Raising the bar: a month of rehearsals November 2013

Yes, it’s that time of year again and we’ve had to polish up the Christmas songs. We’ve concentrated this year on just three: Carol of the Bells, (really bell-like when performed well), A Holly Jolly Christmas, (indeed very jolly with some effective harmonies) and Merrily Sing We Noel (fast-paced and also a little bell-like).

The North Wales Choral Festival 10 November 2013

Didn’t we have a lovely time the day we went to… Llandudno? Well, it’s not that far from Bangor. So, we all piled into various cars on a bright autumn Sunday morning and made our way to the seaside. Yes, indeed. It was fine enough for us not to feel cold when we took our coats off for a photo on the sea-front.

The day we went to Llandudno

Brahma Kumaris’ Imagine Event at Days Hotel Manchester

9 November 2013

We’ve had a busy weekend. Saturday evening found us singing for the Brahma Kumaris Imagine event at the Days Hotel and Conference Centre, Manchester. Special guest speaker was Jayanti Kirpalani whose work involves initiating dialogues on how we can make better living a reality.

The evening involved two talks by Sister Jayanti, including a short meditation, and three sessions by the choir. Some of us were more convinced than the others by the message that Brahma Kumaris offers.  Equally some joined in the meditation and others didn’t.  I personally didn’t: I was much too aware that straight afterwards we had to move smartly and purposefully – but not in a panic – from our seats on to the stage and be ready to sing. I did shut my eyes and listen to the words, though. And I slept better that night than I have for a long time.

National Football Museum

Our tour of striking Manchester buildings continued today. The National Football Museum, Cathedral Gardens, is so big you can’t see it. Or maybe you can’t see it because it blends in so well. It matches the sky and the weather and changes with them, chameleon-fashion. It’s just a few metres away from Victoria Station and the main shopping centre. A refuge for shopping-hating partners?  It’s a fascinating place anyway, stuffed full of football facts and images. And it’s acoustically pleasing.