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

Ooo, evensong! Do you know yet what setting of the Magnificat/Nunc Dimittis you'll be using? (personal faves are Stanford in C, Sumsion in A, and Noble in B minor, but the Morely fauxbordons are beautiful in their simplicity) If its the same set up as in many cathedrals (and if it's a full choral evensong) it'll also have a setting for the preces and responses, a chant for the psalm for the day and an anthem. It can be a very meditative, thoughtful service and a joy to sing.

It will be a full choral evensong in Dublin's main cathedral. I don't know yet what settings we'll be doing - I'll find that out tonight.

Colcanon is lovely! Really nice with bacon or ham, for non-veggies. or sausages and onion gravy.

Mmmm! sausages an onion gravy....

You know... it is a really* really* bad idea, to be on h2g2, in the morning, just before I go out to buy grocerys/food for the next few days...

*adds sausges, kaile, bacon to the list**

>>Not too busy for the next week: the usual choir rehearsals on Monday and Thursday; that's about it.<<

That sounds familiar - just a couple of regular dates and "Oh I've got a fairly free week" By Wednesday you realise that there's something on every night and How did THAT happen?

Actually, when I typed that, I forgot to mention my daughter's graduation tomorrow.

So long as you don't forget to attend...

Deb

Evensong: we'll be doing a Byrd version of the Mag and Nunc in English, along with a Byrd Rorate Coeli and Vigilate.

Saw a programme a few months ago about Byrd and the Chapel Royal. It was suggested that English music was heavily indebted to Elizabeth I as she bucked the protestant/anglican trend and encouraged music in her church.

Today was a special day: daughter El's graduation, or as they call it in Trinity College, her Commencement. It's supposed to be the beginning of her lifelong journey in pursuit of knowledge.

We started out early into Dublin so that El could collect her academic robes, hood and cap. We were at the university by about 8:40. At that hour there wasn't a huge queue, so we had time to get an official photograph of El and another of the whole family.

The ceremony itself didn't start until 10. The whole thing was in Latin from start to finish, but we were provided with a translation. It was a great moment when El got her BA (1st Class). After the ceremony, the organist played some solemn music as the faculty members processed out of the building. Being a friend of El's, he played an arrangement of one of her favourite tunes - the theme from Fry and Laurie's "Jeeves and Wooster".

We then had a reception in the College Dining Hall. There was wine, cocktail sausages, sandwiches, miniature croissants and other delicacies. We hung around chatting until about 12, then El's friends who were not being conferred arrived to congratulate here.

Next we went up to that grand old Dublin institution, Bewley's Café, where we sat for hours drinking tea and coffee and chatting. Mrs G's brother, who was working, joined us since it was now lunch time.

Eventually, he had to return to work, and we had to split up with the friends. El wanted one more photo back at the College before we had our lunch. By this stage we were getting hungry so we were ready for food by the time we sat down in a good Italian restaurant. There was a sudden panic when El realised she'd lost her handbag along the way, complete with her phone, glasses and purse. I ran back but couldn't find it. Then I got a call from one of El's friends. Someone had found the bag, had rung him as the last number rung on her phone, given him the bag and now he was able to return it to me.

After that excitement, we were able to enjoy a nice Italian meal. El had to leave at 4:45 as she works as a conductor and didn't want to miss her Tuesday rehearsal. The rest of us got the tram home.

Our work here is done.

how are you and MrsG feeling?

Congrats to all of you

We're very proud. Also rather full.

What a grand day out...and the handbag crisis beautifully resolved. World's sum total of happiness jumps a notch.

Deb

You must be very proud. In a couple of years time I'll graduate at about the same time as my daughter, which will be strange.

Graduations are such moving affairs. (We don't have them in Germany. Next January my son should have finished his PhD - if he's lucky he'll get a certificate in the post. As it's a technical university, he may well even get it by e-mail)

That all made me feel homesick for Dublin. Even though I've only been there for about 4 days in all.

So congratulations to the whole family. Do we get a peek at the photos?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eoinmcauley/sets/72157637354725614/

El looks very happy.