29/12/06 - Day 2
After having only been able to sleep in fits of an hour, I got up early to go in search of a supermarket for flat provisions. I wondered north of the hotel, up to the Victoria & Albert Museum on Brompton Road, then west, and 40 minutes later, returned with groceries etc bought from a rather expensive Convenience Store. After feeding and watering, I went to the Abbey where we had a 2hr rehearsal in the song school, followed by our first "singing" (rather than observing) Evensong service. It was rather daunting in many respects - the acoustic is larger than anywhere I've ever sung before, and also there was a congregation numbering more than 400 people. We got on with the service and had a great time, despite the nerves.
Some of us in the song school
Following the service, we were treated to an 1.5 hr evening tour of the Abbey by Fr Graeme - its astounding the amount of information contained in this man's brain! Here are some photos:
From the nave, looking towards the screen and beyond it, the quire.
From the quire looking towards the nave.
South organ case, as viewed from nave
Abbey ceiling detail
After the tour, as was becoming the custom, we retired to the pub, then a group of us decided to go to Brick Lane for a curry - what an area! The touts are a pain though..."would you like to come to the best curry house in Brick Lane"...gawd! I was introduced to two ex-St Andrew's Cathedral School boys, who then took myself, Helen Grimley and Huw out for more drinks, this time at The Porterhouse. Following that, I decided to meet up with Mark, Danny, Bribri and Robert at a pub in Limehouse by the name of The White Swan. I had no sooner got myself a drink than a crazy blackwoman dragqueen by the name of Sandra (I am told she's the "meanest bitch in the east") had me up on stage and had removed my shirt!! She then proceeded to put her hand down my pants, much to my shock, amazement and disgust! I reclothed myself, danced to a few tunes, had a few more beers, and then jumped in a cab back to the hotel. Big mistake! £35 (AUD$100!) later, I was back at the hotel - the journey took no more than about 25/30 mins!
Some of us in the song school
Following the service, we were treated to an 1.5 hr evening tour of the Abbey by Fr Graeme - its astounding the amount of information contained in this man's brain! Here are some photos:
From the nave, looking towards the screen and beyond it, the quire.
From the quire looking towards the nave.
South organ case, as viewed from nave
Abbey ceiling detail
After the tour, as was becoming the custom, we retired to the pub, then a group of us decided to go to Brick Lane for a curry - what an area! The touts are a pain though..."would you like to come to the best curry house in Brick Lane"...gawd! I was introduced to two ex-St Andrew's Cathedral School boys, who then took myself, Helen Grimley and Huw out for more drinks, this time at The Porterhouse. Following that, I decided to meet up with Mark, Danny, Bribri and Robert at a pub in Limehouse by the name of The White Swan. I had no sooner got myself a drink than a crazy blackwoman dragqueen by the name of Sandra (I am told she's the "meanest bitch in the east") had me up on stage and had removed my shirt!! She then proceeded to put her hand down my pants, much to my shock, amazement and disgust! I reclothed myself, danced to a few tunes, had a few more beers, and then jumped in a cab back to the hotel. Big mistake! £35 (AUD$100!) later, I was back at the hotel - the journey took no more than about 25/30 mins!
posted by Daniel at 9:57 am
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