Isle of Man

Up early on Saturday and Adrian picked me up at 6.15 and at airport by 7.10 a.m. Flybe flight to Douglas and waited at airport with Graham while Adrian collected the minibus from Douglas. To the vicarage and dropped case and into town for lunch at delicatessen on quayside - excellent Manx ham. Drove up to see the view of the town and back to Empress Hotel. Walked to the station. Rehearsal and sang evensong at 5 p.m. Gibbons short service, Wood O thou the central orb, Lloyd Webber Sing the life. They liked "Christ triumphant" - they use old English Hymnal. To Italian Job for a very nice meal. Taxi back to vicarage. Sunday rehearsed and sang at Mass at St Matthew's. Very old fashioned like the vicarage which is pretty cold although had an electric blanket! Ghastly hymn by Gladstone to a Barnby tune and horrid Lord' prayer! Caesar Missa Brevis capella regalis. Creed Folk mass Martin Shaw. 2 anthems by Nicholson. Light lunch laid on for us in the hall then we drove to Laxey to get the Snaefell mountain railway. Little but of snowing at the top and amazing views. Tea at Ramsey and visited the Catholic church. Then drove to Andreas to see the Celtic crosses. Drove to Peel and diverted because of an accident. Dropped off for 7p.m. Mass in Douglas. Very nice younger priest and small music group singing unaccompanied. People not joining in with new text and a very odd Lamb of God! Lots of Filipinos and Poles. Walked to Palace hotel for buffet dinner with lots of wine. Duncan gave me a lift in his sewing machine car!