The organist librarian

Daniel Moult played brilliantly at Bromley Parish church - about 50 there and nice cakes! Jean Francaix's Suite Carmelite interested me. It is 6 portraits of Carmelite nuns. I know a nun just like No. 4 - rushing about and constantly chatting with little apparent conclusion! I drove there behind an old lady going at 20 mph. On the way back no less than 8 drivers waved their thanks as i waited for them. Courtesy is not dead! Sme work in the garden. Played Elgar on the piano - Salut d'amour, Chanson de matin, Enigma variations. Fr Jerry wants to discuss Shona taking practice on first Sundays. Emailed and have deputy organised. A couple of singers withdrew - everybody is making excuses. Barry Williams thinks St Michael's behaved very badly and Coulsdon not much better. Watched Sewing Bee, Venice and Versailles programmes. Upstart Crow about Shakespeare is funny. 

For Corpus Christi played Boellmann and June Nixon on Adoro Te and Andrew Moore toccata. The choir of 4 sang Ave verum by Saint-Saens. We need more singers and the excuses for not joining are unimpressive! Chicken and red wine for lunch. Catching up on Songs of Praise including a digital Benedictine nun and Leeds cathedral music programme and the Mercy bus.

Whole day at St George's cathedral Southwark rehearsing for the ordination of Bishop Paul Mason.  Mags did a god job in the morning but Canon Alan was just too much. He loves himself and wastes too much time. Some comments were inappropriate in front of children. Good music choices by Paul. The diocesan choir are cliquey. Had tea outside the Imperial war museum and showed Liz the peace garden.  Vespers and Mass for Corpus Christi with Canon Christopher. Loved the Victoria Wood tribute.Long phonecall to Peter Stevens and agreed to support the Kent schools day on July 4th. Jerry indicated that safeguarding applies to emails so have to use the Catenian one for the church! Steak for dinner. 

Swam 20. To Kennington Park to meet Shereen and Noreen about the raised bed garden for the disabled. Met Tony Clark who works for Lambeth council who are only interested in making money out of the park. There is a good cafe and a lovely flower garden.  Catching up on recorded TV e.g. An island Parish and animal sleep. Liz working in the garden. Mosaics put up and got water features going.  Gareth Malone wonderful Invictus choir and Paul O'Grady and the Salvation Army.

Swam 22. To art and painted small canvas of spring from a photo taken at the Barbican. Tp interfaith lunch and not so many there. Met the new police officer in Lambeth for liaison with faiths. Chat to Alan about SGI and saw Gisela. Liz doing garden. Dennis and AnnMarie came down. To Addiscombe for Fr Denis Paul's 60th anniversary of ordination Mass - lots of old faces.

Liz took Sean to Natural History museum. I went to 6 Provinces meeting at Eccleston Square (saw  Martin Foster ). In the evening to Chislehurst golf club for Blackheath and Chislehurst meeting and dinner which was most enjoyable! I won whisky on the raffle! 

Morning at LBFN Faith in social action at University of Westminster.  Shereen, Shanti, Catriona, Siriol there.  Explore marriage session at St Benedict Ealing - it went well but we needed more time.  The library is impressive. To Acton so Liz could change.  Lovely meal at Royal Society of Medicine our 4th OJ reunion dinner and great to have  Stan Trollip  with us. Mike Stanley has 2 books coming out this year. It's expensive but worth it.  Before dinner we prayed for our friends from the year of 1963 who have died and the Old Johannians killed in the First World War especially at Delville Wood.

Woke early. Swam 20.Finished face of portrait of Sean at mosaic - Linda not there - car problems. 5 at Wild Goose Qigong. Couples come dine with me. Did DBS application.  Catenian circle meeting at Beckenham - a great turnout, James Young enrolled and 4 visiting gentlemen. The Rumi deaf man story went well. Good chats to Frank Savage, Peter Stevens and Freddie Maes.

Trains cancelled so bus to and from Caterham. Played Willan on Nicaea, Stanford on Garton and Wyton March St Patrick's breastplate - played it at OLEM yesterday. Jill sing God is gone up beautifully - her last service.  Got to the British Museum for the 5th interfaith music festival and a great variety. Met an interesting Buddhist and chatted to choir members from the Big chorus and Muddledup chorus. To Streatham for meeting about honour for Alan. Liz back from Walsingham and picked her up at Dennis's.

Liz off to Walsingham. Another interesting day started with hearing test at Guys hospital and I should get new improved hearing aids on July 1st. Then to see my spiritual director at Farm Street and a visit to the Royal Academy to see White, black, gold by Keith Coventry and Ann Christopher's drawings. Then to Wellcome collection for States of Mind and Find a voice (both worth seeing). Then Leighton House for pre-Raphaelite drawings from Canada. I'm not that keen on them but some of them could certainly draw! An enjoyable organists crawl in Cambridge. I spent a happy time at the Fitzwilliam - special exhibition on Egyptian and Roman mummies but loved the art. Sadly we could not visit Downing after all. At Wesleyan Methodist the organist did not turn up and in the end I rang the organ tuner to find out how to turn it on. Much better was St Andrew St Baptist and then Sarah Macdonald gave us a treat at Little St Mary's on the Tickell. Best of all OLEM organ wiht Nigel Kerry a...

