now boarding

Admission of Choristers

Story date: September 6 2009.

This was a truly awesome service, very beautiful and full of emotion. (tip: make sure you get there early for a front row seat). this was pretty much how it went.

1. The choir process in as normal, but our three Probationers wait behind in the south aisle, still only in their cassocks (the long black robe) and ruff.

 
 

2. The service starts as normal; but today not only are the probationers installed up but there is also the installation of the new headmaster, which starts proceedings.

3. With the headmaster duly installed and after a Psalm and the first lesson, the boys process in and one by one are presented by the new head to the Dean who takes them by the hand and admits them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

"The Lord preserve your going out and your coming in: from this time forth for ever more. Amen"

4. Then I think the most touching part;  the Choir master hands a surplice to the head chorister who 'vests the new Choristers in the surplices'. Wonderful, the head chorister symbolically helping his new team members with their dress of office.

After the service we had the all too rare opportunity to take photos of our boys on the Cathedral steps (tip: if you ever get the hint of such an opportunity, be prepared and grasp it firmly!). Then a brief reception in part of the crypt which was a lovely opportunity to chat with some of the Cathedral staff, Choirmaster and even Wandsmen... but by this time Tom just wanted to go home; it had been a really heavy week and he was exhausted.

Homesick

Story date: September 4 2009.

Tom had an uneasy start to his first year, often manifested in homesickness. After a long and very family-filled summer holiday, returning to school was never going to be easy, both for him and the rest of the family at home. Just like last year we put off visiting for the first few days and collected him at the weekend.

 I guess all boys respond to leaving home in different ways; Tom gets homesick but it doesn't last. On talking to the nurses and other CPs (always a good idea), we learn that other and older boys are effected too. Still, when a tired and tearful chorister doesn't want to 'go back to school, it's really tough.

On reflection, his first week was also affected by an additional friday evening concert the boys performed in town. This was certainly 'extra-curricular' and an amazing occasion, but the boys were tired. Friday is normally a lighter day (no evensong for 3rd desks), giving them a break before the full-on weekend; but this first Friday was different and it meant no visiting was possible.

Saturday I collected him and he was home for a few hours (this would turn out to be the weekend pattern) and I'd take him back for Saturday afternoon Evensong. Then Sunday would be very special, at Evensong he, along with his two fellow Probationers, would be 'made up' to full-choristers...

The second steep learning curve.

This first month has been a real roller-coaster. Right from the very first evening back we were thrown curve balls and had many new issues to deal with. Some of these we knew a little about (like Tom boarding the whole week) and some unknown (the impact of staffing issues).

Even with the hindsight of a year as probationer parents, nothing could really prepare us for a second steep learning curve a year on from our first. Sure, many things are the same but a new headmaster and our boy being made up to be a full-time chorister presented possibly  a steeper transition into his second year than we had anticipated.

One year on...

Story date: September 1 2009.

Wow! Tom's back to school tomorrow so that means the start of his second year at the Cathedral School.

It's a cliché I know, but time has flown and Tom's quite a different boy 365 days later. He's much more self-assured, no tears and he's talking enthusiastically about his duties as a 3rd desk chorister - although he's understandably not looking forward to returning to school after nearly 8 weeks off, but then who would?

 
 

We've not packed a thing although this time tomorrow night he'll (hopefully) be fast asleep in the dorm. We're all SO much more relaxed but of course we're going to miss him like stink.

The school will have a new Head, there'll be some new staff and some that have left we'll miss. 

His prep will be trickier, he'll be at home maybe only one evening a week, which itself will mean more trips into town for visits. Is it all working out?

Apology

Yup I know - cardinal sin of a blog and all that but with everything going on this year I've not managed to post for about 2 months.

But I will attempt to bring now boarding up to date over the next couple of weeks...