Thought I better get something on the blog before the tour ended, we have been packing in the music,sightseeing, eating and drinking which has left little time for sleeping or blogging, so here is a sample day just to give you a feel. Friday 11th up early to get to Oak Park  to see Frank Lloyd Wrights architectural gem-Unity Temple and his first house, the birthplace of  Prairie style. When he first lived here there really was prairie just beyond and Frank was famous for riding his horse in a red kimono gathering weeds for display in the house. The long sufffering Catherine was bringing up the 6 kids and despairing how they would ever pay the bills as Frank bought grand pianos and lived life according to his maxim- look after the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves... but back to the architecture. Unity Temple is magnificent- an intimate yet awe inspiring church filled with light and classic FLW details-jewel box artglass windows in the ceiling, strong verticals lifting your eyes to heaven and broad horizontal bands unifying the whole structure. The house is simple and stunning in one small structure he includes rooms of great beauty utilising his compression and release so that you burst forth into the light airy spaces with tree level views and glass that exactly matches the clours of the trees outside-magic, I could have spent all day there.

 But angels live life to the full so it is back on the El - chicago talk for the elevated railway looping around the city-for an aftenoon at the Chicago Centre for Black Music Research where we spend a couple of hours engrossed in the Jubilee Showcase from the 1960's- lots of fabulous quartets and choirs singing different versions of some of our old favouites and lots of other songs. Rev Jesse Jackson spoke of his experiences on the scene at Rev Martin Luther Kings assassination followed by Precious Lord the song he requested for his funeral. With only a small amount of encouragement we sing for the assembled staff, who think this could be a nice way to end every Friday afternoon!

Next a walk to Michigan Ave to greet Rani's angel statue, today she is clothed in a skirt of blue morning glory.

In desperate need of fortification we all meet in town at Heaven on Seven for a southern louisiana feast -red beans and rice, hoppin john, collard greens and chili everything, all washed down with margaritas and beer.

But wait there's more Mike and I head out to the city outskirts to a dingy little rock bar to hear the 1900's an indie pop group with two female vocalists one of whom plays the sexiest tambourine I've ever seen. They are all very young- been playing for 3 years and are extremely chuffed when we tell them we've heard them in Australia (JJJ) and came to see them on the strength of that! 2.30 am and it's finally time to head home for bed.

So that's why I haven't been very active on the blogging but am having a fantastic time!