The organist librarian

Played Bairstow and Statham on Veni emmanuel and Walther Wachet auf. Practised carols and suggested singing at the station to give out the church Christmas cards with details of the services. Listened to St John's carols which featured Tippett, James Long and Michael Finnissy. To St John;s for a well-attended carols which included Goldschmidt, Archer, Lloyd and Howells  -lots of sightreading but it went well. Bridget played Bach very well  -her father died this week. Dennis and Ann Marie were there so we went for tea and cakes (which Liz had made). 

Acolyte at Mass with the Cardinal for the start of the Year of the consecrated life followed by Mass for CAFOD with Bishop John Arnold, his last Mass before going to Salford. I told him about Ashley Beck giving Evangelii gaudium out at Monday's circle meeting - he was pleased. Saw Muriel in the hall. Fr Michael very nice at 6 p.m. Mass and Advent has begun. Ben played a subtle improvisation on "this is my body" Nun danket and Wachet auf.

Friday swam 20 and was going to hear Paul Carr play at St Bride's but Liz was cooking a nice lunch of salmon so went straight to Stratford to visit the highest sculpture in Britian by Amish Kapoor on a £7 offer. Really remarkable and lovely sunset views to the City. The Aquatic centre looks great too and the Olympic stadium is being transformed. I walked all the way down and then to Acton. Louise went to girls night out. Liz was at Cadogan Hall for Marines concert which I missed. It was also the night of the 3rd talk on Evangelii gaudium. The boys went to bed OK - Sean stirred twice but was fine. Tom came back from Sydney early Sat morning - he had seen Ann, Paul and Claire.Louise's big project is finished. She made an omelette and took be to Acton Town so I got to Russell Square around 10 for the 850th anniversary of Ibn'Arabi in music and sound event at Brunei gallery SOAS. A warm welcome from Amin Hussain and Talia. There was a varied programme including guitar, singers...

Interesting webinar about Africa and the internet, Joined kabissa.org. Watched Masterchef and programme on cakes. Notes for Christmas letter. Bruce and EJ arrived from funeral in Manchester. 

Swam 18. Worked on the Cezanne. To interfaith lunch. Sarah showed us her MBE. I spoke about the humanist/Muslim meeting. Picked up robes from church.

To the Horniman to hear Yat play the Kirkman harpsichord. Although I normally do not like the sound I enjoyed it especially the Balbatre, JCBach and Le vertigo -  a fascinating piece. He was pleased we came,. Another miserable day.  To Royal Academy - delay on Jubilee line but was able to see the Anselm Kiefer which did not really impress and the fascinating Moroni which I loved. To Conway Hall for a fascinating encounter between humanists and 4 Muslims who were liberal and not really representative of conservative opinion. However the speakers were really impressive especially Sara Khan.    Jeremy was there. To music and Sean joined in more. Yat was there with Merle and Mia. A quiet afternoon and reading Shirley du Boulay. Came home to watch The Apprentice. Bruce and EJ arriving to go to funeral in Manchester.        

Swam 20. To mosaic and tai chi. Met Liz and chose a new ring which is very nice. Bruce and EJ coming next week for a funeral. Wrote an article on the visit to Montreal and sent it to 3 mags. To Beckenham Catenians and dropped Dennis's birthday card in. Ann Marie is back and they visited Louise yesterday. Mollie was scared of Sean! It was a cold night but a good meeting, Brendan Ducey was there and Ashley Beck who presented copies of Rvangelium gaudii to the circle - an excellent idea.

Woke at 4 a.m. which didn't help! A busy wet Sunday.Liz didn't go to the cathedral because of weather and trains.  Did a pulpit presentation for the Catenians at St Mary's West Croydon at 8 a.m. Mass, played the Couperin Mass for the Convents which was very well received, practised carols with 5 in the choir, lunch at St John's vicarage and then to Adrian's, At evensong sang Howells Gloucester service and Vaugham WIlliams O clap your hands. Benediction and Adrian played L'Ange et la trompette by Jacques Charpentier.

