Even the Bath Bombs are purple

Dear Reader

To date all of our accommodation has been in the very comfortable but rather predicable Premier Inns, whose livery is purple. They all have the same menu for breakfast, the same room layout and the same shower-over-a-deep-bath, which caused a certain amount anxiety for the clumsy such as me. I mentioned yesterday that I had bought a bath bomb from Lush. I had requested something relaxing and was offered a muslin ball with lavender, camomile and other flowers. I should have guessed it would be purple. But I did not know it would be exactly the same colour as the hotel finishing.

Here is evidence. This was BEFORE it had fully dissolved and the entire water became deep, royal purple.

I have been off exploring Oxford, and have returned to check in. The next post will be about Oxford. I promise there will be a Coventry Cathedral post in the fullness of time but composition may need to wait until my next flight. As the tour group will attest, I am rather excited about the next leg of my journey, which is spending time with my beautiful cousin Sal, then heading to colder climes. That is when I will have time to catch up with this blog.

Cxx

Comments

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...

Trees

Dear Reader There is something beautiful about trees in the snow. My initial feeling was that every photograph looked the same. Tall, straight trees with snow on them. Was there any point in taking more than one? But when I took the time to look more closely I noticed the differences. The beautiful and important differences. Most of them are straight and tall, but some are not. Some are bent, some are incomplete, as they have been cut down or damaged by the weather in some way. Yet they remain as a reminder of what has been. I wish I had thought to take more photographs of these. Some are evergreen, which means their strong, ever present branches and leaves bear a heavy weight of snow. I think they are probably pine trees, and they remain constant throughout the year. Some are deciduous, so their branches hold a lighter weight of snow and their twigs are more apparent. They change with the seasons, but return again each year. And...

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...

Christine's Blog

Search This Blog