Travelling

Well I never though I'd be making an entry while sat in an Airport, but there you go, isn't free WiFi wonderful   I have an hour to kill and I thought it was about time I updated this with all the recent events.

I've not got around to an update as I've not been at home at the weekend for over a month now.  I've been going from one event to another the part few weeks, most of which with the choir.  Started on 20th August with the week long RESITS (Revelation in Edinburgh Singing In The Sun) event.  (Making the 6th time I've been to Scotland this year having never been before in my life!)  It was a fantastic event, rather more personal than WiM (Week In March) as there was a smaller group.  I got to catch up with people I saw at WiM and make a couple of new friends.  Stayed in a B&B rather than sleeping on the floor, as it's probably the only week off I'm having this year I wanted to relax.  The cooked breakfast was something needed as most days were rehearsals in the morning followed by performance in the afternoon.  The city was really buzzing as it was also Edinburgh fringe, we had some huge crowds and some tiny ones, but as ever the performing & the people is the fun part.  Evenings were nights out to plays that choir members were involved with, pubs and tea parties and jamming.  Borrowed a bass guitar and joined in, which was great, not done that in a very long time.  Need to practice more often!  As is often the case, the first day I just wanted to go home, the last day, I just didn't want to have to leave.  I simply wish I'd started going to these events sooner.  Resits pictures & recordings.

The Wedding.
At resits, a friend asked if anyone to come sing at their brother's wedding, of course I stuck my hand up, not realising what I was in for.  What I thought would be a relaxed sing song and a wedding party turned into something else.  We were to practice in Suffolk and then travel to the performance in Sommerset, two not so easy places to get to on public transport (not that there is an easy place to get to on british public transport).  So I hired a 7 seater MPV, which had turned into a 9 seater by the time I collected it.  Damn was that fun to drive!  So we spent a rather intensive 14 hours rehearsing at a wonderful house in Suffolk on the Saturday, on the Sunday we did more and then made the drive to Sommerset.  During the 5 hour trip we learned two more songs!  The wedding venue was stunning, as was the reception.  I'd never been to a traditional white wedding before, it was very moving.  Especially as we were in the choir area in the church, behind the vicar and could see the bride trying not to cry.  Got to sing Jerusalem, which is always a plus.  Singing at the reception wasn't as easy as I expected, we were outside and the choir wasn't huge, so it was difficult to hear how we sounded, but we appear to have been well received   Met more great people and made a couple of new friends.  Had to drive back to Liverpool that night, though rather wanting to stay.  Had to get up at 5am the following day to fly back, felt rather shell shocked back in work.

Hull.
People said to me, "Hull?  Why on earth are you going to Hull?  It's one letter short of Hell, that should tell you something!".  Other than driving into Hull, a couple of pubs and the venue, I didn't really see much, but it just seemed like any other random northern town to me.  I am rambling however, the Hull branch of rev was celebrating their 5th birthday and national was invited to the party.  The bouncy castle was good, even if it did make me feel sick, the cake was excellent too.  Got to see some peeps I've not seen since barbados/WiM which was good.  I took my bass this time, and boy was I glad I did; I actually got to use it in a performance, and it sounded good.  Managed to borrow a sweet Marshall amp from a crazy man that is waaay too generous with his expensive kit.  (he lent us a drum kit too, a nice drum kit)  I took my minidisc with me, gaffered the mic to the back wall and got a not half bad recording.  Phil had some time off from work the week after and so decided to come visit me, we travelled back together and he stayed until Thursday.  He took a huge number of pictures with his amazing camera, which I will sort into a gallery.  Was good to have a guest, shame I had to work though, would have been nice to show him around the island, though he seems to have found most of the interesting spots himself.

I will take this opportunity to save this entry & get moving as my flight is boarding!

Keele.
Well, unsurprisingly I found a reason to go to Keele.  Fresher's Fair!  This time to help rev at keele with their signup process.  Got to meet up with friends, went for meals, enthused to a bunch of people, worn a hat of honor (sic), taught some parts to songs, gave away free Haribo and generally had a good time and didn't do much rushing about.  I'm getting a bit fed up with Airport security.  They are an utter waste of space and are convinced of their own self importance.  Just once I'd like to tell them what I think, but I don't fancy being strip searched.  What a wonderful place we live in.

Bangor.
Well I'm not there yet.  Infact I've not even booked the tickets because I've just not got around to it, and now all the flights are full.  Boo hoo.  I suppose I'll have to get on the early morning ferry, bleh.

I think next weekend is currently free.  Staying at home is going to feel weird.  As is having nothing in particular to do.  More late work this week too.  Woo Overtime!  Anyways, time for bed.  Note to self: Update weblog more often.