The organist librarian

Trish's last day and Doris had made her a book mark out of recycled materials. Apparently Trish has never worn a name badge in 8 years!! How did she get away with it? To Grandma's after dinner so Liz could cut back the bushes in the garden with the fearsome looking cutter (battery operated). Filled 4 sacks with branches and leaves. Grandma on great form about the wedding and looking forward to tomorrow when she is 90! Listened to some of Glyndebourne Monteverdi prom and watched Colin Jackson getting an analysis of his success as a sprinter and hurdler. Superfibre sprint muscles from his Jamaican parents and very high levels of concentration and ability ot be positive and bounce back from defeat!

Up early so did blog - very hot in the night again! Heard from Rob Sceales who was in my school class - he loves music too and is a solicitor in Perth WA with his sons. The reunion is going to be fascinating. To St Edmund's Beckenham to meet Miriam Power and see 3 manual console of new Wyvern digital being installed this week - looks good. To St Michael's for Widor Symphony No 6 played by William Saunders from St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich. Dorio was there. There are no recitals in August. Home - had salad and strawberries for lunch. With Liz to Queen's gallery for fascinating exhibition of lovely paintings of natural history including Leonardo drawings. Excellent commentary by David Attenborough. Jennifer Scott on commentary of rest of lovely display including Faberge, miniatures, jewellery and paintings and she met us so we had a good chat. She was catechist with Liz and works in the Royal collection - lucky her! To St James Park to read magazines - Oremus, Tablet, Laudate. ...

  Yours truly enjoying cakes at break in rehearsal in Istanbul!

  Another view of St Candice's

  The church where Ann Marie and Dennis were married.

  Canterbury cathedral at Christmas - keep praying for the bishop!

  Sign seen in Sydney - have just rediscoverd photos on Picassa2!

  The theatre at Epidauros on our pilgrimage in the steps of St Paul

  Liz and I taken in Sydney 2 years ago at a sad time.

Swam 24 lengths. Sad to hear PC John Johnson had died. All seemed to have gone OK at the library. To BDT at Battersea. To Bromley Town hall for Catenian joint meeting of Bromley and Beckenham. Grand President David there so I showed him the Catenian anthem Bill had given me. It was sung at conference 4 years ago and the composer's grandson was present. Another hot day so did not go to St John's spirituality evening - the last time I went to one it did not happen!

To Coulsdon - no choir and kiddy stuff. I played Vaughan Williams "New commonwealth" Musette and Prelude on Bryn Calfaria. Practised and then to see Bill Beach - borrowed some more photos - he has not written anything more!It was hot! He showed me the original marlpit where the fertiliser came from. To cathedral for Oliver Brett's last recital - he played Liszt Ad nos. Then to the Abbey to hear Simon Bell play Reger, Bach and Guy Weitz Symphony No.1 which is stunning. He is going from Southwell to Winchester cathedral. Messiaen Transfiguration from the Proms on BBC4 but it all seemed rather the same!

Had a lie-in and a sumptuous breakfast. Stayed till lunchtime so clear up. Flo and Tom went with Louise and Tom and Alice. Some great dancing last night from Jeremy who was in Chicken shed company for a few years! Dennis and Ann Marie emerged from the signal box suite wearing matching Just married T shirts! Eventually set off for the hill of Tara where we saw an audio-visual presentation in the church. Then via Navan to Tara - nice b and b Castleview. had a walk to look at shops and village and the reordered Catholic church. Excellent meal at The Poet's rest and drove up the hill where the first Easter fire was lit by Patrick according to legend. Have been there before - great view. Saturday drove to airport on M1 and handed car in. New company had taken over disabled assistance that day but they did well apart from an anxious delay waiting for the buggy. However the flight was 30 minutes late any way. I went straight off with just my rucksack and got train to Redhill and then Coul...

