The organist librarian

Joined South Norwood library and got 2 Japan guides and went to Central to collect "The Chrysalids". Completed surveys on Croydon and Wandsworth websites about closures. Watched Halcyon river diaries, Winchester cathedral carols and Question of sport.

Watched the 3 Royal Institution Christmas lectures which were about size and quite fascinating given by Mark Miodownik and Toast about the early life of Nigel Slater. The ladies of letters Christmas letters on radio 4 quite hilarious and a good programme about becoming a widower - get out of the house. Well I have not been swimming thanks to a cough and cold and waking up later but have been for some walks round the block as I have definitely put on weight.

Bruce got away OK and we enjoyed Rolf Harris painting the Dream (MND) and the Goodies! Alos a superb programme on polar bears. Finished watching Liverpool Christmas. House seems very quiet. Great news from Cllr Bashford - looks like free swimming for pensioners may stay!

Lots of Cathedral folk at Sharon's - chatted to Catenian couple from Malta, Fr Tim, Julie from Nigeria, young lady from Zimbabwe, man from Ealing originally from Warsaw.Lots of nice eats including salmon, ham and Christmas cake and champagne. I was driving and gave Patrick and couple from Thornton Heath lifts. Today had a lie-in and took stuff up to Glyn Close - nearly all snow washed away. Watched Polar Express and loved it! Watched Upstairs Downstairs 2 and 3, Miss Potter (what a delight!) and a bit of Liverpool Christmas Eve service.

7 services played for or attended over the 3 days! 2 Masses at Purley where Canon Jim was on great form. He spoke about the Bethlehem wall and banning "O little town"! Bill's girls sang In dulci jubilo beautifully and the music group did well on the Sunday including Bernadette Farrell's "Bread of life". The 2 crib services were better attended and Midnight went really well. I was particularly pleased that Walton's "All this time" came off well and we did some unusual ones like "Once as I remember". Why Molly gets given a mike for "Once in royal" is beyond me as she does not need one! Stopped after verse 4 and Tony came to the organ to say technical hitch We have forgotten the baby for the crib so much scurrying about in the dark! I was first home followed by Louise and Bruce from St John's and Liz much later in the hired car from the cathedral. Christmas Day such excitement never got any breakfast as we opened presents w...

To Acton to fetch Ciarán and Louise. We watched "The Other Boleyn girl" after a roast dinner. Thursday to get hire car for Liz and to John Lewis at home for tea and bought my new 13" laptop with my leaving present. Very nice and should be ideal for the trip which is now booked and paid for - all this outlay but plenty in bank! Babysat Ciarán while Liz and Louise went to sea bass. Calix is coming on Christmas Day.

Set up dining room table from Bow and Liz has bought a lovely matching cover for it. To tai chi and Tony taught us some good breathing exercises - my left shoulder still giving trouble. To Baden Powell house for rehearsal. Very nice meal at Carluccio's with Peter Kirby. The concert went really well and I spoke to Stephen Cleobury briefly. We sang Vivaldi Gloria and carols. King's sang a lovely selection including Villette Hymne a la Vierge, Goldschitt, Warlock's Bethlehem Down. Got a 452 to Battersea Park in snow and could have got earlier train to Thornton Heath but West Norwood was due. It never came so ended up going to Thornton Heath any way and 468 home - back by 11.20. Wed evensong from Chester cathedral. This was in fact the last concert I sang with the Chorus! 17.8.2011

The course has certainly given me lots of confidence. The trickiest thing was skinning the sole fillets. The roast lamb was delicious and chocolate brownies yummy! Snow came down Friday lunch time but got to Coulsdon OK. Thursday I went to rehearsal with Stephen Cleobury and all went well. Friday practice went well. Liz was at John Lewis carol service. Saturday to Battersea Park library reading group to discuss "Oliver Twist". Unfortunately did not have phone and skipped the lunch to get to East Croydon only to find that Messiah had been postponed because of the snow! So I finished my Christmas shopping and on getting home cleared up. Sunday buses to Coulsdon and stayed at church. The carol service went really well and featured Angels' carol by John Rutter and Jesus Christ the apple tree arranged by Alan Bullard to the tune "O waly waly". To Janet Stimpson's for nice eats and wine. Buses home and watching Sports personality of the year. Last night watched fi...

