Our orchestral year culminates this weekend with a retreat and concert. The entire orchestra will spend the weekend in an inn out in the countryside somewhere (I was there last year already, but remind me to download directions because I have no memory of how to drive there) practicing and rehearsing. On Sunday we then have a concert somewhere. I would take the bus with everyone else, but couldn’t get today off from work. In a way, although I will be missing out on a day of practice, I prefer this, because who wants to sit in a bus with kids for hours?

This year will be better than last year, I think, because the inn is said to have doors now. Last year it was under construction and rooms had no doors. It’s in a nice rural location, good place to take walks in your free time or just sit around and watch the kids set things on fire and stuff.

Today will be a bit hectic, I suppose. I must still pack my stuff, run to my in-laws’ place and steal the old Fiat Doblo (they are vacationing in Spain at the moment, in another bus full of retired people) drive home, load the instruments and stuff and find my way to this place in what will by then be a dark night.

We have a total of four public concerts this year, stretched out over several weeks. Still, Sunday will be a bit of a relief, because we will see, probably, that everything works okay. I am thinking positive. I will be able to see my notes, they won’t turn into bedbugs, and I won’t get too lost.

Oh, and Beta’s harp solo will sound even better in concert than it does in rehearsal.