Thursday to barbers with Declan. They gave us schloer bucks fizz, Ferraro rocher and coffee. Nice to have a proper wet shave and haircut. Andy the photographer turned up with Liz who had been at the house. Drove to the church and went back to pick up Flo - the bus was late. Wedding due to start at 2 p.m. actually kicked off at 2.20 p.m. Everyone especially our 3 looking very smart. Fr Costello was brilliant. Sophia walked down aisle and then wailed. David did very well on organ and Gerry sang well. Jo coped well with the long walk (Mendelssohn worked well for this) and read first lesson. We lit our candles and Dennis and Ann Marie lit theirs from them. Liz read Corinthians and I said prayers. Lovely prayer for the couple after vows to which they just say "I do"! Nice to have incense at the Mass - did not know the settings of Kyrie and Agnus but joined in with "Praise my soul" and "Dear Lord and Father of mankind" with gusto. Fr Bernard said he did not know...

Tuesday we set off picking up Josie and Grandma and parking at APH parking and getting the coach to Gatwick. Liz had requested full assistance for both ladies. Bruce met us there and we started out with 2 wheelchairs one of which Bruce pushed. However once through security we were in a holding area where we ate our lunch and the ladies had to climb onto the buggy. At the plane we could walk on but no wheelchairs! One lady went down the stairs as the doors to the corridor to the plane were shut! Ryanair are pretty hopeless - it's basically a cattle truck. The steward was apologetic and assured us of full assistance at Dublin. There we waited on the plane and in fact the bus took us to near passport control. Picked up the Toyota car without a problem - comfortable and a big boot. To the Ardmore hotel in Finglas where people started gathering. Dennis very anxious about suits so Bruce and I went straight with him to Black Tie. Mine fine. Had a nice meal in the bar. Dennis was summoned ...

A lovely day and enjoyed the park at lunch time. I swam 30 lengths. Dan's baby is 9 days overdue! My shoulder and side still giving twinges so did not go to tai chi (again!). Liz insisted that I come home and not go to the CAFOD meeting in the Hinsley Room. Watched Olivier Latry playing Saint-Saens No. 3 from the Proms - he was playing from the miniature score. Messiaen in first half too long if interesting to watch and beautifully controlled by Myung Chung. Discussed last night's Channel 4 programme on the haj with Zia who says the walk to the spring was stopped 4 years ago so the film was a tad misleading. Still it is was beautifully done with some amazing mosques in Lahore, Istfahan, Mali, Jerusalem and Granada. Packed for wedding - usual dithering and fuss.

The conference starts today. It is appalling that so many bishops have stayed away and one Nigerian bishop withdrew because his wife was threatened. The gospel for today about wheat and tares (weeds) growing together shows the need for patience. How often the Church has fallen into the judgemental trap leading to the Inquisition, holocausts, schism and war. What is needed now is dialogue not division. We all need to pray for the bishops present and absent.

A fine Sunday. No choir and played Neils Gade and Walter Webber on "Lobe den herren". Molly enjoyed Rhosymedre by RVW at communion. Clapping Gloria and the yellow card for 6 weeks. Dennis's wedding announced. Molly and Ella will try choir end of September. After practice to Bill Beach's to discuss archives and history update. He has many good photos. Delivered directory to Eamonn at Windmill and cheque to Adrian.

Left home at 8 a.m. and we got to Acton early so found Adan's cafe and had coffee. Coach was early and we reached Cardiff after one stop around 1.30 p.m. Rehearsal went well. To St David's cathedral for mass - unaccompanied hymns and people saying everything faster than the celebrant who was probably the Dean. The reredos is most distracting during Mass - too bright and dramatic with diamond shapes. The concert went very well and Owain Arwel Hughes on good form. Bryn Terfel was the best Elijah ever - commanding, fantastic diction "leap upon the altar" a good example. Ohter soloists very good including the boy. Jean and Doreen there and the Judds. Chatted to Christopher Allsop the organist of Worcester cathedral who was playing. Ian Ball has left to go to Gloucester, Roger Judd to Hereford from Windsor. Left 10 p.m. and with one stop at Acton by 2 a.m. and home in bed by 2.50 a.m. having slept on coach and finished "Arabesk" by Barbara Nadel.

