The organist librarian

To Brentford on trains and bus and met the family at softplay. Amelia was there with Rufus and Scarlett and her Australian mother-in-law. Had a very nice lunch at Syon House - I had beef pie. Built track and the boys put on their Buzz outfits. To opticians in Ladbroke Grove and Mr Shannon advised new specs - £591! Not had new ones for 4 years and eyes are healthy! To British Museum to see the Spanish prints especially Goyas and fine Asian galleries and Asian drinking rituals. To Westminster Abbey for Professor Keith Ward's lecture on faith and secularism. Saw Graham Hedges. Watched Michael Palin in Brazil and University challenge.

Read the last article for this week's work on Helios - 35 pages about Pieris by Fleming. Swam 20 and Liz came as well. To All Saints Tooting - I was early so had coffee at the Kitchen Table. Rosa Cook's funeral - she was 90. Alan one of her sons recognised me - he used to work on the mobile library. Not that many people there considering she had been church warden - she was 90. Organist was a stranger to the church too - he played Elgar and Bach. There seemed to be no provision for people not going to the cemetery before the reception so I went to Balham and got 2" x 2" photos done for Indian visa. To British library and advice on conservation of old photos and family Bible  - keep in cool place and take digital photos of material now. Bus and walk through Mayfair to RA Now. The prices astronomical but quite a few works already sold. Buses to St Paul's cathedral - long walk to No. 9 bus stop. Nice meal at Pizza express and then discovered speaker could not get her...

Swam 20. Mosaic and nearly finished the project for Alan and Ivor. Ta'i chi and struck again how similar the ideas are to Buddhist enlightenment and emptying. Had a brief chat to Tony about it. To Balham library and got 2 guidebooks to India which was good as Trailfinders rang. Have now confrmed flights and itinerary. We will stay in the hotel in Kochi as the Jesuit houses are not air conditioned. The driver will be available for our leisure days in Jaipur and Udaipur. In both places we will want to get to Mass and there are Catholic churches there. Did some reading about Pieris.

Richard Blackford's "Mirror of perfection" was featured on The Choir on Radio 3. It is worth hearing! Vespers from Liverpool Metropolitan featuring Pachelbel. An exciting new piece by Roxanna Panufnik for the Choirbook for the Queen - Joy at the sound.

Woke early as clocks went back an hour. Ciarán wanted stories too. To St James Riddlesdown to play. Arrived 8.55 and lady came but disappeared - she was preparing coffee! Choir turned up 9.15 by which time I was cold. Went through anthem and setting - a wierd one by Roff with several key changes. Never played an opening voluntary as time ran out. Christine Spurway very welcoming. I played Karg-Elert Nun danket as had played it twice this week in Leeds. Anthem was Lead kindly light by Sullivan - not a great setting! At coffee met a couple from Tasmanian Christine Clifford. Home for roast duck lunch and Dennis and Bruce came too.

Did clearing up and making beds etc. Liz to college. Practised music for tomorrow. To Whitechapel and arrived early so went to Whitechapel gallery. 2 rather odd displays by Mel Boechner and Giuseppe Penone. Met Adrian in the coffee bar. The tour of the bell foundry was interesting but tiring. 2 and a half hours of standing is too much. It is the oldest business in the country still running - 1420. Their bells go all over the world and they also make lovely handbells (£250 each!). St John's organised the visit. I hopped on a 25 bus and heard part of the Bloomsbury Baptist recital by Richard Walker from Shrewsbury. The Jongen Sonata eroica was well played. Served at Mass with Fr Michael Durand and Fr Timothy Radcliffe preached and I spoke with him afterwards. He is very pleasant. To St Monica's Hoxton Square at Anton's request. Saira was there but it was all rather disorganised. We ended up saying the rosoary outside and no attempt was made to reach out to passersby! I nipped...

Lie-in. Unpacking, cleaning, hoovering. Sorted out hoover, bedroom chair and bedroom carpet lip. Read 3 articles. Watched Leeds piano competition (amazing to think we there on that stage this week) Rachmaninov 3. QI and Andrew Marr History of the world part 1. Programme about Fanny Waterman.

