The organist librarian

We are back from a fantastic time in the Canadian Rockies and the cruise to Alaska. So much to take in and 100s of photos! My initial thought is the immensity and grandeur we saw which makes one feel very small indeed whcih is no bad thing! "How great thou art" and "awesome" come to mind! I had thought we were flying in from Vancouver on Wednesday but in fact we reached home at 4 p.m. on Thursday. I was at work Friday and Saturday. Friday we had senior development meeting and the interfaith lunch at Battersea park and I took Terese the Asian community librarian to that. I went to Martin Williams' farewell at Battersea library and then on train to choir practice. By then I was pretty tired and at one point played a section in the wrong key! Saturday I cleared up my emails and correspondence and we were at the Cathedral for SS Peter and Paul. Today at Coulsdon we had first communions so the hymns were changed to child-friendly ones. We did sing "The eternal g...

The Apprentice reached a nailbiting conclusion with Lee beating Claire for the job. I still think she would have been a better choice. Alex will no doubt become a model! Helene did nto show her humour at all! The pressure must be intense. By the time we had washed up and finally packed and made the bed it was well past midnight. woke at 5 a.m. (again!) There is no problem about our return date - I had booked to return to work on Thursday but in fact will go straight to the senior meeting on Friday having not seen the branch for 2 weeks! I am working that Saturday so probably pretty tired and jetlagged! Canada and Alaska here we come! What to wear and what to take? Something warm!

Collected swim stuff (Liz unable to do so yesterday as problems with Grandma's neighbours) 32 lengths. Compost heap, bird seed out, cleaned bins. We are off tomorrow to the Canadian Rockies and then meet Ann and Paul for cruise to Alaska from Vancouver. Back in 2 weeks. Today have St Michael's recital and interfaith group meeting and pack! Paul Dean of Chelsea Old Church gave an excellent recital including Franck No 1, Widor, Mendelssohn, Jongen Chant de mai and Reubke. Some thrilling playing. Martin Ball brought back Lionel Rogg ticket so I gave is to Stuart Garnet. Dorio and Alan Hickox there. Had lunch and met Ada on the bus. Interfaith group excellent and 10 came. Read Cardinal Tauran's Heythrop lecture (in part) and comcluded discussion on Muslim scholars statement with a look at Catholic responses. Andrew and Donald were there which was great. With Paul on the cruise

34 lengths. To Town Hall for course with Anne Hillard a black lesbian on new sexual orientation legislation. It was very interesting and worth doing. Only 5 of us there and all managers need to know about these changes. Learnt a lot! I reported this to Jane and she wants me to report back at SDF. Cleared up at work and prepared for 2 weeks off. To Balham for interviews for casuals.

The former Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu has asked for forgiveness on behalf of South Africa for the recent xenophobic violence against foreigners. He was speaking on Monday, 9th June, at St Martin in the Fields, the famous London church on Trafalgar Square, where he blessed three Zimbabwean sculptures which have been positioned near a room named in his honour. Archbishop Tutu recalled that South Africans had taken refuge in other African countries during the apartheid years and said the attacks on foreigners were unacceptable. But on the positive side, South Africans had been horrified and many had been wonderful in offering help to the victims. Turning to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Tutu said it used to be a showpiece in Africa: “It has now turned into the most horrendous nightmare”. He called for a peacekeeping force to be sent to Zimbabwe and advised Mugabe: “How about stepping down? Oppression will not have the last word. Freedom will come to Zimbabwe.” Archbish...

Christ the Physician. We had some lovely hymns today "Immortal love", "From thee all skill and science flow", "Thou whose almighty word", "Songs of praise", "Will you come and follow me", "Love divine" and "Just as I am" - the theme being the healing miracles and the call of Matthew. At Coulsdon we sang Geoffrey Shaw setting in C minor in 3 parts unaccompanied and Loosemore O Lord increase our faith. this has lovely lines for tenor and alto. Sweet Jesu say Amen. I played Elgar "The spirit of the Lord" using Dad's arrangement and Langlais Te Deum (I was tired having not slept that well). Practised and looked at pieces for next month by Wills and Vaughan Williams. Home for lunch - a glorious day. To gardens in Croydon open in aid of NSPCC - lovely one at Croham Hurst Road. Mayor and Croydon male voice choir there having Pimms. Mayor looking hot in suit and chain! At Beech House Road 4 adjoining gardens -...

On Friday evening when I was walking in Battersea Park I saw a large rat next to the lakeside. I suppose one forgets that rats are very close to us throughout London but it is still unnerving to see one sitting there very calmly. Saturday when driving through Herne Hill, I saw an altercation outside a shop with men arguing and hitting each other. So many drivers act in this aggressive way too cutting you up at the lights. Adrian was saying that he does not drive if he can help it because of this. Swavek gave an excellent homily on today's Gospel about the call of Matthew and how the sinner can be called to better things. Matthew who we read this year A portrays a compassionate Jesus. We all fall short so often but still we can know that we are loved as a beloved child (my thought on Wednesday). It is a pity that Adrian is not coming to the wedding not least that he is unavailable to play for it, but I still think the family group could get together on the day before to prepare an I...

To Southwark cathedral by car. Trouble finding parking in the end I went on yellow line and put up disabled badge. Examined with Chris Greenhalgh for RSCM Bronze Dean's awards - some very nice singing indeed. A long session 9.45 to 2.45 with a lunch provided. There is something very touching about a young voice singing "O thou who camest from above". Some candidates were not well prepared. Saw Peter Wright and Adrian. To Herne Hill to get replacemetn dance shoes for organ pedalling. They had copied my original 5 yera old shoes but ordered one size too small. The new left one fits tightly but should soften. To the cathedral for Vespers and Mass. One way in man called Charlie spoke to me and said he was authorised to serve. He seemed to know Liz and John O'Brien but I checked with fr Swavek just in case and they said it was good I had done so. We were the only servers any way so no smoke. Fr Kingsley concelebrated with Swawek. Frove to West Wickham 7.15 to 8.10 p.m. arr...