At lunch time to Battersea Park bandstand for Music in the park - local schools performing for each other and a handful of spectators! Andrew was there with the band from Battersea technology college - he is getting married next month! Sacred Heart Roehampton sang well including "This little light of mine". Chesterton school sang a song (not sure of the language - some of our trouble makers in the group grinning away!) and percussion group banged away! Sir James Barrie group did a pop song about knife crime. Took leaflets about the book sale to the Pump House gallery and cafe. After work to Lighthouse pub for Elizabeth's farewell. Doris had produced a lovely card and nice presents including rosemary plants. Rosemary for remembrance. David and Calix came and it was great to chat to them. Beer expensive but had lovely lemony Lepping (?) made by Trappists. Staff from Battersea technology college were there to for a leaving do and spoke to head and Eunice the librarian. Home ...

To work early but no sign of pickets. Alvering library was closed and we closed at 5 instead of 7 because there was no senior available. I was the only senior all day and it was busy. Rather nasty drunk Irishman had to be asked to leave - not pleasant. Tony Tuck of the Battersea society had some interesting comments on the Power station plans. The strike seemed pointless as the government say there is no more money for us. To the cathedral for first part of mass - the platform on the scaffolding is now in place. To Elijah rehearsal as last night - Edward kept us and mixed us up but it seemed pointless. Excellent series on Channel 4 on seven wonders of the Islamic world.

Check http://www.rcdow.org.uk/paul/ for video of Fr Jerome Murphy O'Connor's lecture on Paul.

Got water feature going again in garden and connected up BBQ. Bird feeders done. A lovely day and garden looking lovely. To St Michael's for recital by David Enlow who plays at Church of the Resurrection, New York. Excellent playing of Whitlock and Franck. I sat with Dorio Melfi. Chris Moore happy to help with May Cambridge visit. Dr Richard Scholl has been appointed as master of music at St Michael's - nobody seems to know anything about him apart from that he is married with young children!

To dentist for new crown. Judy retires next week and her successor came in - seems just as nice. Judy has been a great dentist for all of us and we will miss her. She sorted me out when I had the fall in the street and broke my front tooth. I'll take a card round - she lives at the end of our road. To Putney for short listing with Julian and Angela. Interviews in August. Alas very few candidates for part-time posts so I hope we do get someone to replace Elizabeth. Much discussion about Thursday's strike. I voted against striking and I think it won't achieve anything in view of inflation and cost cutting. Home to find Liz was at party of school staff instead of council of Guild of servers! Watched some of the Channel 4 coverage on Islam - every night this week. Chatted to Phillipe in the library about this and recommended the book on Canada to him. Chatted to Ann Wednesday morning on Skype.

To doctor Shah who has replaced Dr Cutler. She is charming but has cold hands! I have pulled a muscle and it should be OK in a week. No hernias! Went along to tai chi to say I was not coming and they wanted my Alaska photos which Liz still has not downloaded. To Battersea Technology college for Outward Bound event sponsored by Deutsche Bank. Eunice the librarian showed me the library. Dame Mary Peters spoke so well and it was great to meet a childhood heroine of mine.Lyn Stagg was very keen on her too. To Moira Budds' home for organists committee meeting. Nigel Groome was there and Andrew Cesana. Cambridge visit likely to be May 23.

To Coulsdon where we sang Nicholson in C, chanted psalm "Thy word is a lantern" and "Fairest Lord Jesus". I played the Widor Toccata reasonably well and practised. To Cumnor House sports ground for Kevin's President's Sunday. It stayed dry and there were around 30 there including kids. No new recruits alas! Lovely BBQ and food and enjoyed chatting. To evensong for 4 pm rehearsal and David Steer came. Murrill in E went well, Psalm 96 to Gerald Knight's fine chant, With a voice of singing Martin Shaw. I played Martin How's Elegy in memory of Gerald Knight who was born 100 years ago this year. I knew him when I was 12 - rather an austere figure. Mum said he could stay in Hobart if he behaved himself and he was good as gold. There had been clashes with Dad in the past and Dad never got the recognition from RSCM which he should have had. I played Finlandia - it was Liz's Dad's favourite and it is his anniversary (10 years). Watched a hilarious pro...

