The organist librarian

Liz drove me over to Mottingham in fog for 8.30 physio which cost a lot more than BSO! Still I now have exercises to do, icepack, antiinflammatories. Bruce helped to put the tree away which was great. Watched Songs of Praise and Flying Scotsman.Good programme on Sir Lenny Henry. 

 A dreadful night. Could not get comfortable left knee. In the end sat on edge of bed and rubbed knee for ages then slept on left side at 1 a.m. Liz booked assistance for the whole trip and checked in. Family took cases and Bruce to Acton. Ciaran lost a tooth. Ann's poles arrived minute later and new adapter for Oz. To St John's for big funeral of Riccardo who died in July. Sang Wood in Phrygian mode and Caesar Soul of my saviour. Also As the deer and Lord of the dance. Card to Ann Marie and booked physio for tomorrow at Mottingham. Saw photos of scan of the bump. Bit shivery. Huge amount of recycling paper and landfill, 2 food pails.Watched Christmas factory and a bit of West Side story. Fr John's homily was outstanding and from the heart. Listened to Westminster Abbey midnight mass = great sermon and singing. Watched The Ballroom boys, Life in the snow and drama about at the Brontes.

Pool opened at 9. Only swam 16 as I did not put enough on the meter! Some guy doing butterfly and black guy swam into me - he said "You saw me" I replied "I cannot see you if I am on my back and we need to all go round the same way!" Watched West Side Story background and Sir Peter Wright. Worked on the portrait trying to make it more feminine. Packing for Saturday. Louise and the boys arrived at the end of evensong from St Gabrieil Pimlico sung by Rudolfus choir. After dinnee pleayed through Carols for choirs and my big solo from Amahl "this is my box". Bruce went and bought Baileys! James May reassembling toys. I have gained 3 pounds and I never seen so much recycling and landfill! Michael Buerk on Pompeii.

Swam 20 the pool opened early so thanked the attendant as it is a holiday.  How many composers have you met? Stravinsky, Walton, Bliss, Macmillan, Darke, Francis Jackson, Rutter, John Barnard, Andrew Moore, Tavener, Alan Rees, Judith Bingham, Judith Weir, Martin How, Michael Fleming, Alan Smith , Roxanna Panufnik, David Hill,  Stephen Cleobury , Colin Mawby, June Nixon, Thomas Hewitt-Jones, Matthew Martin, Bernadette Farrell, Andrew Wright (in no particular order) and I am counting the widow of Vernon Griffiths as it was like sharing a meeting with him as she gave me a lot of his organ music! Enjoyed St John's Day at Upper Norwood and we sang Eyre. Lovely lunch in the vicarage and good chats to Gareth, Daniel Trott and Fr Mark Williams from Kennington. Watched university challenge, elephants, Alan Bennett's diaries, lovely midnight mass from St Chad's cathedral Birmingham

Waved off the kids and Louise and Tom - they will be back on Wednesday. Listened to second half of King's - lovely Michael Berkeley, Harold Darke, Howells, Lennox Berkeley and Warlock Bethlehem Down. Listing composers I have seen or met. A lot! Carols from King's. Dennis announced yesterday that the baptism will be on April 23rd in Dublin so booking flights. Nice walk round South Norwood lake very clear sky. Met Mary from St John's and had a good chat. Dennis and AnnMarie came for bubble and squeak. Watched videos from the 60s featuring Michael Goldthorpe and little Ann! Programme on elephants in Tsavo.

Sang carols at Mass at Lakeside home. Why are these places so stuffy and hot? And nothing to drink. Vespers with the Cardinal rterrific Buxtehude Magnificat and mass with Fr  Brian O'Mahony  terrific homily. Good to have ex-choristers singing. King's carols on radio as we drove up - lovely. Midnight Mass went well. We sang Away in a manger Normandy tune and Sing lullaby. Good descants played Bach In dulci jubilo Fantasia. Home just after 1. Today no choir played Andrew Gant's Paean, Noel Suisse and Jordan on Away on a manger. Buxtehude In dulci.  A lovely Christmas Day - superb lunch with all the family, the Queen excellent, musical crackers contained bells so we played carols, sang our favourites round the piano, loved Call the midwife.

Swam 20. Ivan came for his first session 90 minutes went well. Watched Mozart in London. Finished packing presents. My new razor I bought in Greenwich for Acton is good.  On radio 3 this morning George Malcolm playing Bach goes to town by Benjamin. Must find my copy. I had forgotten how subtle his playing of the rhythms is!  At Hyderi mosque Streatham for interfaith celebration.    It was really interesting and the Mayor of Lambeth who is the first Muslim to be mayor and a woman was there.

Swam 20.  Emma Hamilton at National Maritime museum very interesting and well presented. Jonathan Eyre excellent playing of Bach at Royal naval college and a good audience. D elicious lunch at Greenwich picturehouse before Fantastic beasts on a free ticket! Fabulous effects in New York.Watched Vienna and Chester Zoo. Darcey Bussilll on Margot Fonteyn excellent.

Carol service went really well. People enjoyed While Shepherds to Cranbrook. I played Balbatre Noels and Gordon Phillips and John Cook Paean on Divinum mysterium. The choir did well but they chatted right through the organ voluntaries. We sang Myn liking Sing lullaby and The angel Gabriel. A delightful morning with the boys who have now gone to Aladdin at Hammersmith with Agga so I am watching show jumping before heading to the cathedral for interfaith group. Ciaran would have liked to stay with me bless him.  Man Mohan Gupta on Vedic view of Laudato Si' should I become vegetarian? Not before Christmas! Only 5 came. To Swanley/Blackheath and Chislehurst meeting with Eddie - enjoyed it. Bruce arrived.

