h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm singing in a concert on Sunday afternoon. It's a repeat of the concert we did in May; this time we're performing in Rathfarnham Castle, which is a big old house rather than a castle. The room we're performing in has a stone floor and is done up in a neo-classical style with a couple of pillars and some relief carvings of famous people on the walls.

On Monday, I'm off with the family to Donegal for a week's holidays. We've rented a cottage on the north coast with a view out to Tory Island. Mrs G isn't able to get off work until Thursday, so she is flying up on Wednesday evening after work - 20 minutes in the plane as compared with our 5 hour trek. And it only cost her €30.

We'll be staying in a place called Machaire Rabhartaigh, which is probably not big enough to be called a village. There's a school, a mini-Mart and that's about it. There's also a very long beach, a few miles long at least. So we may finally get to swim in the sea this year.

For tonight


I hope you miss the stormy weather that seems to be tumbling about between Ireland and Scotland.


lil xx

I hope it won't be too cold for swimming.
I'Äm sure you'll have a great time, no matter which weather.
Just €30 for a flight?

No warning again! I threaten to come to one of your performances one day! What was the programme in May again?

It is Shakespeare songs set to music by (relatively) modern composers. Some are by Vaughan Williams, others by Mäntyjärvi. We've one by Recumbentman (a former choir member), and one by another choir member.

Aah yes. My son was going to get his group to do one of those Recumbentman ones. I never asked how they got on. Thanks for reminding me.

And have a lovely time in Donegal.

with the concert and enjoy the week after

Busy man, do have a fine time.

At last I'll get to hear my setting of Like As the Waves from outside. First I played in it (it was written for a tenor voice with three viols) then I conducted it (when I was conductor of the Limerick Choral Union) and then I sang in it (in Gaudete).

I don't expect to be pleased as the Gaudete conductor is not an early-music head like myself. I didn't put in expression marks, so he directs it without expression

I'm back from Donegal now. We had a lovely time - although it rained quite heavily for some of the time, we had some wonderful days. For our trip to Tory Island, the weather was stunningly good, which was just as well as I'd say that it would be miserable in the rain.

A very quick summary:

Monday - driving to Donegal
Tuesday - wandering around Meenlaragh/Machaire Rabhartaigh; a drive around the Bloody Foreland and Gaoth Dobhair; Dunlewy - a pet farm, a boat trip on the lake with guide; the abandoned village of Dunlewy and the Poisoned Glen.
Wednesday - wandering around Meenlaragh/Machaire Rabhartaigh; the beach; collecting Mrs G from the airport.
Thursday - a trip to Tory Island - one hour on a boat to get there; wandering around on the island. Meeting the King of Tory.
Friday - Glenveagh National Park, gardens and castle
Saturday - Ards Forest Park
Sunday - Driving home

I'll try and give a full report later.