Saturday to work and Elizabeth's last working day. To Vespers and Mass when we had extra servers including Emmanuel who I calmly told that we looked after this Mass. He and Noel wanted to do all sorts of extras like offertory procession but we vetoed it. Mgr Mark celebrated and gave an excellent homily about Roadrunner ( he said he felt like coyote who is suddenly no longer on firm ground)and planting seeds. The farewell party in the hall was a bring and share and there was loads to eat. Chatted to lots of folk including Judith a reader who I had not spoken to before. Gave Fr Mark 2 CDs (Addiscombe and Coulsdon) and he got lots of gifts and nice speeches. He will be back from Rome one day in a different capacity! A sad but happy day. Bruce is OK after his cyst op but insisting on cycling!

Thursday had staff meetings.Straight to church after work to rehearse for Karen's Archbishops' Award exam with Helen Burroughs - nice to see her again. All went well although I felt Alison could have sung out more in the "Ave Maria" duet. Practice was good although I found it hard to sing. My side is better but the cold is still lingering on. I went to Compline at Croydon Parish church on the way home - it was pouring again and this was a moment of peace in a busy day. Surprised to find Malcolm Hubble had not been paid for deputising for the 2 June Sundays when I was away.

Thursday our wonderful library system came up trumps yet again! When we visited Vancouver, John Fulton's wife Yolande told us about the Everard family of artists in the Eastern Transvaal and the book about them called "The Women of Bonnefoi". I duly looked this book up on Amazon (no copies available) and found it was published in South Africa in 1970 and Frieda Harmsen wrote it. On "What's in London libraries" I found the sole copy at Westminster Reference library. I rang them and the assistant duly rang back to say she would keep it for a week. So I went to St Martin's Street behind the National Gallery and read parts of it. Pity the illustrations were so poor as they were clearly a talented bunch! To Elijah rehearsal with Owain Arwel Hughes who seemed very happy. Much of Edward Caswell's legato style went out of the window as expected. Liz had to leave early to go to Homerton hospital as Bruce went in to have a cyst removed from his behind. Gill sa...

Up early and watched the end of "Fallout" and the excellent programme on the history of Sunday schools and their unfortunate decline well presented by Huw Edwards. 20,000Catholic children used to process in Manchester. Roy Hattersley attended by socialist Sunday school and the Anglican one. Spoke to Ann who is safely home. Clare had cleaned the whole house! To St Michael's for Andrew Cantrill's excellent and musical recital - Boellmann Second suite, Couperin, Bruhns Praeludium in E minor. I dropped if in the Messiaen! Met Jeanne Brett on the bus to East Croydon. To British Library for interfaith visit to Ramayana exhibition. 13 came and Aviva was an excellent guide. she does interfaith work for the Jewish Board of Deputies! She talked about the library and the wider collection then took us round the very colourful display. I loved the animals! The visit actually overran by 15 minutes it was so good. I spent some more time there and looked at lovely East Asian new prin...

Br Lawrence Lew has a wonderful address at http://godzdogz.op.org/ on this subject.

Clocks went back an hour and Fr Pat not there for 8 a.m. so I went to front desk and Angel called him! Met John and Brenda from Caterham who know Tony Charlier. Chat to Fr Pat at breakfast. A day at sea. Talk on the environmental policies of the line and engine room talk. Amazing towel folding demos and back stage tour. Christopher the excellent male singer lead signed my programme - he is from North Minnesota. They rehearse the shows for 5 weeks in Los Angeles. The dancers are very slick. One of the women singers I did not like much - she tried to sing a Sarah Brightman number and it did not work. Wednesday June 25. Reception put on by Thomas Cook for our coach group - took group photos. Swam - only my second swim in the week! Good show Streetsongs. Dancing in Ocean bar and our last dinner together and said goodbye to Ann and Paul after a fabulous week together. Slept badly and Liz up to see docking at Vancouver. Thursday June 26. To Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain - amazing cable car, ...

