A couple of years ago I was doing my usual trudge past the artificial 'lake' in the Barbican, early on a Saturday morning, on my way to teach at the Guildhall - and could hardly believe my eyes when I saw a heron fly in. It looked totally inconguous amongst all that concrete, but very beautiful - like a symbol of hope surrounded by despair.

I've never seen one since, there, though...

knowing I've only got 4 days at work this week

I agree about France. Some of their cathedrals are now in a perilous state, and will probably have to be abandoned altogether within a few years if nothing is done.

Thankfully the situation in the UK is rather different, but from my observations it only seems to be minsters and cathedrals from York southwards which charge for admission. Durham Cathedral does not currently charge for admission, and I don't think there are any plans to do so, (I'm not sure about Ripon); but a recent report said that average donations to Durham were only 32 pence per visitor, (see BBC Report) which doesn't go very far.

Meanwhile our parish churches, which are an equally important a part of our heritage, get comparatively few visitors, and rely almost entirely on the local community for financial support.

SB

that's fab!

I think it isn't fair to charge so much. I used to live near Salisbury and used to pop in to the cathedral a lot - but only for about ten minutes at a time. I never used to pay unless I was going on a "proper" visit - taking other people around etc. I could never have afforded to go in otherwise and it did lift my spirits each time. The fee is voluntary but you need a strong will to walk past the queue!

I think a charge of five pounds is fair enough (if regrettable), but sixteen pounds for an adult, or 38 pounds for a family ticket as at Westminster seems extortionate to me.

On the other hand I suppose an entry charge stops tourists from simply wandering in, taking a few snaps and leaving, but it still doesn't seem right.

SB

Got my train tickets for this weekend to go and visit dave brum (aka Lee King) the Bard of Birmingham and sing some Welsh songs, play some duets and convince him he could sail through grade 3 just as long as he can shrug off the sight-reading as something not worth fretting over to the extent that he has been. In case anyone remotely cares, he's feeling a lot better - it's amazing how much depression improves when someone takes a concern in how you're feeling

That's good to know. I am sure I am not the only forumite to have been concerned when he de-registered, particularly since his depression sounded quite severe.

Brill Linda, hope you have a great time!!

My happy....First changing of the guard went well this morning, it was an amazing feeling - and so many tourists!! And I managed to not make any major mistakes!! I am tired and aching now after another rehearsal this afternoon... Tomorrow hopefully playing with either the resident band or orchestra here....excited!!

I was aware that his frequent postings had stopped-----but didn't realise he had de-registered.
Hope you can instill a modicum of confidence in him, linda.ff------and pass on best wishes from forumites.

Being told that I'd produced the best phrasing I've ever done.

Officially declaring a concentration at university

getting through band last night, a lonely 2nd clari.........

I am using all four processors simultaneously on this computer and am thus doing something in three minutes that used to take ten.

..... Or could have been done in ten seconds using a Slide Rule.

SB

Nope. Not this particular thing. I do actually know how to use one, my dad taught me, though I don't own one myself.

Medium walk (8 miles) in gale blown pouring rain !

Yes I know I am odd, but it is the first opportunity I have had for a walk since starting to catch up from my 2 week lay-off with the BUG which has been ravaging these parts. Wearing the right gear I was warm and dry and it is quite exhilarating- --and I didn't meet anyone above the town or along the shore---even the street was quiet.
Now I need to get ready for my violin group---have to decide whether just to keep these clothes on or risk getting tidy clothes soaked getting to the class-----no decision really---they can all think I am mad as well! (they probably think it already anyway).

I do. I bought it on eBay, and subsequently found a Teach Yourself Slide Rule book of a similar vintage to go with it.
But best of all, I recently found a (free) slide rule app for my iPad

My first orchestral rehearsal for 18 years....I loved it! Slotted straight in, even though there were only 2 desks of 1st and 2 desks of 2nds...a bit exposed LOL

Can't wait for the next one now

Yes, it does help to concentrate on your work whilst at university - but, now that you've decided to concentrate on university, make sure that you don't overdo it and that you also take time for yourself, friends and viola/piano.

... I have a slide rule lurking somewhere - when I did my O Level maths, log tables and slide rules were permitted, but calculators (which were just becoming affordable and prevalent) were not permitted.

Of course one had to be wary of premature approximation.


Just had the one and only rehearsal with the choir I've been asked to dep in on Sunday for the services at Bangor Cathedral (I can't do the Saturday Evensong as I'm auditioning for an orchestra )

One humungous pile of music we went through including Macmillan and Matthias. I'll post a list when I'm a little less

Seeing what was a rather large pile of unsorted scores turn into a rather large pile of tidy, sorted scores Just a few stray bits and pieces to sort through now.............

I still have my book of Log Tables from school, complete with sines and cosines, tangents and cotangents, reciprocals and so forth. I wonder how many school-age children would know what to do with them nowadays? Our daughter (14) reckons the book must have been written in stone, or at least on parchment to have been at school with me.

Enjoy Bangor. What Matthias are you playing? SB Junior is playing some Matthias pieces for his A2 Music Performance exam next week, and I must say I have rather grown to like them.

SB

There's an article about me in the local paper today. I was quite scared of the reaction it might get, but I've been inundated with messages of support all day. I'm so glad I agreed to tell them my little story.

It's a great article Floss keep looking after yourself

my happy - one more day at work before Benslow

Thanks Louise! Enjoy Benslow!

*is now intrigued*

Me too.

SB

Will do

You forgot sleep and food! But point taken

We used to say, friends - work - sleep - choose two

my happy is that im very slowly recovering from this cold iv eha d for 2 weeks. It's almost disapeeared as well.

I am finally curled up in bed again after an exceedingly long day.

Sorry for delay in replying on this - mad week.

Bangor music:

Eucharist: Darke in E
Motet: Ave Verum Corpus - William Matthias

Evensong responses: Reading in A - Sharpe
Canticles: Brewer in D
Anthem: The Lamb has come for us - James MacMillan

There'll be 20 of us. I can't do the Saturday Evensong.

I'll post when I know what the voluntaries are (probably not unil Sunday!).

I can't use a slide rule, but doing A Level maths we still used log tables in the statistics modules. And, no-one is ever going to part me from my trusty steam tables...

That said, my boyfriend has written a rather nifty bit of code that looks up the values and does any iteration required for you, which is rather handy. Such a shame that IT won't let me run .exe files on my work computer!

Oooh Darke in E is lovely. <3 <3

Band practice, amazing what a difference a good drummer makes

Benslow tomorrow

No work until Tuesday

Band practice here too.

My happy: My car passed it's MOT without needing any work doing. It's the first time that's happened, and a big relief because I was worried about how much she might cost and whether the cost would mean having to say goodbye to her...

Ordering a box of Ladybird covers as postcards and a copy of 'Ned the Lonely Donkey'.

Many thanks to jo.clarinet for this!!

going to Benslow today

excited, well, maybe just a teeny weeny bit

Thanks for this.

I like the Darke in E too.

I don't think I know the Matthias Ave Verum, but like all Matthias I am sure it will be "interesting".

SB

FFFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Best website in the world...but only on Fridays:
Is it Friday?

Managing to keep up in string group last night! and putting my recorder music in a new pretty pink file, also sticking a picture of a recorder on the front of it.

The sun shining and NO RAIN.

TenorViol - are you going to Bangor university? My OH studied Music there, specialising in Organ.

A cracking parade today and up at the Tower of London tomorrow. I can't wait, very very excited!!!

No, Bangor Cathedral.