Thursday another good breakfast - one of our nights was complimentary as we had a noisy night on our previous visit! I wnt back to Royal Armories museum to see floor 3 and found the South African war material and the jousting. To Town Hall for 12 and really enjoyed playing the organ there. Another treat! I played Moore, Vaughan Williams, Eric Smith and Karg-Elert. I should have brought my Bairstow! To Leeds City museum - interesting Roman and Egyptian stuff, display on stolen, smuggled or taken. Leeds story very well done. Picked up case from hotel and 3.45 train back arriving at 5 p.m. so time to get to college. Nobody has had any results and no sign of The Lion. Martin Ganeri seems to be serving up his research as a lecture! Chatted to Xavier about the India trip - we have brought the flight forward and saved £300 by going with Etihad. This will give us longer in Kochi and Xavier will investigate a room at the Jesuit provincial house which is away from the city. Watched Come dine wi...

Wednesday excellent breakfast. To St Anne's cathedral for 10 a.m. Couldn't find anyone eventually to the house and Mgr MacQueen. Lots of phone calls to Ben Saunders who knew nothing about it. It seems the young music administrator had told nobody! Eventually Emmett the sacristan took us to the console but he turned the key twice - I can't think why! Result no sound so we abandoned the attempt. It was all embarrassing and annoying and apologies all round but it should not have happened! Tea at Leeds art gallery and a look around - interesting displays about British landscape. To Leeds college of music for free concert by Junior Royal conservatoire of Scotland. Excellent trumpeter, oboe and pianist. Schoolkids present were getting restless and the teacher did not help! The Albinoni oboe concerto and the Chopin scherzo were outstanding. To the Minster where there had been a big musical funeral. Once the place cleared I was left to play and it was a treat. Simon Lindley was fri...

Tuesday X68 to Holborn tube to King's Cross 9.45 train to Leeds. Walked to Jurys Inn and very helpful manager got us into our larger room with view. To Royal Armories museum and this was most interesting and included sections on peace and live demos. Saw 2 of the 3 floors including hunting and War. Eventually ate at Rajas next to the Opera House - huge pizza! Faust was very well done and the seats were in the middle of the Upper circle which felt close to the stage and reduced for OAPs! The production used a lot of video and it really worked. Excellent singing too. Peter Auty and James Cresswell outstanding plus Marcin Bronikowski and Robert Anthony Gardiner. Juanita Lascarro and Sarah Pring also very good.

Did some more reading. To Marks and Spencers Victoria for meeting about the Mass. Andrew, Errol and Ray all one time and they brought hymnbooks. All agreed. Marian came to say Duncan was delayed and he arrived soon after the others had left so I passed on the information. Apparently John Rayer does not know "Hail the day that sees Him rise"!! Duncan said he would find it on Youtube for him. Watched University challenge while we had dinner. My back is playing up near my shoulderblade - might have pulled a muscle.

Fog! We were promised hot air from the Sahara but no sign of it! Swam 20. To mosaic and Linda was late as car did not start. I went and got milk and biscuits. Seem to have mislaid some tiles and a board. Bored by flowers mosaic - just have to do filling in bits and it's taking time. The ceramics have come out beautifully in the firing. Ta'i chi - still cannot remember the moves!

Liz to college. I was acolyte at Mass attended by Aid to the church in need conference. Archbishop Mennini was the celebrant and Archbishop Ignatius of Kos was the preacher. Emmanuel was a pain! So much fussing over a bishop's lost spectacles!  Choir sang Howells Salve regina. To St Stephen's Rochester Row for coffee and cake. Excellent Kamerkoor Cantate Dutch women's chamber choir conducted by Dion Ritten. Michael Haydn, Taverner, Holst, Wood and some little known composers. Their tuning was immaculate! And their expressions excellent. I liked their outfit too - black trouser suits with purple lapel decoration. To park next to Tate Britain for picnic and reading Lipner article about Hindu theology which is very heavy going. Wait for bus (affected by massive anti-cuts demonstration) so tube to South Ken and 345 to Allen Hall. Arrived in plenty of time to rehearse with Derek Hyatt. He is a Liverpudlian former Anglican from Chiswick parish. Good to see Brian and everyone ver...