To 8 a.m. Mass. Cruising through Glacier Bay national park - lovely views of glaciers, whales, seals. Weather great. Dancing till 12 in the Ocean bar after an excellent Nevada show and an amusing marriage game show where the newly weds won knowing more about each other! we were glad of the thick coats on deck and on the helicopter trip yesterday so I was right to insist on bringing them! Monday June 23 to Ketchikan. 8 a.m. Mass. Very wet day but float plane trip to Misty Fjords was great -just missed seeing a bear as we landed on the water. Liz was in the cockpit. 3 hour boat ride back to Ketchikan - saw bald eagles on nest, guillemot, seals. Shopping and interesting museum and library. Choreographed dinner and chocolate celebration on promenade deck. Enjoyed string quartet in lounge. Excellent comedian.

Thursday June 19 8 a.m. Mass with Father Pat from Philadelphia - an amusing Irish American. Fascinating tour of the kitchens and cooking demo. Listened to classicla music on headphones in the comfortable library and read book on Canada. Lovely Dutch tea - Adrienne had recommended this. It was great meeting people from our coach tour group. Saw bald eagle as we went through beautiful straits. Captain's toast and show "Songs from Broadway" very well done. Tried karaoke in Crow's Nest - words of Ave Maria were wrong! Sang Danny Boy as a duet. Friday June 20 8 a.m. Mass. Talk on "life at sea" with hotel manager and the Captain. To Juneau and whale watching boat trip in the Inside Passage - saw school of orcas, humped backed whales - brilliant! Tram to Mount Roberts summit. Another lovely day and a good dinner in the serviced restaurant. Call my bluff show in theatre. Watched line dancing in the Crow's Nest.Excellent Filipino crew show. Saturday June 21 To Sk...

Had a swim and jacuzzi. At breakfast in the mall Liz said Ann had said there is a baby beluga white whale at the aquarium so we went to the Tourist bureau and they sold us tickets and gave us bus directions. We saw the whales, sea lions, sea otters and dolphins. Fantastic aquarium in Stanley Park with tropical displays and local sea life. Bus back to town and in good time to check out and walk over to the cruise terminal. Saw Ann and Paul in the immigration queue - going into U.S. for Alaska. Great to see them both again. Our cabin on the bottom floor and it has 2 portholes. This proved an advantage as when there was any rolling we did not get it very much. Ann and Paul's a similar size but inside on top decks. The suites with windows and balconies look fabulous but really no need to pay so much as we spent all the time out of the cabin! The food is plentiful and fantastic! Did a tour of the ship to get orientated - it was good it was 1700 - those 3000 capacity ships would be prett...

To Hope for lunch stop - interesting chainsaw sculptures. Lots of cattle and horses as we are now out of the Rockies. To Vancouver and staying at magnificent Fairmount Waterside hotel. Coach took us through Chinatown and Newtown. Ann rang - they had had a great time travelling about. On seabus to North shore - what a setting for a city - it rivals Sydney! Met John and Yolanda Fulton. Have not seen John for 45 years - he was in my class at St John's College and they are coming to the reunion at school in September. Had salmon at Salmon house - it was a wonderful evening and I was amazed how much I remembered from so long ago! John can even remember our exams in detail! We looked at photos and recalled names. I have since looked up the book about Yolanda's artistic family the Everards in South Africa "Women of Bonnefoi" - there is one copy in Westminster Reference library.

