Saturday, July 16-London to Stratford-Upon Avon

Uneventful flights are the stuff of chaperone’s dreams.  This one did not disappoint. Other than a lost water bottle (how is that possible when the boy and a chaperone stayed and looked around and under the then vacated row(s)?  Although the air- sickness bags were ready in chorister’s laps, none were needed.  The dinner and breakfast were appreciated and other than one very unhappy baby, we mostly slept after the lights were dimmed.  And once I wandered the aisles requesting and then insisting that screens turn off, some resting did happen.  After we collected all the bags, we met Carter, our knowledgeable, congenial and uber-organized tour guide, boarded the coach (bus) and drove 20 minutes or so to a small food complex with a variety of restaurants.  We broke into chaperone groups, took a tour of our eating options and each boy chose his meal.  Receipts were gathered, lunch was enjoyed with a cricket game overhead on a large screen.   I’d hoped we would have time to run about before our hour plus coach ride to Stratford-Upon-Avon, but perusing, choosing, ordering, eating, tidying up and visiting  took significantly longer than expected.  We did enjoy our coach ride.Many of us were sleeping off some of the jetlag, a large handful of boys played card games and the rest sang little songs, sighting deer in the English countryside and giggling with each other.  Funny things boys have said:

•  All of the stewardesses sound like Mrs. Crawford (English music administrator). Why is that?
• What do they mean when they say we are driving on the opposite side of the road.  We’re still going forward like we do at home.
•  I said (like I always do when visiting a foreign country with children, ”Isn’t it weird to think that (name of an animal) speaks with an English accent?”  And the younger boys always reflect on this new phenomenon until someone remarks that they don’t talk at all.  Which still makes me smile.
• Along the way we pass beautiful English countryside with fields of ducks, sheep, goats, horses and cows.  Hills are rolling and everything is green.   One of the choristers asked why everything was so green.  Another chorister explained "it rains in this country and that's why things are green."

We attempt to gather in the reception area of the hotel.  One room has forgotten to meet.  Another group needs to go back and get their water bottles.  Another boy and his partner need to go to the loo.  Adults go off.  We’re swimming though a foggy world called Stratford-Upon-Avon, a lovely little town we hope to enjoy and do some pre-dinner frolicking.  Finally we get in the reception area and head out.  Within one minute, literally, it begins to sprinkle, then rain.  Refreshing and it smells wonderful but we’re jetlagged and now not going to burn off some of this lag and we head back to the room with a half hour before heading out to dinner.  Everyone seems to relax and I attempt futilely to download pictures.  The woman who works at the podium in the reception areaand smokes in the back comes out and offers to help me log in with the upgraded Internet.  We spend 10 precious minutes, and finally I can share pictures of the boys enjoying lunch at the food court, each eating something different, the boys gathered outside the restaurant, jetlagged, adorable and hungry because it is going on three hours they have not eaten, Calum conducting the boys as they process home from the restaurant on the town’s narrow streets.  Silently and safely is his rule. Gabe enjoys a pre-dinner drink.  The order is off and I must be off to bed.

Please know that although we’re really, really tired, we’re equally thrilled to be together for the glory of music and the opportunity to experience this new yet old world.

Here are a couple more.  The wiggy girls are part of a wedding party I encountered when going to the reception area.

 Charlie and Will at lunch.

 And your heart.

On the way to dinner.