Gave out leaflets about Norwood circle at 3 masses at Virgo Fidelis Upper Norwood. Bill spoke really well. 190 leaflets taken and I found it best to give them out as men arrived at Mass. SOme of the brothers will not wear name badges or really engage with strangers! Liz came to the evening Mass. The new priest Fr Clark is conservative and the music is dire! Did lots of reading and in fact finished the Clarke book. After lunch to Penge Congregational church to hear 4 organists play the magnificent Lewis organ - Martin Ball, John Webber, Marilyn Nicholson and Robert Cooper. We had some splendid Dubois and Vierne, Schumann, Rheinberger and Buxtehude. A sumptious tea! Watched Downton Abbey, Antiques roadshow and Come dine with me. Songs of Praise from Royal Albert Hall.

Woke and dropped off so no swim. To Bevis Marks synagogue with South London interfaith group - interesting building and some interesting comments on Buddhism from the guide! Mojews are American Jews who embrace other faiths? To St Etheldreda's to hear from a kindertransport survivor - it was her 88th birthday!. I would have liked to have asked her if her faith sustained her as she lost most of her family. She came to England aged 14 and remained independent. I came home and Liz went to Acton. Did some work and listened to Shostakovich 10 from the Proms conducted by Petrenko. I see he stood in for Colin Davis to conduct Elgar 1! To Southfields gallery to see Andrea Leila Brown's amazing work. I liked the shells one but some of her stuff is over the top. Most of the mosaic class were there and Mary introduced me to Ann wife of the curate at All Saints Tooting. I mentioned Rosa Cook who was church warden there and worked at Balham music library with me. She has just died aged 90 a...

Swam 20 and Liz came. Practised some Buxtehude on the piano. To Chislehurst to collect Catenian recruitment banners and took them to Colin's - 90 minutes. Late for Mass at Heythrop - it was the UCL chaplain celebrating Fr Peter Wilson. Had lunch and to coffee in hall where book sale was going on. Worked in library. First interfaith sharing of the term - 13 there, Islamic society did not support and only Abigail from the Jewish society. Chatted to Andrew and everybody contributed so that was fine. Michael Barnes on engaged Buddhism which was interesting. Got petrol on hill - had to pay in advance, checked tires. Watched Gareth Malone work choirs semi-final. It seems we get our results by post next week and have to ask for the comments. Support growing for nomination of Damien for Principal's prize.

Swam 21. I think I have gained weight having not been at the pool for a week! To Watermans and Ciaran really enjoyed the session with Merle. To Sainsburys for fish and chips then I left to get to the Hinsley room in good time. Excellent first session on Sharing Eden with David and Natan 2 of the authors giving invaluable insights. To Marks for tea and toasted sandwich. Chat to Francis and Michael and then to Peter Ste vens recital which was excellent and a reasonable audience. Bach, Buxtehude, Franck, Fricker, Messiaen and Durufle. Rosa and Fr Dominic were there - results not posted until Friday - most annoying!

To Bromley to return Debussy score and attend festival winners concert. Excellent Fench horn and cello. 15 year old girl singing like an opera singer - not to my taste. Older man best in a comic song rather than Handel or Schumann. 2 good pianists. Flute and harp started well then in second piece harp cocked it up twice. Saw Gary Sieling and chatted to a man from Harrow male voice choir. To St Paul's cathedral for Karen Armstrong the case for God. She made it clear that we can say very little about God at all as "He" is beyond all telling. Focused on compassion and the golden rule. Road to Emmaus was well explained at question time. Covered a lot of ground and myth as action, mystery as doing very interesting. Sat with Simon Surtees and saw Michael Redman. Watched Ian Hislop on stiff pper lip and Great British bake off. Did some more reading.

I listened to Eric Chisholm's first piano concerto yesterday while reading about Buddhism. Interesting work based on Scottish folk tunes. Woke at 3 a.m. dreaming about guess who? Fr Joe. Woke 8.45 so no swim. Checked music for Saturday at Allen Hall.