To Ciaran's assembly - they all sang and spoke so well and it was sweet! All so happy! To Dr Ojo to have ears syringed and I have arthritis in right thumb. Lots of emails and practised for Sunday. Liz getting ready to go away to Walsingham, To St John;s for excellent recital by Bridget and Adrian - 65 there! Wesleys, Reger, Peeters, Bossi, Franck, Ives. Marilyn Harper, Richard Pilliner, Millingtons there

Should have asked for taxi at 7 rather than 7 15 as traffic was bad but we got there in time and 8 40 flight back to gatwick. Home by 1 and unpacked. Watched BBC young musician final and all 3 were great but Shako a worthy winner. To Acton and big cuddles from the boys. Slept on plane and watching. David Attenborough Zoo quest. 

Last day in Malta - all good things come to an end! To Temples at Hagar Din and Gjatira. Bus went past stop so got taxi back. Lovely setting glorious day and picnic after museum then bus to Rabat round the coast at Dingle. great views. Bus to Valletta and bus back to burial chapel of St Georg Preca. Two more buses to get to Balzan and visited Roderick at the two cathecatical centre he runs for the Society of the Divine Word. Happy boys playing football.  Met the brothers and volunteers. lift back. pasta and finished delicata wine from Malta. The balcony where we are last night collapsed injuring 36. packed.

Conference was excellent. Grand President impressive. Fr Donnelly from Newcastle on youth. Bob Butler on moving on. Two bursary fund who went to Ethiopia. It helped the sisters out there too. Charities, interfaith, Catena editor all excellent. Had coffee and then to supermarket. Had a rest and off to Radisson Blu for Maltese buffet and cabaret - nice but not Maltese. Dancing, conga, New York. Good fun and good chats to Knutsford Jeanne who lived in Zambia and Declan from Harrow director for strategy. Seems the President was 45 minutes late and no apology. Home at 12 and slept to 7. Pentecost Sunday to Medina cathedral. Excellent seats at the side. Servers poor, communion took too long. Organ effective but loud, cantors did well. Played toccata in D minor as had sandals on. Turned out to be a Copeman Hart - fooled me. Lunch ftira with Kin Wang from Luton. To natural history museum very interesting. Tea and cake at Fontenella. Back to Spinola on two buses. Had a look in Carmelite churc...

A lazy morning and got bus 14 to  Radisson Blu which is right at the end of the bay and the.bus goes  a long way round via Pembroke. At noon reception with Grand President and great to meet the Rowleys. The Brittos were there. Tie and jacket off and buses 14 and 2  to Birgu. Lunch in Victory  square. Grand inquisitor's palace is unique and loved the Christmas cribs. There is one in the apartment. You would not want to fall foul of the inquisition. Ferry back to Valletta and up in lift. Bus back changed and made mistake of not going to get coach. Festival in st Julian messed up buses and we ended up on a bus with a new driver who needed the passengers to tell him where to go. Got to reception too late for free drink but met quite a few including Andrew Pritchard. Got welcome pack -had seen David Lloyd earlier. Coach back to Cavalieri and home by 11.15.

A really super day very sunny with a breeze. Early breakfast and to Cavalieri hotel. Coach very late but an excellent guide and drivers. First ferry full so we were on second one on sun deck and saw blue lagoon on Camino. Good chat to PP from Watford. To Neolithic temples at Ggantija. Tour guide before us hogged space and time so we could not see things. The temples are older than the pyramids. To Ta' Pinu beautiful church of the Virgin. Mosaics and votive offerings. To the Azure window rock formation. Then delicious fish lunch at San Andrea hotel Zafiro at Xlendi on the coast.  Short walk round Victoria/Rabat and saw inside a 600 year old house and St George's gloomy baroque. Later ferry and back at 6.45 time to shop for dinner pizza wine and Swiss roll.

Woke early and then slept to 8.30. To ferry and to Valletta. Walked up to St John's cathedral very ornate and pricey but the Caravaggios and the choir books fantastic. Had picnic outside castle St Elmo but decided to skip the war museum and back on ferry. Got bus weekly cards. Back to apartment and ironing.

Set off in good time but as it was raining got a taxi to East Croydon. Liz did not buy tickets to Gatwick as I advised so paid excess fares. Air Malts flight comfortable and several Catenians including Noel Brownsell and Paul from Eastbourne. Taxi to apartment air b n b Ian had not made it clear that it was _A1 7 but eventually found it and his ex wife showed us round. We got food from the supermarket and ate at La Maltija Maltese wine, bread and rabbit and date pastry. delicious..

Swam, returned books to Balham library and tai chi - did massage. Arrived early at East Dulwich picturehouse so sat in garden.  We laughed we cried Florence Foster Jenkins is great not quite as good as Madeleine but worth seeing!  Dennis came to Catenians. 8 of us and 9 visitors. Willie Britto was there. 

