The organist librarian

Swam 23 and Liz came too. To Christ Church Methodist for Rosalie Hughes's funeral - packed church and lots of Our Lady's parishioners. Saw Fr Denis and warm greetings from many people. Alan Hickox played really well and excellent choices including Ave verum and How beautiful are the feet. Peter Clarke preached on communion. Nick sang well from Elijah, Arthur and Cath read inspiring readings very well. Fr Joe led prayers and gave the blessing. It was truly ecumenical. Great hymns sung with gusto Dear Lord and Father, Lord for the years, Love divine, How great thou art. Had time for tea and some chat and then to St John's to sing at Judith Wallace's funeral. The church was very cold. We managed Ave verum by Byrd - at least Frank kept in time in the end! Dear Lord and Father and Love divine (why can't we have the Stainer tune?) The King of love and The day tho gavest. Bridget played and conducted - Adrian and Terence in Laos. Nice eats and people had travelled a long ...

Tuesday evening to Religions for Peace meeting in the cathedral hall. Rabbi Professor Dan spoke on the 2 state solution for Israel based on the Jewish ethical tradition using Exodus and the Kingdom of God. The questions were tricky and he answered them well. Pity some people made speeches and Bishop John cut them short. Jon Dal Din, Siriol and Alfred Agius were there and Hannah and Margaret. Good turnout. To Acton. Played track with Ciarán and took him to nursery - straight into the garden and the sandpit! To music and Seán is taking more interest and very strong. Louise took a back seat. "Les Miserables" a good film but obviously a stage show. Russell Crowe can't sing but the others certainly can. An od subject for a musical and somewhat sentimental. Spotted Greenwich, Bath and Oxford as the settings. To Hendon for my first Westminster Interfaith meeting with Jon, Margaret and Sr Elizabeth. Offered to do emails and updating website entries. To Heythrop for dinner and le...

Dennis was visiting AnnMarie in Dublin and had to go to casualty at St Vincent's where she works. He is diagnosed has having viral peritonitis and a hiatus hernia which is hereditary - Liz's side this time! He hopes to come back to England tomorrow - his car is at the flat as he had been on a course at Liverpool. Swam 24 today and to St Michael's where Paul and Caroline provided tea and chocoalte biscuits. Neither of them liked Vickie Sims - too bossy and rude when at Oxford and ambitious! Had an enjoyable chat about theology and then a practice. He had put the heat on in the church. I see he is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May. I am to play for Alan's funeral. I see there is a window showing the Pope in memory of his mother and father. His brother died in 2004 and he had an Allen organ in the house. He was a very private person.

Swam only 10 as I was late (High Street being dug up) and a lady asked me for advice about her bullying husband. He is disabled and she is also bringing up a 16 year old grandson. I said tell him, find something to do together and get respite care. Dave Cameron told me he had got the council and general manager to agree to no music at the pool. Excellent news! To mosaic (Linda in Amsterdam) so completed the Roman mosaic and worked on Seán's mosaic. Tai chi better attended - not sure when we move out for refurbishment of the centre as I will hold the keys for Tony. Home for an Indian meal and lemon meringue pie. To dentist - given a choice between £2000 for an implant or £204 for my front tooth I opted for the latter. Sent off the completed ordination article to Oremus, Music and Liturgy, PMM, British Jesuits, Jesuits and friends and Brixton parish. Xavier sending it to Kerala. To Peter Wright's for RSCM committee. The new director-general Andrew Reid came and asked a lot of qu...

When Liz came home we had a delicious lunch with pannacotta and elderflower cordial. I went to the cathedral for Martin Baker playing Cesar Franck's Trois pieces using Dad's score. I noted one marking in red in the Cantabile. Met John East and he remarked on the Old Johannian emails. Then to Westminster Abbey where Robert Quinney played Bach and Mozart. Home to watch Call the midwife and programme on the origin of life. Wrote the article about Xavier's ordination using Maud Matley's account.

