Hmmm. My experience is that Elijah is ultimately very boring to perform. I have been involved at different times in three performances. The first was in Canterbury Cathedral in the middle of my A-levels (literally - our A-levels were over two weeks. On the middle Saturday I finished an exam at 12.30 p.m., was collected by car, and transported across town to get on a coach for afternoon rehearsal and evening performance. Soloist was Hervey Alan, slightly past his peak.) The secomd perfomance was a few months later. In both cases I played second clarinet in the orchestra, a part which simply doubled the tenors in the chorus, very boring, and made me feel very sorry for the tenors. In the third performance many years later I sang bass in the chorus - very slightly less boring.
Hervey Alan is a blast from the past. He gave me singing lessons while I was exploring whether I would have a worthwhile counter-tenor voice. (Probably not) Almost half a century ago now.
That's a bugger @Sandemaniac, I hope you get some good feedback and that things go well on Monday.
I'm off to city to the west to visit and audiologist and probably splosh out some money on private hearing aids. The tweaks done to my NHS ones last week seem to have helped a bit but I'll be interested to see if the latest aids (the NHS is always a couple of models behind) will be significantly better.
My husband is also going to the city, but with his photographic group. If the timings work we hope to meet for lunch.
I'm sorry to hear that @Sandemaniac and echo what @Sarasa says about feedback and the interview on Monday.
I am out and about today, lunch with friends and out this evening for a meal with another friend I haven't seen for a while. It's currently raining here, which I'm glad to see.
Not all fridge-clearing soups work, but this one did - 1 yellow pepper, small onion, small potato, few aging baby sweetcorn, some red and green jalapeños, deseeded. Simmer in vegetable stock with cumin and smoked paprika. Mulch roughly with a stick blender and top with grated cheese.
This morning I picked the remaining Blood of the Boyne and put the windfalls in the composter. The pyracantha is a wall of red berries, the nasturtium are having a second summer.
The early sun has gone in, and I will spend the afternoon squinting at small granny squares I am trying to assemble into a waistcoat while growing to hate black 4-ply.
Having to rely on the Portaloo for more than a day or so is something of an inconvenience.
I'm disappointed that nobody has said this yet but: shit happens.
I'm pi*sed off now, because I didn't think of that...
A rather dismal day in Arkland the Damp, with intermittent (but refreshing) Showers. No chance of doing any Paint Ing for some days, but the weekend is forecast to be warm and sunny.
Pilates has been followed by Brunch, and Restage will now occur.
Quite solid rain here which is a good thing. Audiology appointment went well and I'm going to try out various options to see what might work. My left ear is definetely shot though.
Husband and his photographic group had a great time in a local private library and were there so long that I managed to meet up with them for lunch and the train home.
Now a couple of hours of de-doing my knitting and general slobbing before tea and heading out for my meeting. I was struggling to get the next bit of my knitting pattern to make sense and then realised that one, I hadn't read the pattern properly and two I didn't have enough stitches on the needle. I've taken it right back to the bit where I pick up all the stiches.
My wife has had a wisdom tooth extracted; she was very pleased with the care shown by the dentist.
I think I'm going down with a slight cold; nothing to worry about but making me a bit floppy and sniffly. I probably got it from one of the little brats delightful children who attended our church Holiday Club last week. (Actually they were delightful and we had a great time). Or else it's a Devon cold picked up from cuddles and kisses with our grandchildren over the weekend.
Perhaps that's why swimming this morning was a bit of a struggle.
A lazy day here, I have done some reading and some small pieces of sewing.
Tea will be Marry Me Chicken (the dish formerly known as Tuscan Chicken before being discovered by social media), possibly with fried gnocchi.
BT, I suspect your snufflage is Beginning of Term Plague, brought to the general population by the little germ factories whenever they go back to school; one of my bosses had it last week, and although he wasn't off work, he was a bit miserable, and his voice was a couple of octaves lower than usual.
I'm a pissed-off piglet; I was supposed to be having my nails and facial waxing done after work, but Sophie's off ill and they couldn't fit me in until some time next week. As I'm Doing Things* at the weekend for which I would rather look as civilised as I can manage, this is un fat lot de bon. I've managed to get an appointment in another salon (Linlithgow's absolutely crammed with salons) to get my nails done, but I haven't sorted out the waxing yet.
* Scottish Voices rehearsal day on Saturday and my sister's 70th birthday bash on Sunday (her birthday's actually today, but inconveniences like work get in the way).
Supper was BEANS on TOAST because I thought I was going to need something speedy, as I've got Night Church at 7:30.
