Rhyddid - live the questions now

Plumbing, bulkheads and singing!

Well an excellent weekend boat wise. As you can see from the new picture set I have plumbing in place and the first bulkhead! My boss, Spencer, offered to help with the plumbing and as this is something that still is a mystery to me I was very glad of the help. We stated Friday evening and by close of play had got the main pump in and the cold feed to the kitchen. Saturday, after a quick trip to Wicks, we pressed on. So by the end of Saturday the pumps are in and wired, the feeds to the kitchen and bathroom and the heated skirting board.
On Sunday Dave came over to help and we got templates made to cut the bulkheads, then cut out the three main bulkheads and got the first one in place. So a really great weekend and I feel I am starting to make progress after not much getting done recently.

Then Sunday afternoon I went to my second meeting with Reading Gay Chorus. They are putting on a show in June with all the songs coming from films. More on that closer to the time.

Fantastic evening at the Royal Albert Hall

Well I am sitting in the Fullers pub at Paddington station after the most fantastic evening of music. I went to John Foulds's A World Requiem which was being performed for the first time in 81 years!
This hugh production included the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus, Crouch End Festival Chorus, the Philharmonia Chorus and Trinity Boys Choir.
I was not quite sure what to expect from tonights performance, I have to say it was an amazing evening. With performers off stage as well as over four hundred people on stage it was an quite an evening.

The joy of singing

I have had a delightful afternoon singing at two weddings. There is a real pleasure in adding something to a special day and doing something I really enjoy. We sang two arrangements by Rutter, For the Beauty of the Earth and All Things Bright and Beautiful. A good selection of hymns including Jerusalem and now on the train to another night of Proms.

First might of the Proms

Well I am sitting outside the Albert Hall in of the Albert Memorial before the first night of the BBC Proms and because of the delights of mobile blogging I can tell you all about it as it happens.
It is my first live 'First Night' and very enjoyable so far. First up was William Walton and Portsmouth Point . A decent rousing start to the evening. A change of pace next with Edward Elgar and his Cello Concerto in E. The first time I have the pleasure of hearing it live and a very enjoyable and moving experience it was. After the interval the final piece was Beethoven Symphony No. 9. What a truly excellent performance, especially by the BBC Symphony Chorus. So my first live Prom and a really evening and tomorrow Prom 2 is a complete change with music from Great British Films. I will let you know how it goes.

New radio

I bought a new radio yesterday. The Pure digital Oasis. The observant of you will notice that it only has a single speaker, yes I've gone mono! The reason for buying it is that it is portable, rugged and DAB, it also has the ability to plug an mp3 player in. Just what I need on the boat and lets be honest who needs a stereo image when you are wondering around a 60ft steel tube!

Old records

I invested in a new turntable a couple of weeks ago, it is the iTTUSB from Ion Audio It has the great advantage it plugs straight into your computer via USB and using Audacity you can digitise your vinyl collection. I haven't listened to my records in a long time and it has been a real delight to sit in the evening remembering what I was doing at the time I purchased a particular album. Last night I was listening to Genesis, Seconds Out with the delights of Supper's Ready and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway! Wonderful stuff. Tonight, well I might try a bit of Iron Maiden!

Carols at Christmas

Had a wonderful time at the Albert Hall. I went to Carols by Candlelight on the 23rd and a great occasion it was. All those people singing together, a really moving experience.
The final Carol service of Christmas was Sunday morning at a lovely church out in the sticks. So thats the carols over with for another year, shame really as I enjoy them.

Carol service

I have just returned from the annual carol service at my local church. My sister, Su, got me involved in the choir for it and I am very pleased she did. A very enjoyable evening and despite the weather a church full of people. Then mulled wine and mince pies. Christmas has really started.

First Carol service

I had a very enjoyable Sunday evening at the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement annual Carol service. It was held at St Botolph's Church, Aldgate. The address by Rev Richard Haggis was very thought provoking and it is a shame that he does not have the opportunity to preach more often. It was good to be able to worship in a welcome an open environment. The evening finished off with mulled wine and mince pies. Lovely!

John Peel

Received a fantastic new CD box set yesterday. John Peel's Dandelion - Life Too, Has Surface Noise - The Complete Dandelion Records Singles Collection 1969-1972. Some excellent tracks on it and really good service from Cherry Red Records as well. Bill Oddie, yes he of Spring Watch fame, doing 'On Ilkla Moor Baht'at' in the style of Joe Cocker's hit 'With a Little Help from My Friends' is just wonderful. S oif you like the music John played on PerfumedGarden then give the CD a look.