The organist librarian

Tuesday June 26 Tai chi with stunning views of Stockholm archipelago. Off the ship at 9 a.m. and bought a public transport pass and walked to get a bus and then underground to Gamla Stan. Nice walk through the old town past the Royal Palace and saw the guards band marching past. Walked round the opera house and then to the excellent Music museum where we got student rate. Lots of kids enjoying themselves. Great to be able to play the instruments and listen to recordings. Interesting sections on Jenny Lind and drums. Got the tram to Vasa museum. I saw the Vasa in 1964 and it was continually being sprayed. It is now in a fine new museum where we spent a long time looking round and had a nice long sandwich. Also able to use the internet for free. Got the tram and ferry back after checking Skansen. Nice meal upstairs The weather was OK with some showers and cleared for a lovely evening. Good show by singer from Britain Cheryl Sinclair rather like Shirley Bassey. String quartet and tired ...

Monday June 25. Wet. Tai chi. Helsinki. Did not bother with Helsinki card. Got bus into town and took circular tram route. Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals closed. Enormous Lutheran cathedral very plain. Rock church very fine and an excellent pianist was playing. Coffee in a nice café and then walked from the tram in the rain to the Sibelius memorial (how dedicated is that! Still disappointed that other cruises had access to his house). Museums all closed. Bus back to ship and afternoon tea. Made some more movies using photos. Mass in Hudson room. Very nice formal dinner with 2 American couples one from San Diego. Elliot Finkel piano show including Rachmananov Sweelinck and Palmgren. Filipino crew show at 11 p.m. with traditional dances and singers. Clocks went back again.

Wednesday June 20. Tai chi. Docked at Warnemunde and got trains to Bad Doberan. Nice walk to the enormous Minster and an added bonus was   organ music and meditation at 11.45 a.m. We saw the Molle steam train 3 times – it goes down the main street. At Rostock walked to the Mariekirche via the Rose garden and got the tram back to the station from the Town Hall. Tai chi. Rostock brass band next to the pool for BBQ and beer. Saw the film The Artist which was excellent – it started 30 minutes late. Thursday June 21 at sea. Tai chi. 3 sessions on digital photography and movie making. Talk about St Petersburg. Mass at 5. Formal dinner in DJ and a long wait for dessert so we missed part of the show. String quartet. Friday June 22. Tai chi. Talinn   what a lovely place. Got Talinncard from hotel near terminal. St Olav church very high, Orthodox and Catholic churches, visited City museum and Guildhall – excellent displays. Holy Spirit church had lovely paintings and British Nav...

Saturday June 16 Taxi to London City airport – quite a long way from the Blackwall Tunnel. Used computer in the terminal. The KLM flight was on a small plane and we saw the Olympic site from the air as it was fine. At Rotterdam airport we waited in the observation area and   were surprised to be able to watch the planes from a balcony. Had soup and then got a taxi to the ship – this took a long time because a tunnel to the bridge had been closed. We then waited for ages to go on board as there had been health scares and the whole ship had been cleaned. Throughout the voyage we were urged to use hand cleaning materials at every opportunity. We eventually set off. Sunday June 17 8 a.m. Mass Fr Tom from St Petersburg late vocation has children and grandchildren. Dale from USA is the reader. To Aiden’s digital camera classes and learnt a lot about sharing photos, tagging them, etc. Formal dinner and excellent show. Monday June 18 Tai chi at 8 with Tiemen who is excellent and wh...

Friday drove to Blackheath for the funeral of John Cahill. I had offered to play but the local organist at St John Fisher wanted to play - it was a one manual pipe with reduced pedal board. Not a great turnout - 4 from Norwood circle and most of Dulwich circle plus Provincial officers. Duncan preached as Fr Nimmo was ill. Followed to crematorium where we endured 2 pop songs and then to Well Hall Barn - only got 30 minutes of parking so had a bite and drink and drove home. The 2 servers were hopeless - Easter candle not lit until late on, duplicating each other, even forgetting the priest's host! Packed. Watched Il Tabarro from Covent Garden and programme on Scott's hut.

