The organist librarian

Swam 20. Mosaic and good progress, 9 at tai chi - bit crowded at times! To Balham and returned Prince Igor and Werther scores - all the music leaflets have gone! To Nationwide as my card is cracked and got 5 amp fuse at Sainsbury's - outside light still doesn't work! Come dine with me. Jan Latham-Koenig on In Tune. The confirmation session on marriage went really well. So much better than the previous 2 years as I had attended most of the sessions and could link back to vocation and the creation session. Lively discussion in groups as well - most of them want to get married and there were some interesting comments on what they do not like! Rev was funny and topical and University challenge saw SOAS go out which is a shame. Gay wedding the musical very OTT. After her rehearsal for Maundy Thursday Liz met the 2 bishops elect in the street!

Liz liked the card. She thought she had lost her freedom pass so went back to the golf club but it was in fact at home. She got new bulbs for the outside light but it still does not work! At family eucharist we sang For the beauty of the earth, Tell out my soul, Sing we of the blessed mother, Soul of my saviour and The church's one foundation. I played Liszt on Arcadelt Ave Maria, Buxtehude Chaconne and Bach Fantasia in C minor. We rehearsed the psalms for Holy week and there are some changes. Debbie was not there. I went from Kent House to Herne Hill and to Blackfriars to visit the Oxo tower Spirit of womanhood exhibition by women artists celebrating 10 years of the women's interfaith network. Interesting but nor particularly religious. I walked along the Thames to the hall and had another look at the organ exhibition and watched all the films. The concert was at 3 and featured Bach immaculately played by James McVinnie. I was furious that the lights were turned off so having...

To Bloomsbury Baptist for excellent recital by Tom Bell. Vierne, RVW, Bliss and Elgar at which point I slipped out. There was a very smelly man behind me! Fr Christopher at Mass and he spoke about Mothering Sunday. The Zenobia choir from Madrid sang Vittoria. We went to Kent House and drove to Langley Park golf club for Beckenham's dinner which was black tie and quite delightful. Delicious lamb and apple crumble - £25 each. Home by 10.45 and clocks go forward an hour.

Long chat to Ann while still in bed. Fr Joe has responded to the invitation very positively. Sorted out marriage presentation and did Catenian provincial report. Listened to evensongs from Bristol and Magdalen College.

Olivier Latry's recital started with intriguing piece by Jean-Louis Florentz. I skipped the Messiaen. Widor's 5th symphony featured a slow Toccata!

Liz and I swam - I did 20. Yesterday little woman removed my bag from the disabled change room and did not answer knocks on door. Liz reckons she was having chemo. I cleared the patio and rearranged it. Fixed wires to the fences. Spent a lot of time doing Catenian invites to clergy and widows. Listened to Festival Hall organ concerts. Thomas Trotter was brilliant and Andy Scott gave a good interview. Poulenc and Berlioz very good.

Thursday swam 20. Liz was out all day. John Turner came to put in new outdoor light, fixed the otter water feature (wire bitten through) and the new water feature came in good time so we now have 2! I did a scissors and paste job on the Holy Week Murray psalms and took copies to the church. Also collected Dennis's keys from Glyn Close and took parcels up there. Strangely the light was on when I came back but is not coming on at night. Got the water features going and watched 2 Come dine with me. To Mike Nestor's for Catenian council meeting but he was held up at a funeral so we went to Brendan's and all was well. To Welcome Friends in Addiscombe for a Chinese which was good and only £10 as Kevin bought drinks for his 60th birthday.

Bruce and EJ not up so went to Watermans. Ciaran no school because of teachers strike so both at music. We had lunch there too and met Merle and Mei in the playground . Had a snooze at home and then took Ciaran to swimming. To Heythrop for Lord Brennan's excellent lecture on The Christian's responsibility in public life. Met Michael Barnes, Alex Jozsa, Robert Rigby of the Catholic Union and some fellow Catenians, Ian Potts from Ealing council and a sister from Rwanda. It was an interesting evening. Should I join the Catholic Union? Would Catenians speak out on public issues? I should not feel so alone in my interfaith work.

To doctor Ojo who sucked wax out of my ears and showed a 2nd year student how to do it. Liz went to osteopath and I went to St Mary Abchurch. Ian Shaw played Bach loudly and rather sloppily. He also played Handel and Hylton Stewart at which point I left to get to St Mary at Hill to hear James Johnstone playing Bohm, CPE Bach, Sweelinck and Scheidermann. A very good player and Liz joined me there. We went to the Angel and walked along the Regent's canal to visit Jean in her new abode at Bridgeside Lodge nursing home where she has a nice view of the canal. Her neighbour Jenny came. Liz went to Acton and I got the 4 bus to the Temple church for evensong for the Annunciation. Excellent choir although one alto tended to anticipate Roger Sayer's beat. Parry prelude on Eventide, Tavener, Burgon and Robert Parsons. Whitlock Paean on the refurbished organ. The Lord Mayor Master Woolf was there and they went off to dinner in their finery. Car was at Selhurst as our journey home last nig...