Liz off to the cathedral after a request from Nicolas Moodie for a soprano at St Michael Cornhill - £50. Decided against it - I used to sing there in 1974 and met Harold Darke there. Read article on Jewish/Catholic relations. Listened to evensong Bramdean school 1990 including Harris in D and Ireland Ex ore innocentium. Djokovic won Australian Open final beating Murray again! Lovely sunny day and cleaned kitchen floor.

Liz to college and then marriage preparation at the cathedral. More reading on Judaism and Christianity. To Bloomsbury Baptist for Toccata and fugue+ Doug Tang formerly Croydon Minster now King's Cambridge played Bach and Jongen Sonata Eroica and a horrid new toccata by Bernard Heyes. Martin Ball, Christopher Town and Gary Sieling there and spoke to Margaret Phillips. Gary Cole spoke about her Bach recording project and showed slides and DVD of highlights. Charles Andrews from All Saints Margaret Street played Saint-Saens and Durufle superbly. I left as John Mander was starting. Fr Alexander at Mass and Cardinal Vaughan school choir sang Palestrina. Watched Ancient Rome programme and Songs of Praise from Dunblane. Spoke to Bruce in his mansion and he showed us the facilities. Food looks good!

Swam 24. Have not been all week but now snow has largely gone and the car was clear this morning. It was St Francis de Sales yesterday - I had not realised that he was in Calvin's Geneva. His gentle approach must have helped. Reading Helios on Judaism and Christianity. Damian responded well to my comments on the course and changes are likely which is encouraging. Liz still finds the authoritarian approach at the cathedral difficult. Everybody watching their back and checking with higher authority about the smallest things! How can change ever occur in such circumstances? Philip very funny about Catenians. Helios now showing 3 of my videos of ordination, first Mass and Kurisamala. Liz to West Wickham and got my watch fixed. Rat catchers came so set one up. Liz to marriage preparation course and I went to St Paul Rossmore Road NW1 where Michael Redman is curate for the patronal festival, procession and reception in the school. Cold. Wore my More than Gold jacket for the first time -...

To Heythrop for 1 p.m. Mass. Despite my request we did not sing "O Thou who at thy Eucharist didst pray" Had a soloist for Panis angelicus who did well apart from an early entry on the last line! Missa de angelis. Fr Jim Sweeney preached on Francis de Sales who was in Calvin's Geneva and the theologians upset his faith when he studied in Paris! A lecturer offered to get the ordination videos to Nadeem for me which was kind and I had a pannini and chatted to Michael Smith. Took the feedback form to Michael Barnes who appreciated my comments as did Damian. Martin Ganeri is no teacher! Module 1 is to be revamped which is good. To Old Marylebone Road Our Lady of the Rosary with South London brothers and met Fr Michael who is new there. A huge church so quartet and soloist will go at the front. We went up to the organ gallery but could not get in! At least Liz and I are now invited to the reception - I am not paying £75 for the dinner at the Landmark hotel! To the Royal Acade...

Tuesday more emails from Rob Sceales, Anthony Gear and Stan Trollip about schooldays. To St Michael's Beckenham despite snow and meet Fr Paul Keown - liked him. Lovely 1956 church wiht a new Mander organ paid for by the late Alan Burtonshaw who sadly died last week. Looks like it might be a proposition - I am playing for Bishop's visit on Feb 3rd. To Provincial council taking Harry Mellor. It ws held at Russell hotel, Maidstone a 39 mile drive. Peter Stevens was elected director. Nice beef meal and chatted to John O'Sullivan of Dulwich and his charming wife who have been married 25 years this year. John MacMahon was on form.Saw a mouse in the lounge - yuk!

To Watermans to see "Quartet! which we loved. Maggie Smith need say nothing - her face says it all! Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Collins on great form. Dame Gwyneth Jones, Colin Bradbury and John Georgiadis all feature. Looked after Sean and gave him a bottle while Louise went to personal training and Liz collected Ciarán who has a lovely Playmobile set. To Heythrop and Damian was at the lecture which was on John Hick. Xavier looking forward to seeing video. The Old Johannian correspondence continues to be fascinating.

