The organist librarian

Should have gone to bed but fascinated by Arena on Miller and followed by the hilarious Zoo in winter!

Woke at 5 a.m. knowing I had to be up by 6.15. Got 6.50 from Selhurst and 7.35 Oxford Tube. In Oxford by 9 a.m. which was too early but had time to walk part of the organ tour route! Excellent discussion between the Archbishop of Canterbury and Eliza Griswold about "The Tenth parallel" and read half the book. Michael Barnes was in the Sheldonian. To Blackwells shop and coffee and croissant at Costa. To Walton centre at Christ Church cathedral school to hear Elif Shafak talk about her life an "Honour" - she was so interesting about why she writes and why we read novels. To Christ Church meadows to Sunday Times literary festival marquee. Oxford tube back in London by 3 p.m. Tea and then recital at Bloomsbury Baptist where you can see the console on the screens. Mo Wah Chan played Karg-Elert and Durufle. David Graham played the Wedge and then we had duets. I left before the Langlais to get bus in time for vespers. Paul there and all went well. St Mark Passion for Palm ...

More reading and swam 28. To St Stephen Wallbrook for Simon Hogan's recital. Met Caroline Archbold on London Bridge and Martin Ball was at the recital. Simon is organ scholar at St Paul's and very impressive. Bowen, Bairstow, Bach and Elgar sonata. Reading Eliza Griswold's book and watched Gypsy wedding. Turned off the Schubert Stabat mater - bit fed up with so much Schubert on Radio 3. Practice went well and covered all the territory. Got petrol at Tescos - several garages closed.

At the sharing yesterday   I found myself speaking about Jesus as my friend and how love is at the centre of my faith. Love of God, love of Liz and the family, love of friends and community - I think was well-named as St John so often writes about love. The lady I was sharing with suddenly burst into song when we shared with the whole group - a song I didn't know about how God holds us fast. I could have responded with "My song is love unknown" "This is my friend in whose sweet praise I all my days would gladly spend" or "Friend and brother may I know thee more clearly, follow thee more nearly and love thee more dearly day by day." I was amused that Jerry the choir leader at Heythrop left the room before the session saying it was too scary.I hope it wasn't scary - I think everyone contributed in the one to ones and lots of people spoke int he general session. It was so interesting that my Jewish friend and I have had similar journeys growing up in...

Swam 28. Liz to Tooting for course on Verbum Domini and then servers rehearsal at cathedral. I read Bowker article and did email group for students on this module many of whom finish this year. To South London interfaith lunch and a good turnout. Talks on fasting from Rabbi Philip, Ganesh, John and Muslim - did not realise Ramadan can mean giving up TV as well as food and drink all day! To Heythrop for second interfaith sharing and Rocco asked me to help facilitate. 27 there including several from my class and it went really well - very chuffed! As Sr Simon said there is clearly a need for this! Last lecture on alGhazali and Sufism and then to the pub and Michael Smith treated us all. Sad to say goodbye to some great friends. Ben had picked up my diary so that's a relief! Gave Jerry Music and Liturgy magazines.

Tuesday to meet Angela Wallace a Christian scientist interested in interfaith at M & S Victoria. She is a charming Capetonian and we had much in common. Served at 5.30 mass with Fr Alexander and the boys sang Handel Wash me throughly and Lead me Lord and Goller setting. Took clothes to the Passage. Lecture by Archbishop Kevin on interreligious relations - he is not a good speaker but said some good things and answered my question about the tension between Jesus as the Way and dialogue.He does tend to waffle but he was friendly and Archbishop Vincent was there. 4 of the group were there and went on bus with Thomas from my class. The Augustinian seminarians are giving him a hard time. Back to Acton by 10.30 p.m. Wednesday another glorious day so to Bekonscot. Ciarán loved the trains and the slides - thought the Thomas engine too noisy. Went on the little train ride. It was a great day out and we came back via Amersham - very pretty. Sat in the garden and he made mudpies! To the cathe...