Liz took books to Edgware Rd and car to Acton with bulk buys. I painted edge of board above boiler and prepared for tomorrow and interfaith talk and article. To Acton - Ciarán went to a party and Seán woke up and played happily if rather quietly. We missed Vespers and Brian sang beautifully at Mass and preached very well indeed. Saw Andrew Connick afterwards (previous attempt fell through). No wonder he wanted to see us together. He has recruited 7 young catechists and no longer requires our help. The timing is terrible -  we should have been told this 8 weeks ago. I pointed out that we had spent our money and time training and enjoyed what we were doing. It's a disgrace to treat Liz like this after 10 years of doing it! It;s true I have only been fully involved for one year but what about the years before? I am preparing a letter to Canon Christopher. Andrew is only with us for one year! 

We went to the Westminster Lourdes pilgrimage silver jubilee concert at Our Lady of Victories church Kensington where we married 40 years ago. What a change and a lovely hall downstairs! UCLU chorus and orchestra Schubert and MacMillan conducted by Charles Peebles. They are excellent but it didn't move me much! We sang the Schubert Mass no 6 years ago and I particularly remember the Agnus Dei. The acoustic of the church meant that loud passages got blurred - maybe we should have sat at the back? Nice eats at the reception. Nice chats to Margaret Savill and Andrew Martin and a couple from East Dulwich. Bishop John was very welcoming.

Went to art and started the Cezanne Houses in Provence picture which I sketched in Washington. Liz came back from Acton, Catenian council in the evening and Philip came and had a few moans! Watched Life story and Masterchef professionals. Friday had a lie-in and sorted papers. Papered and painted cover above boiler. Did labels for new Catenian leaflets. 

Despite a fire at Victoria we got there in time to be acolytes. The singing was superb - Pizzetti and Holst. Not sure that Cranham was a great choice for the remembrance hymn Think O Lord in mercy, The new anthem worked well, Shirley Williams fluffed her reading. Excellent sermon from Canon Christopher and the Canon from the Abbey was very friendly. Saw Dorio, Paul Joslin, Freddie Mayes and Alistair afterwards. Had lunch downstairs, Patrick Rogers gave us a tour of the marbles - not very interesting. There are 129 varieties! To interfaith group and 13 came including 2 from Brixton. William Rhind spoke well on Gandhi and interfaith. To LSE and the prof from Columbia, USA namedropped and did not quote Pope Francis on pvoerty and never mentioned previous Popes or Catholic social teaching. Liz went to sit and I watched The Apprentice.

We both went swimming and I did 20. To Clapham Picturehouse to see The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch on fantastic form as Alan Turing who was so unjustly treated. To Lambeth Town Hall for event on Faith and Well being and good talks on mental health. Watched children's hospital chaplains programme, Dusaster my diary is lost!

Swam 20. Long chat to Ann. No mosaic so I skipped tai chi for a change and went to Southwark cathedral to hear Peter Wright playing Messiaen, Bach and Dupre - excellent. To Tate Modern. Sigmar Polke seemd to become more and more desperate to be original and I did not get the references to the Nazis. His films were just poor cine films handheld and wobbly! Richard Tuttle's big installation in the Turbine Hall using textiles sort of worked. My right foot and knee were hurting a bit so had Earl Grey in the Friends room then got train from Blackfriars to Farringdon and collected passports with the Indian visas. To Bromley Catenians. Frank Bond judged the bow-ties and awarded the whisky to Vincent. 

Watched two of his series on Who do you think you are - the Alzheimer's one was very touching as was the Hindu family in children's hospital chaplains programme.

Woken at 7 by Ciaran who was in our bed and Sean had slept OK once I got him down again at 10. Dennis came to look after them. I played Elgar For the fallen and the adagio from the cello concerto and Karg-Elert Nun danket. 3 in choir - Debbie was ill and the sound was good. I got Rachel's email. No carol practice as dashed off to Victoria and arrived at the cathedral for the Gospel. 6 Provinces Catenian Mass was at 12 noon for a change. Bishop John Sherrington gave a a good homily but got the Grand President's name wrong and Canon Christopher called us a society! Liz was mitre and crozier. To Croydon Park hotel for a lovely lunch and Claire joined us. 

