Kairos Band

Thursday – 23/10/08

So…this was to be my first trip out with the Kairos boys… “What was it going to be like?” I pondered as I drove up to Norwich. Rolled up to meet the band for the last rehearsal before tomorrow night’s gig only to find that the hall was already booked!

Tim, Jon and Jonatas went off home to get an early night whilst Mark H, Mark G, Aaron and I sat down for a chat about our trip and some plans for the future. Little did we know what the coming few hours have in store…

Friday – 24/10/08

After I’d spent a fitful few hours on an airbed in Mark’s guest room, my brain working overtime about the impending trip the alarm finally went off at 3.30am. After another ten minutes of constant blaring I decided it was best to go and wake our soporific guitarist up so he could switch off his alarm!

We made it to the church at just before the appointed time of 4.30 and found Tim already there. A minute or so after that Mark arrived and we waited for Aaron and the van. And waited. And waited. And waited. It was close on 4.50 and still no sign. No replies to our texts and no answers to our calls to his mobile. Oh dear. Jon and Jonatas were stood shivering near a petrol station near the A47 whilst Tim, our very own ‘Captain Slow’ (TM ‘Top Gear’) a.k.a. ‘Father’, was dispatched to find out where young Mr Pimlott was. They returned at 5.20, Aaron informing us that his phone had accidentally been put on silent so he hadn’t heard the alarm. Knowing how tight time was I started to wonder how fine we were going to cut checking in at the airport but, having picked up J and J we were finally on our way!

Okay…so…we were running almost an hour later than planned and then…there was a diversion on the A11 out of Norwich! We navigated that and then sailed on our way again…until we got to Thetford…and the van died! So, the journey had started at 5.20 and finished at 5.50. Oh dear. We pushed the car onto the hard shoulder, phoned the recovery people and discussed what to do whilst we waited for them to turn up. Obviously we were going to miss our flight but what to do now? Well…we laughed! The concern about missing the check-in had evaporated so it was time to just get things sorted. Unfortunately we couldn’t get hold of anyone at the airline until they switched their phones on at 8.00am…five minutes after our flight had left the ground. Neither could be access the internet to change the flights that way as we were out of range of any sort of signal. A couple of phone calls were made to Ireland and I tried to reassure Ross and Sarah (the organisers) that we WOULD be there!

After almost three hours the rescue company turned up to tow us back to Norwich and I’d managed to arrange that a new flight was booked. Due to the stupid system put in place by the airline meaning that we couldn’t just do a straight transfer, we had to pay for these new tickets and my credit card took, shall we say, quite a hammering. Still, we were determined to get there and were all relieved when we knew we’d got seven of the last eight available seats on the flight. It’s a real credit to the guys that everyone was in such good spirits as we waited in the van.

Anyway, to cut a very long story short, we eventually got going (deciding to use cars rather than the minibus) and headed off down the A11. Some great consternation was caused when Mark G called to say that the car that he and Tim were travelling in had broken down…this went on for a few minutes until he couldn’t keep up the pretence anymore! Bless him! After all else that had happened we were willing to believe almost anything! Upon reaching Stansted we trawled around all the car parks to find one that wasn’t going to cost as much as the flights for an overnight stay! A quick(ish) hop on the bus and we were FINALLY at the terminal!

After a little bit of negotiation with the check-in desk we managed to get everything through and headed off to the Departure Lounge. Mark H got stopped by Security (a nice change for me not to be the one hauled aside!) but Mark G almost got arrested for taking a pic of the incident! Tim almost made us late for boarding the plane due to looking at some bling for his new Gangsta image but we finally dragged him away and onto the plane.

We were met by a very relieved Ross and his brother Gavin and the baggage came through quickly and off we went to Ballymena and the venue. I have to say at this point that I LOVE being in Ireland. I’ve been over numerous times and it always feels like coming home. Despite all the hassle earlier I felt totally relaxed as Gavin drove Tim and I through the countryside and into the town.