Sunday stayed at church. We sang "Rejoice in the Lord alway" (anon) and I played Bairstow and Statham on Veni Emmamuel. We sang carols at Clifton and Crystal homes and it was much appreciated. I took the keyboard back to church and took Caroline home. Tried to print off Christmas letter without success but emailed it. Drove to Acton and on cookery course at Prue Leith's for the week. At first a muddleup over the booking and cheque but Liz started Intermediate and I on basic key skills. Monday making pastry and crudites with hummus and Tuesday delicious mango and chili salad with spinach. Demo on roast dinners - lovely meat. Wednesday made Italian bread and filleted sole with difficulty. Baby sat Ciarán. Tuesday to mass at the cathedral - the boys sang Stanford's A song of wisdom, Rorate coeli and Faure Messe basse superbly. Fr Alexander sang Mass beautifully and homily on St John of the Cross. To talk on Newman and friendship by Fr Seward from Oxford oratory - interes...

Dismantled the dining room table using Allan keys and took it up to the garage in the car. Put up the trees and decorated them. Lounge one has 400 lights and numerous decorations. Liz carried on and I went to Mass via West Norwood. Arrived as vespers was starting. Charlie there as Challoner choir were singing "O thou the central orb" by Wood and This is the truth arrived Vaughan Williams. Fr Michael and all went well. Spoke to Canon Christopher about the medal and congratulated Fr Alexander on his singing on the broadcast.

Liz to Bow and I went to Glyn Close as the bed was delivered. I took up the rest of the carpet and put it in the skip. Measured for carpets and our bedroom and study and upstairs also done. Movers arrived at 3.45. Could not get table parts through door. Stored stuff in garage. Table from Bow is nice. To choir practice and did all the carols. Liz was at Santa Lucia service with Ann Sophie Van Otter singing. I drove past her at Selhurst as did not get texts!

Swam 40 lengths. To see Vickie. She produced draft contract and quite happy about New Zealand. On way there to Ikea to get mattress for sofa bed. Bruce went shopping. Liz picked up repaired clock, Drove to Acton and Ciarán on good form. To cathedral to Mass - I was boat. Bishop Alan Hopes stuck in traffic. Student protest closed Westminster. To APRG at New Scotland Yard nice eats and met man from Kingston mosque.

Woke at 6 and wrote first draft of the Christmas letter. To Islamic centre near Ladbroke Grove - we were late and only 4 turned up for the tour. Faheem made is very welcome and we stayed for middday prayers and answered questions. To Kensington High Street Trailfinders to find out about New Zealand and draft tour came this evening. I was acolyte with Ross at broadcast vespers from the cathedral and at Mass of the Immaculate conception. The choir were superb - Parsons Ave Maria, Palestrina Magnificat. The Archbishop gave an excellent homily but it was very hot sitting on the bench. The Apprentice was good but Liz should not have gone! Bruce has arrived!

Photos by Liz Shaw

Woke early, swam 20 and loaded bits of drawers and cupboards from snowy front garden into car and then to Glyn Close into 2nd skip. Also threw out carpet. To Camden town hall for boroughs interfaith forum. I was late but that bit was about More than Gold. Interesting discussion on the relation between councils and forums. To the Renoir cinema to see "Of Gods and men" - very moving film about the murdered Trappist monks in Algeria. To British museum to see prints Picasso to Meurette and fine Buddhist exhibition. Met Pat Kahn Battersea Park reader. To Church House bookshop and bought calendar for Ann and Paul and "Cathedral music" magazine which has a photo of both of us serving at the cathedral. To Westminster Abbey evensong Clucas introit, Brahms motet and Taverner Collegium regale canticles. Psalm 90 to minor chant by Lang. To Balham - got prescription - only one pill! Met Liz Shaw the photographer. Liz Jensen met the reading group - 16 came. She was excellent. I ...

I am delighted Susan Philipsz won the Turner prize - hers was the only impressive contribution!

To see Dr Attard - he says not to worry about borderline ECG. I need to go to the hearing aid clinic and got a prescription. To tai chi - Eileen joined us. Home for lunch and Liz returned from Purley. To Orford house and Woodcote Grove for 2 short carol services - 3 of the choir came. Thick snow at the homes. Lovely grand pianos one a Bluethner. We had tea and first mince pie of the season! To Croydon parked near flyover. To public gallery of full Council meeting - a bear pit with poor speaking and bad behaviour. I asked a supplementary question pointing out the health benefits of swimming. Cllr Sara Bashford did not answer the question about the actual costs and the saving. Home for dinner and watched University challenge and World's strictest parents in India. Looked up council site. 2nd test exciting.

