After landing at Christchurch around 10:00 AM, and while walking through the terminal toward the baggage claim area, I suddenly stopped short in the middle of the terminal when I saw a man in a red shirt, and another 15 or so behind him, holding up a sign that read "The Winning Combination".
I waved in acknowledgment which seemed to be their cue to blow the pitch and start singing the "Chordbuster March". Naturally, we joined in to finish the song with them. What an incredible welcome
Once we had collected our luggage the assembled members bundled us into their cars and took us to our hotel. As it turned out, not only did we stay in the very same hotel that I stayed in 5 years ago, I got the very same room!
That evening, about ten of the "Canterbury Plainsmen" and some of their wives came to our hotel and we spent a couple of hours socializing, singing and sampling the brewing art of New Zealand. By now it seemed we had known these folks for half of our lives.
Bea managed to find the location of the Catholic Church and went to Midnight Mass. Now, mind you, Bea not only managed to walk to the church, which was several blocks away, in a strange town, at night, but walked backed to the hotel alone at 1:30 AM. You certainly wouldn't attempt that here, but you feel very secure in New Zealand.
Upon reaching Christchurch, we got a message from our new barbershop friends that they would like to meet us in front of a restaurant across from Victoria Square, in the park along the Avon River, so we could join them in the annual candle-light Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long.
A sight and sound never to be forgotten, with over 10,000 people holding candles and joining voice in some of the most inspiring music ever written.
In the mean time, our new Scottish barbershop friend, Ken Smith, had arranged to pick up the quartet in the afternoon of Christmas day and take us to a large nursing home so that we could sing for the patients. Since we missed this portion of our normal Christmas, usually we would be singing carols with Whittier Chorus at several nursing and retirement homes, this filled a real void for us.
The experiences singing there were way too many to try to recall in print, but just ask any one of us about it. It was really something special for us, and also for Ken who filled in for Dale on a few songs.
Before leaving on a bus tour of the New Zealand Alps and Milford Sound, our group did some exploring. Here Betty inspects the wares at a quaint market in downtown Christchurch.
Christmas Eve morning we were off again by motor coach to return to Christchurch to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