Karen swopped keyboards (I had taken hers by mistake from Coulsdon) but now I don't have a music stand - Karen will look for it! Result no swim. Mosaic and Linda back from Kos. I was early and got a lot done. Ta'i chi and 2 new recruits. To Balham library and it poured! Got a book on Vaughan Williams and 2 books by the Dalai Lama. To clergy supper of Norwood and Beckenham circles. Picked up Fr Tony from East Croydon and a pleasant meal. Canon Jim Pannett spoke well. Fr Joe was there but avoided any contact with him! A good turnout. Sat with Rene Barrett.

By car to Clapham as trains in a mess. 6.7 miles nearly as far as Coulsdon! Arrived 9 a.m. and time to sort out things. Vicar very pleasant and is to be area Dean. People friendly. Good cantor for the psalm. Difficult to judge volume as console is under the pipes but told it was fine. Men in congregation sing well and descants in the Thorne setting! All went well and got paid as well. There are 6 applicants including youngsters and professionals so unlikely to get it! Rehearsed There is a redeemer using Bluthner piano. Did some work on Helios. To St John's for evensong - Murrill in E and Mendelssohn Verleih uns frieden. Antiques roadshow - fell asleep. Downton Abbey took a sad turn. Servants programme very interesting. Good evensong from Bath.

Watched Leeds piano competition Prokofiev 3 played by young Ukranian. Jewish Mum of the year on channel 4 is fascinating.

To National pilgrimage to the shrine of St Edward. Talk by Canon White about the saint and he mentioned the Abbey's ecumencial and interfaith connections. No tourists so able to follow the prayer walk. In the choir for Sung Eucharist with procession and incense. Mozart and Monteverdi sung  by the special choir. Met Revd David Johnson from Crewe at lunch who knows Tim Bevan retired Bishop of Portsmouth formerly Johannesburg. He told me a ffrench-Beytagh story I did not know. Renewal of baptismal promises in the Lady chapel and prayers at the shrine. Saw Pat and Jean Castledine also Beryl and Anne's husband! Visited the gardens and in choir for evensong Dyson in D and Philip Moore setting of Andrew Motion's poem. Procession to Lady chapel. To tea at M & S and saw Inez. Fr Archer at Mass and met Fr John previously in Stevenage for 10 years. Arranged Monday with Fr Tony. Not impressed that my poster for Sharing Eden not up at the back so put out leaflets - it is in the new...

Friday woke late so no swim again! Met Phil in street and saw prommer from LPC. Got a birthday card for Louise and later posted it and got food. To St George's Beckenham for recital by Michael Bell of Chislehurst, Lemaire's Carmen themes (tremulant - ugh!) Mozart changes by Garonyi - leave Mozart alone! First movement of the Whitlock sonata which is dedicated to Dorothy L. Sayers and reflects Rachmaninov and Delius who died the year it was composed. On return home I checked Dad's score of it - fiendishly difficult! Did some work. Produced my first column on forthcoming art events and ROH student standby scheme for The Lion. To ENO for Julius Caesar - we got Metro offer £55 upper circle seats for £10 each! A brilliant production with great singers especially Laurence Zazzo. Very clever production with excellent dancing. Home by 11.55. Anna Christy is a singer to watch!

Woke late and spoke to Ann. To Mass which was led by guitars and we sang Benedictus instead of the psalm - very odd! Also Behold the lamb of God as the Agnus Dei. Nice song by Marty Haugen at the end. To coffee and chatted to Michael Smith. Worked in library and went to first meeting of the Arrupe group Faith in action. Much discussion about what to do! I suggested linking up skills available to needs e.g. language skills and literacy skills. Lion newspaper want copy tomorrow! Dinner with Fr Etienne on sabbatical. Martin Ganeri was much better as we asked questions and got him away from his script. Michael Barnes gave us coursework which looks O.K.

