Thrilling concert this evening which earned a standing ovation. Probably one of the best Messiahs I have ever sung in - and there have bern more than a few. I’ve lost count. Maybe 50?
The city is a crazy place. Far too many people risking death by crossing the road in front of oncoming trams, electric scooters on the pavements and pedestrian areas, groups of people who have had rather too much to drink, as well as the crowds enjoying the Christmas market and fair and the many pubs and restaurants. A long wait for the tram then a 25 minute drive home, so I’m not sure if I’ll wake up in time for church or if I’ll have any voice tomorrow. We’ll see.
We went to a wonderful choral concert put on jointly by the Welsh National Opera chorus and the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama. Lots of short pieces, with some poetry interspersed. Some here will be pleased to know that it included four items from Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" in its original version (no male voices, harp accompaniment played by two ladies called - incredibly - Rose and Mistletoe. Concert preceded by an excellent Italian meal in a rammed-full and noisy restaurant next door. Main courses only - the portions are large! And (unlike Sarasa) we only had to wait a few minutes for the bus home.
We went to a wonderful choral concert put on jointly by the Welsh National Opera chorus and the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama. Lots of short pieces, with some poetry interspersed. Some here will be pleased to know that it included four items from Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" in its original version (no male voices, harp accompaniment played by two ladies called - incredibly - Rose and Mistletoe. Concert preceded by an excellent Italian meal in a rammed-full and noisy restaurant next door. Main courses only - the portions are large! And (unlike Sarasa) we only had to wait a few minutes for the bus home.
I thought Ceremony of Carols was originally written for male (albeit boy's) voices?
Wow, I’m so glad to hear that the concert was a success @Puzzler . That city was pretty mad on a Saturday evening when I lived there nearly fifty odd years ago and there weren’t trams and scooters to contend with.
Apart from church this morning I have nothing planned today though I may go and look at the Steampunk parade this afternoon in the Market Square.
Very good. I've driven to M/C more times than I've had hot pasties. We used to drive to Barnsley, and then over t'tops, through villages like Hoylandswaine. But this was to Oldham, jewel of the North.
... I like the bus, cheap and comfortable. I bought both seats for comfort and paid £30 return all told ...
You have to pay for a bus??? You want to move to Scotland - it's free when you turn 60!
@Puzzler - glad to hear your Messiah went so well.
Usual Sunday here: church, chat over coffee, brunch, laundry. Must contemplate suitable hymns for the Sunday after Christmas, as for reasons best known to herself, Rev'd Rosie has picked a chorus that absolutely nobody (apparently including her) knows, so one of the organists asked me to try and find an alternative.
This'll be fun ...
Evensong later, because first Sunday of the month, so supper will probably be either f&c or Chinese, depending on my mood.
You should move to Wales - you can use (Welsh) passes on the long distance Trawscymru routes - which are, I have to say, buses not coaches! Passes not valid on Flixbus etc.
I slept for six and a half hours solid, so was ready for church.
The visiting priest is chaotic, keeps getting muddled up. He insisted we say the Gloria today even though we had sung the Kyries, it being Advent. He messed up various prayers, and said the ones we all join in so fast, nobody could keep up. As for the 20 minute sermon, there were some good kernels of wisdom but so many random anecdotes.
The organist changed a couple of hymn tunes without telling us which upset the altos.
Afterwards I nipped over to a nearby town for an antique fair but didn’t buy anything. I’m staying in for the rest of the day.
Yet another Dismal Desmond of a day in Arkland the Drenched, where Wind, Rain, and a (predicted) high tide have compounded with flood water which They have let down from inland to inundate our car park, walkways etc., causing much Upset to my Arrangements.
I had planned on going to the Co-Op this afternoon, being short on Essentials, but the road leading to the Ark will be flooded for at least another hour - by which time Bat-Black Night will have fallen, and I don't go out at night (lest I turn into a Pumpkin).
Fortunately, I'd parked the car on a spot which is normally safe, and the encroaching waters just missed it.
Lunch is Italian - SPAGHETTI CARBONARA and BIRRA MORETTI.
It was a full day for us. It was the children's Christmas thing at church this morning, featuring Captain Pyjamas as 17th angel. Very cute he looked too, with his wings on. After that we went out for lunch to an establishment purporting to be an English pub. We shared a Scotch egg, then I had Welsh rarebit (about 60% CHEESE) and husband en rouge had pie. The children's menu was fish and chips but the Captain can't have chips for another week for fear of injuring his tonsils, so he had to have mashed potatoes instead. All very tasty.
