The organist librarian

Dec 22 Posted blog on internet and checked emails. Sent a complaint email about Delhi guide. Had a very nice Rajasthani meal at our hotel the Golden Tulip. A buffet with delicious sweets. Dec 23. Downstairs for 7.30 and found St Xavier’s church next to big school with balloon for Christmas! Jesuits. Turned out mass was at 8.30 a.m. so ended up having coffee with 3 of the priests. The school principal older and wiser and he made some interesting observations. In India people may be poor but they are not alone whereas in the west they are lonely and nobody has time to talk to you. The Mass was in English with 2 priests and a music group which used their own hymnal compiled by young people. This seem to contain most of the worst 70s American hymns and we had nothing to do with Advent or Mary! All the proper texts were incorrect even the Lord’s prayer and after a while everything seemed to sound the same. The Swedish mass for the Kyrie. Noted one item by Kavin Mathew (Kevin Mayhew?)....

Sunday 16 th Dec packed and picked up Dennis and his presents. Arrived at Acton – both boys had been asleep. Had an excellent lunch at The Rocket. Bruce produced cards from which we were supposed to read words in turn to make up the message and clever boxes inside each other with sweets – Ciaran loved that. Back to the house in the rain for presents. C and S had big piles of course and the real highlight was the train turntable which went up and down! Watched Sports personality of the year and it was obvious Bradley Wiggins would win despite a strong field including 3 paralympians. Slept reasonably and taxi arrived early so we were at Heathrow early. Monday 17 th a good flight to Abu Dhabi on Etihad. I watched 2 films Cheerful weather for the wedding and Ruby Sparks. Also listened to Elgar while dozing. Had a wait for plane to Delhi but it left on time. I watched an interesting Indian film called “Beautiful” which was set in Kerala. Having left London at 9.30 a.m. we reached De...

We took Liz's cakes for servers and clergy and they were much appreciated. Fr Michael at Mass so he leant on me to get up and down the steps. Took clothes to the passage. Have got most of the things out that we need for the trip. Took present to Josie and Ken was there so had a good chat. Saw the end of "The Hour" and watched 2 programmes on Rome by Simon Sebag-Montefiore.

Took Li to station and then found swimming pool closed - should have gone to South Norwood pool!  Completed Clooney essay 2200 words and submitted it. Christmas cards and letters all done. Ran out of cards so if email sent no card! Watched The Hour final episode and Westminster Abbey featuring Mark Langham and An Island Parish. To serve at Santa Lucia service which was lovely. Excellent cathedral choir and Swedish choir. Baritone not loud enough?  He sang a Sibelius carol. The great moment is the Santa Lucia song in procession with girl crowned with lit candles and all carrying candles - so pretty! Looked for David Lester and Chris Hollis but didn't see them.Home to get fish and chips. Daphne Sherwood rang in response to the letter.

Swam 20. Finishing touches to Clooney coursework. Sang at Mass and we did de Severac Tantum ergo - gorgeous. Jerry thanked me for singing - he too graduates next year! Good homily by Fr Peter Gallagher. Having lunch and met a Muslim MA philosophy student who suggested some Sufi wrters for my dissertation subject! To Royal Academy for the Gainsborough, Turner and Constable exhibition. The Constables stood out! Back for meal and more reading on modern Hinduism. Martin Ganeri actually asked a question this evening. Got wide choice of essay topics. Red wine and then to pub and Michael Barnes came for a while. John Park (from South Korea) as incomprehensible as ever! Home at 11.20. Liz had been at John Lewis carol service and meeting with Tony and Ausra.

Liz went to take sample. I swam 20 - very cold outside. To Watermans - there was no music so enjoyed lunch and Helen paid for me as she says we paid for her. Seán and Ciarán on good form and heard all about Thomasland and Winter wonderland. He was much amused by the word "Popadoms". To graduation reception Kensington Town hall foyer and took photos. Only Saira and Luke came from our class - met Luke's parents from Gibraltar - they have been to Kerala. Also saw Fr Kim, Philip and his parents and Diana Liz's teacher. To Heythrop Jewish society Chanukkah party - nice doughnuts and lighting of candles. 2 girls sang the song but we couldn;t cope with new tune and transliterated Hebrew text as well!

