The organist librarian

Have caught up on the new Corduroy Mansions series published daily in the Daily Telegraph and online and an email reinder each day. Hilarious!

To St Michael's for the lunchtime recital by the organist of St Martin's-in-the-Fields. He plays really well - Bach, Boyce, Howells and Boellmann Suite Gothique. Two interesting Chorale preludes by Favid Bowerman (born 1936) on Old 100th and Guiting Power. Tea and teacake with Terence and Adrian. They had been to 17 proms and enjoyed the Mahler and LSO and the operas. They are going to Don Carlos tomorrow. Reading Richard Wright Native son again - it is excellent. Reading group in November. We have the recital programme for 2010 - amazing that international folk will play just for a free lunch! Vespers on radio from Assisi sung by the RSCM millenium youth choir under David Ogden - very good. More Facebook messages and Bruce rang. Ann in Hobart with Paul as Bet has had a severe stroke. Watched the last episode of The Tudors. Liz painting kitchen ceiling.

Woke at 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Watched rest of "The Choir" with Gareth Malone and boys of Lancaster school and Rachmaninov 2 from Leeds piano competition with Rachel Cheung of China - only 17. Wasp man came and smoked and poisoned nest under eaves at back. There were bats up the road and of course we have fox, wood pigeons, squirrels and we have had rats and mice -yuk! Nice sportshirts from Liz and card, messages on Facebook.

Last night took 75 bus to Catford for the organists association visit to the Compton theatre organ in the Broadway theatre installed in 1932 and restored by Peter hammons who demonstrated it. We were able to see the chambers and the blower. It is on 10 inches of wind pressure and hence very loud. It can be played as a classical organ or a theatre organ. David played "I want to be beside the seaside" which is what I wanted to do but I played "We'll meet again" and "Land of hope and glory". We were joined by 3 SSL0 members and a composition student from Goldsmiths. It was a fun evening and Adrian gave me a lift home. I've played a cinema organ before and the console is bewildering! Best to let others add stops like drums and triangle! It even has a chryssyglot which is like a musical chimes on glass!

Photos copyright Bishops conference of England and Wales The new bishop with his predecessor Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia Slept better waking at 2 a.m. and 5 but dropped off again. To the cathedral for the ordination of Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop to the Forces, which was a splendid affair. Trumpeters from the Welsh Guards, professional choir singing Byrd, Mozart and Hassler, lots of bishops and Southwark clergy. We were consecration torches. After the Coloma Mass yesterday which Liz left all went well. At the reception afterwards saw Fr Peter Stodart, Fr John O'Toole, Fr Adrian from Worth, sisters from Minster Abbey, even Fr Joe said Hello to me, Fr Kevin, Fr Soper, Fr Mathias, Fr David Gummitt and Fr Tom Creagh-Fuller. Sandwiches, fruit and wine. Bus home and 2 Tablets to catch up on as post has been so bad. Richard Moth was the priest who showed concern for us after the Addiscombe mess.

Woke late so no swim but to tai chi - a smaller class than before but Philhomena was there. Saw CM and sorted out while I am away. To Latchmere pub. Lorinda put me in a team of South Thames college teachers and it was fun. Had John Smith's and steak pie. One round we won a bottle of wine and overall came 4th. Chris Dobb gave me a lift to Norwood.

We sang Farrant "Turn thy face from my sins" and Statham in D. By request I played "land of hope and glory". The children had a delightful practice which was a relief after last Sunday. I practised and then home. Meanwhile Liz had gone to East Croydon and I did not get the text messages! Had quick lunch and back to church for 3.15 on a glorious day. The rehearsal and evensong both went really well. 34 in choir and 25 in congregation. Walmisley in D minor, Bullock Give us the wings of faith, Sanders Responses, Psalm 91 and 3 angel hymns. Good sermon by Richard Slade reader at Purley. Scrumptious Mothers Union tea with sandwiches and chocolate cake. It was a joy to conduct and Fred Irvine played well including Alla Marcia of John Ireland. Watched Antiques roadshow and Kevin McCloud in Rome. Took down dining room shelves. Roll on the next joint event! Pleased that Molly came and sang.

Had an argument as I had been able to access my records on the new Philharmonia Chorus website (I vary from 6 to 8 but usually good and semi-chorus) but Liz could not access hers so she changed email back to the a.woodhouse one. Can still get emails to new address but it's confusing. I said open a new email account and give that to the chorus or use my google mail account. To St Michael's on a lovely day for the 12 noon recital by Arnfinn. I was late because Conservatives came to the door. What were my concerns locally so I said parking and not wanting residents permits as they will charge us to park in the end. I should have mentioned the housing developments locally which are taking away green spaces and not in keeping with the area. David said he votes green and has no time for parties or unions! I would certainly never vote Tory after the way I have been treated with job cuts in the past. I enjoyed Arnfinn's playing - even Franck's Pastorale! Bach, Marchand, Litaize...

