Not a bad view from my usual seat for evensong at Salisbury Cathedral. This is the south case of the Father Willis organ which dates from 1876 & is basically unaltered. A privilege to hear it so often especially when in the hands of @johnorganist.bsky.social who knows it so well.

Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends 💔 on.ft.com/3K05vhS

When off work, feeling lousy thanks to a stomach bug cats can be great company. Keep one warm too! This was Piccolo & Duo's self appointed nursing job earlier in the week...

Photos of @salisburycathedral.bsky.social from Tuesday. My dog walk, just outside, and inside when suddenly there was nobody in sight for a moment!

Duo hasn't been allowed out for 10 days following a minor injury. He isn't impressed, but has finally settled in the sun. Cats manage to look like they are relaxing every single muscle and may just "pour" off the chair by mistake don't they?!

Out around 5.30am this morning before it was too hot for the dog. Salisbury Cathedral looked like this...

Quick photo yesterday when dropping my lucky 16yr old off for work experience. Yes this is Salisbury Cathedral! Thanks to @johnorganist.bsky.social & colleagues for giving her a fascinating couple of days "behind the scenes".

Having chased off the pigeon that had the audacity to land in HER garden, and drink from... "oh! I had forgotten this water bowl!" aka the birdbath, Solo sat on guard to make sure no other creatures were going to make the same mistake!

Two photos of Salisbury Cathedral at dawn at 4.30am a couple of days ago. This view is from my house!

Quick photo of Salisbury Cathedral after evensong last night.

When Piccolo turned up as a tiny scared feral kitten I was worried Solo & Duo wouldn't accept her. Solo cuddles & mother's her & Duo plays with her (piccolo is under that blanket!)... I hadn't been intending to get a 3rd cat but I'm so glad she found us.

The bride has her heart set on this. The organ is notoriously unreliable, esp the pedals. What is your answer? Mine was my 16yr old (organist) daughter page turning, stop pulling, & playing the pedal part on the manuals! And yes, I paid her for her contribution - much to her delight!

At this time of the year, the last rays of the setting sun reflect off the tower windows of Salisbury Cathedral. This makes it look like the tower is on fire! Rest assured it isn't!

I live in a city. But that city is Salisbury which has 5 rivers, water meadows, and a cathedral. Therefore views like this are pretty normal! Salisbury is not your average city!

Menopause is starting to be a more open subject generally, and hopefully the impact of this change on the voice will become as mainstream and as well understood as that which happens in teenage years.

Salisbury cathedral a few days ago.

Brave little Piccolo cat in the garden! No beetle or spider is safe!

Wareham Choral Society and Quayside Choir, Saturday 29th March. Looking forward to conducting this!

Something else I enjoy doing is baking. My son's 18th birthday cake is a recent "bake".

My little Piccolo: I think the terrified wild hissing feral kitten has discovered the joys of a lap and fuss! Yes she was purring loudly. She is now about 5 months old probably maybe! And seems very pleased to be domesticated!

From the current Private Eye. My Irony Meter may be about to overheat...

A "eureka!" moment today for a 2ndry aged pupil recently diagnosed with dyslexia. Suddenly, after years, she can see how the notes are on different lines etc & therefore how reading music works. "I feel like I could play anything!". Some days I love my job!

A different view of my favourite window at St Mary's Church, Fordingbridge, after today's service. I love the way the stonework is lit up.

Salisbury Cathedral from the cloisters earlier today.

MUM: Let’s call him Ian DAD: I prefer Greg MUM: Ian DAD: Greg MUM: Ian! DAD: Greg! MUM: Give me an I! Give me an A! Give me an N! Ian! DAD: Greg, Greg, Greg! Oi, oi, oi! MUM: What do we want? Ian! When do we want it? Now! DAD: Let’s go Greggg! Let’s go! Let’s go Greggg! Let’s go! (Gregorian chants)

Today church was held in the north east chapel of St Mary's Fordingbridge church thanks to the Nave looking like this! Once the whole church has been decorated it will look great, but at the moment we are "making do", & piano & choir are leading music in worship.

