The organist librarian

To Bexleyheath on trains and bus Geddes Hill URC for presentation and discussion on the shortage of organists especially young ones! Archdeacon made some good contributions. If all the area joins together for an event we might get somewhere! Then trains and tube to Southall - arrived early at St Anselm's. Bishop Alan dedicated plaque in memory of Br Daniel Faivre. I never met him but have some of his books. Alfred Agius, Jon dal Din, Michael Barnes also met the amazing Florence Murphy who is 90. MP and mayor there. Everyone had their say. I skipped the refreshments and got to vespers late. Fr Paolo at Mass with Scottish priest who sounded like John Bell from St Michael's school Finchley.

Did some work this morning and then to St George's Beckenham for recital by Jon Payne of St Thomas Stourbridge and RSCM music advisor (Central and East). Preferred the way he played Bach concerto 593 to Catherine Ennis's version on Tuesday. Much more contrast and subtlety and slow movement more reflective. Lovely Lloyd Webber Benedictus and Hesse variations on the National anthem. Coffee and cake in aid of Macmillan cancer. To Beckenham bookshop and bought calendars - Gruffalo family planner and Monet.  At Victoria to St Paul's bookshop and got diary and Advent calendar for Ciarán. To Church House bookshop and finally used my book token from Marie and Caroline to buy Rowan Williams' latest on Faith in the public square. Also got a nice Celtic calendar for Ann and Paul and posted it off and a copy of "Sharing Eden" for Miriam. I kept meeting people - Reuben, Kate, Miriam. To Marks for tea with Duncan to plan Catenian conference Mass next May! Served at 5.30 Mas...

After yesterday's 32, only 24 today but Liz came to the pool for the first time for ages! Did some work and both to Heythrop. Liz was cleared of plagiarising herself at the hearing and was able to explain the problems she has had. Both sang in the schola for Mass celebrated by Fr Michael Holman the principal. He makes everyone feel welcome! Had lunch together. Helped at Freshers' fair although the real busy time was the morning. Chatted to Jewish society and Islamic society folk but avoided the lesbians! Worked in library and got more books on Buddhism then tea with chaplains where I met Likwane from Cameroon and Muhammad from Lokhani. Michael at dinner and then finally found Goodall room. Martin Ganeri as expected is dull and boring just reading the notes but Michael Barnes cheered us with pictures and quick guide to Buddhism! Home to watch part of Gareth Malone enthusing Bristol Royal Mail choir!

John came to do electrics so front room carpet up for a while. Will need to return to give us a new switchboard. Both to Westfield and got a Blackberry phone as my Samsung never works as it should. Liz went to Acton for haircut and to serve at Mass with Bishop Burns. I went to Vue to see Shakespeare's Globe "All's well that ends well". Technical problem so full refund and complimentary ticket for "Anna Karenina". Tea at M & S and bought some slippers. The film was great - loved the music and costumes not so sure about the theatre setting. Watched Room at the Top on BBC4. Terrible floods in York and Tadcaster.

To the British library for the last day of the exhibition - quite a lot of people there and at first could not find my booking - our printer needs ink again! Loved the recordings but frustrating to have to wait to see into cases and then find lighting casting shadows over what you are reading! Fantastic MSS - Wilde, Edward Thomas, Houseman, Hardy, Brontes, George Eliot, Wordsworth, Hughes, Heaney, Keats, Burns, Chesterton, Kureishi (Bromley) Conrad, Woolf, Pinter, Austen, Joyce, Graham Swift, Greene and Carroll. Conan Doyle on South Norwood! Wendy Cope "At sleep".Betjeman reading poems. To St Laurence Jewry for Catherine Ellis playing Bach superbly. John Newton panels at St Mary Woolnoth where he is buried. Got home ot find I had forgottne my keys and Bruce eventually let me in as Liz was in Croydon buying lovely jerseys for me! Watched Bake off and Paradise.

Watched some of the ordination of Philip Egan Bishop of Portsmouth live online which is a first for the U.K. Sound and picture were not great but a good choice of music. At the end the camera stayed on showing an empty sanctuary!

Swam 16 as I was late. Chat to Ann so late for mosaic then ta'i chi. To Beckenham Catenians and took chocs - for first time we had meat pie and veg and cheese with wine. Won white wine in raffle.

