The organist librarian

Woke briefly when Liz arrived home and up at 8. Lovely service on radio 4 from Portsmouth cathedral. Paul gave us a lovely guide to the Holy Land. Eugene and Abe sent nice gifts. Played for 10.30 service and Liz went to the cathedral. I had time to hear the rest of King's - loved it. We all gathered at Dennis and Anne Marie's. The Queen was impressive as always. Lots of nice presents and the boys having a field day! Lunch was enormous and I admitted defeat at 3 different versions of potatoes! Dropped off later and Lou and Tom went around 6.30. We walked home to see Midwife and Downton both of which we enjoyed. Went to bed happy having packed ready for India. 

Woke early and went to the pool only to find it closed and no notice up! Sang carols at Lakeside home which was appreciated. Very hot in there especially as I had my Christmas jumper on! To Glyn Close to borrow Ann Marie's car which has a nifty camera for reversing! King's carols excellent. Played for crib service and 50 adults there and 40 kids charging round the church. One shepherd has lost his head! It was much shorter than last year and went well. I got train at Kent House and was at the cathedral in good time for 6 p.m. Mass. Lucky to get a seat. Liz was thurifer. Saw Peter Tyler who is going to Bangalore in January and Catherine, also Fr Michael and Fr John. Liz got home just before me. The pictures are up in our bedroom and the New Zealand photo has been retired for a while! I watched Gareth Malone's triumph at the Proms and then went for a rest which was disturbed by a delivery! Midnight Mass went well and we managed Mary's song at communion and the 6 car...

Lovely John Lewis carol service with gorgeous new carol by  Thomas Hewitt Jones  which he must send to  Stephen Cleobury  !!It's called A Golden tree - great words by Paul Williamson. There were some interesting items by Philip Stopford and Praetorius, also Chilcott and Poulenc. Excellent choir and nice to have Authorised version read in the cathedral. We even had a sung dismissal of the choir in the Lady chapel! Watched Masterchef professionals final and Christmas university challenge.

A watercolour pencil of Lover's Lane near Green Gables Prince Edward Island combing 2 photos. 

My version finished today is inevitably darker as is is in acrylics. 

Liz went to get her hair done. Chat to Ann. To mosaic and made good progress - nice cards and presents. We had a lovely lunch at Fish in a tie. I had calamari and salmon and by preordering left in good time to get a 319 to Sloane Square. Ciaran wasn't well so Louise took my ticket and I enjoyed the Constable exhibtion at the V and A. Also saw the redone Italican cast court. My right knee was playing up and trains were in disarray. Watched Canterbry cathedral series 1 and art in winter.

I played le Begue Noels. We had alcohol free Christmas pudding with brandy sauce from Marks - very nice. The carols by candlelight went very well. Liz sang The little road to Bethlehem and the small choir sang People look East, Whence is that goodly fragrance, Mary's song by Simon Mold and Sing lullaby. I played Sumsion Cradle song, Buxtehude and Bach In dulci, Boely and Brahms Est is ein ros.Antiques roadshow and The apprentice final.

Woke early so finished reading The elephant whisperer on KIndle and then back to sleep for a while. Liz went to servers rehearsal for Christmas. Chose a pink shirt in Marks. Christmas University challenge on TV. Canon Christopher and lots of Filipino kids and Rebecca (why?) at Mass and went in hall for Filipino Singdag. When they started singing Silent night and O holy night very slowly slipped away!

Woke at 7 and dropped off so no swim again. Frames have come for pictures but no Tablet. Watched Michael Portillo continental rail journeys. At 5 to Kent House station to sing carols and give out Christmas cards for St Michael's -good singing and the keyboard definitely helped. Ended up drinking whisky in the vicarage which was very pleasant. Listened to Manchester cathedral evensong. 

Woke at 7 but dropped off so no swim. I went to South London interfaith lunch where we heard about the campaign against the arms trade, then to Chanukkah with William Rhind at Liberal Jewish synagogue (Michael Redman was there) and to Kidbrooke for commissioning of Bonny's husband as Church Army evangelist. Took ages to find Onespace in the dark!

Tuesday to Clapham picturehouse for 11 a.m. relay from the Met thrillingly conducted by James Levine in a wheelchair. The intensity of playing was amazing considering the opera last 6 hours with intermissions. The cast were excellent. Johann Botha has a fine tenor voice but is unfortunately rather large so his acting is minimal. There are many touching moments but I found the Wach auf chorus in the last act very moving having sung it in the Chorus (in the foyer of the Festival Hall). and so soon after Jean Taylor so sadly died. The glorious ending and I think the whole cast should hace had a curtain call. It's not just about the principals wonderful as they are! To Acton and Tom cooked a lovely meal. Watched The Apprenitce final 5. Wednesday we all went to school to see Ciaran as Joseph in the nativity. He was so charming and cute and said his lines very clearly and joined in the singing. Seán was on good form and enjoying having Mummy home although she had ...