1800 words of Clooney essay written - only 200 to go! To cathedral to steward choristers concert. We were checking tickets on the door and it was freezing. Still we enjoyed a superb free concert. Ceremony of carols, Stanford 4 biblical songs, Britten Missa Brevis, Handel all beautifully sung and  mostly from memory - what stamina! To the Friends reception in Francis Street  -bit of snobbery but enjoyed the champagne and chatting to Jack the Queen's coachman. Home to freezing fog and heavy frost on the car.

Heard the rest of the programme on Music and Silence. It seems one should wear hearing aids as soon as you need them otherwise there will be more cognitive loss. To hearing aid clinic and got more batteries and tubes. Shopped at Tesco for Liz - horrid "Silent night" sung by some woman and everything has been moved! Worked on coursework 2 on Francis Clooney. Evensong from Westminster Abbey featuring Peter Maxwell Davies setting of Rowan Williams "Advent calendar" from Choirbook for the Queen.

Monday swam 20 and hepatitis A jab. Have taken typhoid tablets and start malaria tablets on Wednesday. To mosaic and grouted the one for Alan and Ivor. Ta'i chi followed by a nice lunch at Vietnamese restaurant. Liz went for Xray on optigut survey and I read more Clooney. Had a lot of trouble with the printer jamming. Turned the mosaic over to fix in eyes and it fell out of the frame - I think it will beed regrouting and fixing to a board. To Beckenham Catenians and enjoyed chatting. Watched University challenge. Tuesday very frosty - swam 20.

Took Liz to East Croydon to go to the cathedral. Watched more of Westminster Abbey programme and got more Christmas lights from shed. To Putney Vale crematorium for 11.20 funeral of a 101 year old lady. Albinoni, Bach and Handel. 11 miles there. Drove to the cathedral to park and buses. A short visit to the London Transport museum and a delightful display of pictures on Secrets of London. Good seat in upper amphitheatre for Meyerbeer Robert the devil. A very fine tenor and good production. Seemed a bit long and repetitive. My neighbour likes going to unusual operas like me. Back to Victoria and waited for Liz who had been at Earls Court military show. To the Alberys to say goodbye as they are moving to West Sussex. A good chat. Watched Claridges programme.

Li went off to Heythrop. I prepared the Christmas cards and got Christmas stuff (just 2 boxes) out of the shed. To Heythrop for 1.30 for end of term party and sad farewell to Rosa who has been made redundant from the Pastoral mission programme which is definitely a blow. Chatted to Fr Dominic about SyroMalabar church. Did some work in the library on Clooney. Tea at Marks and vespers and Mass with Fr John. Abe managed to put candle 1 on the wreath out so had to go and relight taper at the credence table. Canon Christopher spoke again about the diocesan fundraising scheme. To RCIA meal at Chinese restaurant in Gerrard Street. Unfortunately the noise level made it very difficult to hear. I was next to a charming Chinese lady who works in fashion. Had a discussion with Julie about opening out the sessions and it confirmed yet again that nothing at the cathedral will change until we get away from priest-led sessions. The priests say the focus must be on the candidates - true but why not use...

  Liz asked him to sign his book for me!

Swam 22. At court for 10 and after some deliberations defendant found guilty on both counts and sentenced for 4 and half years for drug possession. Once again the loop was not on and I had to use my hearing aids instead. The defendant's mother was there when we got out of the jurors lift but didn't say much. Glad it's all over but feel I have done my duty to society. Met Liz at Norwood Junction and parked the car ready for late home coming. Had tea at cathedral and Liz served at Vespers of Immaculate conception. Rowan Willams gave a fine address. I sat with Sylvia behind Mrs Williams. Robert Parsons Ave Maria beautifully sung. The sad but was the congregation only got to sing Lord's prayer and Alma. Why no fine hymn like "Ye who know the Lord is gracious" or "For Mary mother of our Lord"? Bach at the end. Shook the great man's hand and he signed my book for me thanks to Liz. Ate at nice cafe in Covent Garden where there is a splendid Christmas...

