Godalming

Choirblast: a fantastic experience

/ brisbanefrannie / 5 Comments

Our day started in Guildford about 40 mins from our friend’s house. So I planned on staying over the night with Ren.

Ren is a new friend from our Geebung choir. She is doing a house exchange and has room for me on her lounge. Yes …..me couch surfing at my age.

We met up with the the choir and did some street pop ups. One on the church steps.

Me in the white hat. back row

One at the castle.

One at the bandstand.

All 3 attracted a crowd.

We visited the market stalls. And even sampled a gin.

Two sopranos sample Gin.
Good for the throat.

Heading back to Godalming where Choirblast is happening it’s a wonder we didn’t start singing on the 6 min train journey.

Lunch at the Pub with a jug of Pimm’s set us up for an afternoon on The Green.

A big area with several stages, lots of food trucks, a bar , coffee van, craft stalls and people scattered around on rugs and fold up chairs

Boards with the times and choir names were scattered around.

The light rain started but on we sat listening to choirs until it was our turn.

We finished quite late but Ren and I walked 20 mins home in rain but feeling very happy with our first big performance. I slept like a baby on my couch !

DAY 2

A sleep in was well deserved and breakfast in the garden was delightful.

Then our big day started. We performed at the The Court. Waiting on the steps in the shade everyone was feeling great. Ready for a 5 performance day!

Free time in between our performances gave us a chance to explore and listen to other choirs.

The NHS choir were beautiful and got a great response from the crowd. The nurses, doctors, support workers all worked on the front line during Covid and are so supported by the community it it is wonderful.

A children’s choir of 6 year olds stole our hearts.

The colourful choir ( not their name ) were so energetic and enthusiastic.

We drew a crowd with our fun numbers , a standing ovation for Come What May from Moulin Rouge.

Then we were performing the final concert. 🎶 We sang our party songs. Our Bangers and Mash up songs that everyone knows and love.

The crowd sang and danced along with us.

We did it. We finished on a high.

Bristol

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

The choir travelled today. On the bus by 9 we left in drizzly rain. We are supposed to be doing several pop up performances but if it rains there will be no audience.

First stop was for a Bansky street art ! A busy artist his work pops up everywhere.

Banksy in Bristol

Off to the Clifton suspension bridge. The hardy climbers went down 130 steps to a cave to view the bridge from a different angle. But I was happy up top.

We lined up along the wall and did two songs for a small but appreciative audience!

Back on the bus to the centre of Bristol and another bit of Banksy street art

We walked towards the river and set up for a pop up concert but it rained. So along the wharf for lunch and a wine.

We tried again after lunch and succeeded.

The highlight of the day was going to St Stephen’s Cathedral. we had been invited uk join a local choir for a concert in the cathedral.

They made us so welcome. their musical director. Beth is from Brisbane but living in Bristol. Our Musical Dircector Jac is from this area but lives in Brisbane.

They made contact and set up this joint concert.

We rehearsed the song we were to sing together ‘What the World Needs Now’ It sounds great. And the choir. – all women were so friendly.

Each one of us received a hand written post card from one of the choir. What a thoughtful thing to do.

We also were treated to a cream sherry. Delicious and were told it is medical. Good for singers throat.

The concert started and we sat in the church and listened.

They sang about 5 songs. Then our turn.

The acoustics in the church were beautiful. I’m sure it enhanced our singing.

We finished with our joint song. What a great experience. I think this will be a highlight of our tour.

Back on to the bus to Bath and a few photo opportunities. The Royal Crescent is as i remember from 1976. Very elegant. Though the grass was under construction. A Robbie Williams concert is coming up so they were constructing the stage.

We walked as a raggedy group towards the city centre. Passing the Jane Austen Centre. It’s the 250th Anniversary for Jane and there are special celebrations everywhere

A group of girls emerged all dressed in period costumes which is a better sight than some of the hens groups we have seen around Brighton and now Bath.

Some outrageous and sometimes tacky dress ups have been spotted!

It was more Gin o’ clock so we found a great gin bar and tried a few of the gin combinations. We paid for 1 but after awhile the waitress appeared with a trio of different gins and a bottle of tonic.

Yes please we all said!

A delicious rhubarb gin with ginger ale!

A slow walk through town to meet David and Steve.

Fell into bed exhausted.