An excellent session at confirmation with Fr Michael Q on freedom - the young people were really involved and asking good questions. Watched Rev (it's back!) Come dine with me, University challenge and The Plantagenets.

Swam 20 and Liz came as well. Mosaic worked on L edging. Andrea sponsored Louise. At tai chi Toni had has standing for 40 minutes. My thigh muscle started to complain - it's the one the osteopath identified so I did my exercises. To Balham library to pick up vocal scores. There is a horrid new screen near the entrance. Played some of Werther - amazing stuff! Also got guide books to Canada and the USA. Chat to neighbour. Barbara across the road has died after 4 months in hospital a lot of it in a coma. Philip has gone home.

Played Willan on Caithness and Aberystwyth and Peeters on Aberystwyth. The booklets for Holy week produced and need to sort out psalms as texts are quite different - why? To Greenwich from Clock House. Nobody turned up at 1 for the family walk so enjoyed the visitor centre then to the Painted Hall and chapel of the Old Royal Naval college. Turner and the Sea at the National Maritime Museum was lovely and then saw the new Nelson exhibition. Art at the Queen's House and Morgan cars parked outside. Met Liz at Kent House - she had been to 2 Temple Place. To evensong Byrd 2nd service and Tippett Go down Moses. Adrian has taken some of Alan's vocal scores and I have lent him the index.

To 2 Temple Place for 10 a.m. for Discoveries - some amazing items from Cambridge museums in an interesting house once owned by Lord Astor. Dodo skeleton, ichthyosaurus, egg collected by Darwin, casts of Greek sculptures, Polar and astronomical items. Bought a shaker and Penguin book for the boys. To talks at Royal Festival hall, Prof Brendan Walker on the 50s and the changes they brought. Struck me that many changes of products came from America but design was influenced here by Scandinavia. Was this because of cost or education? Listened to Wondrous machines in the foyer using the 4 specially made organs. Ed Breen from Morley College spoke on instruments and their influence on organs and showed David Munrow footage. Harrison and Harrison builders spoke about the project and showed plans and photos then Kerry Downes spoke about his father. I spoke to him about how kind Ralph Downes was to Dad and I allowing us both to play and how he attended at the Oratory the Rachmaninov Vespers wh...

To Festival Hall and listened to Christina Ortiz play on In Tune in the foyer then to talk on the organ with William McVicker and John Scott. He described his first encounter with the organ in 1973 when Ralph Downes changed the first lesson from the oratory and he played the St Anne fugue! The concert was magnificent - Marchand, Buxtehude, Bach, Mozart and Dupre and fiendish Liszt in the second half. I had scores for 3 of the pieces and his technique is immaculate. The Vaughns and Dibbs were there also the Harpers and Harry Bramma.

A most interesting Channel 4 programme by Dr Christian on how one cannot be treated for being gay - some of the "treatments" were awful or absurd! Cleaners came to Scotch guard the carpets. Listened to Wells cathedral evensong and Jonathan Vaughn played Bach very well.

Swam 20. Decided not to go to art and craft this week as went to St John Smith Square to hear Catherine Ennis - Handel, Bach, Sweelinck, John Gardner and Saint-Saens. Splendid playing. Cleared up ready for cleaning tomorrow. Prepared dinner and took Dennis to station. Liz was at college all day. Richard Strauss from Festival Hall on radio - Alpine symphony conducted by Maazel. Come dine with me hilarious.

Got to Acton in good time from the Festival Hall despite a mix up at Willesden Junction. Announced on train it was finishing there and it then pulled out to Richmond. Wednesday took Seán to music and announced about marathon. We had a nice lunch at Sainsburys but had problems getting out of the car park but it was solved. To interfaith group and 7 came including Ali from Linked in. Raheed Salam led a lively discussion on radicalisation and identity of Muslim youth and there were connections with confirmation class! We went on to 6 and I then went to Vauxhall and got the train to Hampton Court. Sat next to a nice lady who knew little about organs. Herrick played magnificently and we could watch him on the screen. Derek Bourgeois was present. John Webber, Guilmant, Bach, Handel and Walton and a fun encore. Liz picked me up at West Croydon. Dennis here.

