We had a leisurely morning, a lie in and a late and lovely yorkshire breakfast at Maddy and Jean's in Picktree before we piled down to Durham Cathedral to see if we could secure some rehearsal space before the lunchtime concert. Thank you to Jean for hosting us for the night, for your friendly chat and your yum scrum food, especially the strawberries.
Durham Cathedral really grabs you. It is immense with a beautiful cloister. The nave is soooo long and yet it retains a warm atmosphere perhaps due to all the vergers and tourists buzzing around. We were expecting to be performing in a little side wing of the cathedral but wonderfully instead found our space to be in the heart of the Cathedral where the naves cross with a view right to the far end of the building. What a joy to sing and play in that space. Maddy sang a beautiful Mimi aria and we chucked in a couple of Handel arias along with some Grieg, Faure and lighter stuff. Sadly we didn't muster much from the collection boxes on this occasion. I wonder whether tourists, not expecting to be faced with a charity concert on their tour of the Cathedral, just aren't prepared to dig deep for our causes despite stopping and enjoying the music. A shame but still what a memorable experience.
Maddy, beautiful Maddy, thank you so much for having us to stay with you and your mum and for contributing such lovely singing to the concert. I'm sure Susie will have more to say about it. Was great meeting you. x
Performing takes it out of you. The concentration and the physicality. So it was with heavy bodies that we got back on the bikes just after 4.30 that same afternoon to take on the long ride up into Northumberland. We had a strong head wind for the first 10 miles to our meeting point with a couple of other cyclists. I had to stop to check my brakes weren't rubbing against the wheel as I couldn't believe how much of a fight it was against the wind. Once we met up with the others we turned from west to north and into the country lanes so the wind was less of an issue. In fact, what a joy this ride turned out to be. The company of Ewan, Sarah and Ian was priceless. Lovely people (friends of friends etc - a big thank you to Lucy Scadding for making intros to Helen & Ewan) who took the time out to accompany us on the ride, keep up our morale, pace-make and generally have a good ole natter with en route. The scenery was breathtaking (not to mention the number of hills) and we had the most glorious sunset as we approached Northumberland National Park with cyclists up ahead on the brows of the hills silhouetted in the twilight against the red clouds. It was hard work but in a fantastically positive way - the immediacy of the physical connection with your body as it climbs the terrain and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. I have not been so content and thrilled for a long time. This city chick is seriously contemplating a complete change of lifestyle! Going native in Northumberland - becoming a wild-eyed, crazy-haired creature of the hills - this is a definite potential life path.
We finally reached our destination just before 11pm (having gate-crashed a BBQ where we grabbed some hunks of meat to keep us going. Fiona & Alan (friends of Sarah) miraculously managed to cater for an extra 5 of us gate-crashers and even made donations to Song-Cycling. We love you! Also made an unplanned deviation herding sheep through a sheep farm, brilliant!). Susie was ecstatic to see the warm lights of the home where we were to bed for the night. So ecstatic she couldn't make the last few steps to the front door and instead flung herself on the grass in relief. I was ecstatic to find mum & dad still there to give us a happy hug of welcome and chatting with our hosts, Jane & Steve. A midnight feast rounded off an AWESOME day. Life is good.
Massive thank yous to Jane & Steve for looking after us so well. Many bravos to Jane & Susie for some spontaneous piano duetting on Monday morning at the Bluthner. And thank you, a million thank yous to lovely Sarah, Ewan & Ian for the pleasure of your company on the ride. You really made our day. xxx
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