The organist librarian

To mosaic and made clay flowers and started painting them, tai chi, then library to pick up reservations. Cleaned brass at Peace Pagoda and interesting chat to Bill and Anna. Bill goes to secularist meetings on Sundays at Conway Hall where they have an ethical sermon and sing "hymns"! To Kirkham Cup hosted by Bromley and won by Canterbury. Generally agreed speeches should have been funnier, starter and pie, no pudding for £25. Brendan gave me a lift.

To Coney Hill Baptist church West Wickham for musical tea to celebrate Ken Baker's 50 years of organ playing and 50 years as a member of Bromley and Croydon organists association. Met Bill who knows St Andrew's and Dorothy Taylor well. Rodney Williams sang Mendelssohn and a spiritual -  he sings at Westminster Abbey - Owen Brannigan type bass. Ken played Arne, Handel, Mozart and Daquin and Ketelby. At evensong Sumsion in G and Eccard Benediction. No sign of Bev - sad to hear she is moving to Bradford.

Last night watched Crusades part 2. Woke at 6.20 and dozed off. At Cousldon the new booklet was a great help. We sang Nunc dimittis to the Dyce chant unaccompanied and for the procession "When candles are lighted". Virgin born we bow before thee arranged by Greening. I played Bach, Griffiths and Moore and practised Toccata in D minor.

At choir practice there was protracted conversation about the idea of moving to the communion rails during the Inwood Lamb of God and singing the Webbe setting at communion followed by the anthem! Saturday to Heythrop and did the Power Point in the library for the seminar on Thursday on Catholic-Muslim official dialogue. A muddle up over going to tea and my phone needed charging again. Vespers and Mass with Fr Paolo - new server came. Watched A Royal bodyguard and How sex works.

After the Ealing PMM day to Westminster cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's. Howells Coll Reg and Poulenc Exultate Deo.Exc sermon about evensong quoting Stephen Hough and Betjeman. Martin Ball was there and I was sitting in front of our choir men! Liz went to the bunfight but I returned home and to choir practice.

Thursday to interfaith lunch which was delicious and then to Heythrop where I met Gabriella about next week's seminar. To library for more books and then met with Fr Rocco and first meeting of chaplaincy interfaith team. Jonathan Gorsky is very nice. The lecture was interesting and Ben and Moises talked about the report Contextualising Islam in Britain. To Acton and curry. Ciarán had a temperature but by the morning we was OK and asked for me to make a train track! I got the bus to Ealing and enjoyed the day on modes and the chant with Br Alban. Excellent salmon lunch and trifle.

When we were having tea yesterday afternoon Ciarán spilt milk all over me. "I'm sorry Granddad" twice! So cute. He loved the waterplay.

Last night Harry drove to Catenian provincial council at Russell hotel Maidstone - got lost twice and saw the rowing club and  barracks! Rain did not help - nice roast beef dinner. There is no Provincial VP at present. Home late as Harry ended up on the A2! He is 83. To music and did sharing song and divided into instrumental sections! To the garden at Science museum which Ciaran loved. Michael invited me to St Paul's Rossmore Rd for the patronal sung Eucharist - they had servers from St Cyprian's and All Saints Margaret Street and Maurice played. Chatted to him (thinks FJ should have a knighthood - he is an hon DMus Cambridge) and Helen and parish sister from Lisson Grove. Procession to the school a bit disastrous.

58 out of 100 for Taylor essay so happy. Chris Lally said last night they had tickets for the Olympics beach volleyball!

To Selsdon for mass at 9 am for David Barrett. Late at mosaic and did some clay work. To Willesden Green for excellent lecture on neo-orientalism by lecturer from Tehran. Asked some questions. Came back on 98 bus with Michael. To farewell to Meryl Jones at Wandsworth Town - nice slide show and speeches. Mr Parker there, former directors, Philip from Unison, Jane Allen, Morgans, Masons, Baldwins, even Geoff the Ref! Lovely evening and a great tribute.

At Coulsdon we sang O taste and see by Vaughan Williams an exquisite miniature written for the Queen's coronation in 1953. Hymns included "O thou who at thy Eucharist didst pray" "I come with joy" and "The God of Abram praise" and I played "Von himmel hoch" by Pachelbel. Home for a quick lunch and to British Museum for the community preview of Hajj exhibition - fascinating and 5 of the group came. Met Louise and Bruce for tea which was a nice surprise. Lovely dinner at Rosemary and Lynn's/

Watched a great film called Doubt starring Meryl Streep.

Liz to Heythrop so continued with reading. To St George's Beckenham for Nick Wibberley's recital at short notice - Buxtehude, Bach, Mendelssohn, Demessieux, Daquin, Boellmann - well played. Watched the rest of Tosca from Covent Garden - Bryn Terfel, Jonas Kaufmann, Angela Georgiou conducted by Pappano - fantastic singing and playing. Saw Terence briefly at Beckenham. To Balham library to collect Roy book - all pleased to see me. Confirmation candidates at Mass Royal Holloway college sang unaccompanied Canterbury Mass by Cecilia McDowell. To catechists meeting with red wine. Picked up Dennis from station - been on course.