Wednesday to Brentford. Had time for a coffee before meeting the family at Tamba's class. She was delighted to see us and Ciarán was fully involved especially having Mummy there. He played with Merle. We had a very nice tandoori lunch and then in the car to home. Ended up playing musical instruments in his bedroom. Seán is opening his blue eyes and looking around especially at his cot mobile. Liz went off to RCIA with Bishop John and I went back to Watermans for the film of "Much ado about nothing" from Shakespeare's Globe. Hilarious! In some ways better than the theatre as more comfortable and could see faces so much better but I suppose live theatre is still better! Home around 11.45 p.m.

Another lovely day. Swam 20 would have been more had Liz not been able to find her card. Listened to Prokofiev's Cinderella conducted by Gergiev LSO from the Proms with piano score. The recording cut the end of Act 2 which was a shame! A most inventive score! Bruce collected dining room small TV to take to Louise and brought us his old one. He also took wooden bike and bouncer. Spoke to Fr Tom Creagh-Fuller and we has put the conference Mass in his diary - have sent out a draft order of service. Watched Come dine with me, Great British bake off and Ian Hislop's Stiff upper lip.

Caught up on recorded programmes - Come dine with me, Songs of Praise from Salford with Russell Watson, Vikings with Neil Oliver, Best of Men about Sir Ludwig Guttman who started the Parlaympics movement at Stoke Mandeville. Very moving!

After yesterday's autumn sunshine, rain. Swam 20. Was late again for mosaic and finished the painting of the ceramics ready for them to be fired when Linda returns from Kos! To St Anne and St Agnes Lutheran Wren church for Martin Knizia's excellent recital with a good audience! Buxtehude and Bach - he had changed the advertised programme but I had the scores.

Hoovered downstairs and Liz went to the cathedral and evensong at St John's. To St Paul's cathedral crypt for talk on ordinary time by Paula Gooder - excellent. I commented on worship and LCD making the ordinary dull and comparing with the extraordinary in a cathedral. Brought in Andrew Carwood's comment on singing from the heart. Michael Redman was there. To St Barnabas Ealing for organ festival on Hill organ brought from Southsea. Some variable playing and big screen. Chris Eastwood was outstanding in Bach, Wammes and Reger. Paul Ayres own piece Fantasia 150 was the best part of his slot. Mendelssohn Sonata No. 3 rather thick sound and second movement too fast. John Hudson seemed lacking inconfidence - his Bach was cautious. Easthope Martin Evensong with tremulant not to my taste. Guy Eldridge pieces showed off the soft stops. Tea in garden and chatted. Edward Tambling now has a moustache and his performance was a bit offhand. If you are going to play Rhosymedre you must ...

To St Joseph Bunhill Fields. I thought the event was at 11.30 a.m. for about an hour - it turned out to be 4 hours! Result no work done! Mass celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vatican II opening. Organist really a pianist had a strange habit of waiting at start of verses! Met Sr Sylvia Carmelite like Sr Jean in Ware. Lunch then Fr Joe Ryan and Barbara Kentish from Westminster Justice and Peace commission spoke. 31 people in a circle with about 9 hogging comments not very successful! Exhausting. Met Liz at M & S for tea and a bun. Farnborough school choir sang well at Mass - Henry Smart's Psalm 23 and Widor Kyrie. Watched Elgar 1 from Proms and Ian Hislop on the stiff upper lip.

Swam 26. Did some reading and wrote first article for The Lion about Ingres painting of the month at National Gallery from their website. Also devised survey. Positive responses from Daniel and Faye. 2.15 requiem mass for Nigel Doughty businessman who supported Labour so Gordon Brown spoke (too long) Bishop John Arnold celebrated. Not impressed by soloist singing Schubert Ave Maria. I was cross and boat. To Tate Britain to see Turner Prize. Unimpressed - one artist expects you to sit for 93 minutes on benches watching his film, another has a triptych about Manchester Woolworths fire. Black and white large drawings and live art which looked like a mess? Earl grey and scones cheered me up in the Members room and had a look in the shop. Much is being changed. The rehang of the 20th century and the focus rooms work rather well especially the Victorian sentimentality in relation to the pre-Raphaelite exhibition. I feel an article coming on! Watched Come dine with me, Leeds piano Beethoven 5...

