Musical day off

Another cloudy humid day, but fortunately not too hot. It was my first Sunday without a service to take this year. After a leisurely breakfast I prepared Sunday lunch, steamed veg and salmon as usual, ready for Clare to switch on in time for my return from church. She wasn't feeling too well, so decided to stay in bed and rest, rather than go to church. She has to go to Bristol for a study session this afternoon and wanted to be fresh enough to make the most of it.

I walked to Llandaff Cathedral, amid a host of dog walkers setting out to take their pets for exercise. If I'd got up earlier, I might have seen the jogging hosts of the Parkrun group out and about as well. Above and beyond the sound of excited barking dogs, the sound of bells ringing for the eleven o'clock Sung Eucharist. 

In church, a congregation of about eighty, plus forty singers and clergy and choir. Today's the Feast of St Barnabas, so the service was a celebration of his life and witness, with a sublime Mass setting and anthem by Stanford and well chosen hymns to sing. Canon Bruce Kinsey the Chaplain of Balliol College Oxford preached an excellent sermon drawing upon his familiarity with the Acts of the Apostles, where Barnabas features as a key figure in the mission of the very early Church. The reading of scripture was done well, and thoughtful intercessions offered by a senior lay member of the congregation. All in all a refreshing and uplifting experience of worship.

I greeted Dean Richard at the door afterwards and said "It doesn't get any better than that you know." He grinned and said "Yes I agree. I can't believe how fortunate I am to be here and part of this all the time." He's six months into the job. He couldn't escape knowing what an unhappy place it was, before and after covid, when he accepted the job. I hope he's treated better than his two predecessors were, and gets on with Bishop Mary. He told me there had been three hundred at the earlier Parish Eucharist, a hundred and fifty adults and a hundred and fifty children. It's good to hear attendance at that service is back to normal again catering for families with children in the Cathedral School, Llandaff Primary School and the Bishop of Llandaff High School.

Lunch was ready as anticipated when I arrived home from church. Once Clare's lift arrived to take her to Bristol, I went for a walk in the park. I was delighted to see, for the second Sunday afternoon in a row, a family picnic gathering of around sixty Muslims on the north Pontcanna Field - a group of thirty women and children sitting and chatting, while another group of men were standing around barbecue grills cooking lunch. On the south field, by way of contrast, two cricket teams with their tent pavilions, taking tea at the customary hour. It's lovely to see the parks so often well used. The only problem is takeaway food and drink packaging overwhelming the bins or dumped randomly, and horrible instant barbecue trays bought from supermarkets ruining the grass. Large social groups arrive to barbecue equipped with proper cooking equipment and set a good example, leaving the place tidy after their party.

Clare returned from Bristol in time for supper and 'The Archers'. Then we watched the first round of the fortieth 'BBC Cardiff Singer of the World' competition, broadcasted from St David's Hall. Four remarkable young singers performing with the Welsh National Opera orchestra. A feast of operatic arias. All four were accomplished and faultless, but one stood out, South African soprano Nombulelo Yende. Her elder sister Pretty is already a world class operatic soprano, singing at the King's coronation a month ago. An amazing musical family! She sets a very high standard to attain for the twelve singers yet to perform.

So good to have a day to relax and do nothing but enjoy listening.