To Putney for meeting - AG very friendly and a warning to all about use of internet and email in library time so warned everyone. Visited Wandsworth Town library on way back and Daniel gave me a tour. I was very impressed. Saw RA and CM, To choir - John commented on Rutter For the beauty of the earth implying I couldn't play it! The fact is I had not played it since the last time we sang it and it's not easy. Gave Caroline a lift to Purley as she cannot drive - eye problems. It was a good practice for once and I remained positive.

30 lengths and drove to work so car was available near the library after the concert. Just in time. Finished at 1 and after lunch to Victoria and Albert to see the wonderful new ceramics gallery. I'm not into ceramics but I was impressed. The glass gallery is also very fine and the sculptures. Had a brief look at the special exhibition about Fear and death in contemporary design - unimpressed. To Royal Albert hall for rehearsal and concert with Northern Sinfonia. Jonathan Schiffman a 29 year old conductor did well. Alex James from Maestro did Khachaturian Adagio - his tummy was hilarious! Carl Jenkins conducted his Benedictus (very slow and lovely cello solo) - spoke to him as Liz says his wife recognised me at the theatre in Bath - she used to use Putney library. It was packed and a good programme. We sang Carmina 1, Zadok, and 1812 (fireworks!) The Priests sang Panis and Pie Jesu of Lloyd Webber. They signed our CD and Liz said they were charming. They seemed reluctant to take a ...

To St Michael's for a rather lacklustre performance by a British organist who has settled in Bjornholm. There were slips in Finlandia and the programme was Scandinavian. Nielsen's Commotio rather outstayed its welcome. Bus to Couldson to see Vicky and we finished October hymns and half of November. To Coulsdon South - oddly Vicky caught the same train but she was on her mobile walking ahead of me to the station! To Royal Academy to see Anish Kapoor's extraordinary scultures. I loved the mirror ones - there was one where I appeared to become a single blue line! Also a magnificent pile of silver globes in the courtyard. I feel sorry for the people who have to clean up the red wax which is now defacing these fine galleries. There is also an enormous rusting object in the middle of a gallery! I like Sir Hugh Casson's pictures in the members room much more! To St Mary le Bow for lecture by Professor Tina Beattie which will be worth reading on www.justshare.org. http://justsh...

Just been working on plans for next year and trying to fit in 3 organs in Holborn on March 27th. Spoke to Ann and looked at the lovely photos on facebook from Claire's 21st. Bad duststorm in Sydney also featured on Facebook. Also discovered Edward Davey's blog and SSG correspondence following PMM.

Monday 32 lengths. To Roger and Lucy Brice's at Carshalton for RSCM committee. Nice food and wine and a good meeting. Adrian gave me a lift home. Andrew Scott has left Croydon PC. St Leonard Streatham might suit him. Peter Wright says Edward is enjoying the chorus. He knew Stefan Bevier is coming. Visit from AG to library went very well. Tuesday Micky came in. He has moved to Trott Street. The choir on TV - Gareth Malone triumphant South Oxhey festival - he is so inspiring.

Played Janacek Fanfare from Sinfonietta. We sang "Morning glory, starlit sky" to Song 13 and chanted Psalm 42 to the Wesley chants at communion. Molly was ill and Ella not able to sing alone at practice. To No 1 Croydon next to East Croydon station - fantastic view over a very green Croydon. Train to St Pancras for a fascinating tour of the station with Bill. German Gymnasium display of the King's Cross development. Bus to St George's Bloomsbury. Flute and piano playing and vicar gave a talk. A fine display about Hawksmoor. Trollope was baptised there. To St Giles in the Fields and Bach on the Drake organ. Drunks outside asking where my hair had gone! Church associated with poets Milton, Marvell, Browning. Wait for 24 bus and had to get off and walk down the middle of Whitehall as it was skyride day for cyclists! Foreign and Commonwealth office amazing place - Durbar court, Locarno suite, India office. Train home and chicken for dinner. Watched Antiques roadshow and S...

