turbulence

we sang our first irish concert last night. we sang in a small church to somewhere around 24 people. i counted while singing... which is probably irresponsible chorister behaviour. we sang like zombies. and not like the zombies in thriller. not cool zombies. we were not happening. (happenin', even.) there was a particularly special interval in 'let not my love be called idolitry'. if we were truly trying to be zombies, it would've been effective. it was scary.

but we did get an encore. phew!

higlight. pre-concert dinner. our second spectacular (and payed for...) dinner. and i was lucky enough to end up at a table with a bunch of choir girls i've not spent much time with in the past. they were an incredibly entertaining group, and we laughed hard and ate well. we spoke of the issues surrounding the choosing of bridesmaid dresses, and how strapless should not be an option. especially when your bridesmaids vary in size. (elaine is planning a wedding for this very summer.) martine gave a particularly enertaining discription of her grandfather, licorice flavoured candies, deafness, and a long car ride... highlight of the highlight? coconut crusted brie with a red berry cinnamon coulis.

lowlight. the lowest light yet. john (jkp) had his passport and credit card stolen. yes. i know. shitty to the maximum. especially as jkp is a savy and experienced traveller. he is feeling the hurt. this morning there were many concerned faces at breakfast, and we sadly had to leave jkp behind in dublin to sort things out at the canadian embacy.

we (minus dear john) had a beautiful drive through the irish countryside, spotting many a sheep lambs, even!), cow, and horse along the way. i saw seven white horses... abra saw a rabbit. tension and tiredness is beginning to take grip on the group. there was a touch more cattyness today. the grump-factor was up. (i certainly do not exclude myself from this, although abra and i did some quality interpretive dance early in the day with our heads connected by my ear-buds.)

stopped in at the rock of cashel for a tour of the cathedral ruins, and then independant lunching. our castle giude, james, was kind and humorous and had a charming way about him. it seems there are a lot of charming people in ireland. strange.

i drank too much water at lunch. far too much. i learned, far too late, that the loo on the bus was not in functioning order. i thought i was going to die. i was the cause of an emergency stop in a small town at a gas station. it was awkward. to say the least. ahem.

highlight. pulling up to the hotel in cork, who should be sitting all sunny on the patio with a pint, but mr. jkp. we all cheered and waved and were filled (or at least slightly topped up) with glee. i don't yet know the details yet, but it looks as if things have been sorted as best they can be sorted.

and. we're in cork! just about competition time! abra's hair looks great! emma arrives tomorrow! there are many exclamations!!!

oh. and bloggers. those of you with experience. i've been taking some killer photos and i'd love to share them with y'all, but i don't know how to get them from my camera to the internet machine when in an internet cafe... any suggestions? thanks. you're super.