It's been a while. It's been two years to the week, in fact. Little excuse for the delayed report but a global pandemic.
But our tour in Orkney in July 2019 cut grooves in our memories that won't fade.
St Boniface's Church, Papa Westray
We sang a total of six concerts and gave two workshops, in venues ranging from gin distilleries to community centres to stone circles. In between we sang more or less constantly too - in the car, on long walks, on ferries, in a chambered tomb and in the oldest Neolithic house in the UK. We sang for our supper and to say goodbye. We sang to call Anne back to the car when she wandered off too far with her camera. We sang at the seals and they sang back at us.
Literally 'Singing in the Rain' at the Standing Stones of Stenness
We were hosted with such generosity by the communities of Papa Westray and Eday in particular, who provided us with board and lodging as well as enthusiastic audiences and friendly welcomes. Workshops on these two small islands added a whole other dimension to the tour, as participants joined us on stage to sing the songs we'd learnt together. With the support of all our hosting organisations, our concerts raised a total of £1500, half of which went to our chosen charity Practical Action, and the rest to local charities.
Singing (with some trepidation) inside a chambered cairn, Papa Westray
The people, the wildlife, the history and the open landscapes and minds of Orkney really captured our hearts. You can never cross the same river twice - but we will be back!