What’s been happening post tour

Dear Reader

You could be forgiven for thinking I had gone AWOL after I left tour rather abruptly. I sort of did.

I went to Henley-on-Thames where I was able to spend a fortnight recuperating in the loving care of my cousin Sarah and her husband Mark. I also got to spend time with my brother Rick, his wife Vicki and girls Jacqui and Tash who were having a short England break after their Sweden adventures.

I spent time reading, walking, watching Netflix and chilling, as well as heading to London to catch up with my friend Patrick Craig, who I missed when I was unable to join the activities in London.

Sarah and I went to London to catch up with Veronica, who we first (and I last) met in 1981 when she and I travelled together.

I then headed off to Dublin, as I have never been to Ireland before. I did more walking, attended Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral and Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, The Book of Kells, The Guinness Storehouse, as well as a day trip to Cashel Rock, Blarney Castle and Cork.

I am currently sitting at Heathrow waiting for my flight home, using the airport wifi. For this reason I will upload the post before adding more photos, as I doubt they will load here. It might have to wait until I get home. The one here is the best meal I ate in Ireland, which was six natural oysters at The Bank on College Green in Dublin.

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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...

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...

The big day in York

Dear Reader We are currently on the road to London via Windsor Castle. So I have time for an update about our big day yesterday. It was such a big day that I had my best night’s sleep last night, so was not awake to do my usual 5am blog post. This, Dear Reader, explains the concept of a Big Day for us. We are accustomed to singing two services on a Sunday, starting at 9:15am and finishing at 7:15pm. But we get a break for over 4 hours in between. Yesterday we started with a warm up and rehearsal at around 8:45am, then two services essentially back to back. We don’t sing Matins, apart from one attempt after a previous tour. Perhaps we could do a quarterly Matins, Ant?? Once a term? The choristers and Lay Clerks then get a two hour break before the next rehearsal at 2:30 for the 4pm Evensong. Matins has no sermon but both the Eucharists and Evensong in York had sermons, which were excellent. The observation for Epiphany that we, the Choir, were travellers from the East was notable....

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