The organist librarian

Could not get to cathedral Lent group - morning spent cleaning and afernoon reading. To 5.30 Mass too late to serve. Boys sang Goller Mass, Handel Wash me throughly and Wesley Lead me Lord - lovely. Fr Alexander. Coffee latte at Starbucks. To cathedral hall for Faith matters lecture by Professor John Morrell of Cambridge. Met Ausra Liz's new tutor and Fr Dominic introduced me to the speaker. Interesting insight into Catholic history and how many priests survived Elizabethan persecution! Some interesting questions too. Tube and 266 bus to Acton and watching Big fat gypsy wedding and Richard Dimbleby lecture. Wednesday took Ciarán and Louise to music in car but he was not bothered at all so gave up. After a nice chicken wrap we drove home and he slept. It did not take him long to find the Thomas DVD, books and track and later he played in the house in the garden and had a lovely bath. He loved his new Thomas blowup bed! More reading and Liz watching One born every minute. Going to Al...

After a busy day yesterday hardly surprising that we slept in. I woke at 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and rose just after 9.15. I thought Liz had agreed to serve at a funeral at the cathedral at 11.30 a.m. in fact it was 10.30 a.m. so dash to station and she just got there as it was starting - Michael Chute was there so that was O.K. Hoovered and cleaned kitchen floor and tidied up as Mr C is coming tomorrow! Vickie says Jo wants to take children's practice on Sunday - I have given her the details but it feels even more like a takeover bid and I wonder what the kids will say? 

To swimming 30. Mosaic and the ceramic flowers have been fired and look great. New people at tai chi. To library and saw Zia and Jim  - it is closing for a fortnight to be redecorated. To Heythrop library and set up the first chaplaincy interfaith sharing meeting - delighted that 20 came including the new principal! The ecumenical prayer was cancelled so they could come. 4 from my class - Luke had been at Saturday night's Mass. Had dinner and chatted to Debby Miles-Johnston! Philip and Johannes too. To Moira's house for organists committee.

Problem with keyboard at start of Byrd 3 part Kyries so I had to sing the chord and we recovered. It worked for the Wood Sanctus and Agnus. Modern technology - I now have my pitch pipe on the organ console. We saw a Power point presentation about the stewardship campaign -  the Diocese more than half of the income and currently £267 short each week! We sang Lord for thy tender mercy's sake and the last hymn was "Through the night of doubt and sorrow". I played Bach and Franck and practised some Bach chorale preludes and Fantasias and fugues including some I not attempted before! Vicky was chatty and friendly so what is really going on is unknown! Sean did practise after service - he arrived late eating an apple! I have insisted he come at 9.20 and stay until the bell goes for Sunday school. Liz at rite of election at cathedral - 600 candidates over 2 days for the diocese! Listened to choral evensong from Hereford - superb Allegri Miserere with soaring top Cs and Byrd. The...

To Kew Gardens to serve at requiem for Liza - she was my age. All went well. Fr Stephen gave an amusing and fine homily. He told how she said she screamed top notes and low ones she farted! He also quoted Buddha! He said she sent him CDs for his posting to Iraq for 9 months so reckon he is in the forces. Her cousin Luke Connell served but needed lots of guidance. We heard Panis angelicus recorded by Liza 3 weeks ago - she was so brave! A lovely Ave Maria, superb Samoan funeral song and Meryl Rose sang "May the choirs of angels". Stephen Rose played superbly - she came in to Nimrod and out to "Wish me luck". Great hymns Dear Lord and Father and Thine be the glory. To her lovely home and we drank a champagne toast in sunshine in her lovely garden. A most interesting chat to her cousin about South Africa. The present generation are still in the liberation mode and creating the equivalent of the big companies like Sasol for their pals. It is the next generation who will...

Too much to read so did not go to lent group at Virgo Fidelis. Liz went to Glyn Close as new bed came. To cathedral for first part of mass - Palestrina and Tallis Salvator mundi. Excellent homily on fasting from Fr Christopher. Picked up shoes for funeral as Liz got robes on Thursday but forgot them. Choir OK. 2 youths walked behind hall but by the time John came and we went back to look they had gone. Jo Richards had been received warmly last Sunday and will take practice on March 2nd. It is all looking a bit fishy like it's a setup. However let's hope All Saints comes up trumps as it is so near home! Rehearsed evensong and Tony Trent there. Watched QI.

