The organist librarian

A quiet weekend with mixed weather. Sorted out stuff upstairs and reorganised shelves having packed Dennis's numerous books into boxes! Went to Glyn Close. Served at Mass as usual with said Vespers. Told Fr Michael about interfaith group interest in the Pope's visit. Mum and Dad in the prayers - have now been blogging for 4 years! Baptism at Coulsdon and I played Liebster Jesu and Dubois Toccata. In car to library to take dustbins (been replaced at home) and microwave. Staff meeting for Sunday staff was useful. Finished reading "Wolf Hall" which is brilliant and listening to Proms. Family prom was fun, Edinburgh Tattoo and University Challenge. Ein Heldenleben from Prom conducted by Mark Elder. Frustrating day at work as fallback still on as new system failed. Ended up stricting! Mind you the library needs it - such a mess! Act 2 of Hansel and Gretel on radio from Glyndebourne Prom.

Swam 36. To South London interfaith group lunch at Streatham Hill - not many there. I was asked to speak about the Pope's visit. Liz served at Mass to mark Mother Teresa's birthdate. Prom on BBC4 - Mark-Anthony Turnage Hammered out, Barber violin concerto and Sibelius 2. Good programme on Sibelius early years.

Nice chat to Ann who had a heart palpitation scare thanks to horrid children in her class and 2 of them have been moved to another class. To Watermans Brentford to enjoy "Toy story 3". Ciarán was very good. To Carluccio's for a nice lunch and heavy rain getting back to Shakespeare Road where we met Liz. To the cathedral for di Rosa's recital which was SO LOUD. Liszt, Vierne and Bach Passacaglia with the score. His improvisation on "Adoro Te" could have been on anything! Liz met me at Wandsworth Common, Sad to learn Ernest "John" Warrell had died aged 95 - he will be much missed!

Clearing up upstairs. Put all photos from camera onto Facebook including Cyprus and Germany. So much quicker on the new lap top! Listened to prom Sydney Symphony conducted by Ashkenazy Strauss, Ravel Piano concerto, Scriabin Symphony No.3, Elgar Chanson de Matin as encore. Liz ordered in pizzas. Also caught up on some other Proms - Dvorak New World, Bartok Cantata profana (with the score).

Monday the oversize books got filed into the main non-fiction sequence and Chris and I moved the whole lot round to accomodate. Exhausted! Watched Halle youth orchestra programmes and programme about British writes in the 50s and 60s in their own words. Schumann Symphony N. 2 from the Proms. Tuesday a day's leave. Swam 36 and to New Addington - optician very happy with my eyes and no need to change glasses. Long chat about music as usual. Clearing stuff from upstairs ready to be recycled at Emmaus. Evensong from St Mary's Edinburgh.

By bus to Somerset House for the Glyndebourne film of "Hansel and Gretel". An excellent introduction and a lovely production with great singing especially from Hansel who really did look like a 10 year old boy! The witch was splendid. We enjoyed a picnic and christened our new picnic set and roll up mat. It rained but rain capes were issued. Home in an hour by bus. Haydn Symphony No 102 from the Proms.

The series on channel 4 "Amish; the world's squarest teenagers" might have been better called "Amish: the world's most sensible teenagers". Interesting to compare Amish society with conservative Muslim and Jewish communities. The confrontation between the Amish teenagers on rumspringa and the English teenagers was well handled and there were some interesting similarities. The series on the formation of the Halle youth orchestra also quite fascinating.

To 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's West Croydon - very elderly priest who I think uses a voicebox. He did not give out communion but there were lots of special ministers doing it. A man at the back of the church kept moaning and it was rather distracting although of course all are welcome. Played 3 pieces by Dr Cecil Armstrong Gibbs at Coulsdon. Folk song, Quiet thoughts and Postlude in D all well crafted. It is 50 years since he died. He was born in Chelmsford in 1889 and was a D Mus from Cambridge. He taught at the Royal College of Music from 1921 to 1939. To library for first staff meeting of Sunday staff which went alright. Various isssues were raised not least the washing up bowl which I have now removed! Watched BBCSO Prom of Huw Watkins new violin concerto and Shostakovich 5th.

Tracy, Chris, Rebecca, Linda and Sabina at BBC. After work with 5 colleagues to BBC opposite the library. Had ale £3.40 a bit steep but nice to sit in the garden after a clammy day moving stock around and sorting out basement. National Youth orchestra Prom on HDD including Sorcerer's Apprentice and Julian Anderson's Fanfare. Liz the photographer joined us at the BBC and claimed there was smoke rising at the Prom of Scriabin Symphony No. 1. She was wondering about going to the Prom of Hansel and Gretel and had borrowed the CD from the library. We are going to Somserset House tomorrow for the relay from Glyndebourne! Hope it doesn't rain!

