The organist librarian

To my annoyance the repaired section of my top front tooth came out when I was cleaning my teeth last night so I am back with a jagged edge and a gap in my front teeth. Most annoying and unpleasant! Tony took a photo of me yesterday for church - I said I haven't even got a tie on but he said you look quite respectable. I had my jeans and red polo shirt on as it was warm!

Saturday took snacks to work and enjoyed the doughnuts! It was quite quiet and the park very pleasant. Lots in The Tablet again! At the choir meeting we did discuss discipline again and I pointed out that I did not always hear what people said and this could be worrying for me. I do rely on people asking to repeat sections if I am singing as well as playing. I should do most of the talking any way. To Vespers on High altar and Mass followed by procession to end Quarant'Ore. Liz was thurifer and I was acolyte - my candle went out in Ambrosden Avenue. Hugely amused by David's head popping up over the playground wall. Excellent singing from the Oratory school schola - Langlais Messe solennelle and Mendelssohn Lauda Sion and Cibavit. Home late and Liz went to Lerone's party in Streatham. Sunday choir sang well Gibbs 3 part setting and Attwood "Teach me O Lord". I went to cello and piano recital by David Tabbat and Guy Middlemiss - delightful Schumann, Faure, Ravel and...

Thursday up late so only 10 lengths - back twinging again. To cathedral for 5.30 mass and procession to mark start of Quarant'Ore - 40 hours of exposition. Splendid Mozart Kronungsmesse. Amused at choir gradually disappearing at the end leaving just 2 cantors to sing the Litany. Nick did not follow instructions so we ended up acolytes and cross stuck there. To chorus using tube which was not a good idea as Warren Street was closed and had to get a bus from Euston. I sat upstairs as not singing well. I then went to Tulse Hill where Liz was with the catechists at Paul's for a nice party. Lovely red wine and port of which I did not have much as I was driving. Home at 1 a.m. Result Liz not too well on Friday and I missed my swim. To practice and organ practice too. Ella came late and no Molly. We stopped at 8.30 p.m. for choir meeting. Karen away and John had to go. Went through forthcoming events and nobody ate snacks so will not bother again. Home to watch Richard Wilson driving...

Wednesday Liz returned from Dublin and we met at Victoria. I had been to Vickie in the morning to choose hymns for July. I then got the train to St Michael's for the recital by Francesca Massey of Peterborough Cathedral. Had fish pie with her. It was a puzzling programme - Whitlock Fanfare, Purcell and Mendelssohn in D minor, a prelude by Messiaen and then the overlong Toccata by Patrick Gowers. Perhaps too much minor! She does play very well. I finished reading "The Woodlanders" by Thomas Hardy - a delight. To Hinsley Room for interfaith group. Rachel Heilbron of Three Faiths forum could not make it because of the tube strike. There were 7 there and we had a lively discussion ranging to Sri Lanka and the walk I had been on Saturday. There were no buses going up Whitehall so we walked the last bit to Horse Guards. For £12 we had an excellent seat at the back of the stand near the clock. 260 musicians of the Royal Marines bands made a stirring sound and the programme was ...

On Monday there was a most interesting session in the library on using the internet to trace family history. Rita from heritage service gave 9 people useful tips and I was able to confirm details on the Woodhouse family tree. My aunt Nellie and Grandma had carefully kept cuttings of notices of death in a little book and from this I have been able to go back to the 1850s and now confirmed more details of the Botterrills in York from the census of 1851. I can see this could become competely absorbing!

Monday only 15 lengths as got up late - met Humphrey on train. Home to watch Cardiff singer of the world - liked Argentinian bass of 23. Tuesday to dentist to get front tooth temporarily repaired - will be a crown £200. Back tooth can't be crowned. Got to work at noon. Liz flew to Dublin overnight - her ticket was on wrong day so she missed her Haydn practice. To West Hill closed library for walk round Wandsworth town with Bob Lilliman. Pauline Kirwan and Julian Wales on it and John Hawes joined later. It was most interesting if a bit noisy at times and nowhere to sit down! Home to watch Mary of the charity shops!

At Coulsdon only 5 in choir but we sang "Most ancient of all mysteries" arranged by Greening and "Father we adore you". I played Willan and Vernon Griffiths on "Nicaea" and Ley on "Down Ampney" as "Come down O love divine" was missed last Sunday. Straight to Selhurst to get train to Victoria to be at 12 noon mass - Fr Michael Durand not coping too well with all those steps. Eleanor cantor in Lourdes setting. Louise Sage there. Bus to Royal Academy was diverted because of big Sikh demo in Piccadilly. The Friends preview of the summer exhibition was pretty crowded. Some fine pictures especially a Venice scene in Sickert style and Damien Hirst's St Sebastian. The people more interesting! Jug of Pimms for £18 - obscene! Liked the prints exhibition by Richard Austin from the 1930s and 1940s. To evensong at St John's where we sang Wood Coll Reg and Stainer "I saw the Lord" which is always fun! Watched The Apprentice final (e...