Played Willan and Peeters on Carlisle and Bach chorale preludes. Simon did not give time to start Alleluia! King of glory by Harris well sung and a good practice.  To Amazing Grace interfaith dinner and concert at Union chapel Islington to greet the Jain guru. Particularly liked the Sufi and Jewish singers. Evensong from Christ Church cathedral Oxford and they managed the Walton Coronation Te Deum well. 

To Grangewood park and had a chat about art in the park and the committee members liked my Christmas card drawing. To St John East Dulwich for John Webber's recital - traffic bad. Updated my satnav. The Cardinal celebrated Mass for new Catholics. Just watching Young Musician semi-final - amazing playing.

Swam, watched more of Gareth Malone and Invictus choir. Lovely playing by  Laurence Caldecote  at Bedford Park. The Paradies was particularly pleasing!  Guiding with Liz and David at the cathedral (quite quiet - very sunny day) then to St Paul's for the service for John Scott. The best parts were the Gloria of the Howells St Paul's service Nunc, How can I keep from singing and John Scott's hymn tune. The Gowers and Bach were wrecked by the acoustic under the dome and some of the organ voluntaries suffered as well. To Sevenoaks for Catenian membership group meeting - home at 11.30! 

Voted and walked down to the hall on a lovely sunny morning for Ascension Day, rawing in Grangewood Park  -stunning foliage,  Sicily at British Museum worth a visit - bit crowded. Rm 90 watercolours and fascinating Assam textile. I am in shirtsleeves. Seen first guy in shorts this year! Liz ordered the Proms passes and the blackbirdbabies flew.  To Selfridges for free drawing session Meetup. Drew face on perspex and then traced and coloured it with felt tips which I hate! Result, s not bad. To St John Upper Norwood for Ascension Day - Grayston Ives setting and Italian carol God is ascended. Quite a few there Jonathan Croucher vicar of Gipsy Hill preached well. Watched Gareth and the invictus choir but slept! 

Swam 20. Played and sang some Messiah and Dichterliebe. Elektra from the Met at Gate cinema. Stunning playing and singing esp Nina Stemme but the drama is harrowing. The final page sends shivers down my spine!  Met Freda who used to come to the Proms.  V and A for Paul Strand photographs and films and a ceramics demonstration by Wedgewoods. Amazing ceramics section and enjoyed tea, did 2 sketches and the British section where I watched film on country houses. Then to final oil painting class. Very pleased with portrait of Liz and so was Nelson Ferreira. Liz pronounced it "quite good" Divorce proceedings to follow after all that work! Sean had an off day and joined in a little at Tamar's. He wanted to go to the toilet alone at lunch at Watermans and I refused. Picked up Liz and we both slept. To Meopham and all went well depsite being late. Brendan Fitzgerald was held up and we went to pick up Kevin but he had taken Brendan Foley home thinking we would not get there in t...

Francesca Massey  played really well at Bromley parish church. To St George's cathedral Southwark for 60th anniversary Mass for HCPT and gave out all the Catenian bursary fund leaflets. Saw Maureen Martin and lots of others I know including Michael from Westminster cathedral. Tea and cake afterwards. Took the collection! Drums far too LOUD and constant! David Gummett and Fr Gerald were there.  Liz back from Aylesford after servers mass. To Croydon Minster for unique concert in aid of the organ appeal. Lovely to hear Peter Nardone singing. Andrew Cantrill ,  Simon Lole ,  Nigel McClintock ,  Carl Jackson ,  Ian Keatley  and David Swinson. The choir under Ronnie  Ronny Krippner  sounding really well. Also saw Stephen Disley, Marie and Mollie from Coulsdon,  Colin Boswell  is leaving sadly. Martin How,  Anne Fleming . Quite an evening.  Denise Mead , Gail Winter and Julie Beaumont. Jo is leaving Coulsdon to move to Norwich. ...

Jerry is quite right. My comment to Jane Williams about the difficulty of explaining the Trinity to my Muslim and Buddhist friends is typically Western. Orthodox would say it's a mystery. I also commented on the palpable love in the Buddhist community born from mindfulness teaching so often stronger than Church life. Jim the chaplain at LSE was at the talk and we spoke but he seemed in a hurry to leave - typically upperclass English I'm afraid. Really enjoying Emma byAlexander McCall Smith an up-to-date retelling of Jane Austen and of course it's about the Woodhouses! 

Lovely day. Rutter Gaelic blessing. Willan and Stanford on St Columba and Elgar Song of liberty. St John Caterham - we had an amusing drama about Paul trying to fly to Asia and going to Macedonia instead!  Brilliant talk at St Paul's cathedral by Dr Jane Williams on the Holy Spirit in the Trinity. I commented that explaining the Trinity to Muslims and Buddhists is impossible and God can more foten be found with the Buddhist community than in church.  London live showed again the wedding of William and Katherine 5 years on but horror of horrors - they did not come in the Wagner Bridal March nor was Jerusalem sung!!! Most of the chat is about the dress!  Evensong at Caterham. Elgar Symphony 1 theme, Vesper voluntary, Bach Christ lag and Ridout This joyful Eastertide. Some lovely chants.Antiques roadshow, Indian summers, The Durrells and Paul O'Grady and the Sally Army. Liz in Aylesford overnight.