophobic I asked John our guide how many steps there would be. He reassured me that there were 130. Well, that seemed a doddle after the 275 in York. But, Dear Reader, he was only guessing. When I reached the 130 I was still going up and around. Fortunately I was with friends and in the middle of the pack, which meant I coped very well.
We learned a lot about Exeter, its Cathedral and life in Norman and Tudor England from our most knowledgeable guides.
Lunch was, as always, "own arrangements" so I headed off to Tea on the Green with Heather and David Thomas, Sophie and Margot. Bella was back in Bristol with Wee Alice, who was feeling a little poorly. The staff here were very lovely and most caring when there was a pasty vs floor moment, getting us a fresh one immediately. This was where the beer was called Proper Job. It was lovely.
Back at the Cathedral after lunch we had hospitality provided by the Cathedral, which was most welcomed. It even included Kit Kats.
The Evensong menu for this service was Ives responses, Howells Gloucester Service canticles and Stanford's beautiful Beati Quorum as the anthem.
We then walked down the hill to the Mill on the Exe for another group meal before heading back to Bristol for the night.
Dear Reader, please forgive the extensive verbiage without pictures. You are on a promise for them. And many more, as the following day was spent messing about on boats. This post will come your way soon.
Much love
Cxxx
Comments
Post a Comment