A Twen

When leaving my teens I should probably go out with a bit of a bang. Instead I started as I meant to go on, arelaxing at the seaside with my nearest and dearest, enjoying a homecooked meals, cuddles with the ba and of course, swiming in the sea, a lot.

Ice Cream

When it's hot what better way to spend a day than cycling? Especially through green fields, past the aerodrome and along a race track. It means that the route never gets boring. Then, when it really does start to get warm, find a farm shop and a shady barn, share a pot of ice cream and drink old fashioned lemonade whilst watching the cows that made it. Divine.

University Gospel Choir of the Year

On a rainy Saturday in July, back in Univille, we slipped out of bed far to early and made our way to London, ending up at the Peacock theatre in Holburn. In this innocuous corner of the West End the finals of the first ever University Gospel Choir of the Year competition was about to take place. The production of Lorraine Wright, a lady with a fanatastic level of vision, it was a truly magical event to be a part of. The day slipped by with rehersals, sound checks and eating baked potatoes in cheap steamy cafes, and soon the nerves began to rise. The sheer level of talent was completely breathtaking. News of unknown songs, fabulously creative routines and beautiful gospel sounds were fed to us from those that had managed to slip in to watch rehearsals. Before we knew it we were tucked away in our dressing room listening to the opening to the show.

Our host for the evening was Rachel Kerr, a (to me at least) unknown gospel musician but one who I don't doubt will very shortly be on the up. You can listen to her opening the show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duyO2cFl1P8

And then it was time for the choirs.

Opening were Canterbury Christ Church Gospel Choir who performed with some beautiful vocals and a strong gospel sound.

Second was us, but we'll return to that later, and so next was Imperial College Gospel Choir who performed uplifting motown style beats with infinite class.

FDV Hertfordshire Choir closed the first act with a completely original army of God routine.

UWE opened their first act with some beautiful songs and gentle choreography.

Then came the University of Nottingham Revival Gospel Choir who performed a mash up of gospel songs with a complex and astonishingly energetic routine.

The Jesus Alive Felloship Choir from the University of Essex commanded total attention for their bold routine, that was slightly reminiscent of Sister Act.

And finally Kings GMS Choir performed with a professionalism that only Kings could produce.

Fear had definitely been butterflying all of us as we waited backstage, but when the curtain went up the choir performed with a passion I have never seen in them before. The hours of rehersals made the music effortless allowing a total expression of feeling. The whoops and shouts of 'Amen' fed us, knowing that we were performing to an audience that completely understood gospel music. I was so so proud of the way that it came together. In our first song, I Shall Wear A Crown, you could feel the sadness, the relief and the elation and in our mash up of Amazing Grace (I'm A Believer) and Forget You the choirs bounce just came alive.

The audience's applaud was fantastic.

And eventually it was time for the judge's deliberations to be heard, and the winners to be announced.

But not until the UGCY Mass Gospel Choir had assembled for a rendition of  'Oh Happy Day'.

In third place: Kings College.

In second place: UWE.

But in first place, it was us!!

We couldn't believe it.

Sometimes life just calls for a group hug.

n.b. Very sadly none of these photos are my own.