Took Lou and Tom to Queen Charlotte's Friday evening. Watched Parade's End final episode. Text at 7 a.m. waters had broken. He was born in the water at 10 a.m. and weighed the same as Ciarán! In fact he looks just like him. Took Cairán to the park and had to shout to stop him on the scooter. Had lunch there and he had a sleep having watched "Blue mountain mystery" about 10 times. Sean was finally checked by the midwife at 8 p.m. and I collected them. Ciaran was so sweet with him kissing him and speaking softly. A great start! Sunday he got his special present of an engine shed. Bruce came Saturday with organ music, bubbly to go with the pizzas and my recharged razor. We recorded a book for him! Lightning McQueen. To St Joseph Bunhill Fields to play for Mass - rehearsed with Martin Pendergast and recognised Fr Peter. One manual with pedals which belonged to the Knights of Malta. A very pleasant experience. Walked in the rain through the graveyard where Defoe, Blake a...

To Houses of Parliament for launch of London Peace network Islamic/Christian. Lady on security liked my librarian tie. Met Lord Bates in the undercroft chapel which is splendid. Some excellent speakers and useful contacts. Good to see Sayed again. Coffee in the cafe and looked at the floor plaques in Westminster Hall. Moving to see where historic events happened. To Tate Modern to Edvard Munch exhibition (excellent) and the digital art project which was fun. The Tanks really are splendid and loved the Crystal Quilt by Suzanne Lacy. How true that many older women feel that nobody cares what they say or listens to them. Not impressed by Jeff Keen, Lis Rhodes or Sung Hwan Kim but liked the singing and running games in the Turbine Hall. To Imperial War museum to see Building the truce. Did a Red Cross questionnaire and met Catriona! The WWII portraits very fine and excellent display of VCs and GCs. The Holocaust display is claustrophobic and moving. Wartime family most interesting. Peace g...

Swam 26 because I was late. To Heythrop to hand in finance forms - charges have gone up. Met Michael Smith resplendent in blazer and off sailing for a fortnight. Meeting with Fr Rocco about interfaith sharing. Jonathan Gorsky said he had 2 lectures on Thursday but that is the day that suits my class! Wednesday next term but not this term please! Volunteered to help at Freshers' fair next Thursday. To library. 9 to Royal Academy for the outstanding Bronze exhibition. Brian Sewell in the Standard criticised the glass cases and the lighting but some of the lighting is brilliant! Loved the Roman satyr, Il porcellino, beautiful horse's head, Indian Gods - some remarkable work. To Tate Britain to see Pre-Raphaelites - not my favourite art but I did like the Paradise room with furnishings and carpet. Lots of people at both places. Wait for 88 bus and Michael Redman saw me outside the Abbey. Combined evensong with the Cathedral choir - Stanford psalm, Clucas responses, Palestrina, Vict...

To Brent Lodge park to see the animals - looks a bit neglected. Monkeys, blue starlings, goat, pigs, birds, maras. Nice playground and Ciarán banged his nose. To Osterley House for a nice lunch and round the house  with Ciarán counting flowers. Lovely gardens and ice cream. Bought 2 books on Buddhism in second hand shop and Liz bought vegetables in farm shop. To M & S Kew and listened to CDS as C asleep in car - Ampleforth, Aubertin organ Oxford, Military Wives choir, John Rutter. C can wink! Had a great chat about his favourite things. To cathedral via Willesden Junction and Euston for Joseph Cullen's splendid recital. Vierne, de Grigny and JSB with scores. MacMillan and Puccini. He said it was a nightmare getting the balance right and pedals were sometimes not prominent enough. Met the new assistant and had a chat to Martin Baker about SSG summer school - he enjoyed it very much. Home to catch up on emails and watched University challenge and programme on Royal Academy Bronze...

To Shirley Park golf club for meeting about membership of Norwood circle - quite useful but cannot understand why Kevin did not discuss this at the table on Wednesday! Pulpit presentations planned for Upper Norwood and Addiscombe but of course there is no way I would help there! Oddly enough Our Lady's has come up a lot this weekend meeting St Mildred's choir folk and Howard had been there. Citizen Khan very funny.

Monday still no baby - must be a girl waiting to make entrance! Swam 26, mosaic and started new project using clay, ta'i chi (7 there) and Tony had been on a retreat. To Balham library and chat to Jeremy. Watched Howells Hymnus paradisi on TV with score - lovely soloists, spotted several people on choruses. Why is the camera not on the semi-chorus properly? Sound not that good. Elgar 1 conducted Brabbins. My stats are 53 concerts attended, listened to 19 more on TV or radio, 39 Proms plus events plus listened to 3 more on radio. A fantastic season! The Tablet published my letter on Masses on Cruises but this week's copy has not come!

