The organist librarian

Woke too early! As a result was a bit grumpy. We set off from Selhurst at 9.52 and went via East Croydon direct to Portsmouth Harbour. Filled in a passenger survey about the train which was good. Ferry to Ryde and walked down the pier when we could have taken the shuttle train. Got a bus to Sandown and visited the Trouville. First impressions not great but the dancefloor and rooms impressive. Parking is a problem and there is a charge if you cannot get into the car park, also the dining room cannot be rearranged into larger tables. We then went on to Shanklin on the bus and were immediately impressed by Channel View hotel. There are 2 disabled rooms which look very comfortable, nice dance floor and dining room which can be rearranged with tables of 8 and pool. We had an omelette at a cafe and got buses to Quarr Abbey. We arrived in the middle of vespers and met Fr Gregory Corcoran afterwards. He mentioned to a man that we were Catenians and he kindly picked us up and took us to the fe...

Swam 22. Short chat to Ann who had been in Perth. Art and worked on clothing. Home for quick lunch and to the cathedral for a memorial service which we thought was at 2.30. It actually started at 2.15 so we just made it. The music was splendid - Allegri, Byrd, Burgon, Widor  -it must have cost a lot. The general conclusion was that you can be wealthy, marry a merchant banker, cook, shoot birds, be a great friend, get cancer and go to heaven. No mention of charity or the poor at all! Brian was helping the elderly priest and Paul Tobin was in charge. Liz went to Balham library and I went to The Works in Croydon to get another smaller art carrying case. Watched Come dine with me and Wolf Hall and a good programme about making the series with Mark Rylance. 

Swam 24. Wrote 3 articles based on my notes from meetings. Liz went to Earlsfield for pedicure. Watched Wolf Hall, good programme on Simon Rattle and Come dine with me and listened to 2 evensongs St John's and Windsor both excellent. To Heythrop to pick up 4 books for the Jerusalem course which Larry issued for me. To Gate picturehouse and met a nice lady as I was early. I must remember not to sit in the back row as people go to the loo and a woman came in late and dumped next to me. The ROH live production was excellent and Bryn Terfel was splendid. Peter Rose, Adrianne Pieczonka and Ed Lyon all most impressive not forgetting Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Michael Kónig. Andris Nelsons quite rightly included the chorusmaster in the lineup for bows. It was quite riveting and no interval! To Acton and Liz picked me up. Wednesday Ciaran was again a bit off with me. Sean was on fine form and shouted out in the silence at music "Was that a fire engine Grandad?" Had lunch at Waterm...

Car was serviced by Nick - 4000 miles a year and coming up to 10 years old. To mosaic and it looks as though I will take a break. Tai chi with Hendrika. Liz picked me up and we had lunch. Watched Wolf Hall and sorted out Catenian email account. Also ordered more Uhu glue. To Henry VII chapel at the Abbey for Stand up and be counted series - talks by police commissioner and 3 police on their work and how it is changing. To Beckenham circle and the vistors outnumbered them 12 to 10. Brendan gave me a lift home. 

I played a rather unusual interlude on Aus der Tiefe by Henrik Andriessen, Willan on Southwell and Pachelbel fugue on "When Jesus stood at the cross". 2  practised for Holy Week and I practised Bach and Gigout Toccata. Fr Paul was pretty scathing about the Bishop and suprised when I praised Justin Welby. It seems Fr Leon is area Dean and will be looking after us but he has not been in touch with Paul. Later Fr Andrew said Fr Leon is a good singer and loves music. Liz was serving at the rite of election so I changed the bolt on the door in the hall which took about an hour - there is always one screw which will not come out! I watched Indian summers which is excellent. Went to Lent group at the vicarage. Nobody was introduced and we spent 35 minutes reading the chapter so Bridget and I had to leave near the start of the discussion! Adrian and Terence are back from India and we sang Batten and Byrd Civitas sancti. Did the mosaic design and wrote a letter about the hearing aid ...

