Gondor calls for aid!

I just started playing for mass again, at the beautiful church nearby where we stay and it has been interesting to say the least. I have not heard of many of the hymns and the order of mass has changed significantly, so i am trying to get used to it. I've been thrown in the metaphorical deep end already as the first week where i was supposed to attend to observe, I had to jump in at the last minute to play the opening hymn (sight reading FTW!). Then, although i'm there as a keyboardist (electronic piano), there is also an organ with several organists but all of them could not make the following week's mass, so I covered for the organ (without really paying attention to it so had to learn really quickly).

Then it was the eve of Ascension (day of obligation), and a message was posted to the whatsapp group on the day around noon looking for keys, so i responded without knowing that there would be no choir or choir leader, just a cantor. Thankfully the Lord works in mysterious ways, and there was a choir and a choir leader and an experience cantor. Just to show that He is all knowing, I was caught in a traffic jam and only made it in after the opening hymn, but thankfully again the other keyboardist was there to cover, and proceeded to lead the rest of the mass until the communion hymns, and then guide me through the various hymns until the end. I felt blessed, comforted, and also slightly ashamed of my little faith.

On a side note, i see that it has been 6 months since i last played soccer, and i'm itching to play again.

Sick of being sick

It all began in December when we went on holiday in Germany, i caught a cold that manifested itself as a fever that left me a wreck. I could do nothing except sleep badly, with restless dreams of vivid darkness, and i lost 4 inches off the waist and close to 10 kilos.
The new year saw me in better health and spirits, but that was all undone in Feb as I fell ill to another virus that three courses of antibiotics could not cure. The fourth course managed to nip it in the bud but it still left me knackered.
Did not fall ill during my trip to London and Dublin, which was strange since it was unseasonably cold, so much so it even snowed in Dublin on the day after St Patrick's. But it is April now, and I am down again. Am trying to rest as much as possible but with so much to do at work and at home, to say that I'm exhausted is an understatement. I really wish i could exercise and I'm slightly alarmed at the state of deterioration in my physical self. I am sick of being sick! 

Getting back into the groove

Happened to see a notice that the church nearby was looking for a keyboardist, so i responded and was asked to come by and observe how things are run and to pick up accordingly.

The current keyboardist is a rather young lady with straight forward ideas about playing for mass, a little no-frills with some condiments. There were a few songs that I thought could have been done better, although I was mindful that everyone had their own style. Then just before mass started, she decided the waltz of the opening hymns was not her thing and vacated the seat for me to sight read just as the hymn was being announced. Lovely. I think i was a little rusty, but still managed to waltz my way through, throwing in a few fills here and there. Sight reading FTW!

I did take offence at a remark for the after mass practice (for next week) that a particular song was "my type", as i felt i would be flexible enough that I can play anything. I do think that i might have to tone down my playing as the choir can be easily distracted lol.