The organist librarian

Louise took Ciarán home in the car -  she is now working at home because of the Olympics. We went by bus and tram to Wimbledon and new shuttle bus to Wimbledon. We had excellent seats on Court No. 1 in the shade for £16 each! Saw Juan Monaco of Argentina beat David Goffin of Belgium. Serena Williams was great as was John Imber. Kim Clijsters beat Spaniard and to our surprise there was a first round men's double match - Roger Federer and Walianka beating Japanese pair in 3 sets = brilliant! Home by 10.15 p.m. after a fantastic day

Sunday Dennis came down - he had been to handball yesterday and boxing today. Set off and held up near Bromley North tip so Louise used satnav to get us to M20. We arrived in time for a practice with the cantors - could not find music for Mystery of Faith so said it. All went well despite the horrid organ and 2 new hymns or choruses. Very nice picnic in Bishop John's garden and had a good chat to him. One spot of rain. Ciarán had a great time with the other kids and the Scaletrix! We were home by 5.30 so I went to the Prom -  to my surprise got a 52 straight away both ways and chatted to Harry Bramma. He too does freelance on Sundays. An excellent concert Aldeburgh World orchestra playing Britten, Mahler, Charlotte Bray new work and Stravinsky conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Chatted to a lady from Edinburgh and her mother who lives at the Barbican - they know Matthew from Sydney playing contra bassoon in the orchestra.

Up in good time for 8.12 a.m. and rang our bells. Gloriana looked great with the flame on TV. Later on the BBC asked if they could use the film! Watched Beethoven 5 from prom and listened to last night's prom Beethoven piano quintet but gave up on the Boulez despite having the score. Watched King Richard II beautifully done on Iplayer.

Swam 30. While was at the doctor's had a call from Fr Christopher to say they had appointed somebody else although it was close. The organ was dire so that's a relief. To interfaith lunch and a good turnout. The walks attracted 30 to 50 people each! Shocked to learn from a Muslim about the new law which allows body scanning at airports. He sees this an invasion of privacy especially women and children and what control will there be over the saved images?To Balham library to get more scores - it seems the store is in a mess. To Tate Britain to see the Migrations exhibition which seemed an odd compilation. Then found buses were not running past Hyde Park corner because of the torch relay so to South Kensington and walked up carrying the bags of scores. Saw 3 acrobats hanging from Imperial College! To preProm family talk not well attended but people played their instruments and the evening's works were introduced with 3 members of the BBC orchestra of Wales. In the South was a...

Tuesday we were late getting away and held up waiting for trains and buses so got to the Hall at 6.45 5 minutes after the 20 minute deadline so joined the day queue. Nearly at the door and told gallery was full and we should buy a £5 day ticket for the arena. I was furious especially at the patronising way the steward spoke to me about the ticket being good value. The principle holds that we paid to attend the concert. Stormed to the front door and Linda was on duty. She put us in the arena foyer for Beethoven 8 and then in the arena which was very full. We endured the Boulez Anthemes 2 played by Michael Barenboim and electronics and decided to go to Acton and not bother with Beethoven 7 or the late prom, Wednesday took Ciarán to Dukes Meadow and it was so hot. He was sick but soon recovered and loved the sandpit and the paddling pool. Ice cream and then he climbed in the buggy and went to sleep! Portugal has clearly helped his confidence in the water. Paddling pool in back garden. A l...

Monday evening to Clapham Park for interview with Fr Christopher and 3 choir members David and 2 Kates.Knows Fr Peter.  All very nice. Organ is dire one manual and small pedal board with pedals going inwards. Seemed to go well and contract and charges not a problem. A digital in the gallery is planned and 3 schools offer chance of a junior group. Quite a workload with 2 masses on Sunday and other services too! Liz went to the prom and I listened in Beethoven 5 and 6. Watched University challenge. Tuesday swam 20 - very busy. To St Chad's about All the bells and the funeral of Mary Crinnegan. Long chat to Ann.

At last the day has come after months of preparation! Swam 20. Put chairs out on roadside about 10.15 torch due 11.45. Put up flags. To All Saints on bus and no sign of Salvation Army band and church locked so bus back as crowds were gathering. Had a good view and changeover just near us. Great excitement and then walked to Thornton Heath visiting Clifton Hall and St Alban's and filmed the Croydon Brass band. Walked back it was a lovely day and got a free CocaCola drink and saw Clifton Hall folk. Later found out Salvation Army band played at Westow park so everything went to plan more or less. No sign of the Praise bus.

