in the air between Halifax and Ottawa, too early in the morning
A fun gig last night. We had lots of rehearsal in the course of the day, and a long lunch break at Chez Christophe in the wonderfully named village of Grosses Coques. DG is getting tired of me wanting to photograph road signs that remind me of home (New Glasgow, New Edinburgh, Arisaig, Lismore), but the Jolly Boys (with their joli bois) all made it out of the car to commemorate this one.

photo: DG, DMcG, Chris Norman

Lunch was some of the biggest and best pan fried scallops I've ever had, and I also tried for the first time the gelatinous Acadian mush of potatoes and chicken (or rabbit) that is Rappie Pie. I think I'll stick with stovies actually ...

DG's sterling harmonium tuning really paid off, with his little Estey missionary organ sounding wonderful and very easy to play. Can't wait to get mine fixed up now. So I was doing a lot of unscheduled switching between harpsichord and harmonium to fill in the gaps where Sylvain's guitar parts should be. And I'm really enjoying playing 'Waltz in the House' on the melodica. Normally keyboard players only get solos standing up if they have one of those sad hideous 80s strap-on keyboard synth things. Give me cheap green plastic anytime.

In the break this afternoon I gave Suzie her one and only melodica lesson: 'you hold it there, you blow in there and you play the keys' - I think she's going to be rather good at it. If Chris gets one too, we could have three in different sizes and play trios. At least 20 000 soprano points are awarded to Suzie for giving me a shoulder rub after the rehearsal when I was just about to tune the harpsichord. This sort of selfless behaviour is not usual for sopranos who are about to launch a CD. 

This was the view from outside the dressing room in the interval.

Talking of selfless behaviour, David drove Chris and me back to Halifax last night, we got to bed around 2, and then he got up again before 6 to drive us to the airport. Tonight we have a boy band gig (ahem, Chris Norman Ensemble concert) in the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, then a baroque chamber gig tomorrow lunchtime. Hope I can get a nap later on ...