Woke at 8.22 and checked website thinking the course started at 9. It actually started at 10 at St Margaret's Westminster and there were only 8 on it. Adam Boulter is Anglican chaplain at Al-Aqaba for the Missions to Seamen and Hatta is his mother-in-law! It was an inspiring day and we used grey background and erasers to take the grey away. I did 3 drawings 2 on the theme of Jacob at Bethel. Could the ladder to heaven have been a stone one? Nice lunch provided as well! The lay clerks sang evensong - Ives and Tallis and a Bruckner prelude and fugue. Tea at Pret with Liz who served at rite of election. Fr Alexander and we had a full compliment of servers. After Mass I picked up on boat and acolytes neatening up their movements. Mark and Isobel met us and we had a delightful meal at Zizzi. I had calzone and lemon meringue sundae. Have given up alcohol for Lent.

Only swam 20 as we were late and then to Tescos and Liz to Barclays. Spent the morning and evening choosing hymns for St Michael's up to end of July! To the cathedral to do guiding. There were 4 on duty including Trevor who seemed to do more than the rest of us! I met a charming teacher from Norfolk and a couple also people from Munich and Slovaks. At time goes on my tour has become more fluent and I don't need to check my notes so much. To Merritt gallery Dover Street for meetup with Markus. A small exhibition of photos without captions by Tehran photographer Abbas Kowsari for £3500 each. I did not stay for coffee as I was feeling tired and I have in fact left the meetup group as they wanted £12 a year to visit free exhibitions! Also been working on Catenian stuff around provincial weekend October 2016. Watched Taste of Italy and a remarkable young Russian pianist Danil Trifonov.

Swam 24. A  varied day. Guiding confirmation candidate's families from Hounslow round the cathedral, then outside Westminster Abbey in the rain for Co-exist pilgrimage and heard the Dean of Coventry in St Margaret's Westminster. To Alistair Hardy society meeting on educating the whole person with Alan Rainer and Mariann then to St Paul's cathedral with Alan and Liz to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury  speak about a good Lent - very Benedictine and thoughtful and practical!

A quiet day as it is half term and lovely weather. Louise was working from home and took Ciaran to football QPR camp. Liz took Seán to see Peppa Pig at the cinema but he was unwell and sick. The interfaith group welcomed Jeremy Rodell who spoke very clearly on the problem of evil. 15 came but one man walked out after the Stephen Fry quote from TV! It was a stimulating discussion on the problem of evil and a lot was said about IS. I was acolyte at 5.30 mass. The men sang and lots of servers and loads of MCs falling over each other! I got to St Michael's OK and there were 12 there. Played Buxtehude and Bach. Watched Up the women and horizon on sex.                                                                                                   ...

Tuesday swam 24. To AgeUK for hearing aid clinic. The lady was late and there was one lady before me who had a mould problem so I thought I would miss the start of the opera. She gave me keep dry tubes but I have to ask the hospital for thicker ones. I parked at Selhurst and by train and tube got to Hackney picturehouse just in time. Gergiev conducted Iolanta by Tchaikovsky and Duke Bluebeard's castle in extraordinary productions by a Polish film director. The opening of the fourth door was extrordinary. Anna Netrebko was great as were all the singers. This is definitely the best cinema for opera as it is smaller although I could not see at all when I came in! To Acton and we had pancakes. Watched Inside the House of Commons. 

Swam 24. To mosaic and finished the elephant and started drawing the border design. Others were grouting. Hendrika took tai chi. Home for lunch and Liz had been for a haircut. To St James Piccadilly where I met William Rhind and Diana Mills. Downstairs are several large rooms and we enjoyed mixing and kneading the dough. A couple from Cambridge and met everybody.  Ended with a nice supper and a ciabatta loaf to take home. 

I found a Bachain prelude on "All for Jesus" by Malcolm Archer and played Buxtehude Fugue in C and Toccata and Fugue in F. Rehearsed psalms with Bill and Hayley. Bill says he is having cataract done before Easter. Lovely lunch from M and S which made up for last night - scallops, sea bass, chocolate dessert and cava. Watched Call the midwife and Dennis came. 

Nice Valentines card from Liz. To Wapping Hurtado centre for an excellent session with Anne on imagining the Baptism of the Lord, I had never before imagined accompanying Jesus as he left home and being baptised with him  and welcomed by him. Pam Morris was there and Mary who knows Fr Tom at Forest Hill. Trains to Sanderstead and then bus to URC where Richard played Elgar Imperial march.His talk on being a BBC sound engineer was so dull and illprepared.  I played Bach Liebster Jesu and Willan and got chatting to Caroline from the church choir. Good turnout and I gave out the recital booklets. Got train to Victoria in good time and Brian was celebrant. A very good homily what I could hear of it. To Beckenham Ask Italian. A disaster and in the end we walked out without paying. In 2 hours and 10 minutes 1 drink, 1 olives, 1 calamari. The neighbouring table gave us pizza and prosecco! They should never have tried to do a 4 course menu for Valentine's. Cab home and foraged in the ...

