Blogs from Athens, Georgia, United States, North America - page 5

Introduced to the Sunday morning congregations. Choir sang my setting of The Lord’s Prayer at two of the services. My communion responses at all three. Brunch at Harry Bissett’s - not lobster this time. Sunday afternoon by and in the pool with Stephen, Patrick and Frances. Watched some of the US Open on the all-American plasmatic. Two Georgians - Oudin and Isner - advance. Saturday was spent preparing for and watching American football. Still inexplicable, especially how everyone - everyone - in Athens loves it. Good news that old Wells friend Dave is coming to visit Athens from LA. Not so good news that my proposed Iran travel-chum may not be joining me for that trip. Set Henry Vaughan’s poem ‘Palm Sunday’ to music. Ate a ‘low country boil’ at Gnat’s Landing. A disappointing pile of ... read more

Usual giant peach for breakfast. Georgia is the ‘Peach State’, but everyone says South Carolina has better peaches. Grey - sorry, gray - weather. Still warm. Wrote ‘Australian Benediction’ for A St J. May the quenching rain fall soft beside us. May young trees keep us deep in shade. May our paths be free of snakes and spiders. May luscious birdsong never fade. May the warming love of God now guide us through the dusty desert and through the swampy glade. Booked the NYC flights. Arranging brass parts for ‘Ye Choirs’ for Easter. Reading local writer Ferol Sams, ‘Run with the Horsemen’. Good rural depression-era stuff. Explains much about the antebellum south and race relations. Went with Stephen to the Terrapin brewery and sampled their tasty brew. Especially enjoyed the dark coffee beer. Weekend with the ... read more

Saturday I read Iris Murdoch’s ‘The Bell’. I had read ‘Justine’ from Durrell’s quartet, but only had ‘Clea’ with me to follow, which I want to save for the end. Ate a Maine lobster at Harry Bissett’s. V delicious. Thanks Dianne! Sang with the church choir on Sunday. Much brass from the uni. Hundreds in the congregation. Mexican for lunch, then a session with the hand-bell choir. I really enjoyed that odd ensemble, and enthusiastically played along for a few pieces. I did keep thinking someone was ringing a door bell though. Had a Skype conversation with Mum and Dad, which consisted almost entirely of talking about Skype and the failure of the video part of it. ... read more

Baseball with Stephen, Patrick and Joe in Atlanta. Saw the Atlanta Braves lose to Philadelphia in an exciting live game. The mighty Wurlitzer playing Inspector Gadget between balls, crowd chants, odd arm movements to symbolize a tomahawk for the Braves, home runs, double-plays, bunts and fireworks. Good atmosphere, but the crowd was eternally restless for more $7 beers and boiled peanuts. More composing. Meeting more people. Having a surprising number of conversations about the possible US national health system, and how the NHS is being used by both sides in the political debate - criticized and praised. Icecream sandwiches and rootbeer. A walk through the small Athens zoo. Owls, eagles, deer, a turkey, catfish, crocs, turtles. No bears, armadillos or wild cats - sleeping, unwell or just disappeared. ... read more

Four pints in 'the pub', followed by a visit to Stephen's friend Joe's house to play his 9' Steinway, which is wedged into his front room. Up at 6am to listen to Test Match Special via the web. Out to see Stephen conduct the local Choral Society's 1950s show. Lots of fun, and some surprisingly good performances! Sadly not by the man who sang a Perry Como song, and claimed that he had written it and Perry had stolen it from him. More composing. Keeping in touch with the world via Facebook, email and Skype. And the odd welcome text from London.... read more