Decided to go via East Croydon. Announcement "we are sorry for the delay" became "we are very sorry" then "we are extremely sorry". No Mr Announcer you are not sorry at all! Got to mosaic at 10.30 and everyone asked about India. We are doing a course on Roman mosaic styles using new glass cutters which I bought. Pity wanted to work on the 2 mosaics as the one for Alan and Ivor fell out of the frame and needs attention badly and regrouting. Linda is in Amsterdam next week. 4 at tai chi and chatted to Tony about Giresh and Kerala. To Balham library to get reserved book and took some photos of the melting snow in the sunshine. To Sainsburys to get kettle descaler and cookies! Cleared 4 inches of snow off the car. To Covent Garden on train and got there early so bought a programme. Rosemary arrived around 7 p.m. A very dramatic performance with some brilliant singing especially Sir John Tomlinson. Birtwistle's music is often affecting. I thought the blood...

Spoke to Ann on Skype. Finished reading the John Hick articles. Watched "Call the midwife" and programme on the Riviera and Matisse. Uploaded photos of ordinations to Face Book as the videos woudl not upload! Had delicious watercress and pear soup.  

Woke in the night so did some reading and then went back to bed. Liz went off in the snow to the cathedral. Sorry to hear Rosalie Hughes had died - cancer. She was a lovely kind person, Methodist married to a Catholic and I played for her mother's funeral at Christchurch Methodist. It was sad that some of the family got involved in the Addiscombe business. Spoke to Florence and Grainne on Skype. Snow kept coming down. Cleared path and put salt down and got chicken and sweetcorn ready for Liz and followed by melon and fromage frais. Listened to Die Schopfung from RFH with Sophie Beavan and Andrew Kennedy. Men of Schola cantorum of Oxford rough and sopranos not covering high notes so sounded shrill. Adam Fischer conducting OAE. John Hick articles interesting but took a long time to read!

Woke early. Felt like I was going to be sick - might be alcohol reacting with malaria tablet but in fact I was OK and had some fennel tea. Spoke to Lyn and Rosemary on Skype and they are not coming to dinner tomorrow because of the snow and ice. They fly to Sydney Feb 12th. To St George's cathedral for ordination of Stuart Meyer with Nicolas who is a married former Anglican priest from Winchester college. Archbishop Peter Smith was impressive. Less impressed at Norman's loud fast playing and the men rushing plainchant. Nick Gale conducting Haydn far too vigorously- result too loud! Benedictus really hald things up. Durufle motet and organ music and Villette motet less well done. Sunith was there and Stuart will be based in Anerley! Colin was there and a couple who used to come to St John's. Nice eats afterwards and spoke to Fr Philip Glanfield and Ann who used to be in interfaith group. Fr John as friendly as ever and got bus to cathedral with Canon Christopher. Fell aslee...

Excellent evensong from Winchester with Wood Coll Reg and Mendelssohn. Set off at 5.30 on buses and underground to the Oval wearing suit, waistocat, coat, hat, scarf, gloves and Wellington boots. Reached the Oval (snow still lying) at 6.30 and about 85 made it to Dulwich 500th. Lovely venue with view over the snow-covered ground. Bishop John Arnold stood in for Pat Lynch and did a great job. The Grand President didn't make it so Duncan stood in and did well presenting scrolls to John Almeida and Peter Walsh for 40 years and one to John Carton. Also a glass and whisky to Malachy and had a taste of it. I also had a small white wine so hope it does not react with the malaria tablets which we have nearly finished. A very nice meal of soup, salmon and lemon tart. £680 collected for CAFOD. I was home on underground and buses by 11.45. Cold.