Woke early again. Set off for the pool determined to be green and get the bus but first one was full so started clearing frost off car. Beer box split so cans all over the pavement! Got to pool at 8.15 so only 26 instead of 40 as meters start at 9. Maybe a nice warm car is better in the winter? Brought party stuff in from car and 7 Christmas boxes from shed - very dirty. Mr Fox jumped over fence using the birch tree to help - later saw him on roof of shed behind our garden large as life! Most of the snow has gone.

Buses to church although snow had gone on roads. Took some retirement cake which was much enjoyed. Choir sang "I look from afar" by Palestrina really well. I played Bach Wachet auf and Thiman on Winchester New. The Byrd 3 part Kyries going well too. Got train from Coulsdon South at 11.46 and to Dartmouth Castle at Hammersmith for lunch and family party for Ciarán who was on great form walking about. Nice that Mia came too. Had shank of lamb. Lovely chocolate cake decorated by Louise. Antiques roadshow on return home and Art of Germany with Andrew Graham-Dixon.

We have chocolate Advent calendars, Advent candle and wreath! The process of adjustment between the 2 of us continues with a mixture of emotions - missing seeing people all day, being quiet, sadness, joy! Who is in charge here? Couple of disasters - put soda in dishwasher instead of salt, freezer somehow got switched off when keyboard was unplugged so food thrown out. Spent day enjoying radio 3 and reading Separate beds by Elizabeth Buchan which is rather bleak and sad at the moment. I took buses and got off 2 only to find no tube from Brixton to Victoria so as a result was late for Mass. We came home on buses. Not impressed again by children's choir. We did not go to Friends party - £20 is too much and worried about getting home. BBC Choir of the year on TV, Ann in gorgeous Hilton hotel at Paracas because of change of plans. Today Saturday was Colin Slee's funeral - a great and brave man. I missed Academy of St Cecilia concert at St George's cathedral.

Sent Chris a list of attendees and apologies for the party. Still eating baguette and pate! Watched Michael Wood's History of England and Zoo. Liz cut up carpet at Glyn Close. Choir practice and Catenians next week cancelled because of snow.

Just stopped hoovering to listen to cello concerto by Moeran on radio 3. I am missing seeing people all day in the library - it's quiet here in the snow!

Phone the Tate - snowdoors sculpture This retirement lark is great! Wake early and get breakfast and read prayers and meditations. Back to bed for warm lie-in. Snow everywhere - 6 inches on top of 5 inches Wed. Managed to dig out path but that got covered twice! Got to car and rescued food and cards and cake. No sign of the cheque with the cards so another will have to be issued - Andrew funny about that on email. Must have gone in the bin. Wed. watched the Apprentice - Laura got chucked out. No way I could get to spirituality day on Wed - no trains, buses not coming down hill. Thursday drew up list of jobs and cleared top rooms into the garden to make snowdoors art display with dustbins! Another trip to the car in Whitworth Road - some idiots still trying to drive up our road! Got 468, 196 and tube from Brixton to get to chorus. Stefan said Vivaldi was very good and then after carols did 3 movements again. I got home OK by same route. It was cold! Watched Art of Cornwall and The Divin...

My last day and it snows! Walked to station and train OK. Liz drove with rest of stuff - she brought a lot last night. We went for coffee and cake at Bertie and Boo. Did a list of useful numbers and cleared up desk (nearly left my favourite paperweight which is a glass book inscribed John Woodhouse librarian!) and Valiant for truth Dad's article! At 5 offically closed emails. About 25 cried off because of the snow but plenty of folk came and it was a great party. Bertie and Boo were filming in the hall at 5.10 but we got set up in time. Bruce came from Birmingham. Ciarán behaved impeccably. Liz official council photographer took lots of photos and group ones. Balham staff gave me a voucher and cards. Andrew, Chris, Fiona and Cindy walked from Clapham Junction! Speeches went well and I sang "A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square". David came from Leicester and gave me a Schaeffer pen. Dom Perignon champagne from the children. Champagne from Jane. I gave roses to Liz, flowe...