The advantage of the coach over the train is we can stop to look at wild animals and great excitement over 2 wolves, 2 bears, elk and bighorn sheep. This enthusiasm wore off after a bit as a really good camera was often needed. However the scenery is fantastic. Breakfast at The Keg - smashing buffet. Lake Louise beautiful. Lake Peyto also very blue and some snow at the view site. Lunch at Saskatchewan crossing. Atahabasca glacier on the snow - I felt this was being exploited for tourism. These glaciers are all receding and our ecology depends on them. To Jasper and slept a lot. Internet in hotel foyer so sent emails. Dinner at The Inn. Liz had red snapper and mango teardrop. We found it cheaper to eat out form the posh hotels we were staying in.Breakfast at The Inn. To Lake Maligne - saw coyote and bighorn sheep. Wonderful view from Spirit Island so the cruise was well worth it. To Medicine Lake and Maligns canyon - wonderful weather again. To white water rafting on Athabasca river.90 ...

Thursday June 12 Mercedes arrived in good time to take us to Heathrow - what luxury! Air Canada airbus with more leg room. Thomas Cook reps at airport all very nice and Adrienne will be with us for the whole trip and she is charming. She thought she recognised us! Turns out she knows Bob and Jenny Atkinson from Egypt holiday. On plane watched "27 dresses" "Sinbad" and "Kite runner" - latter not a success as the central screens meant could not read subtitles! Slept a bit and ate! Greg our coach driver very nice and our cases are looked after. The group all very pleasant. To Banff and had a swim at the hotel and thanks to coach tour of the town bought picnic at Safeways and ate it in the room. Trying to adjust to new time - 8 hours difference to U.K. The mountains are so big and beautiful. Friday June 13 to the famous Melissa's for breakfast. Visited the Whyte museum which had lovely modern art and historical displays. The Banff library is nice and got a...

Pain in side still a bother so no swim and took old car to Thornton Heath ready for the evening. Saw Pauline and both were interested in my Canadian and Alaskan brochures. Met Malcolm in local history. Preparing for staff meetings on Thursday and did time sheets up to September. To Bill Whitmarsh's for Catenian council meeting which was quite useful - Kevin is a good leader. I remarked to Bill that I had searched for his address and an article came up about triad gangs in 1995 in Croydon so nothing has changed. If anything things have got worse. Watched channel 4 film "Fallout" on the subject of knife crime - powerful drama. I have volunteered to visit Bill Beach about the circle history update. Wednesday woke early with some discomfort. Bill says it is not low enough to be appendix - more likely a muscle strain around the diaphragm. Twinges come when I stand after sitting.

The organist librarian: Liturgy

http://www.liturgy.co.nz/worship/matters.html This is a useful site worth exploring with some good ideas for the Year of Paul.

Woke with a summer cold and an ache in my left side. Took Ibuprofen and Liz took me to the station prior to going to Grandma's to get an early sugar reading. Boiler was serviced by British Gas. To Catenians and Peter Mills gave me a lift home. Bill Whitmarsh told a hilarious joke very well about a priest, Baptist and rabbi trying to convert a bear.

At Coulsdon we sang Statham in D and "What wondrous love is this" beautifully arranged by Geoff Weaver. The baby to be baptised was keen to fall into the font! I played "Come unto me" from Messiah (gospel of the day) and Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This was much appreciated especially by Molly and Ella who seem keen to join the choir in September which is great. The problem will be fitting in choir practice in the their busy lives. Rehearsed with Karen for her ACertCM exam on Friday and she told me more about Jo Richards (formerly Richard Jones). To Vespers at the cathedral and we were acolytes. Stunning "Great is the Lord". Liz stayed to turn over for the Czech recitalist who played an odd programme. To evensong at St John's Upper Norwood. Paused for a moment in the rain where the ashes are buried - it will be 2 years next month since Mum and Dad were called to glory. We sang Noble in B minor and "O Lord my God" by Purcell. Dad's favou...