Spent the day catching up on Helios reading. Practice went OK and Vickie came for meeting. Church will advertise for a full time director of music after Easter - I doubt if they wll get anyone as St Mary's Sanderstead have had only 2 neither suitable. Had lovely fish for dinner sea bass and bream.

To lectures about Catholics in Georgia and Russia, then sang at Mass (for unity Fr Peter Wilson chaplain at University of London celebrated and told his story from Cape Town) to Royal Academy and met Sally and Liz. David Hockney a bigger picture - Brian Sewell panned it in the Standard as gaudy and repetitive - liked the films and some of the work. Fauvism and Monet influences. His pastiche of Claude is crude. Lots of people there but I would not pay £14 to see it. Back to Heythrop and rearranged Hughes room and to first half hour of the Melkite liturgy - some fine singing and colourful vestments. Interesting lecture on Islam and other faiths.

Swam 14 as had to do February music list. Just missed train at Selhurst and delays on train to Kew Bridge. Arrived at music just before noon. Had a nice lunch and chatted to a Dad who works at ITN. Took Ciarán home and then off to cathedral. Fire alarm had gone off so everybody outside - got into Hinsley room at 4.05. 13 came including 2 Heythrop and seminarian from Wonersh also Ganesh a Hindu so a good discussion. Hugely chuffed!

Woke at 2, 4, 6, 7.30 and up at 9.45 so no swim. Cleared up, cleaned and hoovered ready for Catenian council here tonight. Took broken study chair and garden waste to tip. Liz finished essay. To Bromley Parish church for excellent recital by David Phillips. Bach, Alain, Vierne, Bruhns, Howells. More reading from Damian!

To the Royal Opera House with Liz and Louise to see Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet beautifully danced and played. I saw Fonteyn and Nureyev dance this and the production is still fresh 35 years later! Fantastic value on the student standby scheme upper amphitheatre for £8! Had elderflower at interval and hot chocolate at Starbucks beforehand. Home by 11.15!

Swam 30 - lots of frost on car. To mosaic and started project no.5. Tai chi and picked up books at the library - met lady on station who remembered me well.

Reading about Islam and other faiths. To evensong at St John's Byrd Second service, Mendelssohn I waited for the Lord spoilt by Cathy and Mary. Took Adrian a copy of Somervell Passion. Isle of Man weekend is on. Watched Michael Portillo's rail journey to Bournemouth and programme on sex.

Picked up Marie and Caroline at bus stop. Liz stayed home to work on essays. We sang Love came down at Christmas verse 1 as introit unaccompanied. Malcolm Archer's "Brightest and best" is quite delightful. John Bell's Jesus calls us to Hyfrodol, Ye holy angels bright and I the Lord of sea and sky both with descants. Kids rehearsed and bought Fairtrade stuff. I played Stanford on Gartan and Buxtehude and Gade on "How brightly shines"

Friday swam 30. Liz busy on essays so I went to sing at funeral of Eva Parker at St John's. Small choir so recording of Faure and Handel used and Adrian played Elgar. Back to choir practice and picked up Marie recovered from her hip op. Had a look at Somervell Passion for Good Friday. Saturday Liz to Heythrop and I went to St George's Beckenham for launch of book about School of English Church music and Sir Sydney Nicholson. John Henderson and Trevor Jarvis spoke and played early recordings. Martin How and Harry Bramma also spoke. Nigel Groome played Harris and Willan. At evensong choir sang Nicholson in D flat, Knight Christ whose glory and Martin How conducted his lovely Ave verum. Stanford Postlude and Caesar chant for psalm. Hymn tune Chislehurst by Nicholson. Helen Murphy, Bob Prizeman and Alan organist from Dartford there. Bought the book and Henderson's dictionary of organ composers reduced which I always wanted to own! Train to Victoria and Fr Paolo at vespers and M...

Back to swimming - have not been since before Christmas. Swam 30 - Blobby and the Whale in slow lane so stayed in fast lane. Having trouble with printer. Checked catalgoues and ordered books on secularism and Islam. To Heythrop and sung in choir for Mass - the celebrant was the new principal Fr Michael Holman who is charming. We sang "I come with joy" to the Slater tune unaccompamied at communion.         Fr Michael came to coffee and said he had seen me at the cathedral. Met Brother Ben, Brian and Fr Gerard. To library to get Nouwen books for Liz and books on Islam. Had lasagne and 4 came for a chat. Damain gave an excellent lecture - 17 in the group. I have to do a seminar Feb 2nd.

