I slept all night – first time since I got to Wales. Yay! Steve cooked me a perfect poached egg for breakfast and it was delicious. Sheila and I headed out to do “Click and Collect” (picking up the online grocery order), then met Keith and Steve in a parking lot downtown Aberystwyth to wander around. Just as we got out of the car, a woman passed us carrying a euphonium case. Obviously, we followed her. She went into a nearby little building and we looked at the outside bulletin board, which had notices for the Seindorf Arian Aberystwyth Silver Band. The lady, Heather, popped back out and said the board wasn’t up to date. There was chatting and since we spoke, she knew we weren’t from around here. She asked why we were in Wales and Keith said he had played two weeks with Cory. She smiled a lot and asked if he wanted to play with them today for the St. David’s Day parade. To my complete surprise, he said sure. What?! That is something that I would have encouraged and he would never have done. I said this wasn’t like him and he said, “I know. That’s why I’m doing it.” That is a terrific reason for doing anything, isn’t it? He didn’t have a horn with him, but Sheila and I were dispatched to go back and get his mouthpiece, while they found him a spare Bb to play. When we returned, he was trying to memorize the tune because his bifocals didn’t lend themselves to seeing music on a lyre without tipping his head way back, and that didn’t lend itself to walking. He kept saying marching, and Heather kept saying “We’re not marching. We’re just going for an amble.” How great is that?!
Steve and Sheila and I were delighted at this bizarre turn of events. We scurried up to watch the start of the parade, then followed behind the band as they went down the street. There was a lovely program at the end, although it was mostly in Welsh, so I didn’t have a clue what was happening. There were kids in traditional costume and Welsh dancing (in clogs). One of the band members grew up just up the street from where we live in Treorchy, and Heather has a friend that lives in Steve and Sheila’s cul-du-sac (clos, here in Wales) and recognized them right away (“you have chickens, don’t you?”). The band played the national anthem, we returned the cornet, and went to Marks and Spencer for cake (we got Victoria sponge and chocolate salted caramel cake with the intention to share. We ate half, switched, took a bite of the other one, and changed back to the original. We both liked the first one best).
I sent a very short video of the band marching, with Keith appearing at the end, to the kids. Alexander wrote back, “Huuuuuuh.” Then said, “I like to imagine he had a horn in his pocket and just hopped in.” It didn’t happen that way, but I like to imagine it did too.
We finished the day out with a top notch meal at the local pub, The Falcon Inn (The FalcInn according to Alexander). Keith was more than delighted to have Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert. We walked home and admired how many stars you can see here. Now we are drinking Penderyn Welsh whiskey and Merlyn Welsh cream whiskey liqueur and I am having a very, very hard time typing and/or thinking.
An amazing day. Thank you Keith for just agreeing to play. Made our day.
It WAS an amazing day! Just thinking about it makes me smile 🙂
I have a bottle of Penderyn! (Nancy on Dennis’ phone.)
That’s what we were having! Well, I switched to a Merlyn cream liqueur because I am wimpy
I am shocked! Marching band AND whiskey?!? Who are you people?
It has been 40 years since I’ve been in a parade. I guess it was just time again.
It has not been 40 years since I’ve had whiskey.
Wait, no. We marched in Afton several years ago. When was that?
Your blog must have been hacked. Barbara Thompson does not drink whiskey!
I tasted it! Then had a lovely cream liqueur. I was wobbly enough after that to make everyone laugh.
Tom and I read your post together every day and always comment, “This is the best one.” BUT, today for sure is the best one. What a fantastic day!
We just walked in to our Treorchy house and I said to Keith, “Every moment of our time in Wales has been wonderful, but our Aberystwyth time was by far the best. It all comes down to being with people you love, doesn’t it?
Well said!
Well, this was one of those occasions that truly embodies my little Arkansas expression: “finer than a frog’s hair, split three ways, sanded, and tapered at both ends!” We ALL need a day like this right now – but getting to participate even this way is pretty darned great.
That is a fine little Arkansas expression – very appropriate to our day!