Woke at 3 a.m. and then at 8.20 so no swim. To mosaic and completed the 2 small ones. Tai chi and help with knees. Bought shirt buttons at poundland. Grouted the mosaics. Anita cleaned. To Bromley Court hotel for joint meeting of Bromley and Chislehurst & Orpington. Wore Christmas jumpers and hats and donated to Save the children. Waited ages for the meal which was good and we sat with Peter and Ann Woodford Grand Vice-President. Liz ws given lilies and we sang carols between courses.

Played Bach and Peeters on Wachet auf and Lloyd Webber's Rhapsody on Helmsley. Had a good carol practice and Hayley sang Once in royal beautifully. People are coming to carols at Kent House station on Friday! Louise brought Ciaran and Seán to Dennis and Ann Marie's and then they came down to help with the tree. No streamers this year! Listened to some of Clare College's evensong.

To Lisson Grove for 11 a.m. to take minutes for trustees. New chair is Mgr Kevin McGinnell - he has lots of ideas and contacts but there seemed to be little sense of structure or decision as to who was doing what! Michelle asked about the new website and didn't really get answers. It was exhausting and finished at 4. It's also frustrating nt being able to comment. I cried off the March Coventry meeting - it's on London organ day and Beckenham quiz night. Vespers and Mass with Fr Andrew. Fr Michael enjoyed Sta Lucia. Home to put lights on the tree and watch Apprentice and programme on the Viennese Secessionists. 

Swam 16. To St Matthew's and Hilary Johnson chaplain at St George's discussed ethical issues with us and we worked through 3 examples. Shared lunch and lots to eat. I drove to Kent House station but the lady on duty will not be there next Friday. I see no reason why I cannot plug in the keyboard. Returned scores to Central music library and went to Burlington Gardens to see Allen Jones RA which did not impress and lovely large prints by Hirashi Sugimoto. The Santa Lucia service was lovely. The cathedral choir sang Howells, Bruckner and Mouton and the Ulrika Eleonora church choir sand Nielsen and Adam among other things. The procession out hit the crowd! 

We took Sean to North Finchley arts centre. Had to put coolant in car! The show was excellent - just 3 actors and he loved it. Enjoyed watching the dancers in the studio. Liz went to school to help with nativity in church. Ciaran seemed a bit mopey. Served at London Fire Brigades carols. Barbara Windsor read -  she is very short. Ashstead singers sang Chilcott and Ledger but I think they were trying to sing too loudly. Peter Stevens played. I cmae home but Liz went back to Acton.

To Hotel Montcalm for 11 a.m. This was my ruby wedding present to Liz. We spent 11 to 3 ralaxing in jacuzzi, small exercise pool, sauna and steam room and reading then champagne tea. It was lovely - the only odd thing was marmalade with the cream scones! Liz went to servers dinner and I went to the Wallace collection where I enjoyed the pictures. To Heythrop for book launch by Keith Ard, John Polkinghorne and Fiona ? Saw Anna and Michael Barnes. To Acton and Louise and Tom went out. Wednesday took Sean to Acton parish church but no sign of playgroup so 70 bus to Acton Park and cafe and then football skills session at the children's centre. 70 bus back and visited the new library and walked to car. He slept. Liz and I went to organ recital by Martin Baker at RFH. Not a great audience. I went to the 6.15 talk with Martin and Simon Holt but the actual commission was disappointing depsite the superb signing by Louis Negri who is head chorister at the cathedral. The Bairstow did not qu...

Woke too late to swim and to mosaic and tai chi. Tony was interested in the De Mello book on meditation.Got the decorations and tree out.  Liz went to see Made in Dagenham with Louise and I worked on 2 small mosaics using fridge magnets. Posted cards - very cold and clear moon. To Beckenham Catenians - trouble parking, big do at St George's. Freddie was there. They were pleased I had written to Catena about Fr Beck. Liz fell asleep on train so late home. 

I w as relieved that Chris Walker's Stay Awake replaced The virgin Mary had a baby boy this morning - the calypso accompaniment is tricky. I played Pachelbel Von himmel hoch. A lovely recital by Robert Munns at St Augustine Grove Park at 6.30 of Advent music including Karg-Elert, Peeters, Buxtehude, Bach, Coleman and Leighton. There was a tombola and eats after service. I drove to Snakes and ladders at Sion House. I was late as I ended up going through Richmond.  A very nice party for Ciarán.