Went swimming with Liz and swam only 18 as we were late. Came out to find it was snowing and it continued all day. Car in Whitworth Road. Cleaned my shaver and the muck! Working much better. Did some reading. Phoned Wandsworth Unison and I am getting a refund of £392 - I should not have been paying every month by direct debit!

Interesting programme on Grinling Gibbons.

Swam 24. We both went to the excellent Mughal exhibition at the British Library. Wonderful paintings and objects. Bought the book! Lovely to see places we had recently visited and items which belonged to the emperors. To Heythrop for Mass at 1 p.m. and tea afterwards. Liz went to King's for last optigut session and I came home. Email from Maud who was at Xavier's ordination with her comments. Watched programme on railway North of London with Michael Portillo, visit to Elgar birthplace museum, Come dine with me. She-wolf queens.

Swam 24 - came home to hear of horrific helicopter crash at Vauxhall. To Watermans for music and Seán was enjoying it. Saw the film "Pitch perfect" not bad but not funny and plot was non-existent! Lou dropped me at Gunnersbury - ate at Subway and got salad at M & S. Good interfaith group meeting with Karen Lawrence from Peterborough PECT and showed 3 short videos of ordination and Kurisamala. Dashed to Heythrop but videos blurry in Hughes room so showed bit of ordination on laptop during the break so Xavier could see it. To library and put up poster for Kensington unity service. Picked up Liz - frosty. She had been at RCIA. Didn't see Ciarán. The lecture was on the Catholic approaches to other faiths.

Yesterday we had a light dusting of snow on the cars but roads were clear so able to get to swimming. Today everything clear but the inside of the windscreen was wet and had to towel and wipe it a lot. Did 24 yesterday and 22 today. Have sent in art exhibition roundup to The Lion - they published my last one complete but not the cartoon!  Did some tidying up. Reflecting on the Mass yesterday it was such a contrast to the Sunday where there was so much joy and applause at Xavier's ordination. A requiem does tend to be sad but Kitty's smile and laughter kept breaking in. I liked the story from the niece who was sent to get bread from the baker and didn't understand Kitty's Irish accent - she was never sent again! Interesting that Kitty's first husband was never mentioned. She certainly made Jim very happy - he had been a bachelor for many years. Going back to Our Lady's is always going to be a strain as the church has so many memories most of them very happy ones...

Sunday to Corpus Christi Brixton for Xavier's first Mass there. This was a joyful occasion with a full church at 10.30 a.m. and coffee afterwards with cakes. Chatted to Colette the keyboard player about the Mass of Joy and SSG. Only one item was hard to sing - Foley because of gaps between lines. Needed a flute rather than a guitar. Pity they did not do psalm for the day. Took some photos. Saw Fr Tom. Then to St George's Hanover Square for Simon Williams' 12.30 recital on the new American organ. Mendelssohn 6. He plays really well and is moving to Croydon Minster. Liz working on essay and I did some more reading. To evensong and we sang Stainer in B flat and Stanford O for a closer walk with God. Chatted to Jeremy about India and Frank and Phillipa were there. P. not keen on India at all. Adrian and Terence are off to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Worked on Liz's powerpoint all evening. Monday to Addiscombe for Kitty Duggan's funeral - she was 89 and such a happy pe...

While reading Karl Rahner listening to the lovely Royal Holloway college Epiphany service. A new tune "Broadwalk" for Brightest and best - I liked it but Liebster Emmanuel is still the best tune I think. Delighted to hear "From the eastern mountains" to "Cuddesdon" - a very fine tune indeed. Now we have Jonathan Dove anthem.

Been following Bruce's flight progress across Scotland! Reading texts for course and listening to recordings of evensong - splendid Taverner carols from Clare college 2008 and Lichfield cathedral. Dennis rang.

