As we came to the end of Cathedral road and turned left heading into the centre of Cardiff instead of turning right and heading west – the more traditional direction for heading to west Wales – we knew we were in for an interesting journey. Clearly the driver had decided to head up North Road to the M4 – but why use the logical route when we can enjoy the sights of Whitchurch on the way?

More fun was to come as we approached Carmarthen, when the driver took a right heading northeast towards Pencader. ‘Perhaps he has the wrong memo’ we speculated ‘and he is taking us back to Llanfihangel yr Arth – at least we can spend a bit longer enjoying the local brew there’. But no, we use the well trod Llanfihangel bypass heading instead towards Synods Inn. We are now travelling in precisely the opposite direction from Rhos Hill. ‘There is another place called Rhos on Angelsey’, suggests John Kiff ‘we might just about get there by midnight…!’.

We finally arrive in the correct Rhos, approaching from the north, tired and bladders full… ‘looked for toilets all around’. But how many toilets are there? – the destination is after all a small chapel surrounded by fields and sheep. While the ladies form an orderly queue – the gentlemen head off down a country lane. What on earth would an unsuspecting passing traveller have made when confronted with a row of black suited men lined up along a roadside hedge?

            

So it’s into the chapel now for a curtailed rehearsal – most of which is spent trying to work out how to fit 70 choristers into a space with no room to swing the proverbial feline pet. ‘Cosy here isn’t it’ – as we test out the acoustics with a blast of Blaenwern. But is there any room for an audience?

Fortunately there is, and they start streaming in from… well goodness knows where from… There only seem to be three houses anywhere near.

The concert goes well. A rousing first set comprising hymns and arias including Richard’s Ave Maria. He seemed genuinely impressed by the ‘Mater Dei entry’ – nodding his approval – was that the first time we have ever got that right? The first half ended with ‘O Fab y Dyn’ rather then the programmed ‘Tangnefeddwr’ – cue lots of frantic shuffling of scores despite Richard’s prior warning.

             

Lovely individual pieces and duets from the soloists – my personal favourite ‘Dim ond ti’ a welsh version of the Yazoo Classic  ‘Only you’, and an impassioned talk on the challenges of Parkinson’s – the chosen charity for the event.

The second half was more interesting – with missed entries and forgotten clicks in Hen Ferchetan and interesting composing by the basses of the ‘ooos’ in the second verse of ‘O Gymru’. But the concert ended with a rousing version of ‘Tangnefeddwyr’ and an emotional ‘Arfonaf Angel’ – a fair few tears evident on the balcony – with a truly sensational chorus – I though the roof was going to lift off so that the Angels could look in!

And so then to the highlight of the trip – the famous TyRhos tea! and it really didn’t disappoint. The ladies of the valley had really excelled this time. But have they provided enough meringues and cream horns? They are all on one of the inside tables where hordes of choristers scramble to get first dibs… But no need to panic – there was more than enough to satisfy even the largest appetite. Talking of which the gliding movement of Jonathan from one table to the next was a sight to behold…

The homeward journey – via the great metropolis of  Crymych (well it’s all relative). Alan challenges the Bass contingent in the back of the coach to a mobile version of Pointless and it’s not long before Jonathan leads a ‘guess the tv theme tune’ challenge with the Bass section ably supported by among others two Vickys, a Cathy and a Ffion. The rest of the bus is soon enjoying a rendition of the ‘A Team’  theme sung in perfect four part harmony. No one could get my rendition of the Virginian – clearly everyone is far too young to be familiar with classic 60s tv westerns – or was it something to do with the lack of musicality – surely not! By contrast everyone coped with Dai’s ‘The Lone Ranger’ except for Steffan (or was it Ceri) whose head was back – eyes closed and mouth open. I like to think he was taken in the beauty of it all…

Finally we simply ran out of ideas – or was it simply exhaustion, a post tea sugar crash or losing the will to live! Finally back at the Mochyn at 00:30! And time for exhausted choristers to make their way back to their beds – work for some the next morning….

Post script – we later learned that the concert had raised more than £1600 for Parkinson’s – well done one and all. Roll on the Eisteddfod…

By Gwilym.