Sunday watched Antiques roadshow and the last Upstairs, downstairs where Persie got her just reward having ruined a marriage and career. Monday the Annunciation. Liz went to babysit and all went well. To cathedral for 5.30 mass and glorious Victoria from the full choir, genuflection in the creed. Rushed to station and got train to Selhurst where Brendan Fitzgerald picked me up for Beckenham meeting. Always a pleasure to go there despite sticking to lemonade! Tuesday reading about alGhazali and watched Heavenly voices about Salisbury cathedral choristers - lovely programme including Stanford in G.

Small choir at Coulsdon so we sang L.J.White's Prayer of St Richard of Chichester. When about to rehearse Byrd Kyries discovered 3 sopranos did not have copies! Molly enjoyed the practice. I played Willan on Aberyswyth and Fugal trilogy no. 1 - one fo Dad's favourites. Also Peter Hurford on Caswall and the bass aria from the St Matthew Passion. Vickie Newham forgot about the clocks going forward! All the family except Tom came for lunch. He was exhausted after taking Ciarán to Gullivers world at Milton Keynes! Delicious smoked salmon, turkey and crumble. Ciarán had a great time with this track and garden house. Dave came to take a photo.

To Heythrop for mass and then to Maria Assumpta convent for a challenging day about creation by Mary Colwell. My group came up with the idea of a Catholic environmental agency and networking. Saw shocking films of rainforest loss and wildlife. The bishops do nothing in the face of the overwhelming evidence. To vespers and Mass with Fr Paolo. Watched Diarmaid MacCulloch on English toleration and Bright star about Keats.

I seem to have mislaid my diary at the church hall last night so contacted them and Damian. A nuisance! Dennis popped in - it is AnneMarie's birthday. Listened to evensong from Bristol including new anthem by David Bedford. Reading about alGhazali. Put up the "greenhouses" in the garden. Sports relief on TV. Good practice. Jeremy Paxman on Empire very well done.

To Heythrop for mass. We sang Sicut cervus and Michael Barnes and James Sweeney said how lovely it was. I saw Jerry later and he thanked me and said I had made everyone do better! I went to find Nandos and eventually found it and the Islamic society who had already eaten lunch. Any way I gave them invites to the faith sharing. To Pauline media and used book token to buy Diarmaid Macculloch's History of Christianity. Had a chat to Brian and to Fr Dave. Dinner with Thomas and Ben and a good seminar session. Then most of us headed to Westbourne Grove to St Peter's church hall for Sufi wica and meditation with chanting for about 40 minutes beautifully explained to us. Then we had a ritual kiss of peace and soup and delicious rice. Met a journalist on the Telegraph! Left with Michael and home by midnight. Fr Rocco in Italy - his father very ill.

Swam 30 on Tuesday and 30 today and had a nice chat to Ann on Tuesday. Went to mass at Chiswick yesterday and good to see Graham. Booked to go to Oxford on March 31st for the literary festival - Rowan Williams interviewing Eliza Griswold and Turkish novelist Elif Shafak! Should be good - whole thing costing about £37.

To Westminster cathedral hall for Faith Matters lecture - once again the woman on the door was rude and unpleasant asking people to fill in the envelopes at the other table. Dr Anna Rowlands was brilliant on Catholic social policy and she answered my question about the Body of Christ really well alluding to Aquinas. Not such a good audience. She is director of the Mary Beaufort institute at Cambridge. Several people there I knew including Hai and David. To Acton and watched Gypsy weddings. Ciarán really enjoyed Amandas and Starbucks play area and again more kids came to play. Lunch at Giraffe and got student discount. Taxi to 99 Oxford Gardens and Louise showed us the transformation which is stunning. I had to leave to go to Hinsley Room. Alfred Agius came and there were 11 there and an excellent discussion. To 61 Whitehall for religion and society event on social welfare. Excellent presentations especially Archbishop Peter Smith and David Blunkett. Saw Philip Glanfield a...