Friday had a really nice time with Louise picking up Bruce and his packing so he could stay overnight. Ciarán had his track set up and wanted it to stay up and could he stay the night? Seán rolled over and is very strong. The lounge already looked odd with the carpet rolled up! Claire came down in the evening and brought biscuits and sweets - lovely to see her. Woke a few times in the night and up at 515 a.m. Miserable cold wet day. Got to airport in good time 6.44 and he went through with Air Transat no problem. I was home by 8 and Liz had met a couple at Giraffe whose sone had been to Fernie and they had stayed there - said it's fantastic and their second son has just gone. We will miss Bruce. He is back in April and goes to Sydney in May and then Queenstown hopefully until October.

Wed 9th to Balham library to return books and then on to Watermans. This was Ciarán's last session as he starts nursery every morning next week and 3 afternoons - £90 instead of £180. He was playing on his scooter with Loki and Rufus and had coffee discussing travel with Amelia. We then went to Osterley garden centre for lunch (shepherd's pie) and soft play. Rufus can be quite bossy and has to be watched! Louise dropped me at Gunnersbury and there was time to go to the library before the lecture - this module has some new blood in it and Michael Barnes was interesting on the evangelical approach to interfaith although I was drooping with jetlag near the end. Xavier is back safely too. Slept a bit better and went swimming - 24 lengths. The temperature is around 10 degrees quite a contrast to 22 degrees in Kerala and high humidity. Liz working on her essay and has a cold. Took Bruce to Post Office for second time and more big parcels sent off. To Heythrop library and got more b...

Having woken again in the middle of the night as a result of jetlag I was reading my dear Mum's diary from the 1967 European tour and realised it sounded just like my blog! So many of the incidents come back to me vividly and I was telling Souk and Craig about the transforming moment on Dad's birthday Aug 23rd in Salzburg when we tossed for the tickets (2 between 4) and I went with Dad to hear the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Karl Bohm with Barenboim at the piano. Never again could I accept the musical standards of Joburg - this was where I had to be! Watched Young Apprentice last night and managed to keep Liz awake. Ashleigh was a worthy winner. Am now up again and putting more videos on Facebook.

Still jet lagged - woke at 1 a.m. and did some reading. Liz was also up. To Bethnal Green Mission for Christian Muslim forum conversations for the soul led by Zahra who provided lunch as well. Met a Muslim lady Nabeela from Wandsworth,  Fr. Michael from St George in the East and Rev June Boyce-Tillman who is a larger than life character and a composer. Most interesting discussion on faith and society. Bought 2 calendars.  Shared a taxi to Old Street and collected car from Glyn Close. Took Bruce to Post Office - rather brought it home that he really is going. Watched Westminster Abbey programme and Young Apprentice. Have caught up on college work and emails and posting videos on Face book.

Up early for a nice breakfast of dosa, cereals and fruit. Sunu one of the waiters asked if we were going to Mass and said he knew Xavier from St Joseph’s! Left at 8 and arrived in good time for the 9 a.m. Mass. Very impressed by the number of children of all ages at weekly catechetical classes before Mass including teenagers! Church rapidly filled for Fr Xavier’s Mass in Mangalam. We took part in the offertory procession bringing up flowers this time and getting a blessing! At communion everyone stands in their place and turn to form aisles – all very disciplined. Once again we were publicly thanked for coming. What a privilege it has been! Annie and Anthony greeted us and we chatted to men from Greenford and East Ham! Chandron took us to the Jewish synagogue in Mattacherry and we walked to the Dutch palace to see the amazing Hindu mural paintings. Just in time as the lights failed which happens quite a lot here! Every house has its own generator. Then to the Jain temple which was ...

Finally we reach the reason for our trip. We arrived at Little Flower church after the car had had 2 knocks in the heavy traffic to find large banners featuring Xavier and the bishop. Secured seats in front row of seating in nave. Went to wash room and met Fr Gracious who gave me tea and introduced me to lots of priests who because of my cross called me Father. Liz went over too. Everyone so friendly and smiling. When the Archbishop and Xavier arrived there was a marching band, fire crackers, first communion kids and lots of priests. Church filled rapidly with many on the floor. Xavier’s brother Anthony had welcomed us and later we met his uncle. A Carmelite nun loked after us. The sermon was too long. The whole service was in Mangalam. Couple from Germany and their son and a couple from Brixton parish plus Fr Michael Kirwan SJ from Heythrop on the altar. Xavier had a stunning chasuble. Liked the psalm and litany and the bishop sings well. We carried baskets of vegetables and fruit ...

