Good evening/morning dedicated followers of Wellington Brass. Callum Mallett, Chief Blog Editor and Principal 2nd Horn giving you the usual daily offering of tour gossip, assortment of banter and woeful tales from Mark Davey.
Today of course is game day and its fair to say emotions haven’t dwindled since Jack Bewley's famous words at the beginning, we are “absolutely fizzing mate, revelling in it.” An early start, the 7am alarm sounding the day to Mark’s delight after being incarcerated the evening before in a bleak courthouse session from Brother Byron (Buzz).
Like any contest performance the band ran through some of our most loved hymns, Toby had remembered his music, the anxious wait on the order of playing was lessened with with motivational speeches out of the way- any draw is a good draw. Of course we were very satisfied with our spot as band 18, equally so our supporters back home could catch up on the action at the reasonable hour of 4am! With formalities out of the way, we were left to relax, for some a decision had to be made, listening to the first performances of the day or watch the AB’s. With appetite lost to the sport following Mr. Sweeny’s tiresome account of Rugby, the band ventured off to brass band heaven at Symphony Hall.
4 bands later, and 4 analysis’s of the soprano cornet and bass trombones final note it was time for coffee. Having avoided the UK’s “coffee” establishments as a self professed snob for the drink, the beverage was of a high enough standard to set the day in good stead, the cafe having real hipsters that could have only been imported from Wellington, only left a well meaning thought for our performance later that day.
It was back to the hotel, Mark Davey snug in bed to tired of spinning yarns. We were off again on part II of our adventure this time the British Open stage was in our sights and if there were words to describe our excitement beyond absolutely fizzing I'd use them.
In sheer excitement, revelling after a performance I'll never forget and in anticipation of the night to come, I've written this before the results.
I will say, Beer in hand we were all absolutely chuffed to have this opportunity. Thank you to all our supporters, back in Wellington, within NZ, Australia and around the world.
I'm off to the pub. In the words of Brad "this will be the best day of my life"
Finally a good coffee!
Waiting on the results
On the big stage!