The fashionable kitten post (spay) op is wearing a soft collar turned down this season in a break from the traditional way of wearing them! (It works and is more comfy so fine by me Piccolo!). Meanwhile Duo thinks he is either called Giles or is feeling fragile...!

This is Lady St Mary Church, "home" of Wareham Choral Society of which I am MD. Somehow this photo suited the Mozart Requiem we're rehearsing, although last night was hard work as my cold has left me with very little voice? They had to pay close attention & we got through a lot!

The new school into which the remaining Humanities departments are to be merged is going to be the School of Global Humanities. Meanwhile, global languages will no longer be taught there.

Once again, we’re having to fight to stop music being the first thing an organisation cuts when it has money problems. Please sign this petition - many people have benefitted from the work of Cardiff University’s School of Music, and not just those who have taught and studied there (incl. me).

Wales, Land of Song? first the closure of the junior department at RWCMD, now this.

🤔 Next time someone tells me that either the church, or musicians use language incomprehensible to the general public I will reeds them to the sports update I just watched. A whole load of names of people, tournaments & technical terms. I literally had no idea even what sport was being discussed!

NEVER EVER ANNOY AN OAK TREE

My children last week on walking along the beach near Hastings.

St Mary's church Fordingbridge has the most beautiful window which casts coloured light onto the wall... always lifts my spirits when I walk in & see this.

So best Christmas present? My "big" cats proving, in turn, they really have accepted little Piccolo kitten. She is wary of the dog. Duo (white) initially reassured her, and Solo has literally embraced her "mini me"!

Today's interesting instrument. A small one manual walker from 1900. It is to my right in this photo, with bass pipes opposite. It shares its balcony with the bell ringers which means short wedding voluntaries or bell ringers literally sitting on one's shoulder! Somewhat steep and narrow steps too!

Ever beautiful Salisbury Cathedral this evening.

Before the advent service there was a moment of still in Salisbury Cathedral. This beautiful building never fails to inspire. The atmosphere is wonderful : "Walls soaked in hundreds of years of prayer" as a friend put it. In this busy time enjoy this peaceful photo!

Meanwhile in cat news: little Piccolo is learning how to be a cat from "Uncle" Duo. (Although this is about as close as she's permitted to get yet but that is ok. She respects it. Small steps...)

Parish advent service on sunday evening in Breamore Church. This is a Saxon Building & inspiring to know that worship has taken place not just on this site, but in this building, for a thousand years.

My dog walk yesterday was crisp and frosty and included lots of view points of Salisbury Cathedral.

Rehearsals are underway at Salisbury Cathedral for their three Darkness to Light advent procession services. This includes musicians, clergy, those in processions, readers... and arguably the most important, the candlelighters! We only lit 20 of the 1000+ candles though!

Photo taken last night at Salisbury cathedral. It is not upside down... it is the nave ceiling reflected in the glass topped nave altar. The cross at the top of the photo is inlaid into the altar!

Salisbury Cathedral's west end tonight showing how the famous spire leans a little to the North... (this isn't a trick photo - the spire really does lean!)

Introduce yourself with some jobs you have done apart from what you do now... Ice cream seller Clothes shop assistant Toddler group leader ... the rest all still apply albeit in different places: Choir leader Peri piano teacher Organist Clarinet teacher Accompanist General musician...!

Recent trip to Coventry gave time to explore the cathedral but also the nearby Holy Trinity church. This is looking straight up at the crossing. Not sure which photo I prefer. The symmetry, light, and detail is so pleasing to the eye though!

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. We will remember them. Beautiful remembrance Sunday poppies at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry last week.

The extraordinary Coventry cathedral last week.

And this is me learning how to post videos! Solo washing Duo whilst also sitting on my lap! Things other than cats will follow but do expect cats too!