A restless night. Got up and read more of "The elephant whisperer"! Wrote article about the Martin Luther King evening and did Christmas cards. Liz went to school fete at Acton. I went to the Barbican to buy tickets for BBC Singers MacMillan evenings. Had a look at the large display by Walead Beshty. To Central msuci library for Widor score. To National Portrait Gallery to see the Grayson Perry Who are you? which was featured on Channel 4. Caramel latte at M and S. Billericay choir at Mass. Fr Alexander was amused by the Belgian priest and special ministers muddleup!. Interesting series on art nouveau on TV. Westminster Abbey evensong very fine.

Martin Luther King’s Dream: How can we end r acism today ? St Paul’s cathedral 4 th Dec 2014 This event commemorated the speech Martin Luther King gave in the cathedral on 6 th December 1964. The chair was the Dean of St Paul’s and the speakers were Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Dr Heidi Safia Mirza of Goldsmiths College, University of London and the journalist Hugh Muir. Corey Samuel of the Renaissance Foundation introduced the evening by speaking of the influence Martin Luther King has today on young people. Dr Mirza outlined the 3 dimensions for a complete life in Martin Luther King’s 1984 speech. Firstly the length of life and the inner care of self. You should have pride in what you do and say “I am somebody”. She pointed to the fact that black people are 5 times more likely to be in prison in the UK and far less likely to be in boardrooms and university. Secondly, the breadth of life in the sociological aspect involving the care of others. She spoke of attacks on migra...

Woke early and the dropped off so missed my swim. To cathedral for 1.30 to do first welcomer/guide duty with Jennifer. The red robe and badge certainly work but it's cold and tiring standing around. Quite a few spoke to me and asked general questions. Watched the lovely St Vincent de Paul school nativity - alas no traditional carols. Fr Brian is chaplain. Saw Ann Welch, Kate and Salvatore. Finished at 4 and went to Late Rembrandt at National Gallery - very overcrowded and lots of small pictures. Free concert in room 8 inspired by Michelangelo and Barocci in the room. The Consone quartet from RCM played Haydn, Purcell and Schubert on period instruments. Home to watch The Khans and butternut squash for dinner. Watched Sue Perkins on the Mekong - a great series. Michelangelo Entombment (is the lady on the left texting?) Haydn quartet in F minor and Purcell Fantazias played with old bows. Barocci Madonna of the Cat Virgin and child with St Joseph and the infant John the Baptist...

Swam 20 and to art - my last session this year. Christmas letter finalised and emailed. Liz went to chiropodist and school carols in Ealing. I went to hear a fantastic Turkish pianist at John Bell and Croyden pharmacy - pity about the noise and Jesse and Catan 2 talkative ladies who organise Musicians Unlimited and classical music lovers meetups. Salih Can Gevrek played Chopin, Schumann and Scarlatti. To Bond Street only to find the station closed so to Oxford Circus. St Paul's cathedral for 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's sermon. Baroness Lawrence, Heidi Safia Mirza and Hugh Muir chared by the Dean. A large audience and an impressive young man from Renaissance Trust. Some progress has been made on racism and there is hope. Replied to Kevin's comments on Islam as evil.

Swam 20. Snap decision to go to see film Barbara at mosaic had recommended at Clapham Picturehouse My Old Lady - loved it. Maggie Smith, Kevin Kline, Kirstin Scott Thomas all excellent. Home for lunch. Very moving prayers for the Middle East at St Ethelburga's - I said I was uncertain because of the hidden forces like oil companies behind the conflict. William Rhind was there and met a Zoroastrian. To Heythrop for lecture by Charles Taylor - so much better than his book. Long chat to Archbishop Kevin, Siriol, Saira, Rita, Peter, Fr Michael Kirwan, Kim. Lovely to see them all. To Acton. Liz went to hear RAF band at Cadogan hall and enjoyed it. Wednesday had the boys on my own as Liz was serving schools nativiities at the cathedral. Sean was very lively at music and shouted out some things and he was very good at lunch and when we woke up. Ciarán was crying over not being able to skip straight away! To Brixton for Conversations - just 4 of us but enjoyed it. Watched Apprentice and F...

Swam 20 and to mosaic. The tai chi was rather spoilt by Bill's email about the carol service but Fr Paul backed up my response. Redrafted the Christmas letter. Wrote an article on interfaith for Westminster Interfaith. To Catenians and dropped Tablet article into the Crinnegans. Presented a cheque to Barry Mizen and spoke after circle on interfaith dialogue. It went well. I got some strong opposition mostly showing astonishing ignorance but also some very good support!