News through that the Olympic torch will come down South Norwood Hill and along Whitehorse Lane on July 23rd! To see Dennis and AnneMarie at Glyn Close. To Brendan's for Catenian council meeting and then to Chinese in Shirley for a nice meal.

Swam 21 - the big clock wasn't working so got out too early! Mosaic two thirds done and looking great. 5 at tai chi including 2 new people. To Tooting to the Islamic bookshop where Khadija works and she found me a thesis about the hijab which is great. Their books on Jesus all rather odd!

To the cathedral for the 4.45 recital by Ian. Chatted to David from the choir. Ian played Buxtehude, Gigout and his own very arresting sonata! Home to watch Songs of Praise, Antiques roadshow and Upstairs, downstairs. Read 3 articles about Muhammad.

Liz to Upper Norwood for Bev's last Sunday and I joined her for lunch in the vicarage. At Coulsdon Marie's bus was late so we got there about 9.08. I photocopied more copies of the anthem but this meant practice started late. The result was no organ voluntary as my shoes got tangled in the string bag when I put them on! Any way the choir sat in the transept and I used the piano. Arcadelt Ave Maria and Ogden's As a mother with the children singing verse 3. Worst of all I forgot to put my hearing aids in. I played Bach Fantasia in C minor. Barry Stronge was at coffee - he had an op and was ill for 6 months. Practised organ pieces.

Excellent Arena BBC programme on Golding and his dreams.

Saw the rest of Catholics programme 3 and heard Guildford's stunning evensong again featuring Philip Moore and John McCabe and Howells Psalm prelude set 2 no 1. Did a lot of reading including Rowan Williams (who sadly is retiring) and Timothy 1. At vespers we sang Jerusalem the golden because the liturgy begins Laetare Jerusalem. The psalm at Mass definitely imitated the song "By the rivers of Babylon" in the psalm tone - Gelineau wrote a very fine setting with Eastern feel for that psalm and Walton set it in Belshazzar's Feast. Chatted to Rose who was in the programme a lot. Amici Choro directed by Andy Scott sang Palestrina, Batten and Morley well and saw Anne Fleming at the end. Diarmaid MacCulloch on TV history of England excellent.

Caught 8.10 X68 and as a result too early at the Warburg institute which only opened at 10 a.m. Still time to read book in park. An interesting conference and well attended. Siriol and Michael Redman were there and Harriet Crabtree came at lunchtime. The American prof was the best, the German good and learnt quite a lot  -not sure all of it was very relevant. Left before the final talk from Beirut prof. Good food. Got X68 back had dinner and off to practice. Tony there and Caroline back from Oz so filled her in on what has happened. Tired out but covered all the Holy Week music.

To Heythrop and sang at Mass. I arrived at 12.45 as train and tube were delayed and was the only tenor for "O taste and see" until the other 2 arrived. Damian was the celebrant and was excellent. His homily was most thought provoking on Jesus and his challenge to the authorities. Chatted to Alex at coffee.To lecture by Christine Korsgaard on a Kantian view of animal rights. She was late and dull! Had dinner and a good seminar on Rahner by Simon and Luke. Some students seem to have dropped off!

Tuesday to Acton by 6 p.m. so Lou and Tom could go out. Ciarán enjoyed his bedtime stories. We took him to Amandas at Chiswick town hall and he seemed more settled. To Starbucks for a free latte and within seconds it was Grandad make me a bridge! 2 other kids joined in! Lunch at Sainsburys and to Ravensbourne Park by which time he fell asleep in my arms! So we went home as all the benches had been painted! A lovely day. Excellent evensong from Guildford and had a sleep while they went to the park. To Covent Garden and good seats in amphitheatre (£30). Wonderful singing and orchestral playing - what a score from Dvorak! Horrid set and production! What has a brothel to do with forests and nymphs and lakes? Home by midnight. Met Julie and David Smith and the Alberys!