Liz to Acton and working with Louise on her PowerPoint. Big match at Crystal Palace against Cardiff. To Moira Budds's home for recordings by Chris. Enormous variety and a very high standard. Bromley Youth. Ian Grendel tribute conducted by Daniel and him accompanying West Side story at Fairfield Halls. Some nice Sibelius and Shostakovich. Not keen on the harpsichord including Murrill French suite played by Gary Sieling who was there. Whitlock and Langlais. Wednesday met Liz and Ciarán at Gunnersbury after finding I had left freedom pass at home when I got to Selhurst! He has moved up to the higher music group and enjoyed the new songs. Had a nice tandoori lunch and Henry's birthday cake. A quiet afternoon playing with trains and finger painting. Home by 8 p.m. and watching bake off.

To Coulsdon arrived at Vicky's and found hymnbook not in my bag and she wasn't there. To church and found she had gone home - she thought meeting was at 10.40. Music chosen for Feb and March. Christmas decs down and in boxes in shed apart from the crib and one small tree in dining room.

 Monday Peter Stanhope picked us up and took us to Priory Street and saw where Granddad and the Tates lived. All Saint North street where Ridsdale Tate was church warden. Micklegate. To Middlethorpe Hall for coffee and sandwiches - lovely house and saw entrance to Bishopthorpe. Train at 2 and home by 6. Leeds supporters on trian so had to move to read book on Islam. To Catenians and Stephen Brewer enrolled. Meeting held in foyer area as refurbishment in progress.

Sunday Baptism of the Lord. Dubois Mass and Palestrina Sicut cervus. Coffee then Mattins with Elgar Te Deum and Bach Christ unser Herr and the Bach prelude on the tune to follow. Met Dennis at Art gallery cafe and asked about Ridsdale Tate - they have some pictures. Evensong Stanford in G with 2 excellent soloists and Gardner Tomorrow shall be my dancing day. Good chants too Bairstow, Buck. Splendid organ playing from Charles. To Bettys for afternoon tea and saw a book about 1952 when I first went there aged 5! Dennis got train to Manchester and we walked back to b and b over footbridge past the new Wheel of York. Watched Antiques roadshow and Great Barrier Reef.

Friday car to Selhurst train and tube to King's Cross. Lucky not to be held up on journey to York despite a broken rail at Newark Northgate. Straight to rehearsal. Epiphany Eucharist - lovely Saint-Saens Mass and Eysler Omnes de saba sung at the crib and gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh presented. Procession led by a lit star! Good hymns. To b and b in Bootham Crescent and got picnic. Saturday good breakfast and rehearsal at 10.30 a.m. Borrowed some cufflinks. Rehearsed in medieval hall at St William's College. My neighbour a fat tenor just loud and smelly! Not pleasant! No idea about church either. Dyson in D. To mass at St Wilfred's organ and carols. Lovely crib. To Bella Italia - very long wait for food 28 in party. Good company but noise makes hearing aid difficult. At lunch time to art gallery to see William Etty exhibition.

Excellent series about restoring National Trust house Avebury Manor.

Spent some time playing with Ciarán - he has more spots but seems quite happy. He was not pleased when I went at 11 a.m. for spirituality day which was led by Eileen McDade on "We have seen his glory". I returned to Acton after the 2 p.m. talk and enjoyed the Epiphany sequence from Eton College chapel directed by Ralph Allwood who got OBE. Carl Jackson got MVO and Sir Anthony Pappano is well deserved! Liz stayed and Louise sorted out her presentation for course. I watched programme on Queen Mary and enjoying series on Jerusalem. Have started book on Islam which I have had for some months from the library. To  dentist for clean and fluoride treatment. Venetia Patel taking Rebecca's place. Returned home to a letter from Abigail Peck saying Joy had died. She was perfectly named and was a good chair of the Southwark unity commission. Also much involved in Focolare. Her funeral is on Monday when we are returning from York and she will be buried in Suffolk. I wrote to Abigail -...

2 days spent writing 2500 words on Taylor. Submitted it but now thinking I did not make a good argument. Actually I agree with a lot of what he says. Used Pope's writings as a back up and useful Rowan Williams quotes too. The 4000 word essay looks daunting but the most relevant is probably the one on secularism and Islam. Good TV on Monday - University challenge, Mrs Brown's boys which is recorded on set in front of an audience, An Island parish is back, Royal bodyguard with David Jason who is hilarious. To Acton - got to Selhurst and Liz did not have computer so I went on station to find Willesden Junction train was cancelled. At Clapham Junction missed Willesden train and caught a Richmond one. Liz got the next one and caught up at Richmond. My new phone playing up again. Watched British musicals part 1 and 100 years of the Palladium.

After a quiet evening at Acton and nearly dropping off we watched the fireworks at midnight and they were very impressive. Liz up to be on duty in the cathedral sacristy 8.30 a.m. to 8.15 p.m. and all went well. I was not playing so enjoyed playing with Ciarán who has lots of spots but seemed fine. He enjoyed having Daddy home too. Watched the New Year concert conducted by Mariss Janssons. Lovely dancing too. To cathedral for vespers and then home to do more reading. Harry Potter and programme on Orkney stone age temple.