This cannot be happening ...........

I wrote out a kind of bucket list a few months ago - I didn't finish it, and I need to revisit it to remind myself what is on it (visit the Farne Islands in Spring is there, that is for next year).

One of the things was ....... "Have a Sing" !

So when I saw a small poster at work saying that, as part of a Health and Wellbeing campaign, a choir was being formed, I thought - I'll have a go.

Rehearsals were advertised as running from 6.15pm to 7.15 pm. I missed the first one, but went to the second. As I approached the room in which they were practising I heard a sound that sounded a) good and b) female - so I almost turned around. But no ... I walked through the door. They had started at 5.30 pm by agreement the previous week, so I was only there for 15 minutes.

The next week Carolina, who is leading us, said we had been asked whether we would perform at the Civic Christmas concert at Salford Cathedral. Astonishingly, people thought this was a good idea. So we've been practicing "Down to the River to Pray" (eat your heart out Alison Kraus) and Silent Night. I've missed one or two because of work commitments, so it's been a bit of a challenge.

This choir only has two men, and only one turned up to the concert tonight (me). We sat behind two primary schools and a High School awaiting out allotted turn (this photo). This is not something I have done before, and there was no hiding place, but it went OK. There was some astonishment from certain members of the audience seeing me there !

And it is the first time I have been inside this Cathedral - it is a nice building, the centre of a diocese which includes the whole of Manchester and stretches north to the Ribble.