Swam 20. Yesterday's snow quickly disappeared. Took car to Selhurst and waited for train to East Croydon. Got there in time for 10.30. Annoyed that I had to stop the trial and ask the judge as I could not hear anything - the loop was not turned on. Filled in a comment form to complain - the loop was never properly explained in the induction - I assumed it was just the loop on my hearing aid but in fact it was earphones like the ones I have for the TV at home! It was not a problem in the first trial in the bigger courtroom but in this tril the defence keeps dropping his voice and not talking to the mike. To Heythrop - library first then chili con carne. Had to have a chocolate ice! A good lecture from Michael but I started to wilt near the end! Hard to concentrate. Home to watch Who do you think you are. Liz took up the invite to Coloma's Christmas concert - result of next year's Catenian conference mass planning.

Finished at court at 4.30 so home and had dinner and watched Julia Bradbury doing canal walk in Wales. Listened to a bit of Michael Berkeley on hearing loss. To the cathedral for Gillian Weir's final recital. Splendid playing and a good audience - Demessieux, Bach, Franck, Martin, Willan and Mulet. Standing ovation and she walked the length of the cathedral and into the pulpit with flowers from Madeleine. Even Marie-Claire Alain didn't go in the pulpit! A memorable evening. Nice to see David Hill there. Met Liz at the end - she had been at RCIA with Michael Dunne. Watched The Hour on return home.

Swam 20. After yesterday's drama it was back to the grindstone. Liz went to serve for the schools carol services. For once she ws left in charge of a bishop!

After the ordeal of not saying anything I can now reveal the case. We started on Monday at 9.45 and saw the induction DVD in a court room at Croydon. At 3 we were called and 12 out of the 15 selected and took the oath. A 29 year old balck guy raped a 16 year old white teenager. I was horrified. Crucial witness was her 15 year old friend. Even his so-called sister who went out that nihgt testified against him. The friend who the victim told confirmed her story and so did her grandmother who was like something out of Eastenders. She had 5 bruises. He denied everything but changed his evidence especially about the music and dancing. The judge could not sit on Thursday or Friday afternoons but by the time we came back this morning we were unanimous. After the verdict was given we heard that he had a conviction for trying to strange his girlfriend! What a relief it was all over. As we left the court have been given the rest of the day off the policeman was there with the family who thanked ...

Woke at 4 and 6 and 7. Liz off to the cathedral. I did some hoovering and reading and then to St Paul's cathedral for Sung Eucharist. I was early so did some more reading despite the Germans next to me. Lovely Bach Nun komm der heiden heiland prelude. Men sing plainchant very heavily. Byrd 4 part Mass always a treat. An exc sermon from the Treasurer. Dean presided - he appears to tbe High Church. I hated the vestments and altar frontal - purple with check pattern and blue! Nobody seems to bow to the altar apart from the 3 main clergy! Byrd Vigilate motet at communion. 3 rather odd hymns to well known tunes - why? Lift up your heads to Wareham, O child of promise come by James Quinn to Carlisle and Ye servants of God. Lovely Rachmaninov Alleluias and the responsorial acclamations worked quite well. Mendelssohn Prelude and fugue in E minor at the end but the lady from Stuttgart next to me wanted to chat - she said I had a good voice, they had been to Opera House for the Donizetti and...

Woke at 4, 6, 7 and finally 8. With Liz to Heythrop and worked in library. Gemma Simmonds gave a good session on writing a dissertation. Went for tea at Kensington M & S and then to Vespers and Mass with Fr Archer. Advent is here! Cardinal Vaughan memorial school schola sang Byrd, Palestrina and Tallis and Peter played Bach Fantasia in C minor at the end. Home for dinner and Ocado delivery. Eggs and stuff covered in buttermilk so got a refund.  Dennis drove to North Otterington and got back to 1786 on the family tree!