VA Democratic Primary

Served as an election officer in yesterday's Democratic Primary here in Virginia. Here are my takeaways from yesterday's turnout:

1) People really need to check to see where they are supposed to vote BEFORE they go to the polls! I wish I had a dollar for every voter who showed up at the wrong precinct. 🙂

2) People also need to check to see if they are properly registered to vote, especially if they have recently changed addresses and/or names.

Wesley House

After singing at Great St. Mary's, I happened to pass by the Wesley House. Curious to see more, I was very cordially welcomed by the staff and even given a brief tour.

"Wesley House was founded as a Methodist theological college in Jesus Lane, Cambridge, England. It opened in 1921 as a place for the education of Methodist ministers and today serves as a gateway to theological scholarship for students and scholars of the Wesleyan and Methodist traditions from around the world. It was a founding member of the Cambridge Theological Federation, an ecumenical body of theological colleges in Cambridge which is affiliated to but independent of the University of Cambridge." -- Wikipedia

Lunchtime Concert

After tea, it was back to Great St. Mary's for our final performance of the tour.

Entrance to Great St. Mary's choir stalls from the chantry.

Post Office

So, whilst in Cambridge,  I sought out and found an actual post office! I came away with the distinct impression that post offices in England provide quite a wide variety of services other than just postage.

Chapel Notices

It really was an unexpected privilege to be able to visit the Jesus College Chapel on my own in advance of the choir's engagement for evensong. According to Wikipedia, "When founded in 1496, the college consisted of buildings taken over from the Nunnery of St Mary and St Radegund, which was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. The chapel is the oldest university building in Cambridge still in use and predates the foundation of the college by 350 years; it also predates the university by half a century."

Steep Hill

Lincoln, England

Evensong

The renowned British composer Andrew Carter on the right with the scarf congratulating members of the choir for our performance of his Californian Canticles at evensong.

After evensong in Ripon, it was a quick bus trip back to Harrogate for a bite to eat at The Crown's bar and grill and a night's rest before returning to sing for Sunday morning Eucharist.

Ripon

Another reason to eat lunch at the Royal Oak is that it is literally around the corner from the cathedral where I was headed next for rehearsal. We had so many rehearsals because the choir sang different music for each performance. In fact, most of us traveled with separate bags for the sole purpose of carrying our music and choir robes. Also, each cathedral or chapel had its own unique acoustics and physical space, requiring us to quickly settle in and adjust to the new circumstances.

The Royal Oak

So the story behind I found myself eating at The Royal Oak in Ripon begins with the dinner I enjoyed the night before in Harrogate. There the waiter, learning that I was to sing the next day at Ripon Cathedral, heartily recommended that I grab lunch here. He was right. It was a great place to eat. Plus I was welcomed there by a very cordial and, I must say, quite accommodating canine maître d'. :-)

Wall Art

Last two images from St. John the Baptist's Church before I had to leave for rehearsal a few minutes later at St. Mary's.

Door

So while still on my way to rehearsal in Stamford, I stopped by to visit St. John Church. Here I just admired one of the church's heavy wooden doors.

Spanish Food

Spotted this vendor at work in Stamford on my way from lunch to rehearsal. 

Maids Head

 

 

The Maids Head Hotel in Norwich, although tricky to navigate because of its mishmash of floors and stairs, was by far and away my favorite place to stay on our tour. Great staff!

 

Norwich

Didn't have time to visit much of Norwich Castle. Had to rush back to the cathedral for choir rehearsal and evensong. I did, though, stop just long enough to enjoy these views of Norwich from atop the castle hill. Lovely little town.

Caution

I was cautious while attending this past Saturday's "Hands Off" rally. After having read about so many accounts of people ramming their cars into crowds, I gave wide berth to any approaching vehicles and privately hoped others would do the same. As it happened, no cars or trucks strayed from their appointed routes and, to my surprise, most passers-by seemed to approve of the demonstration, with only one totally-to-be-expected exception of a driver who nonetheless felt obliged to express his objection to the gathering with a universally recognizable gesture of his hand.

All Shall Be Well

 

 

The Julian Shrine 

Norwich, England

Dame Julian

Hazelnut

 

The Julian Shrine

Norwich, England

Enough

 

The Julian Shrine 

Norwich, England

Cell

 

 

"In 14th century Norwich a young woman fell under a life-threatening illness, during which she experienced a series of extraordinary visions. These revelations transformed her life, and after a miraculous recovery she took vows to live as an anchoress, locking herself away in a small cell attached to a church in Norwich" -- The Julian Shrine