The organist librarian

Liz to Turnham Green for Rossini Messe solenelle and to Goldsmiths Arms. England out of World Cup. Very hot. We sang Nicholson in C and David Ogden's "Christ has no body". Mass at Purley and it was first communion with tiaras and all. David Palmer show - eventually got a seat- a horrid Lord's prayer! Picnic at South Croydon Rec ground. To Newtons to look at Honda Jazz - very nice salesman - not pushy at all. The low mileage one was owned by a heavy smoker. £7950 for one a year older. To St Peter's South Croydon for patronal evensong with choir of 45. Chris conducted and Richard Pillner played the new Makin which does not have a convincing organ sound. Vicar very nice. Parry I was glad, Stanford Te Deum, Dyson in D. I think Rose repsonses was a tad ambitious! Angel voices, Guve us the wings and O praise ye the Lord. Noble chant for short psalm. It was a big sing as one hour rehearsal and straight into 3.30 evensong followed by cream tea! SSWesley on the choir incl...

Friday swam and another hot day - weeded fiction. Practice and long chat about changes prior to Sept meeting. Cannot do Bruckner Locus iste in July after all as people are away. We need more singers. Talked about different settings. Saturday lie-in and together on train as liz serving at diaconal ordination and went to Allen Hall afterwards. I went in car to Coulsdon for Yeomen of the Guard in the church. Well done by Utopians Unlimited with piano played very well by Jonathan Rees-Williams. He has served his prison sentence. Peter Thomas and Jon Fox were outstanding. A good audience and £600 for centenary appeal. Those congregation seats are very uncomfortable even with a cushion! Nice eats at interval and Colin Hadley was there.

32 lengths. Another hot day in the library. Saw locksmith - I played for his wedding. have finished weeding the non-fiction and tagging is in progress so started weeding fiction. Watched Gareth Malone at Glyndebourne - he is amazing!

Tuesday I finished at 2 and went to the hospital. Grandma was agitated and I changed her hearing aid battery. She kept trying to pull the lines out so I repositioned her rosary so she had something to hold. To the cathedral for the Volunteers Mass on the feast of St Thomas More and St John Fisher. Phil Roberts was there. The boys sang well and I was consecration torch. Liz was late. Nice canapes in hall. Good to see Mark Doran who is working hard on the Papal visit. To Battersea Park library for a well attended talk by the US Embassy Press attache Philip. Knew most of the people there. IT not working again. Andrew Green thanked me for coming and made useful contact with Economic development office people. So nice to see everyone again. Library looking good.

To Emertons to get iron water and Addiscombe to take curtains to be dry cleaned. Tram and train to Victoria for interfaith group with Rabbi Mark on the afterlife and funerals. Fascinated by the Talmud idea of heaven as a dance around God. Many Jews do not believe in an afterflife! 11 there. Train and tram to St Michael's for recital by Peter King of Bath Abbey. Excellent JSBach, Pescetti sonata which I play, Graham Fitkin's Wedding, Alfred Hollins Maytime Gavotte and Mendelssohn. Home for lunch and Liz busy in the garden. She went to hospital and chorus. I cut up lounge carpet while listening to evensong from Westminster Abbey featuring Byrd. Ironing and emails. To Westminster cathedral for recital by Colin Walsh.Stanford, George Bennett, Franck, Tournemire, Langlais, Litaize and Vierne Toccata. Met Liz on train. Watched excellent play about John Lennon and his poor relationship with his father and his son. Hot today.

To St John's Redhill and examined 5 for RSCM awards with Chris Greenhalgh. Played for 1.30 wedding at Coulsdon - all over in 40 minutes. To hospital and not sure Grandma even knew I was there as she was on oxygen for breathing problems. To vespers and Mass and girls choir of St Nicholas Harpenden sang well. Sunday we sang "Be still" and Richard Jones's Mass for Hilary which has poor notation. Molly rehearsed and I practised. To Clare's 70th birthday party at Falkland Park Avenue and a rare opportunity for a photo of the whole family! Eventually came home for a rest and finished unpacking. Dennis and AnneMarie went to see Grandma. Booked 10 pin bowling. Monday swam 38 and back to work and 85 emails! It has been busy. Delighted by grade B PRP! Watched first programme on fatherhood.

Monday we had a large breakfast after our swim and drove on main roads. We stopped at Pyrga to see the Chapelle Royale. The guide has a sister in Thornton Heath! he was interested to know that we knew who Cosmas and Damian were! Drove through Lekara and found monastery of Agios Minas closed for lunch. Stopped at Kourion beach and at a restaurant overlooking the birthplace of Aphrodite for an ice cream. Got lost in Paphos but eventually found the apartment in Pegeia. Very comfortable on 2nd floor with shared pool and balcony and roof garden. On the Tuesday we had a quiet day and in the evening went to St George's on the coast. Wednesday was mountain driving day and we visited 3 monasteries. St Neophytos lived in caves decorated with wall paintings. At Panayia we visited Moni Khrysorromatissa Our Lady of the Pomegranates. Agias Monia had a fine courtyard and a simpler church. Thursday to Coral Bay beach to meet Grainne, Dino, Tony, Kathleen, Adam, Matthew, Julia and of course Ale...