To Croydon Minster for combined evensong celebrating Coleridge-Taylor's centenary. The deputy mayor was there. The Minster choir were not friendly but good to see Penny and St Mildred's folk. Martin How was there. Adrian conducted canticles and "By the waters" and a hymn tune. Stanford Psalm 150 and Engelberg to "For all the saints". Could not hear the address at all. Home to watch "Downton Abbey".

Liz to St Chad's - pretty awful! I went to St John's to pick up robes and met Kim's Dad and chatted to Terence about memorable Proms. Tricky one that - so many - Peter Grimes, Figaro, Nixon in China, Child of our time, youth and visiting orchestras ..... Easier to describe the ones I did not enjoy - Cage, Cameron Carpenter, Berlioz Requiem, B minor Mass. He liked the Bernstein Mass - had also been to see Carousel. Watched Songs of Praise, University challenge. Martin Ganeri sent through reading materials and have read 2 out of 3!

Woke early - watched programme on Heritage from Berkeley castle where lost Vivaldi scores were discovered. Still no sign of baby but Liz stayed home. To cathedral hall for Year of Faith conference about the new evangelisation - some of Liz's class were there and Brother Ben. Interesting especially Fr Michael Holman SJ now principal of Heythrop. Third speaker I was dropping off a bit. To vespers and Mass and I looked after Fr Michael Durand. Choir sang Bruckner and Rheinberger. Watched University challenge episodes and Royal Edinburgh military tattoo.

Woke at 6 and Ciarán up at 6.45 - he went to bed late last night with lots of stories about trains. Met Calix and Boyan at the Horniman museum and visited the aquarium then to musical instruments in the gardens and an excellent under5s session with Paul - 3 little pigs and Magic porridge pot. Ciarán joining in and singing away. Had a nice Mediterranean platter. After lunch Ciarán ran out of the doors to the restaurant into a glass wall - really stupid design. He bumped his forehead but was O.K. We took him home and he slept in the car. Listened to Barbirolli conducting Mahler 2 in Berlin with Dame Janet Baker. Ciarán said he wanted to go home i.e. to our house! Still no baby and due today! Excellent pianists at Leeds competition and watched part of Last night of the proms programme. Parade's End excellent.

Nice day and considered various options but in the end played at home. Cleared up lounge and hoovered. In course of this found dead mouse in trap in cupboard next to fireplace also one closed trap had gone off - why no smell? Must have been there a while - ugh! Ciarán played in garden and with tracks. He dropped off while watching John Wilson prom so I listened to Debussy sonata from the prom with the score I got from Bromley. Liz went to see Josie in the assessment centre - it was her birthday. Spoke to Louise on skype - she had seen midwife. Ciarán baked Thomas cakes with Agga.

Ciaran woke at 1 a.n. and Liz got up then slept to 7 a.m. He seems very happy! To Gambado soft play Beckenham  and Brice enjoyed the slides with him while I read The Times and drank cappuccino. Home for lunch and John the electrician came - had lounge door off and floorboards up  -some rewiring needed but at least we can use some of the downstairs sockets. Took Ciarán to the lake to feed the ducks, scooter, playground and ice cream. Played in the garden Struck again by how polite he is - every time I handed him bread for the ducks "Thank you Grandad!" Bruce babysat. We missed the cathedral volunteers Mass and reception but went to the Catenian past president's supper which was fun. Clair Ingram on great form - had goat's cheese, steak and fudge cake. Louise is fine.  Courtesy - a smile costs nothing - the lesson of the Gamesmakers is that we should ALL smile and make people welcome!

To Bromley to return scores and post items and get a battery for the smoke alarm - at £6.49 rather likely to deter people from installing them. Louise had got Bruce over last night and he brought Ciarán. He lost no time in getting the track set up and coped well with the wires everywhere. Chatted away in bed about our holiday and made up stories. Eventually slept at 9.15 p.m. Listened to Debussy Preludes book 2 with score from the Prom. Did article about Faith and the environment and report on More than Gold. Mixed feelings about it - needed more time and more response to emails!

