Nashville to The Faroe Islands – Thursday, June 12th through Monday June 16th – with Chapel Hart

Left today for the Faroe Islands with Chapel Hart.  However, the day “prior” to departure was a lot more “interesting” than our travel days.

As usual, I was stressed trying to get everything finalized before departing for the airport at 4:45 am.  Since I had Cataract surgery a week ago on my second eye and was “banned” from exercising other than jogging, I decided to get in one last jog.  By the way, Cataract surgery is the best thing I’ve done for myself in decades.  For the first time in at least 20 years, I no longer need reading glasses!  Not sure what I’ll do with those dozens of pairs I have in every room of my house, every purse, car, etc. ! – but I digress…)
I jogged for about half a mile and decided I would finish quicker if I ran sprints.  About 10 seconds into the first sprint, I tripped over my own feet and went face down on the pavement.  For a minute, I wasn’t sure I could get up.  But I did and walked home.  There was obviously a lot of damage.  Huge bump on my forehead, cut to my eyebrow, eye and cheek had already turned black and blue, nose bleeding, scrapes and bruises on my hands, knees, elbows, you name it!

Lindsey drove me to an Urgent Care facility that immediately sent me to the emergency room for a CT Scan to make sure there was no bleeding on the brain.  Everything was moving along quickly until it came time to get the results of my scan.  I waited 5 hours!  When we questioned “why” it was taking so long, the response was, “Oh we have to outsource those and lately it’s been taking a long time for them to get the results to us.”  You think?

I had not eaten anything all day but Lindsey had a cereal bar in her purse, so that was breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I was struggling with the fact that it was too late to have Lindsey or Chris replace me on the tour to the Faroe Islands.  I called Frank (who always takes me to the airport) and told him that I would text him at 4 am if I didn’t want him to pick me up at 4:45 am.

Oddly enough, there really wasn’t any “pain”.  The results finally came in and it was one of those – good news, bad news conversations.  Good news was there was not any bleeding in the brain. Bad news is I fractured both my Ocular and Sinus!  The doctor said they could not advise me to fly but if I did, I should be prepared to have severe pain on take off and landing because of the pressurization.   I also have to set up an appointment with a surgeon to see if surgery is going to be required.

Those of you who know me have already guessed that I did not cancel my trip to the Faroe Islands.  We all arrived at the airport at 5 am or earlier and our flight departed on time.  I was dreading the take off but nothing happened!  No pain.  We had about a 6 hour layover at JFK and I spent the entire time working in the Delta One Lounge because they have these little “clear” booths that look a lot like an old telephone booth.   Once on the plane, all I wanted to do was SLEEP because I did not have time to sleep before heading to the airport that morning.

It was a smooth flight and we landed early in Copenhagen.  We had a 6 hour layover in Copenhagen but fortunately after picking up all our checked bags, we were able to recheck everything at a Kiosk for the Atlantic Airways flight.  There was an automated belt that allowed us to send it through for loading on the aircraft.  Then we were able to go through security and spend the layover in the area where all the shops and restaurants are located.   I really can only eat soft food so I had a Power Protein smoothie that was Matcha, banana, dates and oat milk.  Might have been the best smoothie I’ve ever had.

We have to fly Atlantic Airways from Copenhagen to the Faroe Islands.  The planes are a lot like a Southwest Airlines aircraft.  Most of us were sitting near each other in the front of the plane.  One of the flight attendants was really “young” and obviously “excited” about her job.  She spilled half a glass of water on me and didn’t even offer to give me a napkin.  And no one bumped her….she was just rushing like a Tasmanian Devil from seat to seat.  When we started landing, she went seat to seat and started yelling at people to open their window shades.  She literally crawled on top of Danica to get Trea’s attention to open hers.  (I have to wonder what safety threat landing with a closed window shade poses???).  When she was serving drinks, she ran the cart into Danica’s knee and didn’t apologize.  The other flight attendant came by and apologized.  Darion was asleep and she grabbed the back of his seat and pushed the button to slammed his seat back up!  I was hooking my neck pillow to my purse and she came by and yelled at me that I had to put my bag under the seat now!  Keep in mind that we were at least 15 minutes from landing!  Felt like we were trapped in a bad reality show!

Finally landed and Allan (our promoter) called to say he was about 10 minutes away because our flight landed 30 minutes early and they were stuck in traffic.  It was so great to see him again after so many years.  He looks exactly the same.  It was an hour drive from the airport to the Hilton Hotel.  The drive is breathtakingly beautiful.  And, I got to see lots of “black and white sheep” again!  First time I’ve stayed at this hotel and the rooms are great.    We took photos of the group and Allan in the lobby once we got checked in.

