The organist librarian

To practice and the girls were lively and enjoying themselves. Audra Proctor came to join us - she is an alto so Janet was delighted! With Nigel Groome and the Bishop coming on Sunday, I think we were all a bit tense but actually singing quite well. i was so busy getting Audra robes I forgot to turn the vestry heater off so rang Vickie - she was just going to bed so I apologised profusely. I won't do that again! Bruce got the job of manager of the new Evans store in Birmingham so we are all thrilled for him!

To Age Concern Battersea group meeting and I again took the minutes. It was a lively meeting. I went to the venue on Tuesday having got the date wrong on the time sheet! Staff meetings in the afternoon and pretty positive. To Mass at cathedral and the Cardinal's lecture. He traced the history of the Westminster hierarchy and outlined problems for the Church in a secular world. He highlighted formation and prayer. In answering questions he affirmed interfaith dialogue. A good audience too. Saw Hannah back from Chicago, Connie, Eleanor, Louise and a brace of bishops and the nuncio. David played Bach, Buxtehude and Mendelssohn. Watched second part of "Margaret" about Thatcher's downfall and a Channel 4 programme on life events. Micky reports Miko has had a stroke. Did a card for Laurence as his mother died last week.

Karen's throat and sinus still bad. Said farewell to the trumpet with Stanley and Purcell Trumpet tune. Sunday to recital at the Cathedral by Ben Giddens of St George's Chapel, Windsor. Jeanne Demessieux Tu es Petrus, Buxtehude Praeludium in C, Franck Choral No 1 and Leighton's Paean. He plays very well. Liz stayed up for rite of election. Good TV - Antiques roadshow, Lark rise, Jeremy Paxman on Victorian art and life. Monday to chair organists committee at Moira's - many of the dates fall on my day on on Saturdays despite my best efforts. Home by 11 p.m. Carlo Curley is unwell. Tuesday home for chocolate pancakes with orange, lemon and Drambuie. Could not decide what to give up - chocs, biscuits, alcohol, cappuccino so decided to do something extra and started reading Timothy Radcliffe and Gordon Giles Lent books. Wednesday up too late to go to Fairtrade breakfast at Croydon College. Met Louise at her office foyer and had lunch at the Phoenix- salmon and brie fishcakes...

Friday Liz came up to the library by car and we went to the Duke of Cambridge. I had delicious chicken and leek pie and Liz had steak. Then on the bus to Sloane Square for concert at Cadogan Hall by Orchestra Europa a new orchestra founded by Scott Ellaway the young conductor. The seats were complimentaries for the Chorus so quite few chorus members were together in the gallery. Spotted Micky Gwilliam in the stalls. Lovely cellist with hair in a braid. thought the celli a tad weak in Schubert unfinished symphony. The conductor is very clear - he was organ scholar at Keble. Mozart requiem with BBC singers prepared by Edward. They were all mixed up which meant they sang soloistically and piano was not in it. There is one soprano who really pierces through. Soloists were good especially the tenor Robinson and bass Lemalu. Big bosomed soprano. Followed with the score. Saturday 13 at reading group and they all enjoyed "39 steps". In the afternoon Shaun Levin the gay writer came to...

Woke late so no swim today. I was tired after yesterday's exertions. Started emailing people who have not used the library in the last 6 months. To the lovely Van Dyck exhibition at Tate Britain. Wonderful clothes and horses and dogs to match aristocratic profiles. I must go again and get the audio guide. The booklet costs £2! To chorus and Edward was gatting rather tetchy. He seems to think we have time to learn by heart Bruckner motets - fat chance with my lifestyle! We worked on one of the Part pieces. It's sad that the concert had to be moved to Islington Union chapel and there will be no organ. Peter Wright is disappointed.

Monday to Branch development team - we had a useful discussion about small branches and their needs. To St Martin's in the fields for Churches together in Westminster visit and tour with the curate Richard. The vicar welcomed us and spoke about the £36 million refurbishment and rebuilding. It was great to see the Neville Marriner and Desmond Tutu rooms and the Dick Sheppard chapel. This was nearly finished when I went to hear Desmond Tutu dedicate the Zimbabwean statues. Nice eats and wine and met several cathedral people and Bloomsbury Baptists and 2 priests from Farm Street.

Swam as usual 40 and 36. I then went straight to the Cadogan Hall for run-through of "Fidelio" arriving late but not too late to sing! Back to work and then back for the performance. Why we were called so early is beyond me as the dressing room was too small and there was nowhere to sit. The performance was splendid with Elizabeth and all the soloists on great form and Madeleine conducting brilliantly. The chorus sang well although I think the last part of the Prisoners chorus should have been softer. Home on bus and train and chatted to some people from Battersea I know. Wednesday chat to Ann and then to library to move the fiction round with Francis, Wisdom and Urbain. All done in 90 minutes and looking good. Home to discuss holidays. To interfaith group. I was late as there was a fatality at Thornton Heath so ended up on buses! Amina Hassan a SOmali Muslim spoke really well and answered questions. 14 there which is great. To Gandhi Hall for assessment with Edward. In th...

After lunch the house still cold. Practised Mendelssohn Sonata No. 6 this morning and listened to "Just a minute" on radio 4. There was an excellent service from St John's Cambridge on the radio this a.m. and evensong was from Chester cathedral. To the cathedral for the blind organist David Abrahamian Liddle's recital of Vierne's 6th sonata. Stunning playing! Then to Cadogan hall for Fidelio orchestral rehearsal. Long chat to Elizabeth Connell - she mentioned Scott Macrobert dying so young and said his mother died a week after returning to South Africa. She thinks Colin Hartley may come to the concert on Tuesday - he teaches music in Deal.