The downstairs plug circuit has been cutting out now for a fortnight and the electrician will finally come tomorrow! Found extension leads so plugged in upstairs. To Parchmore hearing aid clinic - one tube was too short and not thick enough so now sorted. Must wear them more and use olive oil. To Bromley library to return scores - put in a Morden one by mistake so retrieved it! Got battery for smoke alarm £6.49 is a bit steep! Bruce had gone to Louise's last night so decided that he would bring Ciarán here - just have to cope with all the wires! Finally got email back and able to upload photos of hats.

Monday woke early and then back to sleep! To mosaic - I was late but good to see everyone again. I got my brolly back and all my materials were safely in a box. All I need to do now is the infilling around the flowers and Paisley pattern and grout and it will be finished! No ta'i chi so to Balham library to return scores and pick up 2 books -Tom Service on conducting and The Tower - both were recommended at Proms literary events. To Southwark cathedral for an excellent recital by Stephen Disley - Buxtehude, Bach, Andrew Carter, Janacek. Home for lunch and then to Barbican theatre. Eventually found the ticket office and then found we had been moved to the middle of the stalls which was excellent. A wonderful Opera North production with great singing especially Biggalow. Loved it - standing ovation! Home at midnight.

Got to the hall at 9.30 a.m. Very hot day but in the shade. Had a good time chatting and eating -Liz went and got food. Annoying number of spot checks and roll calls - complete waste of time! Got the car from Battersea Park at 1 p.m. and parked in Queensgate Mews. Went in at 6 p.m. and got the spot we wanted next to Carole on the rail. Enjoyed it - Benedetti and tenor Calleja on great form. Much flag waving and Jiri gave a good speech putting on his CBE. Calleja in tracksuit and then Olympians came on -  a nice surprise! Home at midnight. To St Mary's for 8 a.m. - hold up to get into car park reversing in. To St Mary the Virgin, Hayes at Daniel's request for Bishop's visit for the patronal festival. Uneasy tension between Mary and Mission Praise hymns. We sang "With a voice of singing" and bishop sang with us! Choir friendly and Mrs Burroughs recognised me. Bruce and Dennis came for lunch. Interesting that William Pitt the younger lived in Hayes.

X68 to Waterloo and northern line to East Finchley. Asked TFL chap at station for St Mary's church and he said to walk up High Road - we should have taken the bus! Any way found church and it was a 2 manual Wyvern and all went well. Carole's mum was 92 and was buried with his first husband in Marylebone cemetery - Stokowski is buried there. Carole and Kevin took us to the very nice lunch at Albany House which has a museum about Stevens ink! Walked to station and got 82 bus to town and then to the queue for Last Night list. To V and A - fashion is open but the ballgowns display is not that cheap. Saw the Tony Cragg sculptures there and in Exhibition Road and the British photography display. Had tea and chocolate muffin -  a lovely day again! Bruce took our swimming tickets. To presentation with Juliet Stevenson of Proms poetry awards with Wendy Cope and Ian McMillan who is a scream. A lovely prom Haydn and Alpine symphony - what a storm - thunder machine, wind machine, full orga...

To the National Gallery to see Metamorphosis around 3 beautiful Titians. The Mark Wallinger did not appeal but liked the films about the ballet and the poetry. To National Portrait gallery to see the BP awards - I seldom agree with the judges. Also looked at the Olympic stars gallery. Old No. 9 to the hall - next week will seem very strange. The meeting with Roger Wright and Chris Cotton was pretty bland - none of my points were raised. Lighting in gallery needs improving, prommers hate the rope in the arena and the enforcing of no food. Coughing and late comers were other issues. Alwyn, George Lloyd, Hildegard, Bax, Arnold and Haydn were composers mentioned and an Archers prom? The concert by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Haitink was splendid. Murray Perahia played Beethoven 4. Bruckner 9 - at start of slow movement lady fainted in front of us and hit her head on the floor. A doctor was quickly on the scene and the medical team. Watched paralympics coverage.

Picked up Bruce and took Liz and him to station so he took my tickets for athletics and the tower visit. Listened to Debussy string quartet and Ravel piano trio with scores - both HDD recordings cut off before the end. Fuse went as well yet again.

To pre Prom interview with 3 musicians from St Louis symphony orchestra who were making their Proms debut - 2 violinists and cor anglais who described their much loved concert hall and how they play with heart and do community outreach. They are well endowed. The concert was good Brahms, Beethoven played by Christian Tetzlaff, Schoenberg and Gershwin. To Acton. Wednesday all 3 of us went swimming at Fountains leisure centre, Brentford. Because it is run by Fusion we got in free. Ciarán loves the water and I did 12 lengths. To Carluccios for a nice lunch and shopping. Lovely deli in Turnham Green. To prom of "Nixon in China" conducted by John Adams himself - having some short bits of score from the workshop helped - some mistakes in the libretto in the programme. Fascinating rhythms and harmonies and stupendous singing from Gerald Finlay and Korean colouratura. Home at 11.30 and watched Married to the Moonies.