Looked up more details of places we are visiting, changed light bulb in kitchen twice (!) found adaptors, picked up Liz's prescription. To Eugenie room for day conference on comparative theology. Prof Francis Clooney from Harvard excellent, Prof Keith Ward less so, Nice buffet lunch, Fr Martin Ganeri dull and Michael Barnes brilliant on Augustine and Buddhist mandalas, Lots of my class there and Damian referred to 3 of us as his best students - flatterer! Archbishop Kevin there. Got books from library. Home and watched country house rescue and London bridges with Dan Cruickshank.

To St Augustine's Hammersmith for first communion. Choir were friendly as they recognised me from last week. John McCarthy appeared at 12 noon and seemed a bumptious young man. I insisted on playing the keyboard throughout - using the organ with him conducting would have been a disaster as he slowed everything down! I was home by 2.20 having received a cheque. Completed the 2 essays and sent them off at last! To evensong and we sang Dyson in F and Tommy's My beloved spake.

To St Pancras via East Croydon to get train to Nottingham.  Had to wait at Travelodge which is actually not brilliant but cheap and convenient for St Barnabas cathedral. It was a splendid ordination on St Barnabas Day lasting 2 hours and Simon looked and sounded great. We washed the Bishop's hands using a towel which had been used earlier! Everything went well. Choir were on good form and sang Widor, Lauridsen, Mawby and Weelkes. A very long stand during the ordination itself! Nice party afterwards and the scouts formed a guard of honour. Tuesday a.m. saw Larry at breakfast and to the Albert Hall to meet David Butterworth to play the magnificent 1909 Binns organ. Bought his DVD. I played Andrew Moore and Crown Imperial. We served at Simon's first Mass as acolytes - this was at 1 p.m. in the cathedral. Lovely new Polish vestments. Bus to station and train. Picked up Ciarán from nursery and put him to bed - he took an hour to settle and twice I crept out only to find h...

Saturday 9 June 11 a.m. Croydon Minster hall Citizens UK rally. Chatted to Bishop of Croydon and delighted that Salvation Army youngster band will play for the Torch on July 23rd. Lots of St Andrew's Thornton Heath folk - I suppose about a 100 in all. Canon Colin welcomed the Imam. We stood around Reeves Corner for the helicopter and walked to the Town Hall. I gave out all my leaflets. Released balloons in Queen's Gardens. Pete Brierley had organised it well.

Vespers, Mass and procession - we were acolytes. Emmanuel as cross was a pain! Good to have the men of the choir there. Home late. Liz was at college and I worked on the essays when I cam back from Croydon. Sunday to St Augustine's Hammersmith for 12.15 first communion. The choir were more friendly no doubt recognising me from last week. and the priest said Good morning. John Maccarthy paid me and conducted. His tempo slowed as soon as the singing started! Thank goodness I said I would play the keyboard and not the organ in the back gallery. It would have been disastrous! Home by 2.20. The 2 essays have gone in after much polishing. At evensong we sang Dyson in F and Hewitt-Jones My beloved spake. Can't believe it is a year since Dave and Bridget's wedding!

Swam 24. Fixed new tap on the water butt so hopefully it will not leak so much! Spent the day working on both essays. Actually quite pleased with the Jesus and Muhammad comparison one, less so with having to change the structure of the veil one so much. To Covent Garden to see Salome on a student standby ticket only £10! Amazing production, stunning singing and playing conducted by Andris Nelsons. The original play is pretty ghastly and horrific - the religious element is peculiar amongst so much decadence and blood. Home within an hour of curtain down!

Only swam 24 as water was cold. More clearing up and hoovering. To St Pancras Church for piano recital by Ian - Beethoven, Chopin and his own Carmina. He plays really well and from memory. Chatted to Michael. To Heythrop and saw Fr Rocco, Philip and Luciana. 2nd tutorial with Damian who says essays could get a higher mark with some changes. To St John's for sung mass of Corpus Christi and procession over carpet of flowers, Bishop Jonathan of Croydon in new Roman style outfit and zucchetto! Mozart Sparrow Mass and Ave verum with orchestra,

Listened to Corpus Christi carol by Judith Bingham from St David's and O Lord grant the Queen a long life by Francis Pott sung by New College Oxford using the score. Wednesday worked on essays and made some changes and sent them off. Did not go to spirituality day but sorted organ music and moved it into hall cupboard. Now have a large pile to dispose of.

