Ok, I know, I've been a bit slack about updating the blog. If the truth be known, we weren't able to get to an internet cafe when travelling around Scotland, and once we were back, it was straight back to school, so I've been a bit busy. Couple that with the fact that the laptop I've currently been assigned from school is really rubbish... you get the picture.
Anyway.
On Easter Sunday, just before we embarked upon our Scottish adventure, Mum and I decided to attend the services at Westminster Abbey. Remembering my experience a few Christmases back, when Beck, Dem and I went to a Christmas service at the Abbey, and had to queue for some time, I thought we should try to get there a bit earlier to be sure of a seat near the front (being a choral conductor I like to be able to watch other conductors with their choirs).
The service started at 1030 and I thought if we made it there by 0900 or so we should be able to secure a good position. Fortunately there was no traffic and the good ole 159 bus had us there well and truly on time - we were able to get very good seats at the service. The mass was really very good, I quite enjoyed the choir although to be fair I felt the boys needed a bit more oomph to do Victoria's setting real justice (Tomas Luis de Victora Missa pro victoria), particularly in the Gloria. The choir was accompanied by His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornetts, who were very good - actually it was just lovely to hear period instruments accompanying the singing, very atmospheric. And the organist was having a bit of a ripper day too - thought the bloke was going to take off at the end, during Durufle's transcription of Tournemire's Choral-Improvisation sur le Victimae Paschali - although surprisingly he didn't follow with the Anglican tradition of OTT improvs during the last verse of the hymns (Bobby Boughen would be disappointed, hey Dad).
Anyway, after such an uplifting experience, what to do next? Ah, why not a Sunday roast at the Woodman... so we had a very nice lunch in one of our favourite pubs in Carshalton, even managed to persuade them to put on the cricket. I must admit I was a little surprised they didn't already have it on, as England were playing - although they were playing Australia, so maybe the landlord figured the result was inevitable, why watch?
All in all it was a very pleasant day.
6 comments:
Ah the woodman. I still dream about their beautiful chocolate pudding and the lovely little pond across the way... I wish I was there...
What, no comment about the Christmas service we went to at Westminster Abbey?
I miss the chocolate puddle puddings too, they don't do them anymore...
Hey Kylie! Seems like you're having a great time travelling around eh! I spent Easter in Helsinki with Veera, and that was excellent! I'm back in boring Singapore, and counting the days till late June, when Veera comes over!
RE: Westminster Abbey - what are you, the bobsy twins? Love the matching garb!!...
Yeah that wasn't really my fault - it was one of those days where the weather had the potential to get sort of warm (the poms were raving about a "heat wave" as it was going to be 22 or something) and as we were running a bit late for the bus, I just had to grab whatever. When we got outside I realised we were wearing the same colour...
Hey Jun
Nice to hear from you!
I'm glad you had a good time in Helsinki, but I wouldn't call Singapore boring!
Chat to you soon...
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