Considering the “cheery” spirit this year, top financial consultants have composed a new Christmas carol below.

To be sung to the tune of “Santa Claus is coming to Town”

You’d better watch out
You’d better not cry
You’d better keep cash
I’m telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

It’s hitting you once,
It’s hitting you twice
It doesn’t care if you’ve been careful and wise
Recession is coming to town

It’s worthless if you’ve got shares
It’s worthless if you’ve got bonds
It’s safe when you’ve got cash in hand
So keep cash for goodness sake, HEY

You’d better watch out
You’d better not cry
You’d better keep cash
I’m telling you why:
Recession is coming to town!

Finance products are confusing
Finance products are so vague
The banks make you bear the cost of risk
So keep out for goodness sake, OH

You’d better watch out
You’d better not cry
You’d better keep cash
I’m telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

I read a card the other day that said Happy Birthday today, Happy Hangover Tomorrow!.

Well, I don’t drink, so that wouldn’t apply to me, but yes if I had gone to work, it would definitely have felt like one!

Took 26th off from work and I realized this was much needed. Was only able to sleep around 6am on 26th morning after the great Christmas Dance.

Madam C woke me around 10am to tell me she was already on her way to my place. Was really really zonked the whole morning. She has straightened her hair and was looking really gorgeous!
She had to leave around 1pm and I just wasn’t able to ride to Bandra and back
Went to bed once again and woke up at 5.30pm. Sleep complete.

Had to go to church in the evening to sing for a mini-fest that happens every year. Was really shocked to see how low scale it was this year. I guess this was probably because we had other major church activities this year.

The choir wasn’t at full strength, many had sore voices, but I think we came out quite well. Just that we were singing to an almost empty audience!

Dropped Anjali off to a friends place after the singing before heading back home. Had planned on visiting a doctor but I think I’m doing fine.

Have to go to work now. The last week of this year. It better go well!

My choir was asked to sing at Hotel Orchid, near the Santacruz airport.

Had earlier said I wouldn’t be able to make it. However, it was later rescheduled for 7pm. Spent a good day at work today and ensured that I finished all my targets before I asked for permission.

Left at 5.30pm from work and picked up Anjali our my way there. Had given my coat and tie to her mom yesterday itself so that I didn’t have to carry it to work.

The ambience of the hotel was really nice. However, we didn’t get to see much of it as we had to sing in the lobby. Was kinda embarrassing at first, but after a few carols got kinda used to it.

Sang for around 45-50 minutes after which we were taken for snacks. Decent stuff.

Wasn’t able to carry my digicam as I came directly from work. However Clayton had carried his and so got a decent picture of our choir above.

After the event, Anjali came home with me on the bike. Dropped off my coat at my house (well couldn’t carry it all by myself on the bike ) before dropping her home.

And instead of sleeping I stayed awake to write this post!

Have another long day tomorrow, both at work and afterwards. But, I am looking forward to it

Yesterday we had two masses. Spent the whole morning cleaning the windows and the rest of the hall. Also tidied up the area around my computer to arrange my new 5.1 speakers

Not completely pleased. Will probably put them in the four corners of my hall when we are doing it up.

Had two masses in the evening. The first was the senior citizens’ mass at 4pm in our church’s community center.

It was a small mass held specially for the oldies on the occasion of Christmas. This was followed by a small get-together for them with games and snacks (which we ate after the second mass). Was really nice to see them join in the singing of the Konkani hymns.

The second mass was our regular 6pm mass. Seems like there are no readers, so once again I did the First Reading, besides the Lord have Mercy, announcements for the hymns, all the prayers and ofcourse the singing!

Went home directly after mass and went to sleep rather early last night as I wanted to.

Finally, it’s Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Been waiting anxiously for Christmas. Two reasons, one was because of the mass and party and two was to show off my sexy new jacket which Melody gifted me! Picked up two black ties from Big Bazaar, on my way home from work. Didn’t end up buying my black pant, so just used the one I have.

On the downside, I had a feeling my voice was going. It has been slowly deteriorating over the past few days, and last night was the end. Today my voice is hoarse. I can’t talk too much. Much relief to my family

The Mass

Mass was fantastic. U. Conrad was very well complimented for the efforts he took. We began mass with O Holy Night. Carrying laterns in our hands, we walked out singing, with the priests in a procession to take our places. Since, the lights were off, it indeed was a beautiful sight.

Just before the Gloria, we heard the sound of trumpets, and out from the church came our priest with a group of angels (well not real ones, but little children dressed up as them). We followed this with Angels we have heard on High.

For the Psalm, we sang More than a Child. I really love this carol. Have even loaded it on my cell as a ringtone. Makes me sit and close my eyes and pray.

Now for the Homily, which was given by Fr. Felix D’Souza. I had written a while back about a church program conducted by him, which was excellent. Not surprising, the Homily was excellent.

He spoke of a book Who Moved my Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson, which talks about change and how to deal with it. It tells the story of four characters in search of cheese. As they get there, someone moves the cheese. Two of them complain and grumble about this, while the remaing two continue on their journey, in process encountering many troubles and overcoming them.
The point Fr. had to make was that with the coming of our Saviour, a lot in our life will have to change. Give up our lifestyle and accept His. Are we willing to do that?

For Offertory, U. Conrad got a young boy to sing a beautiful hymn titled What can I give Him?. Really cute!

Next on our list was Holy (Presence). This is one of the new ones we have learnt this Christmas and has been appreciated by many.

For Proclamation, Chrisanne started off with Emmanuel and we repeated it.

For Peace, we sang Gift of Gift of Peace. This was also new, and we had a horrible time hitting the starting note. Thankfully, we were able to do so correctly. Of course, I did have to do octave switching, so that I didn’t sound false.

For Communion we took Silent Night (in Konkani), Cradle Song, Hark a Herald and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.

Recessional was Joy to the World, with a difference. Not in the carol, but in our change of appearance, when we put on Santa caps. I have forgotten to mention, that we had on golden stoles, which looked very smart on our suits. Hopefully, I can lay my hands on some pics (though I doubt).

Wished everyone after mass, made a quick stopover at home to drop off the candle A. Anita gave us, followed by a longer stopover at Rhea‘s place, so she could change, before going for for the party at U. Conrad’s place.