Smallest grandson E was so energetic today. He’s back to school tomorrow; I think he needs it and his various care givers need a break, delightful though he very much is.
Oldest grandson starts sixth form tomorrow and granddaughter is preparing for a solo trip to Hong Kong to stay with her boyfriend and his family. Now that makes me feel old.
My choir doesn’t start back till next week. We have an upcoming gig at the National Memorial Arboretum which I’m greatly looking forward to.
My choir also restarts next week and I’ve just read an email about the music - Gibbons, Byrd and Purcell mainly. Some of the pieces are already familiar though I think it’s around 40 years since I last sang “This is the record of John” (possibly before our conductor was born!)
BT, I suspect your snufflage is Beginning of Term Plague, brought to the general population by the little germ factories whenever they go back to school.
Yes, I think so - though schools have only gone back today down here.
My son turned up at short notice to do the garden this morning, choosing a dry day.
I now have a large quantity of pears to deal with / give away. A pear cake is definitely on the menu. @Aravis , great choices of composers. @TheOrganist, I can’t speak for instrumentalists, but for singers Elijah is never boring. So much drama. Our November performance will probably be the fastest ever heard, our MD told us last night.
I am off to see Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling this morning - will be going by public transport, hence the early start. Mr Nen is away and son-in-law will be at work so it will be a Girls' Morning. Today is the 13th anniversary of the death of my mum, who I'm sure will be with us in spirit .
Much needed, much appreciated rain has been falling steadily all day. Less appreciated is the fact that, having been on Drought Alert for weeks, we have moved seamlessly to Flood Alert.
Wet here too. We didn't go Rambling, partly because of the rain, partly because we didn't fancy either of the walks on offer. Instead we went to the Leisure Centre where I did a dance class and my husband used the gym.
It's quicker - and consequently marginally less painful - than plucking or epilators. I bought one of those Instruments of Satanic Torture a while back, and I'm not a bit impressed. It will remove some of the hairs, but not without serious quantities of pain, and it seems to miss half of them ...
I used to use creams, but the last time I did, I came out in blotches, and looked even ghastlier than before.
Fingernails have been painted, and trotters will follow suit tomorrow - I would have had them done today but I didn't have time, as I'd arranged with our newest organist (who's from an evangelical background and has never been to Evensong) to show her through the service, and explain how Anglican Chant works. Luckily it seemed to click with her, and she was chuffed to bits at how I explained it. I'd like to think that David was guiding me from above, and would have approved.
Because I was late in getting home, supper was a popty-ping effort from Tessie's - chicken Madeira with mushroom rice - and as that sort of thing goes, it wasn't bad.
Yesterday with Nenlet1 and the GrandNenling was lovely; usually Mr Nen and I visit together so it was a real treat to have them to myself . I got a bit overwhelmed at one point and there was what @Piglet would call Eye Leakage.
It was a long day, though - the journey (involving 3 buses) there all went very smoothly, but when I was gearing up to leave the heavens opened so I stayed a bit longer. I arrived in time for a good connection on the final leg of the journey but that bus was cancelled so I had a half-hour wait. That (busy) bus smelt of alcohol and takeaway curry so I got off it as soon as I was within striking distance of home and walked the rest of the way. Fortunately it wasn't raining. I was Very Tired last night and in bed and asleep by 10pm.
I am off this morning to my aerobics class and coffee with friends - always enjoyable .
That's lovely about the organist and David's guidance, @Piglet .
The weekly shop has been put away (delivery day has changed, rather inconveniently). I am now at an online Women’s History conference. I have a cup of tea and a danish pastry and might do some hand sewing.
Comments
Hmmm. My experience is that Elijah is ultimately very boring to perform. I have been involved at different times in three performances. The first was in Canterbury Cathedral in the middle of my A-levels (literally - our A-levels were over two weeks. On the middle Saturday I finished an exam at 12.30 p.m., was collected by car, and transported across town to get on a coach for afternoon rehearsal and evening performance. Soloist was Hervey Alan, slightly past his peak.) The secomd perfomance was a few months later. In both cases I played second clarinet in the orchestra, a part which simply doubled the tenors in the chorus, very boring, and made me feel very sorry for the tenors. In the third performance many years later I sang bass in the chorus - very slightly less boring.
I'm off to city to the west to visit and audiologist and probably splosh out some money on private hearing aids. The tweaks done to my NHS ones last week seem to have helped a bit but I'll be interested to see if the latest aids (the NHS is always a couple of models behind) will be significantly better.