Wed 18th a lie-in and to osteopath Imogen who treated my hamstring.I need to do tai chi and exercises before swimming! Then got trains to see Ciarán for an hour. He had a cold and sniffles and not too happy. On overground to Islington for the recording of the Merlin soundtrack. We were able to watch the film and worked well until 10 p.m. Rob Lane had composed some of the music at 3 p.m. that day! He kept the Destiny theme until last so when he said we might not do it we all agreed to do it! It was certainly the best bit! Home by 11 p.m. but tired. Liz had gone to Birmingham having got Dad's book copied and it will be bound there. Thursday Scherezade and Tchaikovsky's 2nd symphony from Proms. Friday staff meeting and started to sort out basement stuff. Philharmonia orchestra prom on BBC4 with Part, Ravel and Scriabin. Finished reading "A thousand splendid suns" a truly great book and started "Wolf Hall".

Monday swam 38 and Tuesday 36 - John was there. Slow lane very crowded. Heard end of Scriabin symphony No. 1 from Prom. Novelists in their own words with interesting archive footage but fell asleep. Tuesday 17th had to sort out rubbish bins all wet and flies. New cleaning contract not working well and tea towels and hand towels not being cleaned any more! Had staff meeting. Left at 2.30 and to Tate Modern to see Gilpin's slides in Exposed (rather sad and bitteer sweet images) and Francis Alys's fascinating films. To National portrait gallery to see BP portrait award - not happy with first prize winner picture of her dead mother. The whole question of intrusion into privacy is raised by these artists although her mother did give permission. To Hinde St church for Merlin rehearsal with Rob Lane the composer who is very unassuming. Shostakovich 5th from the proms and Arvo Part St John Passion. Programme about man who tried to swim the Amazon.

Swam 38 so good to be back! Busy at work. To chorus to rehearse for Merlin recording. Heard end of Roussel Symphony in G minor from Prom and Daphnis and Chloe suite no. 2. Friday Liz went to Louise's so she could go to baby opera on Saturday morning. Prom on TV featured Bruch voilin concerto. Saturday 14th to Cadogan Hall for Bach day Brandenburgs but found it sold out so returned home to listen. To Vespers and Mass for Assumption - no organ or cantor! Missed Bach organ prom but enjoyed the Bach orchestral arrangements on BBC2 conducted by Andrew Litton. Sunday Dennis had arrived late Saturday. To Coulsdon and hymns to Mary - I missed off last verse of one! David was there. Quick coffee and then train from Norwood Junction to London Bridge. Had time to read the play and Southwark cathedral sale where I got a leather credit card holder for £2.50. Dennis was late for the play at the Globe having been to see Ciarán. Excellent production of King Henry IV part 1 even funnier than Part...

At Coulsdon found pedals were now working again and Vickie was back from sabbatical. I could not find Dad's march so played "Lullaby for Claire" instead and Karg-Elert Nun danket to mark our wedding anniversary. Unpacked. Listened to Poulenc's Figure Humaine with the score from the BBC chorus prom and Mozart Piano concerto 17 with score, Parry's fine Elegy for Brahms and Brahms Symphony No.4 conducted by Andrew Davis. I had planned to go to the proms but too much to do at home. Monday back to work and lots of emails plus a new children's librarian and replacement for maternity leave cover so that's good. I went to St Edmund's Beckenham to play for the 1 p.m. wedding and the 4 friends sang beautifully and all went well. Fr Ashley Beck celebrated. The Prom featured Harold in Italy by Berlioz. Tuesday to Age concern active days in Tooting and some useful info about local history groups. The reading group enjoyed Trollope's "The way we live now...

Communion service led by Colin and Beryl in charismatic style - peace took ages and choruses. Nout and wife left party to go to Holland. A lovely drive down the Mosel valley from Koblenz to Cotten where we went on the land train tour which made up for not getting on the Koblenz one yesterday! White wine sample and delicious iced chocolate at cafe. Stained glass by Graham Jones in parish church.To Trabach where church had been extended. Buddha museum too expensive but clearly a fantastic collection. A nice park and had ice cream.Stopped to sample soem Mosel white wine. Bought wine jelly for Louise. After dinner had a sauna at hotel. Saturday last day of our wonderful holiday. We left at 10 and had lunch opposite the Loreley and visited Frankfurt cathedral and had coffee at the Modern art museum cafe. Flew out from Frankfurt at 8.30 and landed on time. Unfortunately did not ring Purple parking when we landed so had to wait for car but we were still home by 11 p.m. so it was worth it. Tru...