Swam 24. Horrendous traffic. The course today was addressed by a hospice chaplain and dealt with death and dying well. It was a bit heavy and brought back unhappy memories of loss. I decided not to go to National Portrait gallery as it was raining and cold so stayed in. Liz had gone to Acton. Worked on latest article. Unimpressed by Penny's reaction to suggestions from Commander Tarrant. It is more or less keep off my territory which is frankly pathetic as they are not doing that much! 

Up early and coffee at cafe as I was early. Commander Andy Tarrant was friendly and frank and we discussed hate crime, domestic abuse and human trafficking. I am tasked with trying to set up 2 events for Muslims and Eastern Europeans to inform about these issues. The hour went quickly. Went to The Works and bought 4 canvases and a large carrier case for paintings. Much cheaper than Cassart. I was cross with the 468 bus driver and sent in a complaint. 2 buses were made out of service at Whitgift centre with a lot of congestion about and people waiting.This 3rd bus went straight past so I hopped on a 60 and caught up with it. The driver said the supervisor told him to start at the next stop! To art and forgot my computer so worked on flesh tones. Liz picked me up and she had been to Asdas. Nice lunch and dinner. To Milton Court concert hall which is splendid and behind the Barbican for BBC Singers and London Sinfonietta of Gorecki and MacMillan brilliantly conducted by the composer, Met...

Tuwsday swam 20. To Christ Church priory Eltham for the funeral of Frank Bond. 90 year old veteran of the Arctic campaign and Catenian for 50 years. The organist is Mark who is young and he played nothing beforehand. The coffin was brought in covered in the white ensign with the flag.Music was deifnitely needed. Only 3 hymns and no penitential rite! The priest sang into the mike so why ahve a choir at all. They sang Mozart Ave verum during communion and attmepted the descant to Crimond - not a good idea! I spoke to the organist afterwards and he said he did not know if the family had chosen a CD! Pity I did not push harder to play myself. We discussed with Pauline form the choir supporting youngsters who wanted to learn the organ. Nice reception at the club across the road but no hot food! Sat with Eddie and John and Anne. Home to change and to London school for girls at the Barbican for BBC singers workshop on James MacMillan. 3 tenors but a very enthusiastic conductor. Sang 4 motets...

Swam 22. Mosaic and worked on the elephant and traced the design which Linda had completed. Bought a new frame which I brought home to paint in acrylic. To the dentist and need 2 crowns so have penicillin to take. Watched Songs of Praise featuring the Prince of Wales on persecution of faith minorities. To Maidstone circle meeting and met Fergus and Brendan to discuss the coming year. Gave Vincent Spink and Bernard Gillespey a lift home. Watched University challenge.

Broadcast from Brentwood cathedral. I  played Bach and Walther on Liebster Jesu, Couperin Duo and Karg-Elert Nun danket today. Fr Richard from St Mary Shortlands stood in for Fr Paul and we started rehearsing psalms for Holy Week. Sean appeared again in the porch. Liz went to the Science museum with Lou and the boys as Tom has a big interview today. I wathced the Carlos Acosta ballet programme. I met her at Kent House and at evensong we  sang Stanford in B flat and The heavens are telling at evensong. The hymn was "The spacious firmament on high". Cathy was dire again - bad vowels, out of tune. Bridget conducted and a stranger played the organ. Watched Call the midwife and deleted lots of emails and put others in folders.

To St Augustine Kilburn for Christian/Muslim forum on the family: challenges and benefits. Bishop Paul Hendricks there all day, Revd Maggie Hindley and Father Colin Amos. It was interesting but ... 1.       St Augustine’s was very cold and the seats were uncomfortable. Some complained of not being able to hear the speakers well. Why not use a smaller space and heat that? The toilets were not well signposted and I had to ask where they were. I would certainly not go to an  event there in the winter in the future. 2.       While it was understandable that we should be invited to the normal 12 noon Mass it did place the Roman Catholics in an awkward position which could have been avoided I think with a non-Eucharistic service. 3.       The speakers took up all the time and there was little time for questions in the morning session. In fact my question was answered in part later in the day. 4.  ...