Interesting exhibition about the organ with videos and 4 wondrous machines. Radio 3 In tune in the foyer and chatted to Robert Fraser. Saw Drew Cantrill and Liz and I ate at Giraffe. Alas I misread the programme and did not realise the talk was in the QEH so we listened to the youth choirs instead. The concert was brilliant with John Scott (immaculate Bach Passacaglia) Jane Parker-Smith (Franck Fantaisie showing off the colours) David Goode and the diminutive Isabelle Demers (Mendelssohn and Dupre). New works by Maxwell Davies and Tavener were effective. Alison Balsom played Bach brilliantly. Gigout with brass ensemble was a great start. Surprised to see Jane Allen there, also Chris Town, Geoff and Andy Scott.

Swam 20 and Liz came. To mosaic - the project has changed from Sean to SLCT at Louise's suggestion so E became L! Tai chi and gave out details of marathon. A model of the Peabody estate was on show but no clear sign of a community centre for us to use but there will be one! Werther on the radio from the Met. To confirmation class which was on vocation and we heard from John a Scottish Franciscan and Mark Doran bless him. Tuesday swan 20 and went to church to look for scores but Guilmant, Gigout and Mozart were not there after all! To  Clapham Picture house to see Werther from the Met. Kaufman and Sophie Koch were brilliant both acting and singing.

Up for 7 and the boys were up. Seán enjoying an explore. Played Andriessen on Aus der tiefe, Hurford on Caswall and Bach Erbarm dich. Found some vocal scores in the cupboard and an index to the settings and anthems. Put organ music in alphabetical order. We started with "Stand up, stand up for Jesus" but the rest of the hymns were fine. Glory be to Jesus, There's a wideness, I heard the voice of Jesus say and Forty days and forty nights. 28 in congregation and family came to remove the stone dog with the purple bow from the funeral so no chance to discuss with Fr Paul so emailed him. Very nice reply saying I was admirable as always and just right so no need to worry. Waiting for Liz sat in the sun reading the Tablet and listened to Just a minute. Dennis came down and Ciaran playing with Lego and in garden. A glorious day and a lovely lunch of lamb and apple pie and semifreddo. To St John's for concert by St Bart's orchestra Beethoven Coriolan, Suite by clarinetti...

Liz to servers Mass. Road closed by police outside Safeways so just missed train. I went to Queen's chapel of the Savoy. Philip Berg welcomed us and played Bach and Elgar Imperial march and a piece by a Victorian organist of the church. I played Andrew Moore and really enjoyed looking round the robing room and the Lancaster Hall. Steak and kidney pudding at the Wellington in the Strand - long wait for it but it was very good. For some reason the Strand one way was closed so got bus from Trafalgar Square to St Patrick, Soho where  Breda eventually arrived. I played some Stanley - the short swell was confusing. All agreed it is a lovely instrument. Bloomsbury Baptist I turned for Philip Luke who played some Bach and Bedard based on a Canadian Huron carol. I too played some Bedard then off to Vespers and Mass with Fr Alexander and choir of St George Sudbury. Dennis came down for dinner with Louise and the boys were in bed.

An interesting BBC tribute to Tony Benn. Have sorted out magazines - not much in CMQ! I keep finding old material which needs sorting.

Swam 20 and Liz came too. Fr Ray Andrews on Benedictine spirituality was interesting and it turned out Anne-Marie, Caterina and I could add a lot to what he said.  Lovely to be able to sit outside at lunch time without a coat! Anne-Marie and I had a good discussion about funerals - her husband has to take Breck's funeral on Monday. He is a 14 year old who was murdered as a result of internet contact - horrific. It was a much more relaxed group perhaps because Nicky was off sick! We finished with None. They liked the sleep and prayer input. Home to watch Come dine with me.

Thursday to BSO and saw Evalina. Very good progress and decided could now leave it for a while and keep doing the exercises. The tutor was nice as well. To Royal Academy to see chiaroscuro woodcuts and Norman Stevens ARA prints. Also a second visit to the Sensing Spaces especially to see the bamboo and the forest effect displays. Had squash salad and tea in the Sir Hugh Casson room in Keeper's house. Although it was a Friends preview day it was not so crowded - maybe going in the morning is better. To Burlington Gardens to see the second year works but more impressed by James Turrell's use of light. To Notting Hill and dropped into Waterstone's. A lovely day again. Alan's series on interfaith and the whole person. Marianne Rankin spoke on universality of spirituality. A rather aggressive and poorly informed Hindu was a bit of a trial - a monologue rather an a dialogue. I pointed that what he was saying did not match what I had studied and over tea I pointed to Hindus k...

