The organist librarian

Swam 20 - water was cold! Looked up scores so was late at mosaic but progress is good. Only 2 of us at tai chi. To Putney library and got lots of scores from basement. Terry found some. Watched more of the programme on training Mormon missionaries. To Vue Purley Way to see The Tempest from the Globe 2013 - very funny and well done. Alan Murdoch was there. Met Catherine Atkinson near Selhurst station.

Took Liz, Louise and Tom to Crystal Palace as Liz went to Derek and Brian's first masses at Homerton and Poplar. Brian will not be doing confirmation at the cathedral alas! Not much mention of Peter and Paul as there was a baptism - 90 there. Paul went on far too long 90 minutes in all. I played Bedard and Stanley. The hymns were pretty naf too. To Becket fete to promote Catenians and we got 3 names - I blew up balloons and left at 2.15. Fr Joe "Oh my God" and chatted to Brendan so no change there! I had black bean fajita - very nice. David Dibbs played the recital - 14 came. Bit of a mixed bag including Sullivan, Handel and Coates. Nice new march by Bishop. I think if you must play popular stuff you have to be accurate and his Walton was certainly inaccurate. I got given the left over wine and Paul would not take payment for it. To Anerley St Anthony's for Mass - Sunith a bit slow again and saw Stuart afterwards. Home to eat and rest. Come dine with me and Antiques...

Missed Brian's ordination. Liz went to have her hair done and we got train from East Croydon to Caterham. Had a coffee then got taxi to the church. Fr Ciaran did not speak to me - seems he did not like my stand over playing the hymns? All went well and had a quick run through with Louise. The usher even came and told me the bride had arrived! Louise and Liz sang The Lord bless you and keep you beautifully. Liz felt the organ wasn't that loud. We got a coach to Westerham golf club and the rain came down soon after arrival but later it cleared. Very nice meal and speeches. Disco a bit loud and I slept for an hour. Louise being a bridesmaid meant we were the last to leave as the cab was late. Home at 2 a.m.

Swam 20 and after breakfast met Julie at Thornton Heath library. As expected drawings can be hung high up but mosaics cannot be fixed down at all! Sent off scans of Herbert Harold Worley material to York Minster for use in education department. To St Stephen Wallbrook for Jonathan Hope assistant at Gloucester cathedral. He played Bairstow and Ireland and his Bach was most impressive. Dupre and Langlais as well. He is a tall strong man and his playing reflects that. To the Globe for Julius Caesar. Brilliant acting especially Brutus and Antony. No wonder Mandela loved this play! It says everything about power and politics. Cameron is having a bad time at the moment. The American next to me spent all the time on his phone! To Catenian council at Brendan's - the little Irish barman Joe at the golf club has died suddenly.  Kevin Ingram suggested a weekend away for our 90th anniversary next year. Louise came from the wedding rehearsal and we went through the Rutter.

To the Tablet lecture in the cathedral hall - not as many there as last year. Sat with Kim Burke. Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg was eloquent on what the North can learn from the poor of the South and the questions were good and well answered. Near the end the lights failed and we were told there was a local power cut. People headed for the wine but really the hall should have been cleared. No emergency lights at all and I have queried this with Canon Christopher. A couple of ladies I spoke to do not like the new magazine format.

Woke early so looked up more scores. Still cannot reserve online! We both went to swimming - had not been for 10 days! To art and finished the bottles painting. To South London interfaith lunch celebrating Sarah's well deserved MBE. Rang Lorenzo's and booking confirmed.

To swim but pool closed because no fire alarm! To see film of King Henry IV part 2 from Stratford. Liz set out with me only to find only one ticket had been purchased so she got off train at Thornton Heath! Sir Anthony Sher was excellent as Falstaff. This is a much darker play than part 1 with a sick and dying king poisoning the country. Home for a meal and then both to the dentist. Metal plate which is very light fitted and 2 more sessions. Have paid. Traffic bad but we got to Selhurst by 6 p.m. We waited 40 minutes for a train to Balham and as a result missed the first 5 minutes of Manon Lescaut from the Opera House. Great singing especially Kaufman and Pappano conducting. The modern setting worked apart from the scene of the shipping of prostitutes to Louisiana unless this was meant as a comment on human trafficking. We got to Acton around 11. To school picnic and Sean loved running about the playground and the chickens. To soft play and lunch at Osterley garden centre. To Brixton...

To mosaic and tai chi (6 there) then to Balham library. Shocked at the mess the music scores are in! Home for a meal and sent off letters to parents to Deirdre at Coloma for the July meeting. 7 p.m. thanksgiving Mass for the confirmation candidates beautifully celebrated by Fr Paolo. Nice cake and party slightly wrecked by rain. To the end of Beckenham Catenian meeting and one volunteer to help at Coloma and got banners.

