The organist librarian

Very much enjoyed the Merchant at the Globe. Jonathan Pryce and his daughter were excellent. How anti-Semitic the play is and the forced baptism at the end underlined this. Second half of Vespers with the Abbey choir at the cathedral.Pity it had to be Vittoria and Phillips. Daniel Cook played Bach but it just became a great wash of sound! I walked Globe to Blackfriars so was tired. Schutz on radio 3. Domingo at the BBC. Family arrived and had fish and chips.

Finished!

Red Arrows on VE70 day from cathedral tower.

To Royal Society of Medicine for excellent dinner - just 10 of us but Clive Nettleton is such an inspiration. We talked about human rights, travel, change, Palestine, South Africa and much more! £110 is a lot for night out but we both enjoyed it. Dennis picked us up and got stuff to take in the car to Jersey. Love the orange jacket but not the 2 black eyes from the fall! Glad I'm feeling fine again.

Excellent programme by Trevor Phillips on what cannot be said about race including Farage and Blair. Missed David Titterington's recital. Thursday did not go to art or Stephen Cleobury's recital at SJSS. Sorted out email addresses and rested. Watched Come dine with me. Finished Hugh Lewin's amazing book. Watched programme on Bruce in Antarctica and fitted 2 new toilet seats.

To Battersea library for Jim's retirement after 49 years! Amazing turnout of old faces and a black and white 1967 film was shown taken at West Hill. It was all so formal in those days - too many staff overmanaged amd of course fiddles went on. Some got away with leaving early or going to the park there were plenty to cover! Lovely to see Robin and tell him we were following him to Galapagos and how much the boys liked his book. He is now teaching. My successor at York now teaches drama! Chris and Gill were there and Anne Walker. Lots of nostalgia! I missed  the cathedral group for the first time ever but I do feel better. RIta tells me only 5 came. Carol brought the new church key. I have rewritten the article about Jerusalem using Shohel and David's comments. Cleaner is here so up in study listening to glorious Schutz. Liz on babysitting alone! Snakes and ladders. My Outlook will not open so I must now reconstruct somehow my email networks for interfaith and spirituailty! Wat...

Liz took Ann Marie to work and then took me down to AgeUK where I got another tube for my hearing aid so I can change them myself. We went to Odeon Beckenham to see the film and enjoyed it. Margaret would have been 14 on VE Day and Rupert Everett did not look like or sound like the King but Jack was just a delight and lovely quips about class and the period.  Have things changed that much? Who are the wealthy now? And how sad that the Queen has had so little real freedom and yet served us so wonderfully for so long.  Watched Antiques roadshow. Liz went to Acton. I have cleared my diary - Rita will run the group tomorrow. I will rest and feel much better. The lovely lilies in a pot from last night much appreciated.

Had some cereal. Went to the doctor's and saw a very nice retired locum who was most interested in the Jerusalem experience. He goes to church at Buckingham Gate and comes from Sri Lanka and used to work in Stockwell. He prescribed cream for the rash which may be viral so must rest. No way I could go to May supper so wrote speech for Liz- very disappointed not to be able to go. Watched BBC young dancer which was excellent and Antiques roadtrip. Louise adamant the wall should come down so contacted neighbour about solicitor. Liz went to the May supper and came back with a lovely pot of lilies. I wonder why Carol got flowers and Ronnie didn't? I watched the remaining episodes of Poldark which ended sadly.

Watched two Shark programmes, Antiques roadshow, programme on British Airways and the luxury Taj Palace hotel Mumbai. Spoke to Bruce and Dennis and Ann- Marie ​ came to see us. Liz's eyes very bruised from her fall. A rash has appeared on legs and arms and small sore on my mouth. Runny tummy has stopped. Going to doctor. Carol rang about the recitals and the keys.

Now a rash has appeared ate toast. Watched A few best mean hilarious wedding in Oz wrecked by groom's friends. Easter Sunday from Manchester cathedral a good way to celebrate the Ascension. 2 programmes on sharks and Songs of Praise school choirs final. Seniors won by Hereford girls. Did Monday's minutes and the leaflet for Thursday.

On Friday listened to concert live from the Barbican - Sarah Connolly singing Berlioz Death of Cleopatra and Andrew Davis conducting BBC in Bliss Morning Heroes - such a shame I could not make out a single word! I once got Sir Arthur's autograph at the Albert Hall and told him his Royal Fanfares were played at our wedding (twice! because they were waiting for Fr Benedict from Ealing who didn't come!)

Everybody says rest so no church today. I was going to play the Bach Ascensiontide prelude. Sorry to have missed Tablet 175 mass and Roxanna Panufnik's new anthem. Watched the lovely Amour which has an unexpected twist, VE Day service at the cenotaph, Geordie symphony school which is brilliant - Il Sistema comes to Newcastle! Woodcarving. Enjoyed the end of University challenge and Gonville and Caius were worthy winners.