Swam 30. Liz to take baby seat for Gemma and to see Fr Archer. To interfaith lunch and a good turnout. Jon Dal Din was there. To Heythrop and 6 at dinner time. An interesting seminar from Anton on the "Muslim gospel" and pluralism from Damian. I got his new book from the library. Home to watch Catholics part 1 about Allen Hall - very well done. University challenge was close. Voces 8 on Songs of Praise.

After the joys of yesterday fell asleep 3 times during the day! Ciarán seemed a little out of sorts too but we went to music as usual and then to Chiswick for a packed Mass - we sat in the cry chapel and he slept through it! To Carluccio's for a light lunch ravioli and bruschetta. Watched bit of Toy story and enjoyed reading the Don Giovanni programme.

Monday swam 28. To mosaic and tai chi, Liz to meet new tutor and mentor and to confirmation class. To St Martin's in the Fields to hear black theologian Robert Beckford on radical compassion. He sees the Lord's Prayer as a political manifesto! Interesting chat to my neighbour about Constantine. He had some good points but a poor presentation.  Pancakes with nutella, To More than Gold HQ for borough champions meeting. Pleased to see Lindsey and meet Christine from Bromley. We heard of various needs and met in local area groups. Then to Conway Hall for Faith Matters MOMA Measuring anti-Muslim attacks. Mansoor there. Clearly a major problem and Peter Oborne chaired. The Deputy mayor for London did not show but we heard from Simon Hughes and Eric Pickles. Javed Khan from Victim support and I spoke to him afterwards about professionals feeling they must leave their faith outside the door at work. Impassioned appeal from a young woman. Pity there was no question time. Sat in Red Lion...

To evensong Noble in B minor, Howells Like as the hart. Told Adrian Tommy is leaving All Saints so I have sent an email. I was furious this morning and had to stop my reading. Email from Vickie saying she had got a deputy for March 4th so I can have an unpaid Sunday off. This would not have happened if Tommy had kept March 4th for me but someone else on Organists online got in first! So now I am out of pocket. It really does look as though I am being eased out at Couldson so maybe Upper Norwood is a good alternative as it so close to home (bus or walkable). Watched Antiques roadshow, Last Call the midwife and Upstairs Downstairs. Am enjoying the 2 books on icons Liz gave me.  Missed Dvorak and Macmillan at the cathedral this morning but got first essay done! Monday to mosaic and started new project involving flowers and a Paisley pattern. Only 4 at tai chi with Hendrika. Liz to see new mentor and tutor at last.

So sad to learn that Liza had died of cancer and it all happened so quickly. She was a great soprano and always pleased to see old friends. Spoke to Ann. Saturday and Sunday morning completed essay 1 - the review of Hugh Goddard's book. Watched Who do you think you are Len Goodman and Tracey Emin and an excellent programme on Lucian Freud. Recording of Elizabeth played on radio 3 so I sent Rob Cowan an email and he replied. Netta was singing in the Dulwich chamber choir at Mass last night - they sang really well - Berkeley Missa brevis (magic soft ending to Gloria) and Bruckner Ave Maria. She doesn't sing in the chorus any more.

Swam 30 or really 29 and a half as others too slow in slow lane! Another nice day. Home all day yesterday doing reading and finished the Goddard book which I now have to review for essay 1. Watched Who do you think you are American version. Liz catching up on TV she missed. To Patrick Hopper's recital at Beckenham. Dorio there. I parked at Arena to get the tram - much more convenient and no hold up on South Norwood Hill despite the works. He played Bach, Langlais, Andriessen and Mulet very well. Watched Larry Lamb's Who do you think you are. He has a Jewish uncle in L.A. and a granddad who was a showman and disappeared. Reading Tariq Ramadan's book. Important speech by Baroness Warsi at the Vatican reported in the Tablet. More reading and interesting article on Jesus and the temple by Tom Wright. Practice OK no Marie  or John and Jenny left early. Seem to be getting cold feet over the Somervell. Good TV programme on Purcell.