Reading group enjoyed Rose Tremain's Return home but only 4 came. However we had a good discussion and touched on local problems too. Still messaging mobile phone numbers but a slow process! At vespers I had to be cantor at short notice. All went well apart from the intonation of the hymn which was unclear from Edward. At mass Fr Michael is avoiding steps! The choir from Billercay sang well - Bach, Schiavone, Chris Walker and Stainer. I left to get to Islington only to find James O'Donnell's recital is next Saturday - should have checked! Liz picked me up at Norwood Junction. Interesting programme on Montezuma.

38 lengths. Just outside the library on a path I must have walked 1000s of times I tripped over the manhole cover and fell forwards. The bag containing the day's newspapers pulled be forward so I was lucky to escape with a grazed right knee and left hand knuckles. But it was pretty shaken so had a cup of tea. Not impressed to find I am only senior again on Saturday especially as I have reading group to run. Sharing someone with Tooting mobile does not work well. Nice trout for dinner done with onions and mushrooms. Choir practice 2 people missing, 2 people late. I cut it short as feeling shivery. The same old moans about Harvest carol and Harvest samba, why can't the anthem be after communion (we discussed that years ago), why aren't we singing Sanders responses at evensong - I'm afraid I was not in the mood for it. The Tudors continues to be historically inaccurate! Have asked for extra singers at Harvest festival - so far zilch! Changed to BT broadband from demon so n...

A most interesting lunchtime meeting of the forum at Katharine Low settlement. How much we need a vision and one way might be through reminiscence groups and using smaller parks more! Shocked to hear about housing where living rooms are used as bedrooms - no wonder libraries are so important! The advice not to have more children is not heeded. To ENO to book for Turn of the screw using the voucher for the resold ticket for Peter Grimes which is to be on again. The computer crashed but got tickets! To National Portrait gallery for Gay icons which had some surprises notably Graham Taylor. No paintings in the exhibition but well done. I chose Britten and Pears. To chorus and finished early as conductor did not turn up. Celia laughing over Liz's remark that I could feed the American choral conductor - the idea is that 20 conductors come over and stay for a week and take part in the MacMillan. That would be most interesting especially if conductor was into church music.

A lovely day. Ann busy with preparations for Claire's 21st. Finished reading "The lost art of gratitude" by Alexander McCall Smith which was a delight. To Hinsley room for 11 a.m. meeting of the interfaith group and 11 came. A most interesting discussion about love prompted by the Timothy Radcliffe passage I had provided. Hai Dang could not come after all. The new time clearly suits people and 3 newcomers and an enquiry by email! To St Michael's for Ben Horden's excellent recital Bach, Handel, Wesley, Bossi and Vierne. He is now at Northampton and grew up in Kettering. I could not recall the name of the choir director I knew there. Adrian was there and Tom whom I met on Saturday. Home for lunch and listened to evensong - a broadcast from St Paul's from 1962! To chorus to prepare for classic FM concert. Sopranos were not good again. Much chat about other choirs.

Sunday's call from Celia led to a disturbed night and no swim on Monday. To BDT and the mood seemed subdued. Watched university challenge. Tuesday 40 lengths and staff meetings - very wet. Right shoulder hurting - it started at Doaui with being a narrower bed I think. I spoke to Dennis on Saturday. Grandma enjoyed Sunday. Gas off again - the workmen have had our road dug up for weeks! Louise and Tom in London Lite on butchers course! Pig's brains - yuk! Helen came to get scores for Londinium and she said London Philharmonic choir were fed up they only got one prom with Goldie but that was televised. We got nothing and now Freischutz is cancelled we are left with Albert Hall gigs with other choirs and the MacMillan on Good Friday. I can't do Mahler 2 as that is my chance to play St Paul's cathedral organ! Philharmonia orchestra have only 2 choral concerts in the Festival Hall season both using Philharmonia Voices. Thouroughly enjoying Gareth Malone's new TV series ab...

Friday 40 lengths - meetings at work. Choir practice a bit frustrating again - "I don't like this" is hardly helpful and a comment about Gareth Malone's talent did not please me. Saturday was a quiet day catching up on things and went to the recital at St Dunstan Bellingham by Paul Derrett. A fine Hill organ which came in the 20s from Chapel Royal St James Palace. I followed the Trumpet minuet of Alfred Hollins with the score - top C sharp on the pedals was not working. We also had Handel, Bach, Wesley, Elgar, Wolstenholme and Robert Cundick. I missed second half. Had tea with Andrew Cessana, Christian Strouver and Tom who goes to St Michael's recitals. There were about 50 there. To vespers and Mass and as I was early I met John East in the cathedral. Last night of the proms on TV - an odd mixture of songs about death (Purcell and Mahler) and Ketelbey, Arnold, no Sea songs. Excellent trumpet playing from Alison Balsom and Sarah Connolly sang beautifully. Enjoyed ...

