Sing For Water.

We had perfect weather today for our Sing For Water event at the bandstand in Aber. Early morning had looked a bit grey as if it might rain but in the end the sun shone and it was a lovely day. 

As three hours is the longest you can park for free in Aber Peter acted as my taxi service dropping me off at 9.30 and returning at 3.00 to hear our choir sing and then drive me home.

There were 150 of us from six local acapella choirs (there are many other accompanied choirs in the region too). We sang six songs together and then each choir sang three songs. I had forgotten just how nice it is to sing in a large group as there are generally only about 15-20 of us in Leri Voices. Many of our choir recently went to a street choirs festival in Bradford where there were 1,000 singers but I didn't have the social confidence to join them for that.

The bandstand is on the prom by the beach and it was quite fitting to hear the songs, which had watery themes, accompanied by the regular shushing of the waves upon the beach.

Once we had given our names and put the customary sticker on our blue clothing (plain blue of any shade was the suggested dress code) we warmed up and then practised the mass songs. Although Susie our choir leader organised the event she shared conducting the mass songs with several of the other choir leaders. It is interesting to see the different styles of conducting all of which were very positive.

We then gave our performance and since the weather was so nice a lot of people came and listened. It's just a shame that the council in its latest revamp of the prom has created a motorbike parking area right by the bandstand. We get a lot of people on big touring bikes who come to ride the winding mountain roads. And do those bikes have loud engines. But we weren't too badly disturbed.

During the lunch break I had a short stroll in town before returning to eat my sandwich with a group from our choir. Some of them treated themselves to ice creams and kept a careful eye out for marauding seagulls. It was hard to resist the single young bird that sat looking at us hopefully but one of our group had already had her sandwich taken out of her hand in a sneak attach from behind. Lesson learned I think.

We then gave our afternoon performance before clearing up and heading home. A good day and hopefully lots of money raised for Wateraid. last year we raised over £5,000. Well done to Susie and the other choir leaders and organisers.