Sunshine, scenery and singing!

Saturday
This evening we were going to a concert at the abbey at Pontigny in Burgundy with some friends from church. The Abbey of Pontigny, in the valley of the Serein, was founded in 1114, as the second daughter-house of the Cistercian order, and has an English connection. It is the last resting place of St Edmund of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry III. Indeed, the concert was being given by three English choirs, St. Edmunds Anglican school Canterbury, St Edmunds Catholic College, Ware and St Edmunds College Cambridge. The program comprised a selection of English sacred music in the first half, followed by Fauré's Requiem. The concert was starting at 8.30, and since the weather promised to be fine, we had decided to take a picnic to eat beforehand. Last weekend Roger and I were biking along the Canal du Nivernais in the area, and before returning home had gone for a drive through the Chablis vineyards. We came across a beautiful viewpoint with picnic tables, and I thought it would make a wonderful spot for our picnic - it was just about 20 mins from the Abbey. The weather couldn't have been better, and everyone enjoyed the picnic and the setting, and of course the music to follow. It made for a late night, but it was a great late afternoon and evening!