Train to Whitechapel and underground to Mile End and then to Stratford - much better route. A few minutes late - the Aquatics centre super. Saw 15 heats with paralympic records and world records! Amazing when everyone cheers for GB and how do some of them manage to swim at all! Watching five  a side football on TV with blind players - incredible! Home for baked salmon and broccoli. Water melon and mango ice cream.

To the Olympic Park - left car near Norwood Junction. Long queues at Canada Water to Whitechapel and to West Ham. A long walk over several bridges about 25 minutes and arrived in the stadium a little late - security very easy. It was a lovely day. We saw athletics shot put, discus, long jump and several medal ceremonies including David Weir. The cheering for a team GB member is amazing - it was full - 80,000 rejoicing. The Brazilian national anthem is rather like Rossini and the Ukranian one like a folk song. Came home on Jubilee line - another long walk to Stratford but cheered along by the delightful volunteers! Tp pre Prom on choices of books for Desert Island discs with Mariella Fostrup and Tim Rice. I asked a question about novels quoting Elif Sharak and mentioning Parade's End character who corrected the Encyclopaedia Britannica! Met Andrew in queue who is a church musician from Watford and a physics teacher -very interesting. The prom was a deli...

To 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's - Canon Collins and a good reader. The congregation mumble the responses and at communion the whole congregation stands up and queues round the building! Had a friendly argument with Pat Ryan. He says crossing Our Lady by not singing hymns to her in May led to Paul and I leaving Addiscombe. Strange that we both ended up at the cathedral - did Our Lady have a hand in that too? This made me miss train so waited for 337 bus. When I got off it a taxi came at the right moment. I said to the driver you are heaven sent. He was Muslim and remarked on this comment. So I said we are all heaven sent. Got to All Saints Putney Common at 10 a.m. Strange Greening setting and a poor Eminent organ. I played Watson In memoriam Howells, Eric Smith and Jerusalem, Bus to Putney Bridge and to Mary King's workshop on "Nixon in China" - tricky to sing and learn. Met Stephen from Bath who knows Pat and Keith Bennett. He came to Di Mario's for an excellent pizza...

Asked a question at pre Prom talk about Mendelssohn - it was whether is harmony had influenced Wagner and agreed. He was charming and funny in his letters. Leipzig Gewandhaus under Riccardo Chailly played all Mendelssohn programme which was lovely. It was full so Liz didn't come. Adrian and Terence came up for a chat. I met Pauline and Sean after first prom - nice to see them. Picked up Liz from no. 3 so saw Bruce and Dennis briefly. Watched a bit of John Wilson prom on TV.

To St Joseph's Bromley and Duncan Aitkins had put on an excellent session. We had morning prayer, Mass and Benediction then we saw several good Powerpoints including Mother Teresa, Fra Angelico, music and song for meditation. Ended up singing "It is well with my soul" which is too long! Very nice lunch in the convent provided by Joe. About 16 came. Parked at Crystal Palace park and to prom by Cameron Carpenter in splangy pants. He wrecked Bach with tubas, not playing the notes, rhythms all wrong. He played Prelude and Fugue in A quietly and accurately so why all this razzmatazz. He said no organist had influenced him and he does not like pipe organs so why doesn't he just say in USA?

To Balham library to get scores and reserved books including the Hesse Siddahrtha. Then to Morden library to get Gershwin score. Home to find Liz had gone to IKEA with Bruce. Carole rang to say her Mum had died aged 92. To pre Prom talk about the future of orchestras which seems secure although German subsidies are so much bigger than British ones. The recent appearance of orchestras at the Olympics is important although the LSO were not live at the opening of the Paralympics which is a shame. London 2012 needs to be continued with more outreach to new audiences and especially schools and hospitals. The concert was full again and again the audience were quiet! Brahms piano concerto 2 was very well played. Why did we have to have Lutoslawski 3? What a row! We left and heard the Dvorak encore on the recording. Today have caught up on some recorded concerts on TV including Anna Meredith Hands Free NYO piece not using instruments and Nico Muhly. and Varese Tuning Up. Also Emily Howard and ...