Yesterday I missed art, guiding, final varnishing and display of finished oil paintings and Pirates at ENO (Louise enjoyed it!) Liz got the Proms seasons in without a problem but she has a nasty bruise where she feel in the kitchen at No. 7. Thank God for Radio 3 -Mozart violin concert, Mahler 4, Widor Antique smphony, Brahms trio, Schubert, Poulenc, Durufle and Tavener, Prokofiev Symphony No. 3.

Interesting discussion on anti-religious experience at enorb farewell to Dr Kishan Manocha at Europa House organised by Catriona. Then to SOAS Brunei gallery for the superb photographs of British Islam by Peter Sanders and delighted to meet him! King's college London chapel for new music evensong - choir is very good, organ rather loud. Not very keen on Gareth Wilson's compositions but Pie Jesu by Anthony Pitts lovely. To St John Notting Hill for Schubert sung beautifully by Ben Johnson accompanied by tom Primrose. Only 30 there - nice glass of wine. Wed to Tamar's but Seán spent most of it behind the curtains. I went to Brixton and 8 came for Conversations including a Buddhist Jew! Shivering and straight to bed and spent Thursday sleeping.

At Peter's Southwark cathedral he had to get off the stool and stop a workman drilling! He played Heiller, Jackson, Moore and Latry. Watched VE day Abbey service with new anthem by Judith Weir.

At evensong we sang Eyre in D and Bairstow Blessed city. The prayers were rather long and although Adrian gave me a lift to Crystal Palace station I missed the train but got to Finchley a bit late. JW3 is most impressive and there was a good audience for the discussion chaired by Ed Kessler with Rabbi David Rosen and Archbishop Kevin. I asked a question about how few Catholics and Jews knew the document and was described as a champion of interfaith! William advised going to Finchley and Frognal which was much closer than West Hampstead so quickly to Willesden but then had to get a replacement bus to Acton. Louise had forgotten I was coming! Monday took Ciaran over to Issy's. Cleaner came and so I left and had coffee at JW3. Good turnout and several people I know for the 2 seminars - particularly liked the rabbi who had been in Sydney and of course Michael Barnes who I complimented as the best teacher ever! He said afterwards "you naughty man" but these things should be s...

To St Mary's for 8 a.m. Mass and met Rick Baxter. The pp Fr Scanlon very engaging. I  played Douglas Guest on St Fulbert, Robert Fielding on Personent hodie, I know that my redeemer liveth, Whitlock Salix and Michael Fleming on Noel nouvelet before the service which seems to start late every week. At the end Walton First of the few and end of Crown imperial as we had a VE day lunch with flags and bunting. Apparently the church was used as a polling station. Fr Leon very enthusiastic. 

A most successful with 4 different organs; the superb Dobson at Merton, quality Harrison at Lady Margaret Hall, Matthew Copley at St Aloysius Oratory and St Mary Magdalen.I got the Oxford tube with 3 others at 8. Ben Nicholas dleighted to see us at Merton and a superb organ. We heard Widor and Buxtehude and I played Willan and Moore. 8 played. Long walk to Lady Margaret Hall and Nicholas demonstrated the fine Harrison. Had my lunch there and then to St Aloysius oratory. Edward Dove organ builder there. It's very loud!  Got hot salad and coffee. St Mary Magdalen vicar came and told us history, given tea, unusual console and use of glass as a refective surface. Played Whitlock. Saw Saira Malik in Cornmarket giving out Christian literature then to Ashmolean for lovely British drawings and Gillray and the gallery has been rehung really well. Ice cream Oxford blue and Ambassadors and tea then to Christ Church cathedral for evensong. Harwood in A flat, Vaughan Wlliams Easter - superb t...

A good day at St Matthew's looking at strengths and weaknesses and what makes for a happy day (smiling in my case) - only 2 more sessions of the spiritual direction course left and then to Regent Street to finish the Ciarán portrait. Westminster cathedral VE day party turns out to have been cancelled so turning up in red white and blue with hats from the Last night a little pointless so we had an excellent dinner at Il Porto trattoria near Victoria and went up to Trafalgar Square - no sign of promised VE day floodlights but lots of flags in Parliament Square. Clegg, Miliband and Farage all resign! Was up to 3.30 a.m. watching election results. Sad to see Simon Hughes gone and Vince Cable. Ed Balls is no loss. Croydon central stayed Tory by 243 votes! 