Kept waking up as had to be up early. Gave Liz her book and card and got early train to East Croydon - result at Euston far too early for 8.22 train to Coventry whcih only cost me £7.50. Daquise on the train and Kris Pears picked us up. Martin Foster did a workshop on seasons then 4 servers and 3 priests at Mass - Martin Barry's setting was good and the choir sounded good. The church is spacious and the parish priest and MC friendly. Cooked lunch and then we had the AGM and Fr Kevin McGinnell took over from Caroline who will be much missed. Fr Andrew Cameron-Mowat gave the Crichton lecture on Francis a Jesuit Pope and liturgy. He's a bit dour and one would have liked mor eof the joy but it's interesting that Francis mentioned beauty so much. We saw a mockup of the new website and then I served Vespers and Benediction and all went well depsite the thurible sticking before the service! Lift to station and quite a lot of us in the quiet coach. Somebody was in my seat but no m...

Woke early but did not go for swim. Drove to St Matthew's through rain. Andrew Wilson spoke well on mental health issues but the mood seemed lowkey. I was certainly feeling the effect of Josie's passing - all of that generation have now gone and it is our generation who must now take the lead. Our little group fo 3 (only 10 there) talked about 2 suicides and a murder! To Catenian provincial council - I took wrong turning in Sevenoaks but eventually found the bowling club. We saw a CD about the vision for restructuring. 

Swam 20. Took Bruce up to the garage to get his skies. We arrived in good time at St Andrew's and went through the Faure. Lewis Horner kindly came and indicated good stop choices so that helped. All went well and the hymns were just right. Got to Croydon crem early and saw Ian Verran and Edward Rook. I played Thalben-Ball Elegy and Nimrod. Bruce was a pallbearer. It was lovely that Adrian mentioned the honorary grandma for our 3 and that quite cut me up. She was such a kind and loving person always smiling and we will all miss her. Lovely reception at the Surprise not least the chocolate cake. Saw several Addiscombe folk at crem and at the pub. All the family read really well - Josie would have been so proud of them. We left at 4 as Bruce had a flight back to Jersey. 

Swam 20. To the Goughs and Lawrence gave me some oils which belinged to his father - probably poisonous. Practised Faure for the funeral and went through psalm with Liz. To Clapham Picturehouse to see Mr Turner -  a lovely film but not riotous entertainment as The Times critic claimed. Beautiful scenery and some touching moments. To Acton and watched Masterchef professionals. Wednesday Sean enjoyed running about at Tamar's but he did join in with some things. Picked up Liz and watched Come dine with me. To Landsdowne club for debate "The poor are getting poorer". 59% at start supported the motion which dropped to 51% while 16% against became 30% so some people were persuaded by statistics and anecdotes from 2 very out of touch men, I spoke about child poverty and a teacher supported me. Bruce arrived while we were catching up on "The Apprentice". Josie at Louise and Tom's wedding.

I was a little late for the talks at Cheyneygates Westminster Abbey organised by the Council for Christians and Jews so I never found out who the second speaker was. Good to see and Hear Hugo Clarke of the Curzon Institute again - the 3rd time. The discussion was dominated by the rabbis present. I could have said a lot about Remembrance Sundays I have known. 

Swam 16 as we got there late. Mosaic and did quite a bit. Linda is 60 next week and will celebrate in Barcelona so she got champagne abd brought cupcakes. 6 at tai chi. Returned books to Battersea library. 

Played Nimrod, Solemn Melody, Willan on St Anne and the St Anne fugue and the Remembrance Day service was quite long. 3 had a look at the proposed carols. Home for lunch and then drove to St Paul Grove Park for evensong featuring new anthem by Simon Porter commissioned by Simon Surtees. Gary conducted. Last episode of Downton. 

