Since Kaz and Iain had been in England since we arrived in Moissac and only returned yesterday, I took the opportunity to go across the canal today to talk with them and thank Iain for doing the de-winterising on Kanumbra. When I got there, they were showing a NZ couple around Anneke, which was up for sale. The NZers look interested and had many plans for renovation, so hopefully all goes well. In the late morning, we went out to Catherine’s house at Castelferus, where Rita and I were signed up for singing lessons! Yes, that’s right, Rita AND me. I was so impressed with the Sunday function that I thought I would give it a go. We went through various warmup exercises together, for Catherine to get an idea of the range of our voices, and then we sang “Under the Boardwalk” together (since we want to do that one at Karaoke Night during the Festival). Rita then sang Corcovado. Catherine seemed pretty happy with both our efforts, so we promised to keep rehearsing while we are away on the barge.

After finishing practice, Rita mentioned the plight of our Dindi Moon singer Mishelle, with both of her parents in hospital and perhaps having to drop out of the French tour next month. She asked if Catherine knew of anyone who might be able to replace her at short notice, and Catherine immediately volunteered. We were flabbergasted, to say the least. But Catherine insisted that she would love to do it, because she had never sung with a steelband, and after checking her diary she confirmed that she would be available for all the gigs. So we told her when rehearsals would be in the week before the gigs, and she said she would be OK for them as well. We left her place much relieved, and looking forward to playing with her.

As we left Catherine’s, we got the first substantial rain shower since we got here, but it had all stopped by the time we got back to Moissac.

Later that day, Switzerland bowed out of the World Cap when they lost to Sweden 1-0, while England scraped through after drawing 1-1 with Columbia after extra time, but then winning the penalty shootout 4-3 after being behind 2-3.