 Saturday we dashed from Mass (Fr Michael Durand) and arrived at 7.25 to find only one place in the gallery left so Liz went in and I went home. I think the steward could have stretched a point! It was Beethoven 3 and 4 and more Boulez. I watched King Henry V on TV which was excellent. Sunday we had had a letter from Fr Barry Angus about his 40th anniversary mass so I went over to St Catherine of Siena Chessington for it and Eric played. Nasty little Johannus organ. Kate got me to sit with the choir and at the top table. Long chat to Janet and her husband and she suggested a visit to the Saxon parish church where they had had a baptism so had a quick look. Then drove up A3 to Battersea Park and to talk on The Trojans. A super Prom with fantastic singing and playing. Liz came later having been to Colin's birthday at the pub the family having returned from Portugal. Ciarán asked after a while where I was!

I got one of the last seats at the Royal College of Music for the interview with Daniel Barenboim. It was interesting to hear his views on Klemperer and Furtwangler.   He certainly went for fluidity between tempi. The East/West Divan orchestra got a great reception which was well deserved and we enjoyed Beethoven 1 and 2. The Boulez I could take or leave! The biggest Prom so far. Great to see Rudolfo again and Jean Taylor who can hardly speak having been in hospital. Also saw Harry Bramma. Home to find Salvation Army youth band not available after all on Monday after great efforts to find them a venuw because of work commitments - still have 2 bands playing! Liz home safely from Devon.

Played for funeral at Purley which was a Latin requiem said by Fr Michael Clifton of blog fame. Alas he did not use mike and most of it was inaudible. The Allen digital is not great. To preProm on Judas Maccabeus and a good performance with John Mark Ainsley and Christopher Purves on great form and good chorus.Adrian and Terence came for a chat. Saw Roy Parker the night before.  Friday watched excellent King Henry IV part two and programme on Vermeer.

Wednesday to Wigmore Hall for free concert by Connaught Opera who go around entertaining old folks. Good pianist Carol Wells and bass but the soprano had no high notes and a wobble. She changed her dress 5 times! Then to St Michael's for excellent recital by Richard Townend with flautist Hans-Georg Reinertz - Bach, Salome, Buxtehude, Dubois, Hilding Carlsson and Dudley Buck. Proms Plus was Jane Glover with her literary choices read by Simon Callow. I asked a question quoting Elif Sharak on why we read novels to get out of our box and this went down well. Saw John East in the queue. Nice new piece by Fung Lam. Rachmaninov 2 played well by Kirill Gerstein and Prokofiev 7. Last concert Handel Water music and home by midnight.

Monday to mosaic and tai chi. I forgot my umbrella. Liz went to Devon to stay with Martine. To Battersea Park library. The preProm talk was about the co-operation between Juillard and Royal Academy and indeed the combined orchestra had a superb string sound. John Adams conducted Respighi and Ravel piano concerto with Imogen Cooper and City Noir. Tuesday to dentist and £30 to fix the tooth that broke off at end of cruise. Suggested private hygienist - £43! To St Helen's for end of term Mass and farewell to Jan and Rose and nice reception afterwards. New head not nice. Good to see everyone again. To preProm with pieces by Finnish woman Kaija Saariaho which were attractive and BBC Phil under Mena played Strauss Also sprach and Sibelius 7. Soprano flunked top note and some low notes in 4 last songs.

 Sunday to St Alban's South Norwood to play for the service. Fr Russell sings well and welcoming choir who sang the psalm. It seems I play quicker than the resident Frank - the organ not in good state. Mr Jackson who was our piano tuner died and his wife went back to Thailand - his ashes are buried under the altar. Met Liz for lunch at Prezzos on a special offer and delicious. To British Museum for community preview of Shakespeare's world - a very fine exhibition with many lovely objects. Glad we went. Liz came home and I went to the preProm talk and the excellent Pelleas conducted by Gardiner. The Monteverdi choir had very little to sing. Sir John Tomlinson was outstanding.

Friday 13th to Balham library to reserve and get scores. Good to be back at the Proms. The Turnage new piece left me cold. Cockaigne was much more fun followed by the gorgeous Sea Drift. Tippett suite and Elgar Coronation Ode (extra movements not in the score). Liz went to party at St Helen's. It was different to have 4 conductors. Saturday 14th Croydon interfaith walk. About 35 in all. Started at the new CRERC centre then St Mark's South Norwood with an interesting baptistery. South Norwood mosque a nice display and good talk (none of the usual preaching!) and some of the Muslims walked with us to the Hindu temple (Hare Krishna) where we had lunch. Then tried for 410 bus and ended up on 75 to get to the Gurdwara where the welcome was incomprehensible. I did not go to the Ahmadiyya mosque but headed for the cathedral for Vespers and Mass to a warm welcome back. Fr Wansborough was at mass as the schola of the Cardinal Vaughan was singing and Charles Cole's last service condu...