Swam 22. To RUSI library for westminster debate on foreign policy and religious freedoms. 5 excellent speakers - the humanist particularly so. Jim Walters and a Catenian from Swanley were there. I asked a question about the rise of UKIP and German developments affecting foreign policy. To  Chrst the King Gordon square for organ recital by Matthew Blaiden of Richmond - Langlais, Reger and Alain. Did some sketching - very ornate and belongs to Catholic Apostolic church whatever that is. No tlalowed to applaud so thanked him. The chapel is the HQ of Forward in Faith. Had a look in Waterstones, picked up brushes from Cassart and posted music to Iain in Hereford. Came home for haircut and change. To Brook Green for servers dinner and I welcomed the guests the principal one being Archbishop Kevin. My speech ons erving and internet was well received. Very nice meal and good to chat to Canon Colin Davies episcopal vicar. Home by 11.30.

Buss trike so we drove to Streatham synagogue where there was a good turnout for the interfaith harmony week breakfast. Nice to chat to Revd Nagase who knows Prem and showed him the Chennai videos. William was there and I met Maksud who I had contacted about Conversations! To art and worked on Ivor's portrait - quite pleased with it so far. Wrote an account of Celia Blackden as she is moving to Focolare in Rome! Sent parcel of music from Peter Myers to Iain Melville in Yelverton. With 2 Brendans to Dulwich circle at their new venue the Griffin sports club. Acoustics not great but lots to eat! 

Tuesday snow so no swim! It cleared quite quickly- bus, train and tube to Clapham Common. Lady on train with baby in pram which was crying and baby refused juice and dummy so I suggested she might be teething. Oh no she's just tired! So why not pick her up and cuddle her to sleep then? I can tell the difference between cries! Tales of Hoffmann from the Met was superbly sung and produced - really enjoyed it and not seen it before. Posted photo CDs to Fr Renato Zilio in Marseille - had to buy tape as the tape on the envelope was coming off. To the House of Commons committee room 8 the Wellington room for the excellent GlobalNet 21 meeting "Does bombing an ideology ever work?" Excellent speakers esp Michael Stephens on the Middle East. Most voted No. I asked a question about control of the internet and the role of multinational oil companies. Met a political editor for ITV news and an agnostic Jew! I love looking at the plaques in Westminster Hall. To Acton. The usual day ...

Swam 20. Fr Paul has sent a clear reply about the situation which is outrageous! No wonder priests leave the C of E! To the cathedral for 11 a.m. Mass for the religious with the Cardinal. I was mitre/crozier and Liz was acolyte. She was cross that Jess was thurifer and assistant MC. Nice lunch and spoke to several nuns I know and some new ones incl Marie Therese a Servite who was in Rome for the ecumenical gathering. Liz went to UCL. I went to the Rubens and his legacy at the Royal Academy - some fine paintings but also gaps where pirctures which were imitated were not shown. 14 bus to Victoria and Albert and sketched 2 lions of Pisano in the cast courts. Tea at M & S and served acolyte at 5.30 mass - loads of servers but only 2 torches! Fr Alexander and the choir sang Byrd superbly. Dashed to station and just missed train so home and quick change and got to Catenians at 8. A good meeting - 20 there. William spoke about Gandhi foundation afterwards. Juan will come on council. Sad ...

It seems some people have moaned about him to the patrons who come nowhere near the church so the Bishop has decided to move him without any consultation! It's a disgrace. I will be looking at my own position. His last Sunday is Easter Day. I saw Sean the former church warden who used to go Our Lady’s Addiscombe outside today. He says he goes to St James - he looks very pale and his foot is still in plaster. I think he had been to get the service sheet to see if Paul had announced it there (he hadn’t). I reckon he has worked with the awful treasurer John Williams to complain to the patrons. Paul announced it at the end of the service and he told me the Bishop had not been in touch with him at all. He will be at Foots Cray. I know his wife works and I’ve no idea what the housing is like. He has worked really hard and what worries me is only 18 at a family service today and no children. It is not viable except that they have all of Alan’s money. The other problem is the outrageou...