The organist librarian

Hoovered after a lie-in. The snow went by lunchtime as it was sunny. To St Edmund's Beckenham to practise for the recital on Feb 7 (changed from Jan 31). Eventually got the organ key so spent time on registration. The console has been turned round so the organist can be seen. Mostly sounded great - it is a Wyvern. Liz had gone to King's to see Grandma and Dennis went straight there. I picked up Liz and we went to Vespers (very few clergy there -only 2) and Mass with Fr Tim who was unwell. To Louise's and delivered 2 big bags. Ciarán now has a lovely cot and had enjoyed his first swim - sweet little swimsuits! He was smiling. Bruce was there as well so we got a family photo! I slept on way home as Liz drove. Bruce missed his train so came for the night and left early Sunday.

To Balham for SDF and Marijana's farewell lunch. Sam is to come to BTP which is great and Ros replaces Fiona. DS came to tell staff and see RA. Liz had to take Grandma into King's for kidney infection so she had the car. I nipped in home and had a quick bite and then buses to Coulsdon. Practised in church for a bit but it was cold so we went downstairs. The acoustic in the empty building is excellent. Our final attempt at the Byrd Senex puerum was the best! Gibbons going well too. Long wait for 60 and 468 so I was frozen. Had hot toddy with whisky. Woke today to snow again!

To Balham for second session with Marijana who was bossy and patronising! To Carlisle Place looking for SW1 gallery which I did not find. Saw Hanna outside cathedral. Mahler 2 rehearsal with Stefan Bevier on great form and getting soft controlled singing. But he had the 6 first tenors singing unaccompanied - very tiring. Gave him Peter Wright's greetings and spoke to Annaliese about Lesley. To Jugged Hare to meet Liz, Fr Michael and later Mark (confirmation class) Ian and baritone also there. Late home after much red wine had been drunk. I was driving!

Had a lie-in and chatted about retirement in September 2011. Did some emails from last night's provincial council and found items on "Blessed are the gentle" on internet, also checked CDs for music. To Town Hall for JCC on Health and Safety. Met Meryl in foyer - she remarked on my magic touch to tidy up Balham! Directors never mentioned the appointment but it was cordial. Still not budging much on PRP for full-time LAs on lowest grades. Flagged up closing up time. To Victoria and popped into St Paul's bookshop before evensong at 5 sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Stainer in B flat, Achieved is the glorious work, Bernard Rose introit and responses. At the reception afterwards met Andrew Carwood, Tim Harper and Simon Johnson and one of the Westminster cathedral basses. Good white wine and sandwiches. Train to East Croydon for President's Wednesday at Croydon Park hotel - excellent buffet. Sat with Austin, Mike, Carol and Brendan and took photos. Colin and Mary...

40 lengths. To British Transport police HQ Camden Town for London Boroughs Interfaith network meeting which was quite interesting. Staff meetings and a chance to say thanks and welcome to Abi. Picked up Harry Mellor and drove to Swanley Indoor bowls centre for Catenian provincial council. I was congratulated and I spoke about the vocations initiative. I'm sure I dropped off at one point!

To 7.30 a.m. Wandsworth business forum breakfast meeting at Chez Manny's - some dull stuff about finance and missed the bit I wasnted to hear as had to go and open the library! To tai chi and really getting to know the routines now - pity I cannot continue. To RSCM committee at Peter's - I was early so popped into Globe and had tea at the Swan bar. Only Adrian and Terence there so short meeting and Adrian gave me a lift home.

At church we sang Shaw in C minor in 3 parts and a lovely setting by Anthony Greening of Bourgeois' "Virgin-born we bow before thee" also one verse of "O thou who at thy Eucharist didst pray" as I rather felt the week of prayer for Christian unity had been downplayed. The booklet this year is excellent and I used one of the prayers at the interfaith group. I played Walther's partita on "Jesu meine freude" and Isobelle was baptised. To my surprise Vickie again included the Gloria (Peter Jones) and the service was an hour. Molly doing well and I practised Bach and Flor Peeters - I am playing several of his pieces next month. The organ recital at Beckenham is sensibly changed to the 7th at 3 p.m. Picked up Dennis and Grandma and to the Thatched house which is excellent and very child friendly. Ciarán was on good form. Had roast beef and sticky toffee pudding with white wine. What a treat! Took Christmas presents back to Acton and brought back stuff to...