Tuesday swam 30 had not been for ages! Liz to Dublin for Breda's year's mind Mass on Wednesday as Dennis could not go. To see Vickie - all sweetness and light. The assumption is that I want tor retire which of course I do not want to do. Still have gone online to see what is available. We shall see if Jo Richards is interested - she is playing on Sunday so I have a paid day off! Wednesday to Acton and we went to the park with Ciarán on scooter and had lunch at the cafe in the High Street. I went dressed in evening dress and changed - C arrived at bathroom wondering when I was coming to play with his kitchen! Changed again and he did his Thomas jigsaw very quickly! To cathedral interfaith group for 2nd session - new faces and 12 there. Patricia was a pain! Margaret vague as usual. Still we had an interesting discussion. To Eltham by train and Colin picked me up - via Welling to Bexleyheath Marriott hotel for Blackheath's 1000th meeting. 170 there including Grand President To...

To South Norwood mosque in Clifford Road to discuss visit in July on the interfaith walk -  a warm welcome. Nice meal with New Zealand wine. Watched Michael Portillo's railway and University challenge. Printer working again. I popped into Battersea library to photocopy and return book and it's much improved.

More painting and have to choose new subject for next week as ceramics must be fired together in Linda's kiln. Hendrika came to take tai chi.

Finished reading Mustafa Akyol's book "Islam without extremes: a Muslim case for liberty". Played the paino after a pizza lunch - Mendelssohn and Bohm Lyric suite. It needs tuning. Evensong at St John's Dyson in F and The heavens are telling. Cathy off key again! We sang The spacious firmament a good Enlightenment hymn by Addison. A very pleasant dinner at Alan and Ivor's and met lots of interesting people. Ella from Pakistan said a lot about Muslims which was interesting. Sarah spoke about the interfaith walks and we had a short service including The old rugged cross.

Cold but clear. Picked up Marie and informed her that I was not coming next Sunday. Discovered this means I will not playing the Elijah extract and Boellmann Toccata I had rehearsed after all! Accompanied introit "Liebster Jesu" and "Sicut cervus" as alto not so secure and it made it tricky for  me to play and sing but managed it. Toccata in D minor at the end. Baptism of Elijah but not many there. Just a minute on radio.

To cathedral for 2 p.m. Mass for the sick including anointing by 3 bishops. I was boat and communion torch. Some unusual hymns with music group and Lourdes setting. Tea at M & S with Liz and Fr Durand at vespers and Mass -  he stumbled on steps again so Liz helped him! Vickie rang to say that Jo Richards is playing on Sunday week so I get a paid Sunday off. I have registered with Organists online. She wants to try it out! Found shelf above study window had come down after many years! No idea why.

Picked up Marie and snow nearly all gone but attempt to drive up to church no good as snow still lying at the top so had to reverse down the slope and out into the road! Started learning the Somervell. Programme on pandas and QI.

The electrician has fixed the lights on stairs and our bedroom - hurrah! Liz did well in her first reflections and especially the Power Point on the parish - 67 out of 100! Watched Michael Portillo in Ireland and evensong from Manchester cathedral. More reading on the Muslim Jesus.

At mass yesterday we sang a hymn at communion the first line of which I can't remember - it's in Laudate. The second verse spoke about the multiplication meaning the feeding of the 5000 but it was the chorus which amused the choir "Alleluia! God is great! Alleluia! God is good!" Philip set me off by quoting Monty Python "God is really quite good so much better than any of us". The last hymn had missing words from the end of lines    in the copies so some fun was had making up the missing words especially as they were no rhyming lines. It was Laudate 431 Your hands O Lord in days of old  set to Coe Fen. O be our mighty healer still, O Lord of life and death; restore and strengthen, soother an.... with your almighty breath; on hands that work and eyes that .... your healing wisdom pour, that whole and sick, and weak and ..... may praise you evermore. E.H.Plumtree The missing words are bless, see, strong. I can;t find the other hymn or the Monty Pyth...

