Still catching up

Dear Reader

Exeter is sung, Choir is fed, bus is loaded and we have an opportunity for me to start another post. The challenge will be netbook power, which won't last the journey back to Bristol.

You see, we have this hub-and-spoke concept, which is great. We find ourselves a base then head out to other places. This is great, as it means that we can settle into a hotel, and among other things, do some washing (one wee child was a bit confused by the term "smalls", saying that they did not look that small to him/her). In addition, there is the opportunity to gain familiarity with a shower. Dear Reader, there are no two shower systems alike in this fair country, or so it seems to us. The easiest was the shower alcove in Oxford. The most challenging thus far was in Lincoln, or so the straw poll says.

So now I shall tell you about Oxford, as this was sequentially the next place on our tour. We arrived from London mid-morning and delivered our robes and music to Christchurch Cathedral, the smallest cathedral in Britain. We then headed into the town where I think most people bought something. I bought quite a lot. Mostly for others, but I did decide that I could have a few things for myself. I am particularly fond of my new Pandora charm which has poppies representing those that were outside the Tower of London. I will be able to compare notes with Miss Lavinia, who has purchased one of the REAL ceramic poppies, which should soon wing its way to Chatham Street.

At lunch time a number of us met up with Guy Cutting, one of the tenors from the Fieri Consort. It has been lovely that a number of them have taken time out from their busy singing and recording schedules to meet up with us once again.

Thereafter, we went our separate ways until a few of us (The Chatterhils, Alana, Peter and I) went off to The King's Arms, where we had drinks in the room with lots of books. There is a picture of this room. Here it is. Might just be perfect for Miss Lavinia.

Oxford has many fine bookshops. A number of us checked out books from the OUP Oxford University Press) but others swore by Blackwells. Spoiled for choice. Here is a picture.

This shop on the way back to the Cathedral was rather sweet. It was called Objects of Use. Everything in it had a purpose.

And now some random photos of Oxford.

So lest you think that we did nothing but shop and drink, and partake in academic pursuits, here is the discussion about why we were there. Our raison d'être. Evensong. Tonight's Responses were Hunt, Canticles were Howells' Gloucester Service and the Anthem was Chilcott's The Shepherd's Carol.

In case you have not heard the Chilcott, here are the words, which are very beautiful in their own right, even without Bob C's lovely melody and harmony.

We stood on the hills, Lady,

Our day’s work done,

Watching the frosted meadows

That winter had won.

The evening was calm, Lady,

The air so still,

Silence more lovely than music

Folded the hill.

There was a star, Lady,

Shone in the night,

Larger than Venus it was

And bright, so bright.

Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady,

It seemed to us then

Telling of God being born

In the world of men.

And so we have come, Lady,

Our day’s work done,

Our love, our hopes, ourselves,

We give to your son.

Before Evensong we were invited to take tea in The Dean's sitting room. This was lovely. Not only was there a portrait of King Charles I, who spent some time holed up in the Cathedral, but we also learned more about the Alice in Wonderland stories. Firstly, here is King Charles' seat where he sat an prayed.

There were several Alice stories shared. The Dean told us of his predecessor who had a daughter named Alice, for whom the stories were written. She had played in the room where we were taking tea. By the way, apparently The Deanery is officially a palace, or so I think I was told. The Virger, Christopher, who was so very helpful and very funny in a reserved English way, gave us some of the history of Oxford Time, which is five minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time. He also informed us that this is the reason that Lewis Caroll's White Rabbit in Alice was always late.

It was here at this Evensong that we first learned of the Charlie Hedbo tragedy in Paris, as we prayed for all those involved. May we have peace and harmony in our troubled world.

By now, Dear Reader, if you have read thus far, you must be wondering where the pictures of the Choir have gone. You are to be rewarded for your patience with some lovely shots taken by Rijke once again.Well done you for persisting and deciding that the blog was more interesting than your Facebook feed.