Having decided to go down the path of replacing the Vetus 24V toilet with a domestic 220V toilet, I thought I should check out the other components of the system (water input, waste output) that the 220V system would also use. The input water system worked well, but the output pipe seemed to be a bit blocked. So I gave it a good dose of vinegar (since it seemed to be quite calcified inside). Hopefully that will sort it out.

Rita went up to the Old Convent (which is now an accommodation centre for Compostella walkers) to see if they had a possible venue for us to conduct one of the medieval music classes (the other will be in and around the Abbaye and Cloisters). They did have a suitable room, so we added that to the list of possibilities.

In the afternoon I emailed a set of hi-res photos to Regional Arts Australia, for the article they are writing about the steelbands. Surprisingly, we had very few suitable hi-res photos, since I am always trying to reduce the file sizes to make them suitable for online publication. Luckily, I was able to get some (not many) from other band members after an email around the band. However, we will need to make sure we get lots of hi-res photos on the French Tour for future use.

After getting the extra timber from Weldum, I was finally able to finish both sets of bass feet - they make quite an impressive sculpture. Now I just need to find a suitable source of dense foam rubber to put on the ends of the feet to absorb the vibrations.

Since it was Tuesday, we decided to go to Damazan to check out arrangements for the Night Market music on Aug 26. Rita contacted the Musical Director for the Market, and we agreed to meet her at 7pm in the market square. On the way to Damazan, we stopped off at Auvillar, since that was another possibility for the location of the second of the medieval music workshops. We checked the Art Gallery (above) at the Old St Catherine’s Seafarer Church, but it was not really suitable and anyway it was being used over that period by an art exhibition. So we went up to the town proper and Rita went to visit the Tourism Office. While she was there, a couple of people who were involved in a Franco-German cultural exchange program suggested that we hold our workshop in the old circular grain market in the middle of the town triangle. It looked like an interesting option, so we added that to the list as well.

We then headed on to Damazan, and after a small confusion between meeting near the fountain and the well (they sound similar in French), we met up with the Musical Director, and several of her colleagues. They were very accommodating in arranging what would happen on the 26th, and seemed excited to have a steelband from Australia playing at their Night Market. We had a good long chat with them, and then decided to stay for dinner at the market. But when we went to find a space at a table, we found that they had all been filled in the time we were talking with the people about the 26th. So, instead, we decided to see if our favourite restaurant in Damazan (la Penna) was open that night, and luckily it was. So we ended up eating much better than we would have at the market.

After dinner, we headed back to the market to check out the music and the action. As always, lots of the locals were up dancing and having a great time. It will be interesting to see how they dance to a steelband!