I finally looked up the Shakespeare quote that was bothering me on Wednesday when thinking about the labyrinth and Sarah's comment that the meeting of lovers was a sacred space. It is Twelfth Night II. iii The clown sings "O mistress mine! where are you roaming? O! stay and hear; your true love's coming, That can sing both high and low. Trip no further, pretty sweeting; Journeys end in lovers meeting, Every wise man's son doth know. What is love? 'tis not hereafter; Present mirth hath present laughter; What's to come is still unsure: In delay there lies no plenty; Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty, Youth's a stuff will not endure.

Friday woke late so no swim again! Work experience student came for interview - he uses our library and put us as first choice! The other young man is apparently not coming after all. Two very unruly teenage girls came in around 4 p.m. and we ended up calling the police. One told me my job was boring - what I should have said was that life is never boring with people like her coming in showing no respect for anyone! On the bus the other day large man sat next to me taking up as much room as possible and then switched his radio on. I said "What makes you think we want to listen to your radio? Please switch it off" which he did remarking that it was ClassicFM. So what I thought! Liz thought I was mad in view of all the knives about these days. I just wanted to read "The Tablet" in peace - I now have 4 to get through and there's a lot to enjoy in them not least items on future Archbishops of Westminster. To Mass at the cathedral and the full choir wer...

Woke late so have had only one swim this week (22 lengths on Monday but strangely my weight is down 10 stone 2). To York library to do survey of the facilities for Angela. Met a family from Germany at the bus stop and gave them directions. On Tuesday there was a delightful couple from San Francisco walking from Battersea Park to Tooting and I gave them directions including a book shop so they could buy Harry Potter. It seems the American edition is dumbed down so philosopher becomes sorcerer because American kids do not know what a philosopher is! To Battersea Technology college to see excellent art show. I saw the art teachers and the music teacher and planning an exhibition next May in the library for the Arts festival. Met Martin Linton the local M.P. and asked him about the Chimney at the Power station. To Mass at the cathedral for St Thomas's day. Thomas Wilson playing and the men sang plainchant Mass and Palestrina rather well. Fr Tim nearly forgot the Gloria and censing at t...

Wednesday Sarah gave us an excellent day on Sacred Space and Tamara added another dimension with copies of labyrinths and her puppets. I spoke about going across the swinging suspension bridge at Capilano, Vancouver and how the first step in anything is always the hardest. You also know you have to come back over the same bridge and the treewalk had similar suspension bridges - all perfectly safe but still scarey! Sarah played the Faure Pie Jesu and Haydn's "Achieved is the glorious work". It is good that I can hear the Faure now which was sung at our family funerals and feel the peace and hope in the music. I went into St Paul's bookshop and got some free literature about the Year of Paul. Saw Paul Moynihan who asked about the chamber organ in the cathedral. It is from St John's Upper Norwood for the recording next week. To National gallery and spent some time looking at the exquisite Wilton Diptych. It had been Canada Day in Trafalgar Square on July 1. To Nation...

Liz served at the mass on Saturday afternoon to launch the year with an impressive icon of Paul. She was mitre bearer (see her back view in picture!) She was in sacristy on Monday and had a heavy day changing all the colours for the Precious Blood dedication day. She also served at Mass for Blessed Rosmini on Tuesday and the 5.30 Mass.

Sunday was a quiet day as we were both tired and Monday 22 lengths (late up)and after work we watched Andy Murray come back from nowhere to win at Wimbledon! Tuesday to Battersea Power station for Wandsworth business forum breakfast and meeting and a chance to see the display about the new plans. Horrified to see an enormous chimney which will dominate the whole area and the skyline! Why an extension of the Northern line from Kennington - the Battersea society proposal of a tram is much better. No plans to upgrade to 2 local rail stations either! Still the concepts are stunning. I arranged for staff to go and see the display. I returned to the Power station for the start of the community forum meeting which was poorly attended - perhaps like me they did not get the invite! I filled in my comments form and was pleased to note that apart from running 2 cars we tick all the boxes on green issues. To Westminster cathedral hall for the farewell to the remarkable, lovable, infuriating Fr Mi...