The organist librarian

The choir were singing at St John's Old Coulsdon for their 750th anniversary and I took the last of the pictures and crockery for the fair. Jane Winter spoke about the Church Urban Fund's work against poverty and I told her about Bernadette Farrell, interfaith and the library. She said they work with the SVP and other faith communities. She described seeing a man with a child with only one shoe and the mother ignoring the child screaming yesterday and this was in Battersea! I left Coulsdon at 11.45 enjoying Just a minute in the car and arrived at the Roehampton club at 1.15. Rosemary and Lyn gave us a scrumptious meal, starters, roast beef and chocolate cake with cream. Ciarán was on great form. Bruce missed a treat! Lovely to have us all together. Chatted to Flo and Shirley on Skype.

Dennis had arrived last night by car and went with Liz to Bow. I listened to Mahler 5 from the Proms and some Rameau and a programme about eland on the Drakensberg. To St Vincetn de Paul 350th anniversary Mass where I was crozier. Archbishop Vincent on great form and the sound system is much improved. Sr Ellen Flynn sang beautifully and prayerfully. Saw Lyn and Rosemary. Not much time before vespers and Mass - Fr Alexander and the excelletn choir from Billericay. Extra servers as we are to ahve family Mass alternate weeks! Fr Michael said Billy Budd was on radio from Glyndebourne so listened to it. He was at a preview and started reminiscing about Vienne State opera in the Festival Hall in the 50s so I said he should write it all down!

To York library for SDF meeting. It seems the Mrs O episode was my fault - nothing was said about how I had turned the situation around and then the final straw was the suggestion that I could not have my leave next week. This was sorted by Chris coming in next Friday and Fiona offering to come in early if needed. I spoke to pensions and got a quote. I spent the last hour clearing the issue desk prior to it being moved next Wednesday. I have had enough! Fish and chips when Liz returned from Bow and watched part of Royal Ballet tribute to Kenneth MacMillan. Dennis arrived and much discussion about retirement.

Swam 32. Had not been for a week. RFID or SI self issue went live and the computers were removed from the issue desk. I spent nearly the whole day on the enquiry desk double discharging books but the staff worked well and the public reacted well to the new system. Pretty tired. Watched Gareth Malone at prep school for boys - last in series. RSCM committee want to get him next year! Liz at Bow.

Tuesday Daphne came and said I looked tired - I certainly feel early retirement should be considered. One of the new RFID machines is not working properly and the engineer did not turn up. Home to watch a bit of the tiger programme before dropping off! Wednesday to Glyn Close for more clearing up and then to St Michael's for Jonathan Price's recital. He is from Bristol and played Whitlock, Guilmant and Puccini. To Woodside Green before the dentist which took an hour for a crown and filling costing £191 and now a bridge is proposed costing £1100! Evensong from Chichester cathedral featuring Welsey and Harris and marking 50 years of the Southern Cathedrals festival. To the cathedral for Matthew Martin's excellent recital of Litaize, Alain, Langlais, Whitlock Elegy and Francis Pott's toccata. Chatted to Peter Stevens, Martin Ball and Jack Beeson. Watched programme about Sunningdale school and more of the Pope's Mass in Birmingham.

Woke at 6 am and did not go swimming so as to see Ciaran who was full of beans! Liz to Bow for a viewing which did not happen. I apologised to Mrs O about last Monday and she asked me to speak to the yoga class which I did. To RSCM committee at Roger's at Carshalton Beeches. Adrian gave me a lift home. 10 pin bowling is cancelled this year.

Friday to meeting at Battersea and a phone call about Monday's disaster. To choir and 2 missing but we covered all the ground and had a discussion prior to the meeting due for October 1st. As John cannot come on 3rd and 17th asked choir to make suggestions and we tried a few more items in the Oxford book of flexible anthems some of which the choir rejected immediately! Watched at 6 p.m. the memorable service from Westminster Abbey. Rowan Williams gave a great address and so did the Pope. His speech in Westminster Hall was impressive too. Liz has been watching the live web cast 24 hours coverage. Saturday we were up in good time to watch the Mass from the cathedral which was most impressive. wonderful music as there was at the Abbey and again a very fine homily. We spotted the servers and people we know. Sad that we were not asked to take part but there were some girl servers! We left for Hyde Park and arrived there at 3 p.m. so we were in the second row of the invited pilgrims area...

Monday was a horrid day. The caretaker did not turn up so there was a mess not cleared up from the afternoon event so the yoga teacher was most unpleasant although we did our best to clear up and Chris came back to lock up. Tuesday spent time rearranging shelves ready for the self issue machines arrival. This was a waste of time as on Wednesday my superiors moved stands as they saw fit. No doubt yet another boss will have other ideas next week. Am I branch librarian? Thursday brought the news that SP had to go to see her grandmother in Barbados so we will be short. I wish I could retire now and not in one year's time! Wednesday the picture frames arrived so the pictures are up at last! Spent time using the new Sebo which is most impressive. To St Michael's for Ian Coleman's recital. He played his own sonata and the Elgar sonata. Enjoyed baked potato with Francis, Michael and Ian. He was delighted we are come and he played well. Fed up with old computer - took ages to do Oct...