Worked until 5 and had some time to do some clearing up. To Feltham on train and parked car outside Barbara's. Ate at Giraffe and flew out at 10 p.m. on Cyprus Air. Watched film "Whatever happened to the Morgans" although sound was not good. Landed at 4 a.m. 2 hours ahead and picked up Citroen. Drove to Nicosia and spent some time trying to find the Hilton Park hotel. Had breakfast and able to use room immediately so went for a swim and rested. Sunday morning Grainne and Dino and Tony and family arrived at hotel and we followed them - the church proved to be very close by hotel. The baptism of Alexis at 12 noon was an ordeal for everyone. His mother is not allowed near him and the 2 godmothers have to completely undress him and is covered in oil and put in the water 3 times by the priest. His hair is cut 3 times. Naturally he screamed through the whole ceremony some of which was in English but the rest in Greek which the people do not understand! Very nice lunch at countr...

Swam 30 as I was a little late. A nice surprise at 11.45 when I was in the music and Louise and Ciarán arrived. He managed to roll himself up in his blanket on my office floor! Had lunch with them. Grandma had the peg put in successfully so we are off to Cyprus tomorrow all being well with the proviso that we would return if things turned for the worse. Packed case and watched Young apprentice final with a worthy winner in Arjun. Met John who swims on the train and bus home.

Monday finished at 2 and to hospital and Dennis still with us. Grandma much brighter. Alison her neighbour came to see her and gave useful advice about care homes. We also saw the consultant and Dennis spoke to the psychiatrist. I went to Catenians and Liz went to hospital and on to Bow to collect the Z bed for Claire. Good meeting. Tuesday worked till 8 - sorted out game plan on new system (still not working right), staff meeting. Reading group lively and discussed Goodman's Intuition - equally divided between those who liked and those who could not finish it. Ruth had picked up some interesting nuances in the book I had missed. Wednesday to Croydon NHS and helpful chat to doctor. My right ankle still bothering me - strange itch under skin. Home and then to Liberal Jewish synagogue St John's Wood. Rabbi Mark gave us a full tour and we saw the Torah scroll - the bar mitzvah boy's achievement is amazing - no vowels and no cantillations. Mark sang beautifully for us and also ...

Friday to hospital and fed Grandma. She ate a 3rd of dinner and all the yoghurt but she is not getting enough liquid. She listened to the news headlines I read her and smiled a lot. Straight to choir practice and I was 15 minutes late. My texts did not reach anyone who was there (only 4 there) so I now have the others' mobile numbers although they do not use their phones! We finished early and I practised the Mahler before giving the ladies a lift home. Dennis arrived later. Liz was at a slapup catechists dinner. Saturday to the cathedral to serve at 9am Mass with Archbishop Vincent and Bishop John. He was great at welcoming everyone and Fr Christopher described me to him as "Mr Interfaith" which we suppose makes Liz "Mrs Interfaith"! To the West London synagogue for a splendid service with organ and choir (organ sometimes too loud but some fine Mendelssohn and Bach). A lovely bar mitzvah with the family fully involved and 2 baby girls blessed. Lunch there. To ...

Had a short lie-in and it was a busy day as it is half-term. Grandma took a turn for the worse but decided to come home at 8 as tired. Louise and Liz visited. Flo and Tom are due to come on Sunday. To cakes and tea at BBC across road from library to discuss the Arts festival successes. Lady told me I should not retire! Latest photos of Ciarán who is off to Italy for the wedding this weekend!

Spoke to Ann. To Tooting common for Age concern South Wandsworth meeting and I ended up chairing a meeting I had not attended before! Nice home. To Hinsley room for Eileen Dutt on "Blessed are the persecuted" and silent meditation. Home for 2 and painting lounge. Jasmine white on green has meant 3 coats. Listened to excellent evensong from St David's and Handel's "Il resurrezione". Watched programme on tenors and Young apprentice.

Back to work after the holiday and 40 lengths. Dan was there and Marvin. Arrived to find 4 boxes of books dumped outside the front door so moved them next to orange bags and they were taken away! Cleared up book sale and not best pleased to find staff had not done what I said. Recycled a lot of books and stored the rest. Wet day. Angela came for more training. Watched Rick Stein on Italian cooking and opera but I fell asleep. On Friday I watched again on BBC4 the Covent Garden production of Marriage of Figaro while packing up ornaments and pictures in the lounge. Must be one of my favourite operas and it is 30 years since I sang Basilio!