Took Seán to Acton parish church but no playgroup so went home. There wasn't time to go to music as I had to get to Beckenham to play for funeral. 2 hymns and voluntaries - £60. The deceased lady was treated like a saint. She lived for her grandchildren, would do anything for anyone. But did she go to church and feed the poor? Perhaps one should not be so judgemental but when the pop songs started I escaped and got back to Acton in time for Liz to take Ciaran to swimming. Evensong was from Magdalen Oxford. Yesterday I packed up Alan's surplus music in 3 boxes and sent it to Liverpool. Too Sean to the park in his push bike with no handle. To Hurtado centre, Wapping and 2 of the Jesuit deacons were there. Ann led a good session on pictures of the Pharisee and tax collector. During the meditation I had a lovely feeling of being accepted like a child just as I had comforted Sean earlier then dropped off! Watched Come dine with me,

Monday Bruce and EJ dropped off luggage after their visit to the Tower of London and headed for Crystal Palace. We went to confirmation which was in the crypt and Paolo explained Mass. We spoke about being servers. I left my keys in the locker and got them back on Tuesday evening. Up early to take Bruce and EJ to East Croydon to fly off to Egypt for 2 weeks in the sun. Went to the tip and then swimming. To St Mary at Hill to hear Robert Smith play the Plymouth suite with the score of Percy Whitlock and Durufle. Fred Irvine was there. To the National Portrait gallery to see the World War 1 portraits but it was crowded and cramped, also saw the Ben Okri poem. To Eland house for London interfaith boroughs forum. Alan tells me India Chennai accommodation  is refurbished and en suite.. The 2 hosts disappeared and did not come back but at least there was a chance to announce things. There was discussion on public health. Served 5.30 Mass and the boys sang 2 Bach arias beautifully. I got...

Sent off details of Coloma presentation to local papers and diocesan paper. Also Catenian family events diary to visiting gentlemen and brothers. I have done some feedback to Andrew Bishop. Liz went from Kent House. We stuck to the Murray setting maybe next year we can get another one for Lent! I played Orgelbuchlein preludes for Lent and the recit from the St Matthew Passion which mentions Adam. Alan's organ music is now packed up in 3 boxes and I went through the photocopy files and picked out a few. A lovely day and cleared up the garden - 6 bags! There seemed to be birch twigs everywhere and bits of next door's extension roof! Saw David in shorts! Didn't go to evensong - could face Kathie singing Hear my prayer! Watched Songs of Praise and heard Gloucester cathedral evensong which was excellent. Last Call the midwife of the series - ah!

Liz served at the rite of election - 700 in Westminster diocese becoming Catholics this year! I went to St Margaret's Westminster for the annual day of prayer ably led by Canon Andrew Bishop of Guildford. Canon Jane Hedges got a clap on becoming Dean of Norwich! The subject was sleep and prayer and it was fascinating. We were reminded of the importance of "hallowed sleep" and the usefulness of Ignatian examen before sleep. "Being prayer than 'I am now going to pray'". A gift to be received rather than a decision to be made. When am I truly myself? Asleep or awake? Or both. The best way to flatter someone is to say "Oh you must be so busy". The danger of a sense of indispensability. The Abbey is not ideal for this. It took 10 minutes to go to the loo, 15 minutes to get a coffee, so many people I never got into the shrine or Henry VII chapel. The garden was not open although it was a lovely day so I ate my picnic in the cloisters and got chattin...

Up early to be at Coloma by 8.10 for sixth form assembly. Spoke to 300 girls about Catenians and presented 3 bursary fund cheques. Interesting the number of Muslim girls. Brendan Fitzgerald came too. To St Michael Bedford Park to hear the fine new organ. Jonathan Dods very friendly. Nicholas Wearne of St Martin's in the fields played really well - Bach, unpronounceable Polish, Durufle. To Tate Modern to see Richard Hamilton exhibition. To BSO and Evalina checked my knee and tutor gave me some exercises to do. There is some inflammation. To Globe to book for 2 plays in June and had tea at Tate Modern friends room. What a view! Back to BSO to meet Liz and we got the bus home. Watched Fonteyn dancing Sleeping Beauty in 1959 in black and white, Birds of a feather, opening of Winter Paralympics  from Sochi - amazing!