My husband is also going to the city, but with his photographic group. If the timings work we hope to meet for lunch.
I am out and about today, lunch with friends and out this evening for a meal with another friend I haven't seen for a while. It's currently raining here, which I'm glad to see.
I'm disappointed that nobody has said this yet but: shit happens.
This morning I picked the remaining Blood of the Boyne and put the windfalls in the composter. The pyracantha is a wall of red berries, the nasturtium are having a second summer.
The early sun has gone in, and I will spend the afternoon squinting at small granny squares I am trying to assemble into a waistcoat while growing to hate black 4-ply.
Meat loaf for dinner.
I'm pi*sed off now, because I didn't think of that...
A rather dismal day in Arkland the Damp, with intermittent (but refreshing) Showers. No chance of doing any Paint Ing for some days, but the weekend is forecast to be warm and sunny.
Pilates has been followed by Brunch, and Restage will now occur.
Husband and his photographic group had a great time in a local private library and were there so long that I managed to meet up with them for lunch and the train home.
Now a couple of hours of de-doing my knitting and general slobbing before tea and heading out for my meeting. I was struggling to get the next bit of my knitting pattern to make sense and then realised that one, I hadn't read the pattern properly and two I didn't have enough stitches on the needle. I've taken it right back to the bit where I pick up all the stiches.
I think I'm going down with a slight cold; nothing to worry about but making me a bit floppy and sniffly. I probably got it from one of the little brats delightful children who attended our church Holiday Club last week. (Actually they were delightful and we had a great time). Or else it's a Devon cold picked up from cuddles and kisses with our grandchildren over the weekend.
Perhaps that's why swimming this morning was a bit of a struggle.
A lazy day here, I have done some reading and some small pieces of sewing.
Tea will be Marry Me Chicken (the dish formerly known as Tuscan Chicken before being discovered by social media), possibly with fried gnocchi.
I'm a pissed-off piglet; I was supposed to be having my nails and facial waxing done after work, but Sophie's off ill and they couldn't fit me in until some time next week. As I'm Doing Things* at the weekend for which I would rather look as civilised as I can manage, this is un fat lot de bon. I've managed to get an appointment in another salon (Linlithgow's absolutely crammed with salons) to get my nails done, but I haven't sorted out the waxing yet.
* Scottish Voices rehearsal day on Saturday and my sister's 70th birthday bash on Sunday (her birthday's actually today, but inconveniences like work get in the way).
Supper was BEANS on TOAST because I thought I was going to need something speedy, as I've got Night Church at 7:30.
Smallest grandson E was so energetic today. He’s back to school tomorrow; I think he needs it and his various care givers need a break, delightful though he very much is.
Oldest grandson starts sixth form tomorrow and granddaughter is preparing for a solo trip to Hong Kong to stay with her boyfriend and his family. Now that makes me feel old.
My choir doesn’t start back till next week. We have an upcoming gig at the National Memorial Arboretum which I’m greatly looking forward to.
I now have a large quantity of pears to deal with / give away. A pear cake is definitely on the menu.
@Aravis , great choices of composers.
@TheOrganist, I can’t speak for instrumentalists, but for singers Elijah is never boring. So much drama. Our November performance will probably be the fastest ever heard, our MD told us last night.
No need to go out Shopp Ing until tomorrow, thankfully. Some Tidy Ing of Cubbuds has been done, so the day has not so far been wasted.
I used to use creams, but the last time I did, I came out in blotches, and looked even ghastlier than before.
Fingernails have been painted, and trotters will follow suit tomorrow - I would have had them done today but I didn't have time, as I'd arranged with our newest organist (who's from an evangelical background and has never been to Evensong) to show her through the service, and explain how Anglican Chant works. Luckily it seemed to click with her, and she was chuffed to bits at how I explained it. I'd like to think that David was guiding me from above, and would have approved.
Because I was late in getting home, supper was a popty-ping effort from Tessie's - chicken Madeira with mushroom rice - and as that sort of thing goes, it wasn't bad.
It was a long day, though - the journey (involving 3 buses) there all went very smoothly, but when I was gearing up to leave the heavens opened so I stayed a bit longer. I arrived in time for a good connection on the final leg of the journey but that bus was cancelled so I had a half-hour wait. That (busy) bus smelt of alcohol and takeaway curry
I am off this morning to my aerobics class and coffee with friends - always enjoyable
That's lovely about the organist and David's guidance, @Piglet
We have a friend from Germany coming to stay. So Much Preparation this morning. This evening a posh meal out. 🙂