Have finished reading all 3 parts of Dante's Divine comedy which can be slow heavy going. Purgatory might seem suitable for an election campain much of which we missed being away! Swam 20 and went to vote but nowhere free to park near the polling station. Worked on the mosaic border. Mary Garvey died and so have rearranged lunch with Shanti. Liz went shopping and I set off to vote (Labour for first time in a general election) and then to Whitechapel gallery. Disappointing Christopher Williams photos, some interesting pictures from Moscow and tribute to Shiraz festival. Peter Liversidge notes on protesting. Vahap Avsar's Road to Arguvan a fascinating film. Reminded me of The crack at Tate Modern - shows a fissure in a road. Had delicious chocolate Guinness cake and Early Grey tea (proper pot) all for £5! To Nelson's studio in Greatorex Street and spent 3 hours working on the picture which is vastly improved! Watched some of the election coverage - much speculation! ...

Excellent Bishops' conference spirituality network day at Somers Town with Henry Wansbrough on the psalms. Mark Nash, Bishop Paul and nun from Turvey. Met Michael and Marie from Southwark Catholic spirituality network. 4 p.m.Farewell to Celia Blackden at CTE - she is now working for Focolare in Rome. Julian, Siriol and David from Bristol were there. Saw Gandhi statue in Tavistock Square. To Acton and Tom back from first day in new job in Reading. Wednesday Sean was good. Louise thought cleaner was coming (in fact she was ill) so we went to the gym before Watermans. Good evensong from Queens Oxford with Cecila McDowall anthem. Watched programmes on Sappho and Cleopatra. and Petrie.

Phllip Scriven gave us a real Bank holiday recital which was fun at Bromley Parish church. The Croydon music festival organ class at St John's featured 2 accomplished players and 2 promising beginners all ably helped by Anne Marsden Thomas.

My second Sunday of the interregnum - there are significant changes in the congregation and new church wardens. Fr Leon sings everything including the Gospel. He is enthusiastic and clearly enjoyed my playing. We managed the psalm on minimal rehearsal and I played Ridout;s fun piece on "This joyful Eastertide" (A lady asked about this hymn - she really liked it) Archer on St Fulbert and Willan on Vulpius and also did some improvising! When practising had a go at Bach passacaglia and final section of Messiah. Service now startsa round 10.50 so it means getting to St Paul's cathedral for 1 p.m. talk unlikely. Nice chicken for lunch and watched Sex and the Church and National Gallery and Rick Wakeman on Vivaldi Four Seasons. At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and Wesley The Lord hath been mindful of us. Benediction. Dennis and Ann Marie came down.

Posted videos on Face book. To St George's cathedral for Tim's recital which included the Whitlock Plymouth suite and a Bach trio sonata. There was no swell but one would never have guessed as he remained so calm! Not many there and various noises off! Had a nice chat as he is now at Ripon cathedral. To Imperial War museum which is awful. Confusing, muddled, crowded. Went in a circle to find the Sargent in gallery 3, could find nothing about Gallipoli in World War I section although it was busy. Did find 3 books in the book shop - have complained. To Victoria library to pick up Channel Islands guide book -£1 charge. The biographies are in a mess! M & S for tea. Cross with Gerry as waited 10 minutes to get into sacristy and got robed only to find him going on about child protection. Liz and I will have to arrive together so I can go to vespers. Wore new cotta for first time. Cardinal Vaughan choir sang Britten Missa brevis and Dupre Ave Maria well. Watched Indian summers an...

Liz still at Acton as it was Tom's leaving do last night. Swam 20. To British Museum for the pricey but superb Defining beauty: the body in ancient Greek art especially the loans from Rome and Croatia and the Queen. Interesting vases and small statuettes as well. To Turnham Green to hear Hannah Parry-Ridout play Muffat, Bach and Mendelssohn 6. She is a good player. To Richmond Riverside gallery to see Razia's beatle picture in Metamorphoses. Lunch at M and S and got a watch strap at David's jewellers. The Museum of Richmond is interesting with models of demolished royal palaces. Returned books to Clapham Junction library. Tate Modern for Marlene Dumas (only really liked The wall) and Sonia Delaunay very colourful. Friends room for tea and met a delightful Mum and 8 year old and her cousin. To St John Notting Hill for Stephen Farr's recital. Good to see Sam Barber again - such a nice young man! John Gardner, Grainger, Langlais, Bach, Schumann and Mendelssohn 2 - a most ...

Back to the pool and did 22. Weight is 11 stone so need to lose some. Max was there - have not seen him for months. Did more work on the picture at art and took it to the interfaith lunch and it seemed to go down well. Nice to see Fr Adrian there and lots of interest in Jerusalem. Diana showed photos from Palestine. Watched Antiques roadshow and Island parish somehow ended up watching Nigel Farage who really is a worry!