Swam 40. Busy at work transferring files about BTP onto a memory stick for my successor. To St Paul's cathedral on 344 and arrived early. Westminster Cathedral choir sang vespers and we were acolytes. Lovely Palestrina Magnificat and Brucker Virga Jesse. Robert Quinney plaed Dupre Prelude and fugue in A flat - stunning ending. Martin Ball was there. To chapter house for wine and sandwiches - big spread! Spoke to Nick and John English who is getting married again. Train to Coulsdon and practice. Liz picked me up there and drove to near Chelmsford - Oak Lodge very nice b and B and DIY breakfast in conservatory.

Lie-in only a short swim as pool was busy. To Balham library where Marijana tried to tell me far too much in 4 hours. I was desperate for coffee by 11. She even went through the gameplan as if I have not done dozens of them! Mind you the budget is far bigger than my present one! Much of the infrastructure needs replacing like alarms. To BTP for a while and then to visit Louise and Ciarán. He had a nice sleep on my shoulder and was then grizzly - he has grown a lot. Underground to chorus reading CMQ. Nic did difficult bits of the MacMillan. Told Jean about the promotion. Liz was at confirmation class and then at the Jugged Hare.

To Moss Bros to hire green tie for Saturday's wedding to match Liz's outfit! 11 a.m. Interfaith group 15 came Andrew Cameron from the Met Police Faith and belief division proved to be an amusing and interesting speaker - I had met him before. Hai Dang invited us to the Chinese New Year lunch on Feb 10th. Trains were affected by fire at Battersea Park. To Coulsdon to choose hymns for Feb and March - Vickie had forgotten our meeting but all was well. Back on train to Royal Academy for the superb Van Gogh exhibition based on his letters. Some wonderful drawings and paintings. Tea and a mozarella baguette in the Friends room. To chorus for alto and tenor practice of the MacMillan with Nic Chalmers. I told him of the connection with Daniel Beach. I did the February music list. All this travelling gave me a chance to read The Tablet!

40 lengths and Dan there. Training AL and RA and showed them round the office. I am putting things in writing. To Blend near Town Hall - it's a new wine bar. Chat about Arts festival and Balham. Lady from Wimbledon Art studios was talking about Tennyson and the Isle of Wight. Justine felt the appointment was a recognition of my years of service. I have been at BTP 12 years this 3rd time! Liz had been to see Ciarán preparing to babysit! My photo in library news and Panel of Monastic musicians newsletter.

Woke in the night so had a little lie-in and no swim. After work to Newton Prep school for the interfaith group. Gillian Warrior spoke about her Catholic background and the fellowship of friends. The 2 Jains from Croydon were most interesting. Everyone had heard about my move - some people can't believe it. Went to tai chi and am really getting it right - we had Frank Sinatra in the background. Watched Michael Portillo on Great Western railway.

This morning we sang 3 kings and Tim and Tony joined us. I didn't feel the choir were watching me enough. The Buxtehude variations on How brightly shines went really well. Nice lunch. Put Christmas stuff in the shed and tidied up - a nice bright day. At evensong we sang Moeran in D and Wood's Expectans expectavi. Watched Antiques roadshow and Lark rise to Candleford. Did programme for organ recital at St Edmund's.

Reality beginning to creep in checking the diary up until Easter and the implications of 9 to 8 twice a week and 9.30 to 6 on alternate Saturdays which will mean going to Mass somewhere else once a fortnight. Still it is an exciting prospect. There have been many congratulations and a feeling of sadness after so many happy years in one building. Choir practice went smoothly and we worked on Byrd's "Senex puerum" and Gibbons Nunc dimittis for Candlemas. Luckily I had changed Saturdays because of Paul Clubb's wedding as in fact the reading group turned up today (RA agreed to cover it next Saturday!) Nearly all did not like "The cleft" by Doris Lessing but I think Gillian and I convinced them there was more to the book than met the eye! A very wet day. Abi is coping very well indeed. To vespers and Mass Fr Kingsley and a new server Eugene. Home to watch Lawrence (of Arabia) Island parish and Chester Zoo. Had a M & S meal of roulades and profiteroles with Mo...

I had my usual swim (it was quite slippery in our road but later rain cleared the snow) and met Chris D on the bus from Clapham Junction so that was good. The interview was 1 and a quarter hours and went really well. There were 2 other candidates. Back to the library and then to York library for community workers meeting. Back to BTP for start of the reminiscence group - 9 came and they loved chatting - it was hard to get them to stop! Julian rang with the news and I was so chuffed! This means a higher salary and a better pension. A lot more work but I can cope. Working until 8 twice a week and 9.30 to 6 on alternate Saturdays so will not be able to serve alternate weeks which is a shame. I will also have to go in occasionally on Sundays to meet staff. It is nearer home and an exciting challenge. I started there as a humble music librarian 35 years ago! Spoke to MR and MJ. To chorus and Nic Chalmers was excellent. Stephan Bevier was also there!