Fr Philip's homily about being a musician, Sr Anna's oboe playing, Martin Baker's psalms and improvising, John Rowntree's Psalm 150 (unaccompanied!), the Kenneth Tickell organ and the Tamburini organ in the abbey church, Sister from Minster reading Colossians 3 today, Sr Gillian from Quidenham on the need to wait before giving a reply - very wise!

Set off on Monday - 2 and half hours by train via Clapham Junction to Reading then Thatcham and back to Midgham. Met Sr Julian from Stanbrook now at Wass and Br Reginald from Canterbury. We were met at the station and driven to Douai Abbey which is a lovely place with a high light airy church with clear windows. The accomodation was comfortable with a shower in the large room and nice outlook over woods. The school is now rebuilt as housing. I soon slipped into the pattern of Latin Vespers and compline and Mattins and Lauds at 6.25 a.m. and midday office. The food was excellent and the company delightful. I particularly enjoyed talking to Fr Martin from Downside, the sisters from Lewes with their international connections, Michelle from Roscrea and the sisters from Quidenham, Minster and Ware. Michelle Moran gave us insights into the Synod in Rome on the Word of God which were very valuable especially Tom Wright's. It turns out she used to live in South Norwood! David Bednall co...

I am delighted by my new Philips razor bought at John Lewis Solihull - the best shave I've ever had!

Back to work Thursday after an excellent break. Back to choir practice on Friday and children worked well after service on Sunday. Vespers and mass on Saturday - 6 servers! Back into routine. Thursday Liz went to the funeral at Chiswick of Fr Ed Houghton sadly killed in traffic accident at only 40 - a great loss. Sunday Liz to Heathrow to meet Dennis and AnnMarie back from 2 weeks in Oz which they enjoyed. Spoke to them and Ann on Monday morning before setting off for Doaui Abbey. Saw Thomas Wilson on Saturday. Challoner choir pretty dire.

Checked out of St John's hotel where we had made full use of sauna and pool! Some noise from weddings and a charge for parking! To Sisters of mercy convent in Handsworth - lovely people and fascinating displays. To Soho House which was well presented and on to Moseley Old Hall beyond Wolverhampton - a lovely garden and Charles II connection. Nice tea. Saw Muriel on tour. To see Bruce after work at the flat and enjoyed The choir. The sisters gave us car park pass and key so we could return around 10.30. Went to prayer with them in the lovely side chapel. Most interesting place. Did a tour round on our own on Wednesday and returned home stopping at the lovely Upton House. Just as at Wightwick where we enjoyed billiards this was a 1930s country weekend experience with the piano being played. The pictures are magnificent - El Greco, Goya, Hogarth, Stubbs, Breugel, etc. Magnificent gardens too. Home around 5ish. Isle of the dead and Shostakovich Symphony 9 with scores from prom.

Bank holiday. Fascinating tour of the back to backs (NT). Fitted in a visit to the Oratory where the very nice sacristan gave us a lovely book and showed us the relics fo Cardinal Newman. Yesterday we drove to Kings Norton to look at the district and today we found a one bedroomed flat opposite the Peace garden for Bruce. He liked it and sorted it all out. Mortgage came through later! A good day's work. It has a nice balcony and nearer to work adn cheaper than the Ulysses one!

To mass at St Chad's. Cantor sang psalm and hymns from NEH! Met David Saint and played the organ which is loud and impressive. Met up with Bruce at home and to St Paul's for evensong - sang with the choir - a nice bunch. Good dinner at restaurant nearby. Looking at property.

A drive to St Peter's Wolverhampton and another warm welcome and a fine Nicholson organ. To the art gallery which was excellent. To Wightwick manor tour and gardens - Arts and Crafts. Owls and hedgehog on show! To meet Bruce at the shop and Midsummer Night's dream in pub theatre - good meal beforehand. An excellent show by the Ribin company.

Thursday 27 Aug to work until 2 and Liz picked me up. Drove to Solihull with no problems and checked in at the very nice St John's hotel which has a swimming pool and sauna. BBC4 on TV so watched the prom - Strauss Alpine symphony and Chopin piano concerto No 2 played by Lang Lang. Friday to St Alphege Solihull and a warm welcome. A fine Nicholson organ. Had some trouble finding switches! To Baddesley Clinton a fine NT moated manor house and garden and Packwood House with a fine garden of yews. Prom was on BBC Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky Agon.