Liz stayed over at Acton and Tom had a sleep as he was out late Wednesday at a dinner. Swam 22!  To Greenwich on train, tube and DLR to walk the route for the family walk. A beautiful day. The new visitor centre is most impressive and wonderful views. Flower garden is nice but Queen Elizabeth Oak is unimpressive. The whole walk took me about an hour and a quarter with stops. My right knee held up. Had whitebait at Trafalgar pub overlooking the Thames and then got the boat to Westminster Pier. Met an opera loving New Yorker. To Tate Britain to see Richard Deacon and Ruin Lust - both rather dull. To Europe House for part of meeting on preventing human trafficking. Arrived 4.30 and chatted to 2 Muslims, Started 5.15 and I left at 6 to get to Highgate. Carlo Curley memorial recital by Prof Ian Tracey. A fine Hill organ needing attention. Chris and Andrew Cesana were there. An interesting programme including Pierne, Dvorak, Bach and some novelties and ending with Garth Edmund...

There were only 6 of us at Catenians with lots of visitors not least the Grand President who brought the scroll given to Willie Britto on becoming a life member only the 3rd Catenians to be honoured in that way. Brendan Ducey the Provincial VP was on good form. Best of all 2 visiting gentlemen Danny and Juan were there and enjoyed it. A good joke on celibacy and marriage. At a marriage encounter weekend husband is asked to name his wife's favourite flower. He replies "Self-raising". Celibacy follows. Tuesday swam 20 and Liz came as well which was good. To Clapham Picturehouse to see the Met production of Prince Igor which was wonderful especially the Polovstian scene in a poppy field. Straight to Acton and Tom made pancakes. Fell asleep during the sewing bee programme. Wednesday to music and got a nice photo of Sean. I took him to Mass and ashing at Chiswick and David Knights sang the gospel acclamation and ashed us. Sean behaved well in the cry chapel. Took Ciarán to ...

Swam 20. Mosaic and 6 at tai chi - Tony back. Watched Mandela service from the Abbey. Robert Cooper tuned the piano and my Bach was much more enjoyable as a result. Louise safely arrived in Manila for a week.

I played Faure Apres un reve and Pavane before service - a departure for me and it seemed right for a family Eucharist. Farrell's Share the light went well on organ rather than piano. Paul forgot first hymn and put it in before the readings - the dreaded Blaenwern. Then he said now we sing the Gloria - No we don't! Servant song, Father we adore you and Shine Jesus shine. Bonighton's Ordinary time more or less made a good ending. I have now stamped all the music I am taking over and got 2 boxes from the cathedral for the items to be sold. I have taken my files of hymn tune preludes and index to church. Met Liz at Victoria and we had a delicious brunch at Le Pain Quotidien - I had smoked salmon, egg, pain au chocolat, yoghurt, breads, orang juice and cappuccino. Quite delicious. To ENO for Rodelinda - a clever production and superb singing. The end of Act 2 duet was a high point. My hat was at the stage door! I was lucky as I lost it on Jan 29th and they normally dispose of ...

Arrived at cathedral at 1 for ordination of 9 Jesuit deacons. Turns out all it was was moving chairs! Any way it was enjoyable and the cardinal was on good form. Rebecca really does get up everybody's nose acting as an assistant MC! She had said she wasn't coming! Farm St and Sacred Heart Wimbledon choirs sang new piece by Jackson with effective organ part, Haugen and Inwood. Mawby Ave verum and Cardinal giving communion and Brian with the chalice was a wonderful moment. A nice reception afterwards and saw a lot of my Heythrop friends and nuns. Told Damian about contacts with Muslims. Michael Barnes was in the congregation. Saw Joseph from Kerala and he remembered our visit. Had tea at Marks and Fr Alexander was celebrant at Mass. Byron consort of Harrow school sang Lassus and lovely Jackson O sacrum convivium. Watched Don't tell the bride and programme on WWI. Darcey Bussill on ballerinas.

Got to the cathedral at 4.15 and found a good place on the centre aisle. Liz was serving - the rehearsal was on Wednesday so I could not do that. Several servers were in the congregation including 2 Michaels and Tony. A very fat man sat next to me but eventually he moved up which was a relief. The choir rehearsed and the cathedral was full! Splendid Bruckner Ecce sacerdos and I had a good view of the pectoral cross. The 3 pontificals were carried in procession and mentioned in the homily Cardinal St John Fisher, Cardinal Pole and Cardinal Allen. Schubert Mass in G, Victoria Te Deum, Mawby Ave verum. At the end Widor Marche pontificale. I saw sister from Heythrop and Ann Welch who said how much she enjoyed the Buddhist centre visit. I then went straight to the V and A but found the tunnel entrance closed and a huge queue in the rain. As the Islamic art meetup group were meeting at 6.30 and it was then 7.30 and I do not know anyone in the group I abandoned it and came home. Liz arrived ...