A quiet day at home watching David Tennant as a riveting Hamlet with Patrick Stewart as Claudius, a programme about Toscanini, Michael Portillo in the Lake district and Slumdog millionaire which is a brilliant film although I never want to visit India! All that poverty! Evensong was from Derby cathedral where they sang Stanford in B flat which we sang at St John's on Sunday.

On the 9th I worked and to Vespers and Mass - Liz and I were a little late as on the bus. Fr Michael at mass. Train home. I always think this feast is intriguing. Why did Jesus have to be baptised? I think it was to show him and everyone around who He was. The voice from heaven is the whole point. He is then driven into the wilderness and begins his ministry with that amazing statement at Nazareth - "this day this prophecy is fulfilled". On the 10th we sang a lovely setting of "Come down O love divine" by Hilary Tadman-Robins born 1947 one year after me and I played Bach's "Christ the Lord to Jordan came" which was one of Dad's party pieces. I was rather chuffed I got the pedal part right. The left hand running semiquavers are more tricky. Spent the afternoon taking the tree and decorations down but the crib stays up until Candlemas. The tree in the front garden will have to stay for the moment because of the snow! The boxes are still waiting to go...

We set off in good time to drive to Allendale for the amazing ceremony of local men carrying flaming tar barrels on their heads (actually full of wood) and then lighting the bonfire. Not such a big crowd because of the snow apparently. We had a drink and toasted the New Year and returned to Shirley's for more to eat! 2 small hot air balloons went up into the clear sky. It is a unique event and could go back to Viking/Celtic origins (similar thing in Shetland where they set light to a Viking boat).

As it is my day off and we have more snow, it is a chance to catch up on this blog! On dec 29th I returned to work. On the 30th we set off for Northumberland. The bus driver of the 68 kindly told us the X68 was not running so we arrived at Euston early for our Virgin train to Carlisle. Once we reached Lancaster (smooth and quick) we were surrounded by deep snow. We changed at Carlisle for the small train to Metrocentre. There was no way Shirley could pick us up at Hexham to take us to Allenheads and the conductor on the trian did not charge us the extra! Jill picked us up and I bought 2 pairs of trainers in the Metro Centre at Clarks. Jill took us to her home where we met Laventa, Stephen, Josh and Ellie and had a lovely dinner. On the 31st Lisa and Kevin picked us up and we drove via Hexham to Allenheads where they had had 16 inches of snow - never seen anything like it! Not even in Canada! It was lovely to see all the family again and meet as well. we enjoyed a difficult jigsaw of Af...

Having been up until 2 a.m. drinking fine whisky we were snowed in. Liz tried sledging but I was happy to watch from the house. James took Oran on the sledge too. It was really nice not having TV as we played scrabble and Taboo which is a tricky game where you have to tell your team the word they need without using certain words! Lots to eat and drink again! On the 2nd Liz and Kevin were able to drive out and took us to Jill's at Ryton. In the afternoon we went over to Flo and Tom's and enjoyed shortbread and a good chat and ginger wine. Tom is recovering from a fall when he hurt his shoulder. On the 3rd we walked to mass at Stella (in the snow) it being the Epiphany. There was a good music group and we sang "What child is this" and "We 3 kings". Strangley a said Gloria and Agnus and a hymn replaced the psalm! The priest conservative and slow and a dull homily. Jill and Levanta picked us up and we went to his lovely home - he has lovely Japanese picture and ...

Monday Jan 4th and we returned home. Walked up to the bus along the road because of the snow and got the bus to Metro centre then train to Hexham and on to Carlisle. I stayed with the luggage at the station and Liz got to the cathedral but was unable to buy a mug for her collection! Virgin train to Euston on time and lots of snow. X68 to home and time to change to go to Catenians. I took Roses chocolates to celebrate Ciarán's arrival and they were much appreciated. 5th to work and Abi started. Caroline's last day. Abi is keen and young. I visited Balham librray on the way home and saw Marijana who is retiring. Clearly a busy place (I worked there before years ago) and not enough space! On the 6th snow really came down at home so stayed home. No way could get to spirituality day and tried to get bus to chorus Christmas party but no hope of a bus! I worked on the application form for Balham job. It is a higher grade so good to retire on the highest possible grade. On the 7th by t...