Stephen had booked us into another BBC radio recording, this time the BBC singers. We arrived as early as we could for the 2.00 p.m. concert, had our vouchers stamped, then stood in line to enter. We were able to get good seats about a third of the way down on the centre aisle. The music was really beautiful. During the mass, the singers were allowed a short break to sit, which can be edited out for broadcast. The audience were very appreciative.
We had brought a picnic lunch with us, and ate it before the concert. A nearby hotel allowed concert goers to use their toilets and a woman we spoke to said it was a first, she often goes to these concerts and they have never allowed it before. It was such a posh hotel that it didn’t have the name outside – I guess you either know it or don’t know it. The doorman had a bowler hat – lovely! In the toilets they had face washers for drying your hands, as happens in the better places. This can be more often than you would expect in Chinese restaurants and hotels, perhaps it’s where the idea comes from.
Afterwards we walked towards the shopping district and eventually found a Neros. We first found Starbucks, but there were no seats and anyway we suspect they don’t have the Italian style coffee that the British and Australians prefer. Nero cafes are a great place to relax and read. There are usually spare tables and even armchairs and people tend to stay for a long time.
Then it was time to catch a train home. We didn’t have to wait long.
