The organist librarian

It is weeks since I went swimming. As I have had a chesty cough and cold it is not a good idea and I have been waking in the early morning. I do seem to have lost some weight since Christmas 10:2 at the moment. Monday 30th took Bruce and EJ to IKEA and Boots in pouring rain and they went to the National Portrait Gallery. Liz and I went to Clapham Picturehouse to see Saving Mr Banks which was excellent. Fascinating the clash over what should be done to Mary Poppins - do children want a softer version? Excellent songs and the flashbacks to Australia were very well done. Home to see Sacred Wonders of Britain. 31st grouted the mosaics I made yesterday - Bruce kindly cut the MDF for me. I have now made 3 of the Walsingham ones and 2 Keep calm and pray. Bruce and EJ went over to Louise and Tom's as they had a baby sitter. We went to the Clapham Picturehouse for 4.30 to see the Berlin Philharmonic New Year concert live conducted by Sir Simon Rattle OM with Lang Lang playing Prokofiev 3. ...

Played Noels, Bach In dulci and John Cook on Divinum mysterium. Fr Adrian presided. Only 12 there! Listened to Chester cathedral and Birmingham cathedral broadcasts and Carols from King's. Evensong was a 1988 broadcast from St Paul's and it was superb. The Choir featured Janacek and Dvorak. Watched programme on Andrew Wyeth. 

Lie-in reading Dickens including the Bloomsbury christening with a reluctant godfather who adored Herod as he hated children and he manages to ruin the christening party. Bruce and EJ enjoyed Greenwich yesterday and go to the ballet this evening. Took Bruce up to Dennis's to fit the wardrobe together. Listened to the rest of King's carols and part of Midnight Mass from Birmingham cathedral featuring Britten and Archbishop Bernard Longley. 

To St John's for Sung Eucharist Eyre setting and O fragrant the lilies."Word supreme" to  Grafton. The preacher was the vicar from the Annunciation Bourne Street so I asked him about the mystery reliquary which contains part of St Charles Borromeo! We talked about interfaith and Thomas Merton as well! I did not go the vicarage lunch as Liz was not 100% again. Sean asleep and Louise took Ciaran to Godstone. Took recycling up to Glyn Close and brought Dennis down. Bruce and EJ went to Greenwich. We went for a walk at Crystal Palace park and Bruce rode his bicycle and enjoyed the dinosaurs and they went home around 7. Watched Don Quixote on TV. 

Enjoyed a walk round the lake and Ciarán was a star on his new bike. He sang beautifully yesterday both Grace, Little donkey and Away in a manger. Dennis arrived and Tom went to watch football at the pub. David brought the baby down - so sweet. Watched Open all hours, Death comes to Pemberley part 1 and Ben Fogle and James Cracknell in the desert. Louise made a lovely pie using leftovers. Lovely broadcast from the Abbey for Midnight. 

Liz dropped me at Anerley and I checked in the Catholic church for the key but no luck and walked to St Michael's. 35 there and played Gordon Phillips, Andrew Gant, Noels. We sang Christians awake - a first for me! Also A great  and mighty wonder. There were some nice comments about Liz and Louise's singing at the carol service. Stephen kindly brought me home. Liz came back from the cathedral later while I was looking after Seán and the cooks were hard at work. Lunch was superb. Turkey, ham, sausages in bacon, carrot with star anise, brussels, potatoes. Christmas pudding, chocolate log and trifle with Jersey brandy butter and other delights. Stilton and Taylors port. Montepulciano and champagne and Baileys. The Queen was excellent and we saw Prince George's christening photo session. All other TV programmes were recorded. We sang all our favourite carols round the piano and EJ enjoyed it. We tried to play Cerebrum but it was hard. It was a lovely Christmas.

We set off in time for Liz to get a train from Kent House to go to Vespers. I heard the first 45 minutes of King's in the car including The Lamb and Britten New Year carol. The new carol by Thea Musgrave worked well. Not so sure about Joy to the world. The crib service and Christingle at St Michael's was awful. It was preceeded by a tape (this always annoy me). We sang quite a few carols but the sight of children tearing round the church looking for crib figures was not a happy one. Paul lost it at times suggesting that Jesus travelled on Santa's sleigh and confusing the Christingle symbols - 4 angels or 4 seasons. It just went on too long - nearly 90 minutes and I will certainly play for it again! I got to the station to find trains were every half hour so abandoned the plan to get to cathedral for 6 p.m. Mass and went to Anerley. Organ played OK and Fr Sunith mentioned me at the end. Fr Stuart remarked that I had sneaked in from the cathedral! I picked up Liz at West Nor...

Nice chat to Ann. To 11 a.m. mass at Lakeside home. The place has been brightened up with a nice view over the garden and Fr John did a shortened service with a nice booklet. We sang some carols and then went upstairs to sing to Robert Fraser's wife. Nice to see Benjo again. Coffee and cake was appreciated. It is so hot in there I could never stand that! Amahl extract was on the radio and that brought back happy memories. Listened to our 2005 CD Christmas in Coulsdon  - it comes up fresh. I suppose being in India last year gave a good break! 

Took Liz to Shirley Oaks hospital for initial discussion and I fetched the turkey, beef and sausage meat from the butchers. It seems what I got was smaller than ordered! Not my fault. Liz goes back on Jan 7. Nice ham lunch with Bruce and EJ and opened the lovely present they brought including fudge. To Westminster Abbey carol service which was lovely despite the coughing and talking over the organ voluntaries but Messiaen and Dupre do not appeal at all. Rutter, well-known carols and very nice Poulenc, Victoria and new carol by Toby Young. I'm afraid James O'Donnell's arrangements are not a patch on Willcocks! Home to watch John Bishop.

We sang Lo he comes at the morning service so I played Lloyd Webber voluntary on it and Sumsion on Veni emmanuel. Liz ahd made cakes for the boys, clergy and servers. Fr Augustine is moving to Walsingham aged 98! Louise arrived for lunch and had a sleep. The carols went really well. Choir of 8. The Rutter Angels'carol and Little road were beautifully sung and we sang On Christmas night and Sing lullaby. Applause was a little odd  -45 there. Mulled wine and mince pies. Antiques roadshow, final fo Choir in the workplace won inexplicably by P and O. I thought Citi were much better and I like Cheshire fire service's sound. 

Took Liz to King's A & E and sat there for 3 hours. I drove home and she came back later on the bus having been told to take imodium. Woke in time to get to St John's for 10 a.m. The West Indian funeral was supposed to start at 10.30 and finally kicked off after 11. There were numerous eulogies and songs some of them very tearful. We sang Wood, Thou knowest Lord and the Kontakion and finally got home at 12.45 but we did get paid! Hoovered and cleaned - Bruce and EJ have arrived and gone to the theatre so not seen them yet. Watched Mastermind, Question of Sport. Saturday miserable day. EJ and Bruce went for a run. I went up early to do shopping. Fr Michael Q at Mass so we lit 4th candle on wreath. Drove home.