The organist librarian

To Victoria and the HQ of the Women's intefaith network for the meeting of the London boroughs interfaith forum where we chose a postcard and spoke about it's meaning for us. I chose a Van Gogh. We discussed Faiths and the environment. I heard of libraries under threat in Lewisham and Barnet. To Glyn Close to help with clearing up and Liz painting the stairwell. Missed tai chi - more important to network!

Saturday to Battersea Park library to pick up a reserved book and renew all items. To St Margaret's Westminster for annual day of prayer. The Dean read the talks on Transfiguration by the late Bishop Kenneth Stevenson featuring 4 paintings. Inspiring! It was great to be able to visit the Abbey and the shrine. St Faith's chapel is quiet. It was cold. Fr Michael Durand, Sally, Beryl there. Had coffee and soup. At 3 p.m. to Hinsley room for talk by Fr Richard Nesbit about vocations. Fr Alexander at Mass and Ardingley college choir sang Haydn and Bruckner rather well. Sunday we celebrated Candlemas at Coulsdon. Dennis stayed over night and left his bag containing his stethoscope so I took it up to Queen's square and then to Glyn Close for tidyup. At evensong we sang Stanford in B flat and "I was glad". Lark rise and Terry Wogan on TV.

Swam 32. To osteopath Imogen who reported shoulder was much improved. The deep freeze spray really helps. Walked to Elephant and train to Herne Hill and then train to Beckenham Junction for John Belcher's recital at St George's. Karg-Elert, Bach, Morandi, Joseph Callaerts Toccata. A Petit homage a Gabriel Fauré by Peter Aston and a fine Introduction and Passacaglia in A minor by C.S.Lang. Bought flowers at M & S. A very cold day. Sorted out my study in the loft room. To choir practice. There was an interesting discussion at interfaith lunch yesterday. Muslim women had spoekn about the veil and Western women objected to men in shorts on buses.

143 people at protest meeting! Several from Wrights Road including Julie and André. Jenny Hassell and Margaret. I spoke when Malcolm Wicks M.P. was there. Long chat to councillors and the campaign is hotting up! I was quite passionate. No Tory councillors present but Fr Protus and 2 of the Anglican women clergy were. I urged them to speak at the meeting next Thursday which will be preceeded by a march form the library. Watched Michel Roux on service.

Sorted out queries on New Zealand trip - swimming with dolphins not possible because water too cold! To hearing aid clinic at St Michael's Battersea - seems had wrong battery in right hand one and now can hear well - in fact hearing too much! To interfaith lunch at Streatham and a useful meeting on Holocaust memorial day. Good discussion.

Tuesday picked up Harry Mellor at 4.30 p.m. so we got to Swanley early for provincial council. Home by 10.30 p.m. Did not sleep well as Liz at Louise's. Up at 8a.m. and trains to Gunnersbury to get to music and movement. Then tube to Victoria for all 3 of us to go to Chinese New Year lunch at Initiatives for change followed by film about Asia Plateau in India. Ciarán behaved beautifully. to Tate Britain friends room to read "The Monotheists" and have tea. To Heythrop for open evening. John McDade introduced the course and what's involved. I chatted about the Abrahamic religions but preferred the interreligious relations with Damian. Met Michael Denman and Mary also a couple husband is Assyrian. Nice food and wine. Better to do it part-timem over 2 years and that course costs less £953 a year.

Swam 30 and then to mosaic class - one more piece and it is finished! To funeral of John Dodds at St Chad's - very hard to understand Fr Protus. Fr David was clear, Music group and keyboard played too slowly by Vincent for 3 hymns which were dreary! Pie Jesu at communion. Symbols placed on coffin by the priest! Surely the grandchildren could have done that? To post office to post Debenhams Warehouse clothes. To Tate Modern to see Oroczo exhibition - only the modified car and bicycles were of much interest. Cream tea in the Friends room and finished reading The Tablet. To St Paul's cathedral to serve for vespers sung by Westminster cathedral choir. Fr Alexander preached really well. De Morales magnificat and Palestrina anthem. Nice reception in Amen Court at music office building. Chatted to Fr Swavek, Fr Michael, Peter Stevens, Ian and met John from San Francisco with some useful tips. Across millennium bridge to Peter Wright's for RSCM committee, Norman Harper has joined u...