Ciarán slept from 7 to 7 a.m. and was perfectly happy to see us when he woke. I drove to Coulsdon taking in stops at home to try and find the charger for the hedge trimmer (it was in the car all the time!) We sang Gibbons Almighty and everlasting God and I marked 70 years since the Battle of Britain with Walton's Spitfire prelude, Eric Coates Dambusters march and the RAF Marchpast. I got my Fair trade items and practised with Molly. Mass at Purley was rather long thanks to a sermon for Racial Justice Sunday and the David Palmer band and choir. 2 fine Haas psalms and "Sing of the Lord's goodness". Saw Bill and Christine. Lou and Tom returned and Ciarán cried but was soon OK. We had an excellent lunch at the Station House - roast beef and pizza with nutella, banana and cream! We were home by 7.30 and watched a tribute to Dame Vera Lynn who is 92!

I was delighted that Geoff was so complimentary about the library after the senior training session on Thursday. I finished "Broken places" by Wendy Perriam and watched the last night of the Proms 1910 conducted by Paul Daniel with the lovely "Dark pastoral" played by Stephen Isserlis and based on Vaughan Williams. Friday's practice and no bass. I drove to Acton which took about 1 hour and 15 minutes and arrived at 10 p.m. Saturday we babysat Ciarán who was as good as gold. Louise and Tom were at a wedding in Ireland but had left full instructions and rang to check. We went to the park to enjoy the swings and a coffee and after lunch had a sunny walk. The Last Night of the Proms was great with Renée Fleming superb. It has been a wonderful season and I am only sorry that I only got to one Prom this year but I have listened to many on radio, Iplayer and BBC4. A highlight of the concert was Jonathan Dove's new piece and Dvorak's Hymn to the moon. We enjoyed...

Wednesday enjoying Wendy Perriam's "Broken places" which is about a librarian! To see Vickie and choose hymns for October. To Glyn Close where Bruce had come down to pick up a few items and he also sorted out stuff upstairs so the skip can come soon. He and Liz went to Bow as a man came to see the house regarding purchase. Bruckner 7 on radio 3 from the Proms. Interesting programme on secondary school lottery and voices from the Blitz.

Monday to Catenians after work - 10 of us, 12 visitors including Peter Stevens the Provincial President fresh from a trip to South Africa. Very fine Emperor concerto with Paul Lewis from the Proms. Tuesday to JCC with director - I mentioned all the publicity about volunteers running libraries which we agree would never work. Who is going to volunteer to work until 8? Reading group discussed Straw dogs and found it controversial and negative.

To Coulsdon and 4 in the choir. We sang "Day by day" by Martin How and "God be in my head". "Praise to the holiest" and I played Angel's farewell from "Dream of Gerontius" to mark Newman's beatification. Waited in car for Liz and listened to a programme about Miss World 1970 and Just a minute. Dennis had sorted his books out so we took those he is keeping up to Glyn Close and they saw Martin next door. We ate in the garden in sunshine probably our last chance this year for that! Mark Elder conducted a prom of the Last night 1910 which featured a new work based on the slow movement of a cello concerto by Vaughan Williams written for Casals called "Dark pastoral" and Elgar Pomp and Circumstance No. 4. Songs of praise was from South Africa. Ulster orchestra prom in tribute to Sir Henry included Bliss and Bax and Rachmaninoff. I was watching on Iplayer the last in the series on British writers and the broadband went but later saw th...

Picked up Dennis and AnnMarie from Tulse Hill late Friday. Fallback a couple of times today and gradually catching up! To Tooting to Mass - priest is hard to understand. Home by 8 and Berlin Philharmonic with Sir Simon Rattle - Wagner, Strauss 4 last songs with Karita Mattila in purple dress on BBC2.

Fallback ended at last despite 2 false starts so loads of books to sort out. Back to choir practice - only 3 there. Listened to Mahler 1 from Proms Rattle and Berlin Philharmonic and recorded Bruckner 9 on HDD.

Library in fallback since Friday night and finally went live at 3 only to go down again 30 minutes later! I intro'd at first senior development training session and all went well. Great to see Mohammed and Abi again. Came home at 6 as could not do any work on computers and I have time owing. Watched Restoration and Drakensberg wildlife. Tom's birthday today in Ireland.

On Bank Holiday Monday morning to Bromley Parish church for coffee (saw Gary and Michael Toplis) and recital marking 25 years as assistant organist by Peter Spencer. De Heredia, Bach Passacaglia (far superior to da Rosa's version) Parry, Messiaen, Howells Sine Nomine and Saraband in modo elegiaco, Peeters Lied to the Flowers and Alain Litanies. Most enjoyable and the Walker organ as good as ever. Wednesday more shelves up and boxes made and sorted out Nellie's papers and my old diaries. Australian youth orchestra on HDD under Mark Elder - Mahler and Shostakovich. Took old chest of drawers up to garage - Mahler youth orchestra playing Mahler and Bruckner and Hindemith.

Spoke to Ann. Put up new shelves in back bedroom and Liz has got nice blue IKEA boxes to store papers. To spirituality day "Praying with St Augustine" with Margaret Lane. I took the Oberammergau books. Visited the treasures of the cathedral exhibition and recognised some of the chalices! Worth a visit and the wooden model is impressive. Ann says a new young priest has arrived Fr Walters I think she said.