Lincoln, Lincolnshire

I took an away-day on Monday, to Lincoln, in Lincolnshire. Lincoln Cathedral was the last of the English cathedrals on my list of must-sees. I’m so glad to have made the trip. Documentation of that visit is in another blog post. The ten-hour out-and-return includes nearly four hours on a train (SO much more efficient,

London: Day Four

Aside from church-going, the plenary conference wrapped up on Sunday. I focused on people on Sunday — And these scenes from around the Voces8 Centre: The US contingent finished the day with dinner at a restaurant at Covent Garden (photo credits to Karen Brunssen.

London: Trinity Sunday

I began Sunday, after breakfast, with two colleagues who joined me at St. Paul’s Cathedral for Mattins, featuring the Te Deum and Jubilate from one of Weelkes’ short services. We sat under the Baroque dome. I was in heaven. The taxi let us off at the east end of the cathedral, so we had some

top

I can’t seem to sleep well in this hotel. They have no top sheets. Only fitted sheets and a duvet that is too heavy and warm for summerish late spring. The windows are sealed. The AC is only moderately adjustable. And I’m sleeping too hot. But without the duvet, I’m sleeping too cold. This morning

London: Day 3

Our conference began Saturday morning as North American NATS members (and NATS members from India and Portugal, at the least) gathered with members of the Association of Teachers of Singing (UK) and the European Voice Teachers Association. But first, photos from my breakfast: NATS members networked and chatted before and during the conference: Our conference

Pride Month

I’m writing from London as Pride Month has begun. In my email and WhatsApp and Facebook feeds this week: several Pride Month greetings. Now follows some ponders and ruminations, and likely not in a linear fashion . . . . For context, you may wish to read this and this. Plus ça change, plus c’est

London: Day 2

As usual, I was awake around dawn, and up by 6 a.m. Friday. I set out by foot for King’s Cross underground station, about a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and then took the Victoria Line to Green Park. A walk through the park took me to Buckingham Palace, where a number of staff apparently

London breakfast

This is going to be standard fare for me for the next week and a few. I may switch back and forth with scrambled eggs, which today was on the buffet but yesterday wasn’t. I am not a huge fan of the British bacon, preferring instead the streaky bacon of the USA, so I’m doing

London: Day 1

Thursday, June 1. After a fitful night where I just could not get comfortable, I was up at 6 a.m. The Crowne Plaza King’s Cross breakfast buffet is sumptuous. But they do lack fried toast, which is likely a good thing! The Charles Dickens house museum is only a few blocks from my hotel, and

First thoughts

Well, the British pound and the US dollar on closer to an even exchange than I’ve ever seen. When I first traveled to England in 1995, the exchange was closer to $1.70 for one pound sterling. Now is much closer to $1.20 per pound. I have my phone set to only use wi-fi unless I