Lark rise to Candleford was good and so was Terry Wogan's Ireland.

Saturday to Glyn Close to move stuff so Liz could paint ceilings. To South Norwood library and saw Jane the librarian - she gave me some consultation forms to distribute. To Battersea Park library to collect reserved books relevant to the open evening for the degree. To M & S Victoria for muffin and Earl Grey - saw Ann Martin. At Mass the Cardinal Vaughan schola sang Coronation Mass and Monteverdi superbly. The confirmation candidates were enrolled - Liz, Mark and Nick are catechists with Fr Christopher. Sunday we sang Martin How's "Day be day" and God be in my head. John Belcher the reader from St John's preached it being Christian Unity week. Not needed at the ecumenical service tonight. Produced letter about Save South Norwood library and distributed 100 copies locally - it took a while because of all the steps and letterboxes which do not like taking letters! We ate the rest of the risotto and bacon and chicken. Liz painting. Listened to The Choir.

Watched amazing drama about Hattie Jacques and her menage a trois. Swam 30 Friday a.m. To Debenhams Warehouse in Croydon but no refund - can exchange but they only do up to size 16! Not pleased! To osteopath and Imogen worked on my left shoulder with 2 students looking on. Tutor says 4 weeks treatment and use cream twice a day. To Royal Academy for friends day to see Modern British scuplture. People seemed more interested in Glasgow boys. Some fine earlier works like Epstein and Gill and some literally rubbish. Damien Hirst's thing full of flies - yuk! Pottered at home doing odd jobs. Liz painting at Glyn Close. Last night cooked my first risotto! It was delicious.

Wed did not sleep too well on the blowup bed which seemed to be going down! Ciarán enjoyed music and we lunched at Debenhams Westfield - Liz unable to find change for clothes I bought her and now I have to take them back to Croydon warehouse to get refund. To playroom at gym to meet Louise. After I left Ciarán collided with a small table and had to go to Ealing hospital for checkup but he's OK. I went to South Norwood partnership meeting which it appears has been cut (£60,000 saving). We were expected to discuss the Big Society but in fact the library closure was at the forefront of our minds. Long chat to Jane Avis Labour councillor. No Tory there. Thursday Liz returned home and arranged Chinese New Year lunch invites.

Tuesday to Bromley Parish church with Liz to hear Adrian Adams play Alcock, Boyce, Elgar,Reger and Bach. Nice coffee and sandwiches with Terence beforehand. Liz has been painting and went to osteopath. To cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Philip Moore responses, nice chanting, Stanford in C Gloria sent shivers down my spine which doesn't happen often, Britten Te Deum in C. To Westfield to see The King's speech which was so moving. Louise treated us. Brilliant film!

To swim - 30 - it was pouring so took car. Liz went to Glyn Close to clean up painting. To Battersea for mosaic taster which I enjoyed and project is half way there! 2 at tai chi and did the Chinese breathing again. To Battersea library to get Kipling's "Puck of pook's hill" for April reading group. Staff delighted to see me and said they enjoyed the retirement party. PMM mag came with lovely tribute to Fr Mark Hartley. Liz to confirmation first session and I went to joint meeting between Bromley and Beckenham circles - chatted to Mike Doyle and Barry Mellish.

Sunday and Vickie spoke to the choir about the new arrangements. I did the music lists for February and March. We sang a lovely setting of "Brightest and best" by Malcolm Archer and at evensong we sang it to a tune by Handel in AMR. We had delicious goose roast - last night we had a M and S £10 meal with excellent white wine and tiramisu. Songs of Praise was from Arundel cathedral and Lark rise to Candleford was as gentle as ever. The highlight of the day was the top Gs in Brewer in D. Harris's The Call is effective. I am to play the Sydney Opera House organ and Elizabeth Connell will come to listen! Wow!