To Vaughan House for confirmation class and enjoyed talking about marriage with Liz. Fr Paolo showed our wedding photos on the screen and also part of his ordination last July. Had not realised the priest who baptised him and his spiritual director who died 3 weeks later were present. Session went reasonably well. Watched University challenge, Michael Portillo on Scottish railways. Louise has posted on Face Book about baby No. 2 so we can announce it at last! Hurrah! From what Bridget said I have had a lucky escape from Upper Norwood!

To mosaic and made progress but when sticking down had to stop doing it as got pieces muddled. Skipped tai chi as neck aching - tried Ibuprofen gel and heated bag. Reading about Trinity and Islam. Walton at the Proms on TV.

Had a good sleep and woke around 6. Liz went to evensong. Watched Crufts - lovely dogs and Upstairs, Downstairs and Room 101.

Woke up with neck aching. Vickie said mid-May for a changeover so I told her about the All Saints debacle. She said it sounded as though they do not know what they want and it was no way to treat me. Introit got moved to after communion anthem and service shortened so the diocesan questionnaire could be completed! At rehearsal of Elgar Ave verum, Karen indicated the speed should move on so I said No this is the correct speed. I was first to coffee for once but did do questionnaire when a copy was found for me. Kids not happy at me going at all and have said so. Investigating advertising. Heat on neck and resting.

Liz to Heythrop and I got train and tubes and bus to Harrow school and St Mary Harrow-on-the-hill with a fine view for RSCM revalidation as an examiner. Did sight reading section in one test and observed 2 others - a fine alto whose sight reading was dreadful! Ginette and Frances there. On tube back to town with John Wardle news came through that Fr Leonard had emailed from All Saints. I am baffled that such a good interview should not lead to an offer of the job. What are they really looking for? Why was it all so unbusinesslike? There was no mention of a contract, job spec, references, application form, references, CV! I did not even know it was to be a full interview and there was noc hance to try the organ first. Vespers and Mass with first scrutiny with Fr Gerard - lots in the RCIA group. To St George's tavern for Gary Sieling's birthday but we did not stay long - too noisy and service very slow. Watched library in Sarajevo programme also first part of Catholics second pro...

To choir after nice stuffed trout for dinner. It seems Jo Richards changed the introit to "if ye love me" (which is hardly appropriate for Lent) and did the Wood Kyries instead of the Byrd. Unimpressed. We rehearsed "Call to remembrance" only to find no bass or Karen on that Sunday (all of a sudden). Went through Greater love and they seem to know it.

Had a weird dream at 4 a.m. on a chorus trip by coach to France and ended up in a field where we were expected to sleep sitting on benches and names were on the few places in some cases 3 names so unsure where to perch. Liz won't like this and case could not at first be found then revealed a blowup bed. Said cannot sign concert! Up at 9 a.m. reading about the Trinity. To All Saints for 3 p.m. interview - played 2 hymns and sightread St Anne's Mass - seemed to go O.K. Allen organ has keyboard colours reversed. Saw one other candidate.

To Heythrop for mass and sang in the schola. Mozart Ave verum, Fr Andrew played so Gerry could conduct. I heard the voice of Jesus say and To Christ the Prince of peace. To coffee and chatted to Michael Smith who retires in 2 weeks. To Royal Academy and Liz went to see the Hockney again. I enjoyed the Zoffany although it was a but cramped and the small Hawksmoor display. Back to Heythrop for dinner and chat. Damian was 15 minutes late and Siriol did a good presentation on Peters. Raymond less so. Then went on to talk about the Trinity. Home to see Catholics on BBC4 3rd and last episode and there was Rose in the cathedral sacristy and right at the end both of use serving on a Saturday night Assumption vespers! Several people saw it. Watched the Make Bradford British part 2 and outraged by some of the racist remarks.