Sat 6 June continued. To West Wickham for the annual organists dinner. As President I had to make a speech and focused on change and the Holy Spirit as joy. Scott Farrell from Rochester was an excellent guest and Canon Colin Boswell from Croydon parish church delightful. The meal was good too. Martin How and Harry Bramma were there. Really enjoyed it. Loved the story about the 2 brothers who became admiral and bishop. Bishop to Admiral on station (both in full rig): "Tell me my man what time is the next train to Epsom?" Admiral to bishop "I have no idea madam and ought you to be travelling in that condition?" Train stops outside station but man in bowler hat, suitcase and umbrella gets out of one side of the carriage. Minutes later bowler hat returns, then suitcase, the umbrella. Man climbs in brushes himself down pickes everything up and promptly gets out on other side of carriage!

Met Sister Sheila on Thornton Heath station and told her about John Ennor being in Mayday. To Oxford Circus and arrived a little late for the meditation session at London Fo Guang Chinese Buddhist Temple in Margaret Street. No idea it was there! Very helpful guidance sheet. Coffee, cakes and chocs - my friend the monk from Battersea Peace pagoda was there. Shocked to find Mowbrays bookshop is closed. To Baker Street and walk in the rain to Regents Park mosque - Bishop John joined us and about 100. We were given a nice brochure and a very short introduction and invited to pray silently in the mosque. I thought of the psalms "O pray for the peace of Jerusalem" "Out of the deep" If only Israel would trust in the Lord! Pat Gaffney from Pax Christi and several people I know - lots of Catholics! Bus to Baker Street and underground to Rayners Lane. The Zoroastrian centre is a converted 30s cinema in Harrow - 3 million spent on it. Lunch brought from Birmingham by Sachkhan ...

Thursday to the power station to see the latest plans. I stressed the need for a library and 33% of the survey supported the idea. An ideal location would be near the new tube station and on the main road. The plans look feasible and include a new park on the river and lots of water features. To volunteers Mass at the cathedral so there were loads of servers - we were acolytes. Nice reception in the hall afterwards and we slipped away to go to chorus. Introduced Liz to Virginia and met some more people. I was full of cold and so we sat upstairs and didn't sing! In fact I was sleepy. Friday did 20 lengths and got some paracetamol cold tablets and to the town hall. All went well and talked also about new developments. Only 4 at choir practice so finished early. Did ironing while watching Apprentice and programme on poetry. Bruce arrived as he was going to a wedding at Chessington. That was a nice surprise. Rats seen in garden - ugh! Doctor Dennis says whisky thins the blood!

Everyone must vote today and keep the BNP out!

Wednesday 3rd June. To 9 a.m. mass at Good Shepherd, New Addington. This was a Catenian Mass for vocations and 4 brothers were there - Philip, Bill, David and me. Fr Stephen Boyle was friendly. Why some brothers who are retired did not attend is beyond me. i was late because of 2 sets of works and a school patrol lady! Back home for coffee and saw David and Katy up the road and set off for spirituality day. I got locked in the loo in the Hinsley Room and Fr Paul Fox rescued me! There were 20 there and Fr Paul spoke so well about the Holy Spirit and radical change. He contrasted the man who has everything and is unhappy with the poor of Africa who have nothing but are full of joy. "Joyless is the day's return unaccompanied by thee". During the meditation time I thought about aspects of life which are without joy and how they need to be changed. Liz was serving at the Good Shepherd mass with 1000 children and Bishop John so the cathedral was closed. I sat in the little chap...

A fine translation by Sr Irene Nowell OSB Veni Sancte Spiritus, Et emitte caelitus Lucis tuae radium Come, Holy Spirit, And send out from heaven Your radiant light. Veni pater pauperum, Veni dator munerum, Veni lumen cordium. Come, father of the poor, Come, giver of gifts, Come, light of our hearts. Consolator optime, Dulcis hospes animae, Dulce refrigerium. Best consoler, Sweet guest of the soul, Sweetness of cool refreshment. In labore requies, In aestu temperies, In fletu solatium. Rest in labor, Relief in heat, Consolation in weeping. O lux beatissima, Reple cordis intima Tuorum fidelium. O most blessed light, Fill the center of the hearts Of your faithful. Sine tuo numine, Nihil est in homine, Nihil est innoxium. Without your divine power, There is nothing in humans, Nothing is innocent. Lava quod est sordidum, Riga quod est aridum, Sana quod est saucium. Wash what is soiled, Water what is dry, Heal what is wounded. Flecte quod est rigidum, Fove quod est frigi...

Another lovely day. Catenians and I reported on welfare. Elizabeth O'Reilly is 91, Kitty Duggan and Wendy Dobbs both O.K. Willy Britto urging us to go to Goa in October. I had a Guinness and came home. Liz had been to St Paul's for Royal Holloway evensong and a bloggers meeting! Tuesday Caroline at Town hall and Southside. Back twinging in pool so only did 20 lengths and met Humphrey on early train. Tai chi on Monday helped. To park at lunchtime - very warm. Liz at Chiswick. Woke early again.

The archbishop seemed quite unconcerned about delays and very humsn. The reception in the hall went well and enjoyed the picnic on the terrace. Liz eventually home at nearly midnight!