We finished the afternoon by going to look at the Christmas window displays in Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
Don't know if I'll bother with any supper. The lunch was copious.
I've been on flixbus in Italy and very good it was too. I hope you've now safely arrived in Manchester @Boogie.
I've had a very lazy day, but the cushion for my sister in law is now finished.
It's been raining on and off here, but not too heavily so I'm hoping the local river will stay well within its banks. At least it isn't tidal here.
... The organist changed a couple of hymn tunes without telling us which upset the altos ...
Is outrage! (An Alto Has Spoken).
By the time I went out for Evensong, it had obviously been tipping rain for some considerable time; the walkway from my flat to the high street was well flooded (there are drains, but they would appear to be blocked). Even getting across the road without seriously dampening the trotters was quite a challenge.
There were only half a dozen of us (including priest and organist), but it was a nice service all the same, with decent hymns (see Eccles).
Comments
The city is a crazy place. Far too many people risking death by crossing the road in front of oncoming trams, electric scooters on the pavements and pedestrian areas, groups of people who have had rather too much to drink, as well as the crowds enjoying the Christmas market and fair and the many pubs and restaurants. A long wait for the tram then a 25 minute drive home, so I’m not sure if I’ll wake up in time for church or if I’ll have any voice tomorrow. We’ll see.
We went to a wonderful choral concert put on jointly by the Welsh National Opera chorus and the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama. Lots of short pieces, with some poetry interspersed. Some here will be pleased to know that it included four items from Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" in its original version (no male voices, harp accompaniment played by two ladies called - incredibly - Rose and Mistletoe. Concert preceded by an excellent Italian meal in a rammed-full and noisy restaurant next door. Main courses only - the portions are large! And (unlike Sarasa) we only had to wait a few minutes for the bus home.
I thought Ceremony of Carols was originally written for male (albeit boy's) voices?
Apart from church this morning I have nothing planned today though I may go and look at the Steampunk parade this afternoon in the Market Square.
I like the bus, cheap and comfortable. I bought both seats for comfort and paid £30 return all told. 4 hour journey - same as by car.
I bought a pasty at the bus station (they are delicious, I've had one before and look forward to it on my travels)
Now I'm debating when to eat it. 🙂
@Puzzler - glad to hear your Messiah went so well.
Usual Sunday here: church, chat over coffee, brunch, laundry. Must contemplate suitable hymns for the Sunday after Christmas, as for reasons best known to herself, Rev'd Rosie has picked a chorus that absolutely nobody (apparently including her) knows, so one of the organists asked me to try and find an alternative.
This'll be fun ...
Evensong later, because first Sunday of the month, so supper will probably be either f&c or Chinese, depending on my mood.
I have a bus pass but it doesn't apply to flixbus, megabus or national express.
🙂
The visiting priest is chaotic, keeps getting muddled up. He insisted we say the Gloria today even though we had sung the Kyries, it being Advent. He messed up various prayers, and said the ones we all join in so fast, nobody could keep up. As for the 20 minute sermon, there were some good kernels of wisdom but so many random anecdotes.
The organist changed a couple of hymn tunes without telling us which upset the altos.
Afterwards I nipped over to a nearby town for an antique fair but didn’t buy anything. I’m staying in for the rest of the day.
I had planned on going to the Co-Op this afternoon, being short on Essentials, but the road leading to the Ark will be flooded for at least another hour - by which time Bat-Black Night will have fallen, and I don't go out at night (lest I turn into a Pumpkin).
Fortunately, I'd parked the car on a spot which is normally safe, and the encroaching waters just missed it.
Lunch is Italian - SPAGHETTI CARBONARA and BIRRA MORETTI.
It's supposed to be dry tomorrow, so an Expotition to a Shop (probably Tess Coe) will be attempted...well before the tide arrives!
We finished the afternoon by going to look at the Christmas window displays in Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
Don't know if I'll bother with any supper. The lunch was copious.
I've had a very lazy day, but the cushion for my sister in law is now finished.
It's been raining on and off here, but not too heavily so I'm hoping the local river will stay well within its banks. At least it isn't tidal here.
By the time I went out for Evensong, it had obviously been tipping rain for some considerable time; the walkway from my flat to the high street was well flooded (there are drains, but they would appear to be blocked). Even getting across the road without seriously dampening the trotters was quite a challenge.
There were only half a dozen of us (including priest and organist), but it was a nice service all the same, with decent hymns (see Eccles).
The f&c was quite splendid.