Tom cooked delciious breakfast - lovely sausages. To St John's for 10 a.m. 10 of us on the visit including Woolf van Silver who is working on All Saints Tooting organ restoration plans. Sam Barber is the organ scholar and Jamie welcomed us. Then to St Peter's where there was a fine exhibiton of paintings - the artist is to preach tomorrow! A lovely building with a good organ. Portobello Road very busy. Had lunch at Portobello ristorante - pizzas with chewy crusts. The Camerons were dining there! To St Matthew Bayswater which has a lovely Walker and then St John's Holland Park where Paul Joslin gave us a slide show and I played Willan. He played there and Sir Walter Alcock opened the organ. Got to the cathedral in good time and Fr Alexander enjoyed the Bainton anthem from Cardinal Vaughan school choir. They also sang Mozart and Byrd. Watched the British legion festival of remembrance featuring a new item by Paul Mealor sung by Royal Holloway.

Thursday was a quiet day. I went to art and finished the watercolour pencil autumn picture. Not entirely happy with it. Liz went to see the poppies at the Tower of London which have been a sensation. People wasnt them to stay -  we have bought one. Went up for 4 pm. with Father Andrew Connick but Liz was held up at the Apple store interview about her computer so meeting abandoned and I went to Tate Britain for the late Turner exhibition and the Turner prize which was rubbish - 3 vidoes and screen printing! From there to Brixton for Conversations for the soul which went well with 7 there. Liz went to Acton to babysit. I went on Friday to apply for the Indian visas - 90 minutes wait! I missed Martin Ford's recital at Turnham Green. I went to Acton and stayed overnight. Lou and Tom were both working very late. 

Swam 20. Battled with the Indian visa website - there was a small error on my application so ended up doing it twice and so many stupid questions, After all that appointments cannot be booked! Furious and sent a furious email which got a bland reply. To Mary's to discuss the funeral. Malcolm, Adrian and Ken were all there so that was good and I think it will be a lovely service at Thornton Heath. Bruce is coming over for it and Louise will sing. Strange that Josie never expressed opinions about favorite music and just enjoyed everything. Took Liz to East Croydon to go to Acton. I had supper and then waited in rain for bus from Selhurst to Croydon to go to police meeting. I spoke about how a year ago I was worried about South Norwood station being closed but at least I do see officers around but would people with poor English be able to contact the police. I met the new Borough commander and the Neighbourhood watch co-ordinator. On the whole the crime figues are encouraging as they...

Liz went to her first practice consultancy meeting at the doctor's surgery. There were 28 visitors at circle including John Rayer, Peter Stevens and Brendan Ducey - it went really well. We also had a visiting gentleman Martin Cosgrove. There was a match and getting there was not easy - why do people leave their brains behind when going to a football match by car? 

Alarm woke me up but dropped off so no swim and late to mosaic. Everyone pleased to see me back and have planned out Bruce's request. Only 3 at tai chi. Took ring back - there is a nick and kink in it. Got 2 books on India from Battersea library. Josie's funeral will be on Thursday week at Thornton Heath. Have been thinking about Nelson's comments on art and pretty things. I certainly think most of what I have done so far has been just pretty and more needs to be done. 

Strange that I thought about Josie all through the service for All Saints and the news came through that she died at 3.30 a.m. So glad Liz got to see her and sad that Malcolm didn't make it in time. There were only 16 at the family eucharist but we did sing For all the saints. The organ tuning does not suit Jesus is Lord! I played Flor Peeters and Boellmann. Straight to St Paul's cathedral for Margaret Silf's excellent talk on faith. Bus stop closed so walked to and from London Bridge. To St Andrew's Coulsdon for centenerary concert which was enjoyable and everybody so welcoming. The large choir sang Hallelujah chorus, O thou the central orb, I was glad and Jo Richards' new Jubilate. She (formerly he) is not a good conductor and seems to say what she likes! Stephen Bowey played really well and the organ has been fixed. Nice supper afterwards. Watched Downton. 

To Victoria and Albert for classical drawing course with the fascinating Nelson Ferreira who is from Portugal and told us a lot about art history. My technique improved over the 3 drawings and I learnt a lot. The underground was so full that I got buses so I got to the cathedral at 6. Mass for All Saints with Lees Court choir singing Victoria and Stanford but was it really joyful? Straight to the new circular Clapham library for the launch of Bobbie Darbyshire's new novel Oz. Great to see her, Isabel Losada and Lorinda Freint again.