After our busy play day in Bristol we once again packed our
bags, loaded the coach and headed off again. Our next stop was to be
Gloucester, but we were able spend a half day in Bath first. Another group
activity organised by the Director of Fun was a tour of the Roman Baths. Leonie
was lamenting the advent of the Digital Guide – where you walk around listening
to an electronic device. This means less conversation between participants and
a lack of the interesting yarns provided by the guides who are usually
passionate volunteers. Imagine our
delight when we heard a gentleman call from the bottom level to let us know
that there would be a guided tour commencing shortly, if we would make our way
down to him. That was easier said than done, as the building is quite a rabbit
warren. We found our way down and joined in with the tour, along with a number
of our Choral colleagues.
What I remember most is the following:
- Romans cleansed themselves before getting in the communal pool. A bit like expecting people to shower before they swim.
- The statues are all about the same age, except for Julius Caesar who had to be replaced after some students broke in one night and pushed him into the pool. How did they know they were students?
- The Baths were a magnificent engineering feat. This little guy isn't.
- The water is good for you. Apparently. It does not taste good. Or so I am informed. I elected not to test it out.
- Everything up to shoulder height is Roman. Everything above is Victorian.
After the tour of the Baths we had some free time. Being
Sunday morning a number of our group, not having had enough church since
Christmas, decided to go to Matins. They were richly rewarded. Apparently. I did not join them, as I waited
with Bella and John for the latter’s parents to arrive and chose some tacky
souvenirs. Yes, I have tackier than the Centurion.
After Bath we headed off to Gloucester where we had a short
amount of free time to check into our hotel before heading off to the Cathedral
to attend their Epiphany Carols service. This is the final of three Carol services
that they have. Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. It is rather a pity that our
calendar at home precludes the third, as it brought the season to a nice
conclusion, and celebrates the Glory of Christ’s Coming.
It was an opportunity for our girls to see girls singing in
an English Cathedral, as their Cathedral Choir of men, boys and one woman Alto
were joined for this service by the Cathedral’s Youth Choir. This choir
includes former trebles and children of both genders from the Junior Choir as
well as others. Bella sat next to one of the lad’s mothers, who was a
delightful teacher, most interested in hearing about our education system, our
choir and our tour. When Gloucester tours they do not take parents. I do not
know where we would be without parents on this tour.
They sang a number of pieces that we know, such as Hail
Gladdening Light by Charles Wood, the
Cornelius Three Kings (in which the pianissimo singing was particularly beautiful,
and Mendelssohn’s There shall a Star. A couple were carols we haven’t sung for a
while, Quem Vidistis of Poulenc and John Taverner’s God is with us. There was a
Latin Nunc Dimittis of Howells as well. The service is a reversal of the Advent
and Christmas Carol services, where the action starts at the East end and moves
to the West Door, where their manger scene is. The congregation processes after the choir
from the quire to the West End. They encourage the children to make sure they
can see.
All in all, it was a lovely service. After that, we had
dinner at our hotel and most of us called it an early night. You may be surprised, Dear Reader, to know
that I have not been a party animal in the nightspots of the UK, preferring the
comfort of a bed and trashy British TV. And my goodness, there is some right
Royal rubbish on over here. One of the winners/losers is Celebrity Big Brother.
I lasted three minutes, intrigued briefly by its horror.
Well, we are about to arrive in Paris, so I will try to
finish this now, and post it with some Bath pictures.
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