Corpus Christi procession after Mass. Fr Paul was amazed that people did not kneel during adoration. I played Boellmann, Bedard and Stanley. 24 came to the duo recital by Robert Munns (he is 81 and did not recognise me) and Brian Newman. I felt the modern pieces worked better than the Schubert and Mozart which seemed rather dull. Liz came along later. Lovely programme on Glyndebourne and Rosenkavalier on BBC4.

To Carmelites Kensington for 11 a.m. Mass to celebrate Heythrop's 400th. Cardinal Vincent and Cardinal Cormac and Archbishop Kevin and Bishop John Sherington plus loads of priests. Michael Barnes had taken the weekend off! Simon Lloyd played and we had Byrd 4 part Mass sung by the pros which was not much to my taste. However we had 4 hymns and Karg-Elert Nun danket. It did seem really wrong to sing The king of love and This is my body and then receive under only one kind. The sanctuary is far too small for so many priests and the servers were chaotic. Alex and Larry and 5 Jesuits. They seemed to have to walk behind the altar from the sacristy every time - there was no room for them on the sanctuary! Saw Alfred Agius and Ann Moynihan. The deacon carried the book to the ambo then put it down and read from something else! The lunch in the garden at Heythrop was lovely and a beautiful day for it. Sat with Paul Clubb and Bethany. I went to Battersea Park for part of the 29th anniversa...

Got an earlier X68. Had coffee with Allen Morris and Alan Rainer. The talk on history of the college was a bit dull. Philip Endean was impressive on Ignatian spirituality and then we had Karen Kilby on Jesuit theology. After picnic lunch with Saira session on Jesuits and Copts in Egypt with Anthony O'Mahony and a talk on Jesuits in Russia. The lectures on education in Iraq and China were excellent. Michael Barnes gave a great lecture on Thomas Stephens and then the grand crescendo ended with Rowan Williams on Jesuit education's ethos. Wine reception and then home after an excellent week of academia! Quite tiring! Peter Tyler brought my file and it was good to see Diana.

On X68 at 7.30 having woken early. Lots of people at Senate House - nice to see old friends including Saira. Peter Tyler will look for my file! The history talk was OK, the library one rather dull, then we had an excellent one on Jesuits and classical education. Saw Allen Morris. After lunch when I had a look at the small exhibitions of books we had Nicholas Sagovksy on Gerard Manley Hopkins, Guy Consolmagno on science (excellent) and John Haldane on philosophy. Left early to get X68 back and to St John's for Corpus Christi. Mozart Spatzen Mass with orchestra and Panis. Lovely cello and the timps were terrific.

Monday a.m. trains to Strawberry Hill and installed in comfortable room (although the bed was a bit narrow and I woke early every time). Unfortunately I managed to leave my conference file with my notebook and sketchbook behind so have to work from memory. The speakers were outstanding with contributions from Jerusalem, Rome, USA, Rome, Bangalore, Prague and Malta and from all over the country. I have made some new friends and contacts not least interfaith folk from Birmingham and Newcastle. We began with Norman Tanner on the history. It seems Paul VI in this encyclical influenced the Council and began the dialogue emphasis. Gavin d'Costa and Damian Howard and David McLoughlin were prominent. Mark Langham and Robin Gibbons came for 2 sessions and  Kallistos Ware. Abbot Timothy Wright introduced Of Gods and men and it was wonderful to see the film again and learn more of its context. On the Tuesday Archbishop Bernard Longley celebrated Mass and attended the reception and dinner. Th...

Ciaran came in around 7.15 and Sean woke a bit later. Nice cards. To church and played Harper, Bach and Willan and Wyton. Good hymns including Holy, holy, holy and Alleluia sing to Jesus. Home for lunch and kids had gone. Back to church for 2 for final things with Daniel then back to pick up Liz. Only 12 came but they enjoyed it. I don't think I relaxed enough - not sure it was good to have Daniel there to turn over. To St John's and we sang Stainer in B flat and I saw the Lord - always a good sing. Watched programmes on Hay-on-Wye, Dylan Thomas and QI. Dennis rang.

Woke early 4, 5, 6, 6,30. Got 7.45 train to London Bridge and 43 bus to Muswell Hill. A 30s RC church. The Orthodox synagogue and Rabbi David Mason very relaxed  -singing for a newly engaged couple. Back to the RC church for talk by a Quaker and then lunch. Did a drawing of Our Lady of Muswell statue 1928. Walked to Moravian church where Pastor Joachim was very welcoming and then we heard from a Bahai. I was asked to present the gift to the Bahais. Bus 144 to new Islamic cultural centre - lovely place and had eats and a drink. Sarah Thorley got the MBE so passed message to Jon's wife and got train from Hornsey. Fr Q at smoke vespers and Mass. Seems Fr Alexander was unwell last week and said no incense at vespers and morning prayer despite it being Pentecost! Relieved babysitter and Ciaran finally went to bed around 9! Watched Trooping and programme on Elizabeth Taylor's jewellery.