On Friday I went over to Beckenham Parish church for the recital by Nigel Groome. He looked relaxed in a check open neck shirt. About 30 there. Started with a toccata by Hovland which in fact was on "Von himmel hoch". Pleasant Fiocco and Handel and Whitlock's Fidelis. Whitlock was double jointed so was able to thumb down from one keyboard to another with ease. It was a gray day. Explained to choir about holiday and Vickie spoke to them about going free lance on Sunday morning. Reader Tony and Ann are moving at the end of February so that will be a big loss.

Liz served at the ordination of 3 Anglican bishops as Catholic priests - I feel this will not help Church unity at all. I went to Battersea Park library reading group to discuss John Wyndham's "The Chrysalids" and then to the Royal Academy for a chicken and avocado roll and tea. Met 2 ladies from Richmond who use libraries! With Liz to exhibition Image; art fashion identity which was interesting. Sharif Waked's Chic point video was very striking - models showing clothes with holes contrasted with photos of Palestinians forced to strip in the street by Israeli soldiers. To M & S for tea where we met the blogger Matt Doyle and his family. Vespers and Mass and Brompton oratory junior choir sang Alain Ave Maria and Lallouette. Nice meal from M & S including tiramisu. Come fly with me hilarious again.

320 attended the meeting tonight and 2200 have signed the petition. The MP and councillors all spoke well and an excellent chair. A member of staff was particularly articulate. Such passion! Brilliant! You are ripping the heart out of the community!

Tuesday to Acton to babysit Ciarán as louise has returned to work. We took him to music and movement on Wednesday and he loved it. He kept his eyes on the leader but wandered about a bit ran to Liz but then straight back to me. We had lunch in Chiswick and Sammy came to play in the afternoon. I finished reading Wendy Perriam's "Lying" which she gave me for my retirement. Excellent Catholic novel about losing faith. Thursday to see Vickie and choose music for Feb and March. My "retirement" and going freelance is agreed. To Claire's to get Liz's passport photo signed.

All went well at Coulsdon - a baptism for Baptism of the Lord. Ellie Lyon came to start with Molly - she plays cello and sings well! Practised. Liz went to Croydon Primark and BHS. I went to St Paul's Cathedral to hear Norman Harper play Buxtehude, Finzi and Reger - what a sound. Marilyn, Michael and Martin were there. Antiques roadshow and Lark rise is back! Monday swam 22 - Mervyn was there. Diane asked me to move into the slow lane and there was music on! To tai chi - 3 there. To Catenians on Monday evening - got 2 new Norwood ties for £15. 22 visitors and 2 visiting gentlemen. Philip was back. Tuesday swam 24. Took AnnMarie to pay for new carpets and get swatch and she painted at Glyn Close.

Saturday to Habitat Regent Street for 4 p.m. to hear the Wurlitzer. The amazing Richard Hills played for an hour without music - Jerome Kern, Rodgers and 60s numbers worked really well. 38 to Victoria for vespers and Mass Baptism of the Lord - Swavek on good form. Train home. Hilarious Come fly with me. Watched New Years day concert.

I did 2 talks on Gifts of the spirit Love using Colossians 3 and 1 John. It went well - 15 came. Went to Buckingham Palace shop but no diaries for Liz. I used Dom Brendan's quotes and Archbishop Peter Smith's pastoral letter. To chorus party at the Warehouse - quizzes and lovely food - Liz was late she had been babysitting on her own all day. Cut up carpets and took them to the tip ready for new carpet on Monday. Decisions made about trip - very exciting. To choir practice and went well - did some new exercises.

New Year's Eve was quiet compared to 2010 at Allenheads! We enjoyed the white dessert wine with blue cheese. Graham Norton's show and Grumpy old folk were both funny. To Windsor by train for Bridgeman Singers weekend. Gray in F minor for double choir and A maiden most gentle for evensong. Bertalot responses. Stayed at Travelodge and ate at Carluccio's. Good programmes on Morecambe and Wise. At chapel by 9.15 - mattins extraordinary Te Deum based on "Onward Christian soldiers" by Sullivan. Good hymns. At eucharist we sang Hummel Mass in B flat which was fun. One disaster in Agnus Dei - basses came in too early. Nice lunch provided by Arthur. Evensong Brewer in D, Mathias Sir Christemas. 6.34 train and home by 8! Stephen Power played some splendid Bach.