Author | Lightnews

Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 10h

Then nearly fourteen billion years ago, expansion started? Wait...

Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 11h

Cursed? I don't know.

Lacerated, mauled, shredded, bloodied, eaten, regurgitated, knocked unconscious, revived, eaten again, and finally victorious only through the use of some very powerful and rare items they had only just retrieved? Absolutely.

It was a very memorable session!

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 12h

Friends who work in A&E departments tell me they love/hate Halloween because the costumes are great fun but all the fake injuries/blood can both worry doctors unnecessarily and mask genuine injuries!

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 12h

Is this a headless robot riding a separate horsebot, or a single entity with its head in the horse part? Enquiring minds want to know!

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 12h

Instead, they rolled *four natural ones in a row*. The handle broke, the trap failed to fire, and even when they cut the rope manually, it missed the monster. So the party ended up locked in with an enraged monster FAR above their level. I don't know who was more scared - me or them! (2/2)

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 12h

As GM, I inserted a monster the players would know instantly was too powerful for them, but with a carefully rigged trap for them to spring and one-shot it. It was supposed to be a moment of shock and teach them to be clever and build allies rather than just rushing in... (1/2)

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 12h

In my experience, the percentage of musicians who can make any kind of sense - let alone play their instruments - before 11 am and at least a bucket of coffee is... low

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 14h

I finally made it to my destination at 0030, after trying a further three chargers. One of these refused my car as it wasn't a Tesla, one was a slow charger which took half an hour to charge me enough to get to the next stop, and the final one eventually worked flawlessly. What a night!

Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 1d

I normally love my electric car but it's currently 10 miles short of range, the first two charging stations I found were out of service, and the third has just caused my card to be blocked as suspected fraud. So right now, I'm having a bit of a sense of humour failure!

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 1d

I normally love my electric car but it's currently 10 miles short of range, the first two charging stations I found were out of service, and the third has just caused my card to be blocked as suspected fraud. So right now, I'm having a bit of a sense of humour failure!

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 1d

In Birmingham today, for the Lab Innovations trade fair

Me, wearing a tweed jacket and blue lanyard, in a large exhibition hall.

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 2d

Rather depressingly, I live in the small part of the UK which is closer to space than to the sea

Terrible Maps @terriblemapshq.bsky.social · 2d

Space is a lot closer than most people realise

by u/Many-Excitement3246

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 9d

Over the past four days, I've read and shortlisted no fewer than SIXTY-SIX profiles of Presbyters and Deacons for ministerial positions within our church and circuit. Fascinating process to be involved with, but I'm done with reading profiles for now, thanks 🥴

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 10d

Tonight, I'm being a Little Mermaid 🧜🏻‍♀️

An orchestral percussion setup comprising clash and suspended cymbals, triangle, glockenspiel, and a pair of individual tubular bells.

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 10d

I wonder how many people have tried to post something in one and ended up feeling rather foolish

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 10d

It makes me happy that the envelope is orange

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 11d

I would love to see a 90% CI on that curve...

Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 12d

After a busy concert last night and accompanying a church service this morning, my xylophone and I have made it to Sudbury for a quick Shost 5, before driving back to conduct tonight's rehearsal 😵‍💫

Orchestral percussion, set up at the back of an orchestra, in a church. A xylophone features prominently.

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 13d

This outfit screams "professional orchestral percussionist", right? Right...??

Me, in front of a whole pile of percussion instruments on a stage. I'm wearing a sweatshirt depicting Mickey Mouse rocking out on a drum kit. Visible behind me are a concert bass drum, wind chimes, a vibraphone, three suspended cymbals, and a glockenspiel.

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 15d

One of the less frequently discussed perils about being a performing musician is that sometimes you have to start rehearsing Christmas music in October 🎅🏻

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 16d

Pointless change to the government's visa rules, aimed only at hurting students while pandering to the right. Graduate-level employers don't WANT new hires to be limited to 2 years, or 18 months; we want to enable people to build their careers here with us
www.gov.uk/government/n...

To ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, the maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months from the current 2 years for most from 1 January 2027. It comes after data clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 17d

I'm taking it as a compliment to how smoothly I run the percussion section that nobody in orchestral management thought the mysterious arrival of all these instruments was worth a thank you or even a comment 🙄

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 17d

Quite a setup for the Lindberg clarinet concerto we rehearsed tonight - and this is just the half of it that I played. Let's just say the car was rather full

A multipercussion setup including a bass drum, wind chimes, temple blocks, a vibraphone, a glockenspiel, and three suspended cymbals.

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 19d

Enjoying a well-earned cider after conducting my first rehearsal of the season. Glazunov, Rachmaninov, and Edward German - it's going to be a good one!

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 19d

There's nothing like realising, on the afternoon of my first orchestra rehearsal, that the print shop has inexplicably failed to print any horn parts. Trusty laser printer and roll of sellotape to the rescue...

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Philip Howie @musicianbynight.bsky.social · 19d

Ah, shame... I know people who could help, but Cornwall is a long way from me and my circle!

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