Left 9.15 after good breakfast. To Mainz where the boat was late! A lovely cruise in sunny weather to Rudesheim where we stayed on the main street next to railway and river - we were on back of hotel. Siegfried's mechanical music museum had an amazing collection - player pianos, orchestrions. We bought a toy for Ciarán. Had amaretto ice and macchiato in nice cafe near hotel. After dinner went to see the street with oompah bands but decided to hit the hay! Thursday August 5th a lovely KD cruise to Koblenz passing the Loreley. Started on top but it became very windy so moved to back downstairs and had an enormous salad. Koblenz a building site and Hotel Mercure not that convenient.

It being our 36th wedding anniversary on August 3rd I had gone to some trouble to get some red roses delivered on the night before. Had to change time of delivery as we were leaving earlier - our excellent driver Jorg had again made an excellent suggestion of going on the Romantic road which eventually goes to Wurzburg. Long drive to Rottingen - ate salad outside and lovely dark beer, visited churches and amazing Christmas shop, bought Schneeballs. Liz very unimpressed that the cathedral expected us to pay! Nice little town, saw the drinkers at windows - automated models on the hour. To Heidelburg - rain. Good meal and crazy waiter - eventually got the wheat beer "Wildbier". Hotel lent a vase for flowers - hotel right on the river.

Sunday August 1st which would have been Grandma's birthday. Went into Saint Sebastian church Mass ab oriente. Mozart Mass with large choir and orchestra at the Dom. Host fell on floor but I just picked it up and consumed it - because of a balustrade. Sat at cafe Tomaselli - balalaikas and harp in squares. Icons display. Went on river cruise - very hot. Michael Haydn museum and returned for hammerklavier recital of Haydn, Clementi and Beethoven. Gregorian vespers at St Peter's. Mozzarella salad and iced tea at cafe next to Festspielhaus - concertgoers beautifully dressed. After dinner sat on hotel terrace. Monday August 2nd to Berchtesgarden - fantastic panoramic views and coach ride up and lift. To the village - 3 nice churches, cake and coffee. Lovely cemetery and public gardens. Back to Salzburg via the castle. After dinner rest of party went to Marionette theatre Magic flute but we went to a fine organ recital on both organs in St Francis by a Polish organist who even played...

July 30th set off from Munich to Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps. Lovely 4 star hotel at Bad Kohlgrub which made up for not staying in the village. We had a large suite with balcony - must be one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in. To Oberammergau for the play starting at 2 p.m. Audience of 4300 rapt by the fine chorus and orchestra and the enormous cast and stunning tableaux vivants. Supper at 5 and visited the Catholic church before the play and Lutheran communion service in the evening. Met Eleanor from the cathedral! Second half 7.30 to 10.30 - special blankets we had bought came in useful and tiny torches we had brought to follow the text. Taking Jesus down from the Cross was so calm and beautifully done - it was intensely moving and then came the Easter scene with echoes of the Vigil and candles in the darkness. So often the music exactly matched the mood. We were fortunate that a damp start cleared up although it got cold later on. Had hot chocolate at the hotel or rath...

Me on a BMW bike for the first time, Jewish museum, Oktoberfest, Musical instuments Thursday July 29 we went round to Carat hotel from the Muller to meet the South Africans who had flown in that morning and we all very friendly. They were doing a tour of the city but we opted to go to the new Jewish museum next to the new synagogue and were most impressed not least by the cartoons and the photographs of Israeli families. Next door is the Stadt museum which featured a special display about the Octoberfest, wonderful musical instruments and puppets. All shown with German thoroughness. Liz was keen to go the BMW museum at the Olympic park so we got the underground and it proved to be a magnificent building and a very fine display. There was an excellent display of world architectural projects with models and photos and I had my photo taken on a BMW bike - another new experience! We ate in town with the group after Fr Colin led us a wild goose chase finding the restaurant.

An awful lot has happened since my last blog so apologies for the long gap! We now have a swish new laptop and gone are the days of the long wait for the computer to finally decide to fire up! On 27 July we slept at Louise's ready for the journey to Heathrow terminal 5 on the Wednesday. The car was duly handed over in the car park to purple parking valet service (a first for us). The BA flight to Munich was an hour late and only got nibbles. Very easy transfer to the hotel on train and underground but on arrival informed that the hotel was full. However no problem at all as we went round the corner to their other establishment which was excellent. Got the underground to the Residenz for a splendid concert in the Cuvillies theatre by opera students showing off their end of year achievements. A lovely rococo building and a charming couple in our box right opposite the stage. Very impressive mezzo and bass, tenor not so good. Afterwards to an old pub on the Odeonsplatz for risotto, ra...