40 lengths Friday morning despite a couple of people getting in my lane! Took tour of the estate and visited 7 sites meeting lots of people I know. Grandma had a fall so Mandy called the ambulance and Louise went to King's as we were short of staff at lunchtime. I dropped in on the way home and ate with them and Louise stayed overnight. To choir practice and we covered all the June music. The Byrd 4 part mass not ready for Sunday and a mini-revolt over it. So we abandoned it for the moment. To Croydon Parish church for compline. I was just in time and sat in the nave without a book but I found I knew all the words any way. A lovely end to a busy day. Actually I then did the music lists for July and August and got to bed late. I don't sleep well when Liz is away. Spoke to Dennis about wedding and Grandma.

42 lengths again. Liz off to Dublin for Saturday's hen night. I miss her. Spoke to her on Skype when talking to Ann, also Jo, Breda and Dennis. A lovely day and met David in the park after work and had a good chat about contacts for new mental health project based at All Saints church, Prince of Wales Drive.

1. Alms Dish, silver gilt, circa 1660 Christ washing the feet of St Peter Engraved by W Howzer, maker's mark FZ From St George's Chapel Windsor Silver-gilt 2. St Michael Staff by Leslie Durbin, 1960 3. Mazer bowl 1480/1490, silver-gilt, wood and crystal To Goldsmiths' Hall in Cheapside for the fine exhibition of English church silver covering everything from mediaeval to modern. Some wonderful objects including the Archbishop of Canterbury's primatial cross and monstrance and mace from the cathedral. I particularly liked the Guildford modern silver and the exquisite early pieces. The baroque work does not appeal! A nice walk to Monument in the sunshine to get underground to Victoria. Michael Moran led the spirituality day on lectio divina. He is American and speaks well. In the quiet time I contemplated on "My dear child" Paul to Timothy and Michael picked up on this idea. In the afternoon I sat in the garden and read John Pennington's excellent book on ...

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches...

A busy day at work. 28 lengths. To tai chi after a gap of a month. My left shoulder and left knee twinging a bit. To Catenians and lots of visitors. I reported on conference, sick brothers, Elizabeth O'Reilly's 90th birthday, the need for publicity, strategy report. Provincial councillor’s report June meeting The centenary conference was held in Manchester. David and Rene Barrett and Laurence and Kate Jones were present. Liz and I went to the Mass at St John’s Cathedral Salford celebrated by Bishop Brain on the Thursday and I attended the Manchester No. 1 circle centenary meeting on Friday afternoon. This was the second biggest meeting ever with 550 brothers present. David Barrett and I actually attended the biggest Catenian meeting ever – the inauguration of London Northern Heights. The meeting was very well conducted with President Phil Barnes in the chair. After the meeting I went to the central library to see the exhibition about the association. Bill Beach’s contribution w...

To Canary Wharf on train and Jubilee line in good time to get a good place to watch Royal Ballet live in Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet". This is a masterpiece by Kenneth MacMillan. Like me the couple next to me had seen Fonteyn and Nureyev dance this and they can't be matched but I must say Sarah Lamb and Viacheslav Samodurov were excellent. The music is wonderful and so moving. The story could not be more apposite in our gang knife crime climate. I found sitting on cushions (mine and an inflatable one from BP) on a rug on the grass quite OK. There was a good crowd with many from ethnic minorities who no doubt would never go to Covent Garden! Alas I can't go to the big screen operas as we have Elijah rehearsals. Liz was cantor at 5.30 p.m. Mass so didn't come home - Fr Ed did well in his first mass at 10.30 a.m. Fell asleep watching "Wild China" and Dimbleby in Russia. excellent broadcast evensong from Tewkesbury Abbey.

After a long string of feast days we are back in green. Teresa celebrated at Coulsdon as Vickie had to go to take the service at Sanderstead. She has had an arthroscopy so I suggested she asked for hydrotherapy as I had. They now do it as keyhole surgery and she was only in hospital for one night, whereas I was in Mayday for 4 days during Holy Week and off work for 6 weeks. However I did get back to playing manuals only within a week. The whole thing was a profound experience as i had my feet washed in hospital and on Easter Day we read about Emmaus when Paul brought me communion and I just knew Jesus was in our bedroom that day! We sang Bairstow in E flat and Tallis' "If ye love me".

Have been in touch on facebook with Stan Trollip from my class of '63 who is now retired in Knysna and is an author! We are going to the reunion at St John's College in September and then on to Margate for a week.

One of my favourite blog correspondents Fr Rob Laws of Washington D.C. has been in Honduras. He visited Iona and Lindisfarne last year.

A good day at the library and caught up with my work. Liz was cantor at vespers and we were joined by several seminarians including Ed. We were acolytes at the Ordination Mass at 6 p.m. There were around 60 priests present and loads of servers and it was a great occasion. Ed and Kingsley both coped well. It was a pity that Philip who serves with us on Saturdays did not get more to do but he was communion torch (although I gather there were not enough torches!) I made sure he got a first blessing. We had our blessing together. We gave Ed a cross we bought in Wurzburg cathedral shop. Most unusual it has bread and wine on it. The music was great - MacMillan and Bingham sung by the special choir. The service lasted form 6 p.m. to 7.50 p.m. a long time for the Cardinal. Fr Ed is going to Chiswick and Fr Kingsley to the cathedral. There was a lovely reception in the hall. Excellent food and loads to drink although I had consumed a lot of the Precious Blood so I stayed on the orange juice! Su...