Our front door! After the excitement of the amazing river pageant, we travelled over to Acton on Monday morning in good time for the street party. Liz made some excellent cupcakes and we enjoyed meeting everyone. We eventually retired to the house to watch the concert which was spectacular and included Lang Lang, Rene Fleming and Alfie Boe. Tom was out with Mark and Stella but cam home to rejoin the street party. We were up quite early on the Tuesday and drove home to watch the St Paul's service and the lunch and procession of carriages. Dennis and Ann-Marie had grandstand seats for the whole day opposite the Palace! We went up to Victoria and just saw the Red Arrows in the flypast. We served at the special mass with Mozart's Kronungsmesse with orchestra and a fine homily from Archbishop Vincent. Nice to see Brian and Fr Michael Dunne. Wednesday worked on the 2 essays and eventually decided to send them in. Sorted out organ music and now have a large pile to disp...

To St Augustine's Hammersmith and was early. Met an Augustinian friar and had a look in St Paul's -very happy clappy. Coffee at Costas and heard end of 10.30 mass. Played for 12.15 first communion with Peter as cantor - his rhythm was a bit erratic! Used keyboard and played Jerusalem, Ave maria (for kids on altar -naff) and Crown Imperial on the 3 manual Viscount which did not impress. No sign of cash or priest so Wilma took the details for me! Home by 3 and watched fantastic river pageant for the Royal Jubilee - pretty wet!

Spent Saturday morning on essays and redraft of both is done. To Summer exhibiton at Royal Academy and met 3 Battersea Park ladies and Alex who used to work at Balham and his Mum. Loved the blue pictures and Jayne Parker film of cellist. Tea at M & S and smoke vespers for the Trinity and Fr Christopher gave an excellent homily on the Jubilee and special prayer. Slipped away to get train to West Dulwich to get to Stephen Disley's opening of organ at All Saints West Dulwich. Emma Penrose sang Handel and Barber. Lots of familiar faces including the Almeidas! Stephen played despite his op.

To Taberner House to meet Ed from the Council planning department about the torch relay - really useful meeting. 1 and a half essays done! Presented mosaic to Dennis and Ann-Marie - took them a while to realise it copied their lounge curtains!

Thursday swam 30 and to Caterham to meet Fr Kieran. 10 miles from home. He relies on CDs and has someone to play once a month - no wonder the Easter Vigil was awful! Some odd comments about what does not work on the organ rather put me off. Any way all is not lost as he will ask me to do a funeral -  22 weddings last year! Viscount organ. Brass plaque for Tony Charlier. To matinee of Billy Elliot - a fantastic show, so much energy! Really enjoyed it.

A quiet and messy day at home with Ciarán! He enjoyed water play, track and books. To Trafalgar Square to watch Royal Opera BP relay of Falstaff. Superb singing and production - sat on steps. Really enjoyed it! Got a BP cap and took my cushion.

It's now Sunday and time to catch up on the blog! Monday to mosaic and tai chi. Rang Ed at the council about the torch relay. Worked on the essays. Did not go to David Standley's flat for meeting about Croydon interfaith walk. Tuesday swam 30. Liz to London hospital. Met Fr Rocco at 1 p.m. and he was really helpful and set it all in context. Gabriella, Saira and Luke were in the dining room - good to see them. Tutorial went well and Damian was encouraging. Did not discuss the short essay at all. To Royal College of Physicians for 4 p.m. and met Ann-Marie and Dennis there. Tour of the garden and the silver. Ceremony was very well done - we watched on a screen and had photos taken. Excellent reception and chatted to people from Coventry and Sheffield. To Acton.