The venue itself was great (although a bit of a nightmare sound-wise for Mark G) and the people there couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly. With a split set needed a lot of scribbling and juggling with the song list was needed over a bowl of soup and the band then got stuck into the soundcheck. Due to us arriving seven hours later than planned it was all a bit of a rush but the guys and especially Mr G coped admirably. There was just time for a quick sandwich or two and Aaron to do his hair (this took about half an hour) before the doors were opened and the audience came in. We relaxed in the dressing room at the rear of the stage (c/w security and a gofer no less) whilst the terrific Laura Rose opened the show with her lovely voice and great songs. It was then time for the guys to hit the stage…

Despite a few technical problems and the set being changed around at the last minute the first half seemed to go down really well. You can see the photos from the gig on the site. Much discussion ensued in the dressing room as to how things went and the guys couldn’t wait to get back on for the second half.

Following a moving performance of the ‘Lifehouse – Everything’ skit (check it out on You-Tube) it was again time for Kairos to rock Ballymena! The second set was much more punchy and faster paced and went down a storm…all in the hall sporting big smiles all the way through. It was all over too soon but the guys went out immediately to meet friends old and new (and family) and spent the next hour or so signing CDs and posters and having their photos taken. Mark G was taking a well-earned rest in the dressing room but we dragged him out too to have some pics taken and for us all to write on a huge poster near the door. In the set Aaron had told of our trials and tribulations in getting there and had referred to re-christening the van ‘Stupid Bus’…this was mentioned several times by other people on the poster!

After a lovely curry and the naughty delights of Honeycomb Vanilla Ice-Cream, a chat and relax with the good folks of Living Rivers it was time to go to our accommodation. Ross came over to me a little worried…the cottage we were meant to be staying in only had six beds…so I thought it would be best for the guys to sleep in comfort there whilst I slept on a sofa somewhere. Fortunately Ross had a spare room at his house and I spent an hour or two there chatting to Gavin whilst we waited for his return. Another problem…the heating didn’t work in the cottage! The guys spent most the night freezing!

Saturday – 25/10/08

As we had a few hours to kill until our flight home in the evening Ross and Gavin kindly offered to take us up to see the Giant’s Causeway (somewhere I’d always wanted to go). We drove several miles to where the guys had stayed in the remote (and I mean remote!) cottage. It was beautiful there and very cold but the guys seemed in good spirits (maybe it was the thought of a warm car interior!).

Tim and I again travelled with Gavin who gave us a running commentary as he was driving and the amazing scenery and coast seemed even more special. We kept saying “wow!” and “amazing!” and even enthused Gavin even more…really, I wish everyone could have seen what we did. The waves were literally awesome and we finally got to Giants Causeway (after stopping for sights and pictures) and joined the rest of the guys as we made our way down to the rocks. Words cannot fully describe it…we were all blown away (almost literally!) and Jon and Jonatas got soaked by some huge waves crashing into the Causeway…I won’t mention Aaron’s spectacular slip down a slope after posing for some pics but…

We thought we’d seen it all but then the brothers took us to a little harbour nearby and the waves were even bigger! We stopped and had some food in “possibly the finest little café in Northern Ireland” and climbed over the rocks there, following Gavin and hoping that we wouldn’t get swept away. Seeing these two places you’re so aware of the beauty and power of God’s creation. A HUGE “thank you” to Ross and Gavin for taking us there.

We made it back to the airport in plenty of time and sat, chatted about the visit, watched some football on the tv, had a burger and a coffee and then rushed to the departure lounge. I was the last one to get there as I was trying to make sure everyone got in okay…only to be told by Aaron that the gate had been closed! Fortunately he didn’t manage to keep up the pretence and another big credit card bill was averted!
Despite being delayed by a half hour, the flight went smoothly (none of the turbulence we suffered going over) and we touched down back safely. A wait for the instruments to come out and it was off to the car park again and away home. It had been a LONG trip but thank goodness the clocks went back so we all had extra time to recover in the morning. I said my goodbyes to the guys and made my weary way home…tired but smiling at such a great time and wonderful people.

Sunday – 26/10/08

An extra hour in bed and time to reflect. What had I learnt…well…our hosts were amazing and generous and I hope we get to go over there a lot more and do some more work with them. I also learnt that some airlines are better than others regarding customer service. I also learnt something about each of the guys I went with…
Aaron showed his spiritual maturity and determination.
Tim showed how utterly thoughtful of others he is.
Jon showed boundless enthusiasm and optimism.
Mark H showed his resilience and good humour.
Jonatas showed his quiet commitment and peace.
Mark G showed his humour and adaptability.
A great bunch of guys and no better people to be working with (or stuck in a broken down van with!). Ballymena…we’ll be back!

Pops!