The manager's blog.....part 1

There are many worries in a tour manager's life: will everyone make it to the airport with their passports and on time, will the bass get on the flight and will the veggie meals turn up, but its not often you have to look at the sky and hope that the plane takes off before the snow comes down ! Thankfully we were in the air over the Atlantic as the first flakes fell on Kent and the warmth of Florida and the beautiful sunshine of Colombia have made thoughts of icy pavements rapidly disappear! The bass made it here safely too – although we had fun explaining to the Colombian air hostess what a double bass was and why we needed to know it was actually on the plane with us!
The Festival has been as welcoming as last year and its been a true pleasure to greet old friends from both the festival management and players. The Colombian musicians who played with us last year have been welcomed back into their sections like long lost friends.
Today is a busy day with three rehearsals scheduled but that didn’t stop the swimming club meeting for their 7.30am swim. Even at that early hour the sun is bright and the water warm. Breakfast is taken at the cafe next to the pool and this morning after a few too many mojitos last night I was happy to sit sipping coffee as the energetic splashed their way up and down the pool. Tomorrow I might be tempted to join them.

Elaine Baines Robins, General Manager