An email from John East saying that Deane Yates my headmaster at St John's College had been called to higher service -  well done good and faithful servant.

Thursday 12th to Regents Park as I was early and enjoyed the sunshine. To Cavendish conference centre for the conference which Jon Dal Din had asked me to attend. Good to see Alfred Agius, Katharina Muller, Celia Blackden and Nitin Palan. Lord Singh of Wimbledon spoke. We had good presentations and an excellent vegetarian lunch and 25th anniversary cake. Best of all was the workshop on religious/non religious and spoke to Lois Lee from Cambridge and Paul Weller from Derby university.

Monday swam 28 and to mosaic and made good progress. At tai chi Tony said my posture was improved and I showed him the new moves I had learnt from Tiemen. To Balham library to find scores for the Proms and reserved a lot. Jeremy told me there are now 3 bids in for the management of libraries. We have been infested with ants so got ant stations and later Liz put cinnamon and talc down which worked! Unpacking finished - have 3 Tablets to read! Tuesday swam 32 and went to St Alban's South Norwood to practise for Sunday. Organ is old and in poor state. Fr Russell very helpful. To Bromley library to get some more scores. To Acton and delighted to see Ciarán again. His hair seems even more curly. Wednesday to London Transport museum and Ciarán loved the model trains and the play table. Now have an annual membership so can go again. Had nice chicken risotto in cafe after Pizza Hut unable to accommodate Ciarán in buggy. Had tea and took C to station - he was asleep. Bought tickets for M...

Saturday July 7 Woke early as usual and up to breakfast. Came off ship an hour later than expected but really quite smooth. Farewell to stateroom 2624! Taxi to Hotel Hampshire Savoy and room available despite being there at 9 a.m. so that was excellent. Joined the library and used internet but emails would not open – however able to see them in hotel lobby. Printed off   boarding passes. Tourist info gave us a good deal for seniors on all transport and discounts. Bus to Bleidjorp Zoo and got a discount there too. Fantastic collection – it was one of the older zoos and a big collection. Oceanium with sea lions, penguins, fish. 3 polar bears. Asian lion cubs. Took the Zoo train. Lovely savannah with 10 giraffes. Asian elephant herd with young one. Cuban hutria. Klipspringer, hyrax, lots of reptiles and shrew. Indian rhinos. Amur leopards. A lovely day too. Bus and tram back and walked to Humphrey’s where we had Trappist beer and discount on lovely 3 course meal. Walked to church to...

Tuesday July 3   Up at 5 a.m. for Geiringerfjord – wonderful scenery. Mass at 8. On landing at Geiranger by tender we went on the Viking cruise where we pretended to be warriors and saw the fjord from water level. We saw wild goats and salmon jumping. Did not realise that Vikings traded blonde women for Arab men (20 to 1) and the men worked for them! We then gpt pn a coach to the Eagle’s road viewsite and the Flydalsjuvet view point – stunning views. Wonderful weather. We ate near the pool so we could see the stunning views of the fjord as we sailed out. Tai chi on the sports deck was unforgettable. We saw the Amore show again as it was so good. String quartet and bed. Wednesday July 4 Independence day. Tai chi and ashore in Alesund. This proved to be a nice little town with a harbour. We took the town train trip up to the viewpoint and another beautiful day. Walked to the church 1909 which has 2 organs and classical music playing. One is a Rieger. Visited the Jugendstilsenter...

Saturday June 30 Found a coffee place where we paid for internet. Tram back to ship. Boarded without any problems this time and set off after lifeboat drill. 5 p.m. Mass Fr Dennis who trained at St Christopher’s Hospice and comes from Lexington very efficient and we are to have different readers and mass intentions – he produced leaflet with hymns etc. So at last a relief from Dale’s boring voice and hymns pitched wrongly. Ate at Canaletto and had far too much. Rested in room and watched Wimbledon so missed show and quartet! Sunday July 1 8 a.m. Mass Priest late as alarm did not go off! I read. Aqua aerobics under a clear blue sky and a glorious sunny day. Dance classes in waltz and cha cha. Afternoon tea. Have now made movies of all photos up to Stockholm!   3 p.m. Royal Dutch tea. Tai chi. Captain’s welcome toast and Unforgettable show excellent. Formal evening and we danced a waltz and cha cha in the ocean bar. Monday July 2   8 a.m. arrival in Bergen. Walked to inf...