Tuesday listened to evensong from King's and we both went to the lecture on Faith matters in the cathedral hall. 2 outstanding addresses on vocation by a head teacher and Fr Paul who is a Jesuit doctor. Much food for thought. Not as many there as last week. To Acton and saw the end of Gypsy wedding. To Chiswick Town hall with Ciarán who yelled " I want Mummy" all the way to the station in pouring rain! He did enjoy it especially the snakes and cars - Amanda's dancing and singing. To Starbucks Chiswick in the rain for lunch and he played with the toys. Liz took him to mass and I went to the Spirituality centre for Jill Benet's afternoon session on "Seeing God in all things". Then to 61 Whitehall for the Religion and society 3rd in series on radicalisation. 5 excellent speakers and some interesting questions on the research. Watched One born every minute and rest of Gypsy wedding - felt tired. Tits in the nesting box on our silver birch for the first time!

Woke at 7.35 made tea and went back to sleep until 10 a.m. Felt tired yesterday afternoon. More reading.

Swam 32. Late at mosaic as I was clearing up and getting papers together for the tutorial. Tai chi then to Heythrop library. At 4 met Damian and a useful conversation about the 2 essays and he gave me lots of ideas and asked about Saturday and the course in general. He said we had a terrific class.

To All Saints Upper Norwood for 10am sung Eucharist and Dennis came as well. Church is lovely and vastly improved. Organ sounds good if a little loud. Choir of ladies, girls and Martin. St Anne's Mass for Sanctus. Fr Leonard very friendly and Christine is church warden (lives opposite Clare). To Festival hall to meet the family for lunch - wet and crowded. They had been to an OAE concert for tots which wasn't entirely successful. To Tate Modern to see Tacita Dean's Film in the turbine hall which I enjoyed, Alighiero Boetti: Game plan which left me rather cold and Yayoi Kusama which was crowded. I liked the room with the polka dots in the dark and the amazing lights in the mirrored room. Met Annalisa who used to be in the chorus! To the cathedral for Gary Sieling's excellent recital of Dyson, Murrill and Stanley Vann - very well played. Saw Jane and Gloria Toplis there too.

Liz to retreat day at Heythrop. I spoke to Lyn and met Judy in street on way to station to get train to Wapping. As I came out of the station I turned right which was wrong. Somebody called "Hello" and it was Archbishop Kevin and he had a map so we walked together and discussed the Jordan conference he went to. He mentioned Addiscombe. The talk became a dialogue and was most stimulating. He used the "I'm OK, You're OK" paradigm and said we should aim for all saying in dialogue "We're not OK". He also gave us a useful comparison of Judaism, Islam and Christianity based more on the Word of God rather than People of the Scripture. So our language is body language and we need to express the love we should feel for others. Many of my class were there and so was Alfred Agius. About 30 in all and the Hurtado Jesuit centre is very nice. But where was Damian? To the Whitechapel art gallery for the first time and most impressed. Some fine photographs and...

To the cafe to meet Gemma and the lovely 6 month old Sebastian then to Godstone farm. Saw 2 families of piglets the sows Curly and Wurly covered in curly hair, lots of sheep, goats, kids and lambs, rabbits, guinea pigs, fowl, llamas, alpacas. Ciarán loved the sandpit and the slides with Bruce. Drove to Acton via Hampton Court and Teddington - a different route. Tommy came home and delighted to see us. Home just after 8 listening to Roxanna Panufnik's new violin concerto 4 world seasons played by Tasmin Little. Cried off Catenian 10 pin bowling - I find Valley Park far too noisy any way!

On Tuesday more reading so did not get to Lent group at the cathedral. Went to 5.30 Mass and then to the Faith Matters lecture on Catholic history - good audience. To Acton. Wednesday to music but Ciarán not bothered at all so Louise removed him and we ate downstairs. Drove home and he lost little time in finding the DVDs, train track and books! In the afternoon went in the garden and played with the trucks and in the house. Thursday Louise went to see Chardie's new baby and Ciarán happily played and we chatted to Ann. Bridget came for tea  and brought him some socks and gingerbread men. Bruce came. Louise back so we all went swimming. I went to college and an interesting seminar and lecture on hadith. I did manage to read one article during the day and Michael showed me how he gets onto JSTOR. Home to watch Catholics. Friday up early and made track and read 3 Thomas books before 7.45! He loves his new blowup Thomas bed and slept very well.