Swam 16. To St Matthew's and Sr Sue spoke on Franciscan spirituality. We had an assessment chat and a walk in the garden in silence. I drew some roses in the sun at lunch time. Feeling tired! Garden cleared up and put 6 photos into new frames. 2 good programmes on John Ogden who died 25 years ago.

Swam 18. To West Norwood to collect repaired coat and cassock which is 30 years old and has a new scarlet lining. Painted still life of 4 bottles at art using my paints. To Notting Hill Dr Shiekh Ramzy gave a very rambling talk on Rumi and we also heard from a student who had been to Palestine. To Royal Academy summer exhibition and it was so much more pleasant than on Friends day. Met Tamar and her aunt. Had salad and tea in Keeper's House. To ENO and sorted out tickets for Pearl Fishers! We sat in dress circle row A at the side. Spectacular production by Terry Gwilliam with some stunning singing especially the chorus and principals. Morgan Pearse made the most of his scene and a spectacular falling death!

Took Ciaran to the cathedral for Noye's Fludde. Beforehand to MacDonalds. Eileen got us better seats! Martin Baker conducted and 100s of children were involved. It was very moving especially joining in. The scoring is brilliant - I checked the score. Liz has seen it 4 times - this was my first time. We did use 2 hymns in the millennium pageant. Home and watched Coast Australia. Liz to Acton.

To dentist and 2 indentations made so the denture will fit more closely and brace the surrounding teeth. I go back in a fortnight. I managed to leave The Tablet behind! To Milleret house at Heythrop for a mini retreat with Fr Robin Gibbons who presented the agreed statement between Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew in the context of Evangelium Gaudii. To Acton by 10 p.m. Liz had been at osteopath and servers council. Wednesday Louise worked from home. The garden looks great with all the foliage gone and the fireplace has gone. Lance came to measure up for the lounge floor. Took Seán to music and he was in run around mood! Had coffee and back for lunch. Later we had icecreams. Finished the Rowan Williams book on Resurrection.

Swam 22 - must try and do a bit more! To the church to rehearse and found it open and a workman about. One day everything will get nicked! Went through the Cellini scores - we have ended up with 4 tickets instead of 2!. Reading Rowan Williams and enjoying evensong from Portsmouth - Walton. new Dove canticles, Howells, Coe Fen and Stanford. Jack Beeson has written at length about recording the organ! He recorded Ian on Sunday.

Swam 20. Liz slept late. To Southwark cathedral for the SPIDIR AGM and conference. The Weston library is too hot and acoustics are poor. 50p for the loo is a bit much. There was lukewarm coffee in the morning and water and that was it! I did get to hear Richard Pilliner play Bach and Saint-Saens at lunchtime and sketched a candle and flowers. Bishop Michael Ipgrave, Ahmad Akhtar, Dr Rebecca Masterton spoke in Islamic spirituality. After lunch the 2 from Khayaal theatre in Luton led a workshop on a Shia story and got us to volunteer. It was excellent. A short meditation using the names of Allah. It all cost £10 and an opportunity was missed to welcome newcomers like 4 of my class. I do not think Rita told them we were coming! Home to make beds, change to summer quilts and put up the new light shades in the hall.

Played John Cook, Bach, Wyton and Thiman on Veni creator. Straight to Selhurst and got fast train so I arrived during the first hymn at 12.15 Mass. Liz was serving with Mark. The confirmation was lovely and full of joy - we did our catechist bit helping the young people to go up. Boys and girls from Westminster school were also confirmed. Widor Toccata again at the end! Group photo and then I was off back to Selhurst. 34 came to Ian Verran's excellent recital - £107 in the collection! Quite  a few answered the questionnaire - most came from Ian's connections. He played Offenbach, Strauss, Saint-Saens, Buxtehude, Pachelbel even Chopin and Sousa. All sounded great! Dennis came and took him back to Glyn Close. To evensong where we sang Murrill and Ives Listen sweet dove. A lovely tune by Harold Darke. Dennis is considering moving down to London and changing jobs. Watched Songs of Praise, D day and programme on twin with breast cancer.

