The organist librarian

Sunday evening to Vauxhall for Sharon's party. Chatted to servers Francis and Patrick and met the Powell twins and their parents. They run the music at Kingston. Monday a holiday and to 11.30 a.m. memorial mass at Vince's home for him and his brother said by Fr Gabriel. Lovely lunch and enjoyed chatting to the nuns from Slough. Watched Cranford, ballet, Christmas lecture, War Horse background, La Boheme and An Englishman in New York with John Hurt. Small Island was an excellent drama earlier in the month. I have entering dates in my new National Gallery of Ireland diary from my In memoriam file.

To 10.30 at Coulsdon -not many there. To Purley for 12 noon Mass. Canon Jim friendly. Bill plays the organ on one lot of stops - he stopped halfway through "See amid" - what about the story? He plays well but why "O sacred head" again! He needs some of my Noels. Lunch was Wiltshire foods and Christmas pudding. Liz had been at Cathedral and we returned for vespers - Poulenc and Mathias. Boys on great form and excited. Bruce was upset. We headed for Selsdon Park hotel - no champagne in rooms as promised and no soup for Grandma at meal which was buffet. Rooms OK and slept alright and good breakfast but leisure club not open until 10 a.m. Not really worth it and I think we were all tired! Next year Ciarán will be with us - they went to Ireland. We saw them on Wednesday which was a treat - he has grown! Liz had rehearsals for midnight but joined me in Acton. Boxing Day watched Victoria Wood and sang carols round the piano and Flanders and Swann. Small turkey for dinner a...

18th staff meetings and to ACCL for excellent party to farewell Selma Elrayah. Met her husband. To choir practice on train because of snow. 19th to reading group. Philip Neale and Lyn were late coming from Essex and used Power point. Unfortunately this meant that we did not really discuss "A ticket to Tewkesbury". The lunch at Antipasto was excellent but went on rather long - I had zabaglione! Met Liz at Hammersmith hospital to see Doris and no time to meet Louise. Only there for 20 minutes and then to Mass. Archbishop was starting 5 deacons off! Ann's birthday. 20th Stayed at church all day because of snow and read The Tablet with lunch from Waitrose. Nine lessons went really well. Only one mishap where Norman was late at rehearsal and came in on wrong note in Noel nouvelet! To Vickie's for nibbles and drinks. Most enjoyable. 21st King's Cambridge concert at Albert Hall. Stephen Cleobury as friendly as ever. Rutter Gloria good and Messiah choruses. The choir on g...

6th Advent carols at Coulsdon and all went well. 14th to Wimbledon to play carols for old folks from Wandsworth. They seemed keen to drink and chat and 12 days of Christmas with actions was the most popular. Some got up and did solos! 15th medical checkup at Medicentre Waterloo and the lady South African doctor from Pretoria very pleased with me. My fat count is up a bit which happens with age but she said keep up the swimming and walking and the good diet. I reckon I need to cut down on biscuits and sweets. To a fascinating afternoon at the IIPR Institute for Policy research - seminar on interfaith and community at 30 Southampton Street. Came home to find Ciarán here. We had had lots of visitors - I took Grandma and Josie home. 16th Interfaith meeting with Rachel Heilbron of the 3 Faiths forum - she is a delight and 12 came inculding Jon Dal Din and Sr Hilda. Went home and then to Chesterton school at 4 p.m. for Christmas buffet - not a great success - the former head friendly and cha...

Now to catch up using a very full diary! Aug 2 spirituality day with Fr Robin Burgess - having not seen him for so long I had forgotten how good he is! The chorus was much occupied with carols and Liz only sang in one of the concerts. Louise, Tom and Ciarán came over on 11th to consult Clare about breast feeding and once that had happened he regained his birth weight and all was well. He had been back at the hospital on the 9th. 7th to tai chi group Christmas lunch at excellent Italian opposite the library. 8th Liz at servers council. I missed Catenians on the 7th for obvious reasons! 9th Unison committee meeting. 10th to ENO for "Messiah" for some reason both of us thought it started at 7.30 instead of 7 p.m. so we stood at back of gallery for first part - the singing was superb. Some of the staging was odd but we did enjoy it. I think this work is so popular that it must be hard to be original. Some of it was rather twee! Lots of shaking hands and the chorus should have mov...

At this family time we remember with love those who have gone before us and rejoice with us but up on another shore and in a greater light. Dad loved Christmas so much and poured himself into preparations for it. Mum would produce wonderful meals and somehow get those pillows full of presents under the tree ready for when we came back from Midnight Mass - a crazy time to open presents of course! These plaques are now in St John's Glebe after a 3 year wait! Liz's Dad used to enjoy the Albert Hall concerts and all the fun of the family at Christmas. K would produce lovely gifts and always do the washing up after Christmas lunch. And what fun we had - who can ever forget Dolly laughing over the little bird waddling across the table from a cracker! Even Sheila would join in. Ann here when Dennis was a baby was so special and the one Christmas we had away from home in Tasmania when Dennis was 1. Hiding desks for the children with Mrs Earl next door. And always carol services and mi...

December has proved to be even more hectic than usual hence my silence in blogland! Dec 7th I had just got to work when Liz rang to say that Ciarán Edward Maher had been born at 7.05 a.m. weighing 8 pounds and 1 ounce. He was due on December 6th. I went straight over to Acton at 7 p.m. and he is absolutely adorable with lots of black hair, long Woodhouse fingers and toes and very calm. What a joy! All are doing well.

Monday swam 36 and to tai chi - paid for Christmas lunch next Monday after the class. To Odeon Beckenham to watch Glyndebourne Falstaff - an excellent production set in WW2 Windsor full of visual gags. Terence, Adrian, Graham and Peggy there so Liz gave Terence a lift home. About 30 there. I know the opera well as I sang Bardolpho in it. It is a real ensemble piece and a delight! Liz had been to visit Louise. Tuesday watched "The Queen" and "Island parish" also "Life" on the sea. The Queen is an interesting series of 5 docu/dramas at different stages of the Queen's life.