Wednesday to Unison committee meeting and raised health and safety matters and the snow - we have to take leave for that day which is most unfair. Liz went to Colin Grant's funeral at Addiscombe and was warmly welcomed. To Coulsdon to choose hymns up to May with Sue and Vickie. To chorus rehearsal with Madeleine Lovell who is very demanding. Thursday I was early at Queensgate Terrace, Kensington so to Starbucks for a cappuccino and finished reading "Rome and Canterbury" by Mary Neath. A delightful concert with piano and we sang the prisoners' chorus. Only 4 of the originals from Orange 30 years ago were singing tonight. Madeleine was excellent and a wealthy and friendly audience including Lord Trimble. Very nice selection of wines and nibbles. Returned home to freezing house - the motor on the boiler was finally fixed on Saturday but it all went off again the same day! Brought the fan heater from church. Friday's practice I was furious as one member said she would...

Monday 9th February turned into a foul day with pouring rain and wind. 36 lengths and tai chi. To Fairfield Halls Arnhem gallery for our 1000th. This was a wonderful evening and all went so well. It was great to see so many old friends. 163 brothers present and 21 of our own brothers some of whom seldom come to meetings. I even met Robert Hero again! There must have been 120 at the excellent dinner. I helped set up and had to look after John Ellery the Provincial President. At the meeting I had to vest the Grand President David Taylor and he really is such a lovely man - so friendly. His chain is beautiful and features St Thomas More. I gave my short Provincial council report and as Catena correspondent reported that Liz had a letter in this month about serving at the Rochester mass. Bill forgot to read the Croydon brothers list which raised a laugh. It was sad that Bill Beach could not come but Kevin and Phil Roberts had been to see him that afternoon. On my table I had Richard Nash, ...

Rehearsing this again brings back Orange memories. This was the first time the Philharmonia chorus had sung opera in a staged production and the first time I sang opera. It was an amazing week and Liz came along as she was expecting Dennis. Simon Johnson made us sing in pairs as some of the men did not know it properly. The thought of not going on was too much to bear. Yao from Singapore carried me across stage in the prisoners chorus and my stage wife wore a fishnet shawl which I did my best not to get tangled in before my top Gs in the finale! At one stage we sang every verse of "On ilkely moor" and the camera ran out of of film during the filming day when we all wore red, white and blue. I have hilarious video of the soldiers rehearsing their marching and we all saw the film 10 years after the performance. That was sad as Glyn Samuel and others had died. Zubin Mehta conducted the Israel philharmonic whose celli were left in the Marseilles sun. Gundula Janowitz and Jon Vick...

Wednesday spoke to Ann and showed her the snow on the web cam. To spirituality day in the Hinsley room. At one point there were 20 there. Sarah did a lovely day on "He has called you by your name". It was be interesting to consider the occasions when Jesus used a person's name - Mary, Peter, Judas, Saul but not John I think. I have really enjoyed Niall Williams' novel "John". To chorus Wed and Thur with Edward preparing "Fidelio". Still a bit of snow in the garden by Sunday. I picked up the car Friday night and to practice. Some of the choir seemed reluctant to do exercises but the kids are keen. Saturday planned library move round and more weeding for the big half term sale. Vespers and Mass Chorister for a day - 48 small boys in cassocks too big for them in some cases. Paul and George helped serve. Lovely to hear the boys sing Panis angelicus and Elgar Ave verum and the plainchant Mass. Sunday choir did well - we sang "O lord increase my fai...

Liz was at Grandma's when the snow began so the car got left up there! By Monday morning London had the heaviest snow fall for 18 years. I left home around 7 a.m. and walked to Thornton Heath station. It was clear there were no buses or trains so after several mobile phone calls I stayed home all day. Caroline did drive in but it was decided to shut for the day as only a few staff were available. I read and finished the excellent Laura Marney book and watched recorded programmes notable The Quran and Turin Shroud, Britain from the air and most of "The Minotaur". I still have programmes on Sophiatown, immigrants, Barking and the Christmas lectures to watch. Tuesday I waited an hour for a train at Norwood Junction. No bus either. The train driver announced at Clapham Junction that he was not stopping at Battersea park so I completed the journey on the bus arriving at 10 a.m. I took 90 minutes to get home on train and bus. The snow is melting but quite crisp. The sun on it t...

At Friday's practice I was quite firm and insisted on everyone doing the exercises and warm-up. Saturday had a lie-in. I have finished "The 39 steps" for the reading group and enjoyed it if a little dated and imperialistic! I am currently enjoying "John" by Niall Williams (Tablet recommendation) and "Only strange people go to church" by Laura Marney. My Lenten reading is all set with new book by Gordon Giles, Timothy Ratcliffe and the Holy Spirit booklet. To Hinsley Room for talk by Fr Augustine Hoey on a Way of life. He told us about monks and nuns and the questions were more interesting than the talk. John East and Louise Sage were there. These "Justice and Peace group" talks have little to do with J and P. Tablet has much about the Pope's decision to excommunicate Bishop Williamson who denies the Holocaust! How stupid can you get! Now we learn some Austrian priest who says hurricane Katrina was a retribution for homosexuality in New ...