To St John's wood for 9 a.m. Mass said by Fr Allen for Fr Gerry Coates 60th anniversary of ordination. It was a lovely Mass in a beautiful church. I took the minutes for the Trustees of SSG and left in good time to get the bus to the cathedral. Liz was upset because we had been told we could serve but there would be nothing to do as no cathedral servers were involved. Well in fact Paul, Rebecca and Jess were there. The Mass itself was lovely and the Cardinal preached well. We went to the Rubens for a lovely champagne tea!

Worked on programme for concert. To St George Beckenham for Travis Baker playing Vierne, Mulet and Bach. He is lovely to watch and I sketched him at the console. Met Fr Tom Creagh-Fuller on the train - have not seen him since last year and seen him twice in 4 days! Met Harry Groome and Robert Cooper our piano tuner. Gave out recitals posters and several people said they would come. To Christ Church Chelsea which has a fine Flentrop. Very hot. Tak Man Chow played her end of year performance - Bach, Buxtehude, Hindemith and Reger. It was all a but academic and dry. To Acton and spent a happy time with the boys and picked up Louise and Sean from the gym. He had loved the concert. To St John Notting Hill for Nigel Allcoat's improvised concert and he had the bass scholar singing the chant which he managed to get wrong a couple of times! Nice to meet a Facebook friend - Nigel is great fun! I drew the eagle above the organ which looks more like a dove. Watched D day 70th commemorations f...

Swam 20. Liz went to osteopath and got painkillers from doctor. Chris finished painting back wall. To art and worked on the bottles project and showed Julie one of 6 mosaics for display. To the Globe and met Andrew Gaitskell who bought the ticket - very pleasant. Antony and Cleopatra was very well done - Cleopatra seemed very modern! Enobarbus was good. I found it a good idea to have the text open as did not always hear everything clearly! To Tate Modern to see the Matisse cutouts which are lovely. Met Pauline and Sean Kirwan. Rehearsal for confirmation went well. Liz went back to Acton and I watched programme on women in art which featured Jennifer Scott.

Liz not well but she did come to the cathedral and we were early. Waited in the tunnel and took stools to sit on! I was boat and communion torch. It all went reasonably smoothly. I met one of Jon dal Din's colleagues in the cathedral and she told me the new bishop was meeting interfaith folk on Friday. Yet again I have not been invited! The ceremony lasted 2 hours and we had Palestrina, Tallis and Byrd. Went in the hall for eats and wine and saw Fr Tom, Fr Michael O'Dea, Fr John Hemer, Christina Gangemi and others so had a nice chat. Met Bishop John Arnold's sister. Briefly met the new bishop resplendent in new outfit. Liz went home to sleep and I went to Tate Britain for the excellent Kenneth Clark exhibition including clips from Civilisation and ATV films. Earl Grey in the members room and enjoying McCall Smith. To Farm St hall for Faith matters question time. The Catholic Voice woman is a poet and seemed to disparage women especially the women priests idea! My question ...

Swam 20. A quiet morning doing Catenian emails and watching Come down with me down under. Started checking for scores in the library catalogue. Liz was doing gardening. To dentist and impression made for denture £650-£700 metal and private to replace 4 top teeth. To cathedral for 6.30 to rehearse. I am boat and communion torch. Some confusion as I was not told that I was no longer doing acolyte 4! Liz is consecration torch. Cast of 1000s and had a chat to Brian while we waited around! Watched Antiques roadshow. We now have 16 for the dinner at Lorenzos.

Swam 20. To mosaic - not many there worked on T and got more tiles for other projects. Tai chi 4 came. To party shop and got balloons and pumps for the 2 school fetes. To Balham library and met Chris Tew, Maria Dickey and Ferelith in quick succession! Lady asleep on train opposite me with case obviously off a flight  -decided not to wake her! Liz to confirmation. To Catenians and admitted Danny and Juan - they will be an asset. 5 visitors and a very pleasant evening. Watched a bit of Antiques Roadshow.

Chris came to paint the door frame in the kitchen and plastered the back wall. Lovely day for it! Family Eucharist 30 there including lots of little kids! We did sing "Hail the day" and the Groves piece on Llanfair got a clap before the service! The rest of the hymns Make way. Majesty, All heaven declares and Jesus is Lord! all a bit too evangelical for my taste. I did play a Stanley voluntary and Bach prelude for Ascension. To St Paul's cathedral for Dr Peter Tyler's excellent talk on Teresa of Avila - he is amusing and engaging. I asked about interfaith and he was delighted to plug the St Mary's conference I am going to! To South Norwood country park for a lovely walk on my own. Home for tea and got petrol then to St Dominic Waddon for Mass for vocations for the circle. Only Derrick and Sheila were there! The brothers have had plenty of notice of these events! The organist was competent but seemed to use the same stops throughout. Fr Paddy is delighted with the...