I unpacked and worked for about 3 hours then went downstairs to grab some dinner.  Devynn, Trea, and Darion were already in the restaurant.  Before we agreed that this would be a great hotel to stay at, Allan had me check out the menu.  When I looked a couple of months ago, the menu was great.  But, they changed it 2 days ago and it is far from great.  Plus, the waitress told my group that there was a “fixed” meal for our group!  We were supposed to be allowed to purchase anything we wanted from the menu as long as it was 45 U.S. or less and no alcohol.  The “fixed” menu tonight was a cheeseburger and fries!  The others had already ordered so I could do nothing about tonight’s menu.  But I called Allan and he talked to the hotel.  While I would love to have a cheeseburger, there’s no way I can eat one with my injuries!  He worked it out so that I could charge 45 U.S. dollars to my room.

I called my son after dinner and he dropped the news on me that Israel has attacked Iran!  I noticed today that all the government employees were being evacuated from Bahrain.  I messaged my friend to find out if he and his family are safe and leaving but have not heard from him….which isn’t a good sign.  Had no idea this had taken place.

Worked a couple of hours before going to bed.

Jude

 

CHAPEL HART PERFORMANCE AT THE COUNTRY FESTIVAL SORVAGUR – SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH:

 I lied.  Did not go to bed early.  Stayed up and worked for several more hours.  Of course, it never got dark here so it didn’t seem “late”.  Our rooms are incredibly hot.  Thankfully the windows open so we were able to cool them off.  There is a thermostat on the wall and it is set for 24C – that’s 75F!  There is a button to turn it down but it goes right back to 24C.  I asked the front desk and they said they could call maintenance and have them lower the temperature but once they did, it took 2 – 3 days for it to take effect.  Since we leave tomorrow, guess the open window will be our air conditioner.  At least there’s no sheep nearby to wander into our rooms like we had on my first visit here!

The brunch buffet was amazing.  Even had the option to make custom omelets.  We departed for sound check at 2 pm and while the weather was cold and foggy, there was no rain.  But the drive was about 45 minutes and by the time we arrived at the venue, there was a steady rain!  I had the group stay in the van until I could find Allan and check out the situation.  There was standing water all over the stage and the backline wasn’t set up.  I found Allan and he was walking around holding his side.  There was a huge hole in the stage floor on one side of the stage.  He had been standing there last night holding the curtain back for the entertainer to leave the stage and fell right through to the ground!  Of course he didn’t go to the doctor but did tell the production company that they should be glad it was him instead of an artist from the USA who would have sued them.  Their “solution” was to put a wooden pallet on top of the hole!  I told my group not to come on or off that side of the stage!

Our Agreement was to either have two small “campers” for my group OR a large tour bus as our dressing room/green room.  Neither of those happened.  The one small camper was locked and there was no green room catering.  Allan arranged for the big bus we had agreed on to be brought to the site and we used that for the “green room/dressing room”.  When the small camper was finally opened, it was dirty from the groups the night before.

The rain never really stopped but slowed up enough for the guys to load in and start getting their levels.  I had been telling the group last night about some of the practical jokes the Bellamys and I have played on each other throughout our many years of road trips.  Trea was amazed and said she needed to “up her game”.  About 10 minutes later, as she usually did, she asked to meet the Mayor.  Basically, she just handed me that one!

I brought everyone on stage and had a friend of Allan’s “pretend” to be the Mayor and not understand or speak English.  Our van driver interpreted for him.  I had purchased a cowboy had with a sheriff’s badge on the front and he “presented” her with it as a gift and told her he would be honored if she would wear it in the show.  She oohed and awed over it and put it on.  Then the “interpreter” told her that it was customary for her to give the “Mayor” something as well.  I just happened to have a “GooGoo” cluster with me and handed it to her.  The “mayor” looked at it, scoffed, and handed it to the van driver and stomped off the stage.  Everyone in the group was dumbstruck.  So then I let them in on the joke.

We didn’t leave sound check until after 5 pm and had another 45 minute drive back to the hotel.  We had to eat dinner and dress for the show and be ready to leave by 8:30 pm.  The hotel definitely stepped up their game for dinner tonight.  We had Langostino soup (which was excellent), a really tender stea k(had to be for me to chew it), bread and butter, mashed potatoes, green beans and a lemon tarte.

It was still raining when we departed the hotel for the venue but by the time we arrived at the venue, the rain has stopped and the crowd was pouring in.  We don’t know the exact count yet, but they said it’s the most attendees they have ever had in the history of the festival – around 3,000!  My friend – Tummas – came by with a couple of his friends and met the girls.  And, the lady who books the new venue came by with her husband.  It was nice to meet her and chat with her about how we can work together to bring entertainers to her venue when they are already performing in Europe.

As expected, the girls hit another home run with their show.  The audience loved them and danced and sang along with every song.  There were four young girls in pink cowboy hats right in front and they were having the time of their life.  They had to go back on stage for an encore and afterwards there was a long line of people wanting to take a photo with them.  The girls accommodated and I made sure the line moved quickly.  Still, it was 1:30 am when we finally got back to the hotel. I learned this morning that it started pouring rain again as soon as we left!  At least lobby call isn’t until 11:30 am tomorrow!

Jude