Woke late so no swim again. To St Mary at Hill which I do not recall visiting for Peter Wright's playing of Brahms preludes and Bach Fantasia in G. Excellent and nice to see a church empty of chairs and art celebrating the sea to look at. Peter talked about Francis Jackson's 95th birthday and still playing. Priscilla had meningitis 2 years ago and has recovered well - she is a Quaker and an ideal match for FJ. Peter had fractured his little finger but is recovering. Also had a look in St Magnus the Martyr which is Forward in Faith and has a fine model of old London Bridge. To Heythrop and coffee - gave Fr Dave leaflets. Met Faye West in the little Lion office and happy for me to write about art and music. Worked in library and had dinner with Michael and Simon. Michael Barnes on Buddhism excellent! The chat forum has now been set up. Watched Gareth Malone in Manchester airport and Come dine with me worst ever candidates!

Woke up late again - have not had a swim this week. Sean is gaining weight! To Hinsley Room for the whole of the spirituality day and great to be back! Michael Dorey did a lovely meditation on the vine and the branches and we ate the grapes on display at lunchtime! Cathedral closed for filming with Kenneth Branagh. Saw Anton in St Paul's and bought cards. He put up Sharing Eden poster and I took one to Church House bookshop. I shared Brian Wren's "I come with joy, a child of God". Crozier for Archbishop Vincent at Mass for Society of St Barnabas - not many of them. Paul M actually greeted me! They support Anglicans wanting to become Catholic priests. I wonder who supports priests going the other way? The Catholic church behaves really badly to such people - they become "persona non grata" and forgotten. Hardly very Christian! Liz went to RCIA group for her course and enjoyed it. Watched Citizen Khan which is hilarious, University Challenge and a bumper Come...

To doctor - very nice lady with veil who checked my skin and said not to worry about large freckle on arm. Some twit in the waiting room was on his mobile and when asked to move outside said I had spoilt his day. The point which he did not get was that I had forgotten my hearing aids and might not have heard my name called. Acolyte at chapter Mass with the boys singing Britten Missa Brevis Duo seraphim and Panis - Guardian angels. Fr Pascal asked after Liz which was nice and Paul actually greeted me! To ENO for Martinu's Julietta. Good production, excellent orchestra under Gardner and fine tenor but the opera itself .... mmmmm....not that great, hard to keep awake! Success in booking Coloma plainchant choir for Catenian conference Mass - still cannot reach Fr Tom until next Tuesday. Designed poster for Sharing Eden.

After a late night an early start to get bus to Brixton and tube to arrive in good time for 9.30 mass. I was crozier for Bp John Sheringham - he can't sing and his voice is unimpressive. Paul M said nothing as usual. The choir sang Byrd Mass and Mozart Ave verum. Judges looking impressive in their full rigout and wigs. To Post Office and they had my diary - I said it was red/brown (The clou ro my new one for next year) and it is green. Great to have it back.  Met the nice bass from the cathedral choir on the train. To mosaic and more painting for half an hour. Linda away next week. Ta'i chi - no session next week. Bus to St Paul's Clapham and met secretary and Deborah Matthews the vicar who is very nice. Had a good chat and liked the organ - a Forster and Andrews. Quite a few have applied! Did my practising and returned home. Liz had taken AnnMarie to dentist after attending the requiem at St Helen's. After dinner Colin picked me up for Catenian meeting - official Provi...

Served at 10.30 mass - Byrd 4 part Mass which we had at our wedding 38 years ago. Shortbread in hall with friends. Furious with Paul Moynihan - he is so rude! To Princess Diana playground to meet the family - Bruce and eventually Dennis and AnnMarie. To tea at Whiteleys and an autumnal walk across Kensington Gardens. Fabuolous cruise on the Thames with dinner, wine, singer and dancing all for £75 - living social deal reduction - wonderful views. The last time we saw Tower Bridge on TV David Beckham was carrying the torch in a speedboat. Fantastic! The lights at Greenwich need improving! Lovely cufflinks from Louise!