Still in Cologne.

A good day's work and ahead of schedule. Miss the winks and home. Raining in Cologne which is grisly but spending most of the day in the Rundfunk studios so not noticing too much. I've a nice late start tomorrow and we're all feeling relaxed, but I must say, I'll be mighty fed up if we finish early and I don't get a new flight back. I don't want to be stuck here for 24 hours with nowt to do.

Catch up time

In Cologne today, missing the family as ever. No hot water in the hotel so I'm going a bit mad as I don't want to be singing a concert with stupid hair and not all lovely and clean! Today we sing concert that will be broadcast by Deutschlandfunk on Christmas Eve, in which I read biblical text in German! Well I never! Music by Telemann and Matheson.

Since last update there's been all sorts. Wonderful Wigmore concert, our best yet I think, with Brook Street Band. Also a nice education project for the Wigmore. Unfortunately putting the kids' concert on the same day as ours at the Wigmore did mean I was a bit tired for C Minor Mass next day in Symphony Hall, and I did really notice it, but it was still lovely to sing there for the first time.

Home life is hectic. Lots of teaching, kids having fun at school and with bonfire night, halloween etc. We had great break in Wales, with kids in the sea at sunset on 30th October! (not even wearing wetsuits!) There have been lots of concerts and so on, and things stay busy til Christmas now, with all sorts of concerts round the place, mainly in U.K. (Exeter, Aberystwyth, Plymouth, Arundel, Repton, Cheltenham, Windsor) but I am seeing Christmas break in the distance. I shall also be conducting my wee choir in a concert soon. Whoopee.