The phrase “Royal Pay Cut Fairy” was on a news-stand advertising a local paper, and lead to all sorts of interesting mental pictures.

Unfortunately, when I got closer, I saw it was Royal Pay Cut Fury, referring to pay cuts at the local hospital.

At least our cats don’t do this!

"What a lovely smile!"

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

For some unfathomable reason, people at 3 Choirs always comment on my smile.

Back in 1994 someone by the name of Edge remarked on my smile.

This week, clearly the smile is back. Members of the public whose tickets I’ve checked have said how nice it is to be welcomed to the Cathedral with a smile.

I really don’t get it. I don’t think I’m that smily faced and it’s certainly not the case that anyone else looks gloomy. Most, definitely not all, are very welcoming indeed.

Perhaps people are misreading my grimaces as I walk on my blisters.

"What a lovely smile!"

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

For some unfathomable reason, people at 3 Choirs always comment on my smile.

Back in 1994 someone by the name of Edge remarked on my smile.

This week, clearly the smile is back. Members of the public whose tickets I’ve checked have said how nice it is to be welcomed to the Cathedral with a smile.

I really don’t get it. I don’t think I’m that smily faced and it’s certainly not the case that anyone else looks gloomy. Most, definitely not all, are very welcoming indeed.

Perhaps people are misreading my grimaces as I walk on my blisters.

Mahler this morning

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

The National Youth Orchestra of Wales have arrived in force to play Mahler’s 5th. The band is enormous – we helped them unload their van last night. There are 120 musicians, including 60 strings and 4 harps.

SPCK

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

SPCK, the Christian bookshop have a stall and a noticeboard in the Festival club which proudly boasts they can get any book in print.

I’m very tempted to try ordering something utterly filthy.

Banned from evensong

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

I was late for evensong because I’d been standing outside one church telling concert goers the event was actually taking place elsewhere.

When I got back to the cathedral, they wouldn’t let me in! Tonight’s evensong is being recorded by BBC Radio 3 and will be broadcast on Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, in the regular slot. So the cathedral was sealed by heavies, aka the vergers, and latecomers were not admitted.

Sir Edward Elgar

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

Resident of Hereford 1904-1911, according to the plinth under the statue. No mention of the other, neighbouring city he’s also associated with.

I don’t like Howells

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

Not Will, but Herbert, who wrote rather a lot of fiendishly difficult choral music. I don’t like it because it’s often too high, too much in unison, very difficult to get right and not all that rewarding when you do.

Unfortunately, our director wrote his doctoral thesis on Howells, met the man and is his number one fan, so we tend to have rather a lot of his music. Last year in St Paul’s, barely a night went past and we finished on the ghastly Exultate Deo.

This year we have but one piece, a Hymn to St Cecelia, which actually isn’t too bad. It is still too high, has several unison verses, and weird intervals, so I’ve been amusing myself by singing about mucous rather than music. “through the cold aftermath of centuries / cecelia’s mucous dances through the skies”

Fits the music much better.

I don’t like Howells

Originally uploaded by nilexuk.

Not Will, but Herbert, who wrote rather a lot of fiendishly difficult choral music. I don’t like it because it’s often too high, too much in unison, very difficult to get right and not all that rewarding when you do.

Unfortunately, our director wrote his doctoral thesis on Howells, met the man and is his number one fan, so we tend to have rather a lot of his music. Last year in St Paul’s, barely a night went past and we finished on the ghastly Exultate Deo.

This year we have but one piece, a Hymn to St Cecelia, which actually isn’t too bad. It is still too high, has several unison verses, and weird intervals, so I’ve been amusing myself by singing about mucous rather than music. “through the cold aftermath of centuries / cecelia’s mucous dances through the skies”

Fits the music much better.