Wed to 4.45 meeting at Heythrop to plan first interfaith sharing session now to be on a Monday once a month. Good to meet Islamic students at last! To Southwark cathedral education centre to plan Olympic interfaith walks and met Croydon folk. Lots of people there I knew including Canon John O'Toole. Fell asleep downstairs and woke at 5.30 to Liz appearing looking worried! Thursday picked up car - last time Nick will service it and MOT as he is retiring! Garage will become flats. To Heythrop for Mass - not many in choir. Coffee afterwards. Reading in library. Katharina Muller interfaith for Bishops conference came at 5 while I had me beef dinner - good to chat to her. Michael and Saira did well at the seminar on a difficult text. Muslim Jesus from Damian - intriguing! Snow on way home - very cold again!

Snow nearly all gone! My train stopped outside Streatham Hill station for 10 minutes because empty coaches were being moved into the sidings - send for Thomas the Tank engine! Painting at mosaic and 5 at tai chi - I have the keys as Tony is away for 2 weeks.

More reading of articles on Islam. Watched Michael Portillo in Cumbria and Isle of Man trains. Also Michael Berkeley's BBC4 programme on Belshazzar's Feast with Sir Andrew Davis, Lady Walton and Willard White in Leeds. Not impressed at Stephen Jackson's remarks.

Up at 6.45 a.m. and got a 468 which stopped twice but then got a 466 so at church early. Practised the organ. 2 sopranos and one alto did not make it. We managed "O sing joyfully" but I was very throaty. Linda the curate from Old Coulsdon was presiding and at communion did not come to the choir side immediately - result 2 choir members had to wait. Lamb of God and no time to sing "O Lord increase our faith" - bot sure my voice would have managed it any way. Had coffee and came home on 2 buses with a short wait in Croydon. Snow very deep on hill up to the church but impressed at how much gritting had been done and main roads clear. Evensong with Zadok the priest not a proposition with voice in this state and would have to walk in the snow. My boots came in useful. I played Dad's piece on Bishopthorpe and Flor Peeters on Tallis canon - nice to sing this tune as we now have no evening services.

More reading and a bit daunted by the seminar article for next week! To Brook Green for the annual dinner of the Archconfraternity of Saint Stephen with Archbishop Vincent as principal guest. He made sure he greeted everyone personally. Fish pie and a good white Chardonnay. We sat with Canon Danny Cronin who proved to be excellent company and Catenians from Ware. In fact a lot of Catenians were present! The Archbishop gave an excellent speech. We got a cab to Acton which was great and quick as it was cold. Saturday Liz off to Heythrop for Mass celebrated by the new Principal. The heating went down but was fixed after lunch. We went to Acton library and had lunch at a nice cafe and did some shopping. Louise and Ciarán came on the train to Gunnersbury. I was able to do a lot of reading of the Goddard book for essay 1. To St Paul's bookshop and served by one of my class who gave me a Heythrop discount! Fr Alexander at Mass and the Byron consort of Harrow School sang MacMillan, Palestr...

Swam 34 to make up for bot going for a week. Put crib away in shed. Bird bath frozen so put bird food out as it is very cold but sunny. Bruce off on Eurostar tonight.

Tuesday no need to go to Acton so did more reading. Took Ciarán to music but he was having a "I want Mummy" day as he has started at the new nursery. He did settle down after a while! Had lunch at McDonalds with Louise. He slept for ages! To ENO for Der Rosenkavalier from the Christmas voucher from the children. Gorgeous singing and playing and production. Sarah Connolly, Amanda Roocroft, John Tomlinson, Sophie Beavan, Adrian Thompson all excellent. Drumming noise rather spoilt things. Home by 11.30 p.m. Thursday to interfaith breakfast - met a Muslim leader and asked him if he had read "Contextualising Islam in Britain" report. Also leader of Brixton Hill Islamic centre came for first time and a Scalabrini father from Kennington. Served at Mass for religious at 11 a.m. acolyte. Nice lunch and met 2 Sr Teresas and Myriam and the sister from Maria Assumpta who is celebrating her 60th anniversary. To coffee after Heythrop Mass and then library. Gabriella...