weekend roundup

Oldest KAT enjoying a pain au chocolait on Saturday morning

Back from our jaunt to Melbourne.  It was the best of times and the worst of times.

The best because I spent extended uninterrupted time with Oldest KAT...my doppelganger, mini-me (all the best bits thankfully) and my oldest friend (and her husband who's also a pretty 'spesh' friend).

The worst because my arm throbbed in sync with the music and just generally ached like buggery!  It was a sign of how this was wearing thin with me when I spilt a drink on myself on the flight back and burst into tears!!!  Some unexpected but much appreciated TLC from the kind Qantas hosties made me feel much better...a pillow to support my arm and a few tissues were a much-needed salve for my frayed edges.

We were looked after by my oldest friend, who met her husband at the youth group through me (my one and only claim to fame in the match-making department).  She and I go back even further though, we have known each other since we were pre-schoolers (met a Kindy).  She knows me better than anyone and is personally acquainted with many of the skeletons in my closet!!

That's her on the left, me on the right and our other friend in the middle - College Ball circa 1990....how good do we look!!!

The Reunion Mass was great....I had an embarrassingly good time.  I sang my heart out. I remembered harmonies I haven't sung for over 20 years and at the supper afterwards time dissolved the intervening years as I laughed and chatted.  In the end I had to be dragged out by Oldest KAT as she was hungry and tired...so were retired for a good old Melbourne 'counter meal' (NSW readers will be shaking their heads at this term...think pub food!).

Practising before-hand.  I'm the tall one behind the boy in red...he's the sweet young son of an old choir friend.

At the supper we even got to watch ourselves on the screen as someone had a copy of the televised mass from about 1989 I think.

I'm standing next to the thoroughbred in pink....she also happens to be my younger sister!!!!  I captured this image just as the credits were appearing...all over my face (you get the picture though).

We sounded just as great at yesterdays Mass as we did 20 years ago....still got it!!!  A lady came up to me afterwards and said "I remember you, I used to come and listen to you every week...you used to be blonde didn't you"!!!!!!

Sigh...so young...so thin, so naturally blonde!!!!

The years I spent as part of the 5 O'Clock Group were formative in many ways - aside from the singing, the camaraderie, the spirituality, I met a boy who would become a long term boyfriend and eventually we'd become engaged only to agree to part 3 months before our wedding...sad but the best decision I ever made:)  I must post about that at some point!

"Hanging out" with the 'boy' in the presbytery kitchen!

A 15yr old me.

A great weekend.  A trip worth taking even with a bung arm:)  A chance to reconnect with people and a time that will always be special.  I was lucky to find my way to them and I'm lucky to have the chance to find my way back to them on occasions like this...to rediscover a 'me' that I'd forgotten to some extent.  A 'me' I'm proud of and that I can shed a tear that I didn't appreciate her when she was in her prime:)

Life's like that though isn't it.  Hindsight has 20-20 vision!

getting the band back together

Me and my dodgy arm are off to Melbourne tomorrow.  That's unless my orthopedic surgeon doesn't nix my plan to fly.

Oldest KAT is coming along as my nurse/dresser/face washer/pants pull-upperer.  She is suitably excited about getting a trip with mum.

The purpose of the trip is to participate in a reunion mass as part of the anniversary of the church I attended as a young-un. 

In those days I was an active member of the youth group at the church and sang in the youth choir on a Sunday evening...we were called 'the 5 o'clock group'. 

We were probably as cringe-worthy as this classic duo from Four Weddings and a Funeral...and yes I did sing at plenty of weddings (by request) and got paid to warble various Carpenters tunes and the odd Ave Maria!

We were lucky to have more than our fair share of talented instrumentalists and vocalists and it was the days when the catholic church were more liberal with music and we were known for combining classic folk music with contemporary church music...we got so popular we were chosen for a televised mass one time and the congregation was often 800 plus.

The worship was always paramount though and every Sunday night we would retire after dinner (often pizza) to the presbytery lounge room and plan the next weeks music.

They were great times.  They were great people. 

We had a 20th year reunion 5 years ago....my dad was there, it was a couple of months before he died.  We had a great time....he had played guitar for some of my time in the choir.  It will be hard to participate on Sunday without him but I know he'll be there in spirit.

We will have a practise before the mass...I will feel the joy I have always felt when I sing and doing it in my old church will make my heart even fuller.

Have a great weekend:)