San Diego Children's Choir, England/Wales Tour
Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Please click on any thumbnail to view a larger image; see journal below

He's playing our song (Berkeley Square) on the saw! Christie likes Ben and Jerry's no matter which continent it's on! Lisl, we're going the other way! Watching the local talent
Waiting for the stragglers Sharing shopping successes Saying goodbye to Abbey Square in Bath Final practice before changing for the performance
Three generations of choir t-shirts Our host Robin introducing Mrs. Brigham and the Concert Choir Mrs. Brigham and Kris going over the program Rick and Shannon talking to the host
SDCC sales team in action

Form some ineffable reason shrouded in mystery to lesser mortals, the chaperones saw fit to wake us up at seven, despite the fact that we didn't have to be in town for lunch until noon. Donna's group (Sarah, Kristiana, Julienne, Jenna, Kate, Ashley, Kelsey, and Stephanie with the addition of Jamie and Elizabeth M.) scored in the room department and were assigned a truly palatial residence with two showers and loos actually in the room (which for some of us -which means me - were intolerably smug about.) Albeit when both showers were in use one spat and sputtered and wheezed water in dire need of an exorcism, and the other had all the water pressure of a light drizzle.

Breakfast was… greasy, after which some of us ambled into town to run our assorted errands, of just find ways to waste money. We also saw a man play a saw! The rest of us remained en hostel to make ourselves beautiful. After a dubious lunch of Shepherd's pie (some of our more brilliant choristers (again I refer to myself) failed to realize that Shepherd's pie is in fact, lamb) and chocolate mousse. Mark the Driver messed with our collective heads by pretending we had to walk all the way by to the hostel, although his little plot wore thin 2 minutes in at the sign reading "Coach Park - this way".

At 3:45, punctually (ha), we departed for Fromme, sack lunches and uniforms in tow. Before rehearsal we left our lunches and uniforms in a mushy, dusty, moldy little room which smelled unhealthy and had a clinging, penetrating chill in the air. After rehearsal in St. John's Church, we returned to pick at the provided processed lunch meat, limp lettuce, and other unappealing foods, we gave our concert.

The evening's excitement included the inexplicable dizziness and lightheadedness of Sarah, Jenna, Julienne and Elizabeth, culminating in one faint and two people leaving discreetly mid-song. Experts are baffled. The ride home was groovy, in that Mark played mellow, musackesque 70's tunes and turned on the blue lights. For a thorough account of Pizza and Disco dancing following our return home I sign over to….

Many of the choristers want to go out on the town even though it was after 10:30 pm when we returned - but it was decided that the graduates could have an evening out to celebrate their career with the choir. Mr. Herman and Ms. Street were happy to go along. Those of us remaining ordered pizza and had our own celebration until being sent to bed at midnight.

The graduates and Ms. Street were treated to burgers and fries by Mr. Herman then found a dance club still open where they danced until 1a.m. Amazingly, they were able to join us for breakfast the next morning at 7:30 am before we boarded the bus for our last stop: Southend.

 

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