[Magdalen] A question for the organists who are on the list...

[sheila ketler]

Greetings everyoneI intended to ask your advice about a problem so I will tell you what the problem is and then I am goingto tell you what I did about it...There is a funeral on Thursday and this is the third funeral within six months where they have hiredanother organist to play instead of me. First one was one that I didn't know about  second one wasthe rector's husband but this third one is the third time that they will not pay me my customary benchfee. Now every time they have hired someone else I have had to remind the priest that she owes methe fee. So the husband said to me did you ask for your bench fee? and I said no. She had called meand I wondered why she did as they didn't want me to play? I guess she thought I cared that an exchoir member had passed away. No choir for two years now and he was never very faithful in hisattendance at least not while I was there... After careful thought I composed a very carefully worded email. I advised her that I knew she wouldthink I should attend the funeral but that I had attended her husband's funeral for two reasons : oneI really liked him (and I really did...) and  two he was her husband and she was my boss I felt it rightto attend. Then I told her that there had been 3 funerals within six months and the other two had notpaid me out my bench fee. This third time I felt it was high time that I be reimbursed and I trustedthat she would do the right thing.Now email is gone now I am worrying I did the wrong thing but I am out of work in a month anyway..and with money being so tight and soon to be non-existent I didn't think I had any choice...
Help!!!
Sheila