A lovely meal on the houseboat – so much we could not do it justice ending with fresh pineapple. Watching the sun go down was lovely and the birds roosting. The bed was excellent but did not sleep that well. Got up to see the sunrise at 6.45 and a lovely breakfast of omelette and coconut pancakes with fruit. Very cool sitting next to the steering wheel watching the birds and the final journey to where we got on the boat. Did not want to get off it was so relaxing! Drive to Fort Kochi and the Eighth Bastion is a brand new boutique hotel with a huge room and balcony! Strangely no TV in the room. Unpacked and sorted clothes> Cases were weighed and we are under 23 kilos each. Walked to the Bishop’s house (very grand) and Joseph came to open up the Indo-Portuguese museum of church artefacts. He admired my Bethlehem cross. Then got a tuk tuk to the Kathakali centre –a new one with a small museum. Watched the makeup and the show with strange eye and hand movements and extraordinary cost...

New Year’s Day 2013. We set off at 10 a.m. after a rather disappointing breakfast considering the banquet offered the previous evening! The staff seemed a bit subdued as well! John bought a Ganesh wooden statuette and got on the internet to post 2 blog items and get emails. Unfortunately in the time Face book refused to load the video of the greeting to Ciarán. It was another long scary drive with a stop at a fascinating Orthodox church with murals well explained by the resident guide who quite unashamedly asked for a donation. We had coffee and vegetable snacks at a touristy café which was a bit overpriced. When we finally arrived at the town for the Periyar reserve we found we were at a hotel in the town. The room was described as a jungle lodge with a balcony view over a flooded waterway and various hotels and distant hills. It was clearly run down and not up to standard. I spoke to the driver and the local agent and to Anthony who explained that air con was not available at this...

Dec 29 continued We had a delightful Indian dinner at the buffet in Pepper where we have breakfast. A wonderful selection of desserts including tiramisu in a cup. I managed to complete the videos of all the photos taken so far – a couple of thousand excellent pictures with the new camera! The Delhi rape has been thundering in the papers and on all the TV channels and now sadly the victim has died. It seems that the courts here are very slow and short of judges who do not convict. There is evidence of police corruption and inaction. Liz dropped off on the bed but I stayed awake and eventually woke at 2 a.m. to hear fireworks going off in Kochi until 3 a.m. presumably the end of a big celebration. Woke at 6 a.m. and did a couple more videos after my usual reading. I have done all the Heythrop work I brought with me. We need to check the weight allowance on Etihad airlines but I think by putting all the books and electrical plugs in the hand luggage we should manage. Dec 30 Sunday H...

Christmas Day continued. Had a lovely swim and a rest. Went to see the spotted deer, boars, peacocks and eagles at the small game park at the hunting lodge where the guide explained about the wall paintings. A lovely spot as the sun was going down. We were able to speak to Dennis, Bruce, Grainne and Sophia on Skype but alas could not get Louise Tom and Ciarán in Ireland. Still we sent texts and later we saw the short video of Ciarán saying Happy Christmas. To the free dinner at   Ambrai which is on the lakeside opposite the floodlit palace -   a lovely location and excellent food. We had lamb and chicken done in local style and gulak taman, round sweets. Also nice mocktails. Watched The Nutcracker on TV from Seattle 1983. Dropped off and woke at 1 and 7. St Stephen’s Day Good breakfast and a box of goodies for later. Our guide Lokmani was excellent and never mentioned shops once. In fact it was a delight not to be harassed by hawkers at all! What a lovely place Udaipur i...