New mould for new hearing aid so much better and I have a fine tune session for February at Guys. To Selfridges to get musical crackers and St George Hanover Square for excellent playing by Wyatt Smith from Seattle - Bohm, JSB and Bruhns ideal on that organ. Copied Walsingham Mass. 

Swam 20. Delivered local cards. Watched Danielle de Niese and Rossini at Glyndebourne.

Swam 20. Great chat to Ann for her 60th and saw Owen and Mick - ginger! Annoyed with Tony - 9 there and he insisted on this stupid marching exercise which was too fast and 3 of us sat down. I suggested "The grand old duke of York" which worked better.  We then had a long meditation and I dropped off. I did not go to lunch as the official lunch is Jan 30th.   The Fire exhibition at the Museum of London is very child friendly and interesting. Loved see the Lord Mayor's coach and the 2012 Olympics cauldron. Watched Prince Harry in Lesotho and Vienna.

Played Willan on "Bristol" and Bach Wachet auf. We sang Fling wide the gates to Crucifer Come thou redeemer and Myn liking. Good carol practice. Nice chops for lunch. I have gained 2 pounds! Cape Town cathedral evensong.  At Evensong played Willan and Peeters on "St Stephen" and Peeters "Wachet auf" I like his cheeky approach. Jerry, me , Julie and one other. What is the point? I used the keyboard said psalm. Picked up Liz from St John's carols.  Wartching BBC Sports personality.  Andy Murray for the 3rd time and he has no personality. Alana won the Apprentice.

Li-in and cooked breakfast! Vespers and Mass Canon Christopher being jovial. Tidied upstairs and hoovered study and Bruce's room.  O antiphons start. 

Swam 20. To interfaith lunch and spoke about Book of Joy. Muslim Police officer was excellent. Watched Sister Rita to the rescue. To Catenian PEG  I gave Eddie a lift.Kevin Gorman went on and on. Friday swam 20. To Farm Street to see Sr Catherine - had a good chat. Via Kent House. Drove to Caterham with Liz and 2 extra singers - practice went well. Watched Muslims like us, Ben Fogle, Prince Philip, Apprentice.

Tuesday to organists supper at West Wickham URC hall. Only £10 and good company. I drove to Kent House because of the strike and got to Acton by 10.45 to watch The Apprentice the final 5. Wednesday took Sean n bus and train to Watermans for Snow play - 2 actors brilliantly reacting. Had lunch there. To Kent House to get car and Kevin's drinks at The Crown Shirley. The 6 of us won champagne 2nd prize in the pub quiz. I got a bit bored near the end! Liz was at servers council dinner.

Swam 20. Quiet day at home decorating the tree and writing cards. Liz went to the Garden nursery party. Watched Planet Earth II,  Come dine with me, 

I  played preludes on "Veni Emmanuel" by Bairstow and Statham and Wachet auf by Walther. We sang Martin How's Advent Message. To Mass at St Joseph's Bromley and then to Maidstone Catenian candlelight dinner at Aylesford wh the excellent Salvation Army band and we stayed overnight. To mosaic lunch at Fish in a tie - the 3 Kew ladies are OTT. Decorated tree. To Bedkenham circe and scroll to Eddie Synott.

A very goo d morning at Hurtado centre with Ft Stephen and Anne looking at pilgrimage and looking back at the last year. I was surprised but what I had left out of the Christmas letter especially the bad start to the year and the consolation of joyous events later on. Watched Citizen Khan, Vienna and Chester Zoo. To Darenth Valley golf club along winding lanes in the dark to Swanley's Christmas dinner and dance. Food good but the singer/comedian in poor taste and we left at 10. The slovac joke did not amuse. 

Yesterday I had a fascinating hour on the phone talking to Cathy from BSO about perception of touch. It seems that one moves from a distant handshake to a growing intimacy ending sometimes in hugs. The importance of a mother and father touching you cannot be denied. When I was a teenager I was fascinated by Lawrence of Arabia's aversion to being touched and that went when I became older and I learnt about body language and what was appropriate e.g. boys in the library grabbing my arm, Muslim women. I hardly recall touching Liz's Dad although I did kiss him when he had died. It seemed appropriate as I loved him so much. How our priests need to be hugged! Xavier is a classic example. 

Woke late so no swim. Christmas letter sent out but it says I am 79! To Beckenham bookshop and art shop about framing portraits. Nicholas Mannoukas played Advent and Christmas programme at short notice at St George Beckenham. Nice to see John, Ken and Peter. To Langley Park golf club for Beckenham's Christmas dinner. Sea bass enjoyed chatting to Barbara Ferrando. Paid deposit for Spain trip.

Swam 20. To art and the 2 pictures are finished. Left early to get to Acton for Ciaran's Year 2 Nativity. he spoke so clearly and James was good too. They sang well. I helpeds et out the PTA tea with Louise.  Home in time to change and drive to Bernard's in Bromley for lift with Vincent to Sevenoaks/South London joint. Presented Vincent with the scroll which took him by surprise. Excellent turkey and strudel and we sang carols including 12 days with actions in groups! Liz enjoyed Olive's 100th. I posted the card she left behind! Home at 11.45.

Monday to Catenians 6 of us, 5 visitors. No Dennis as Ann Marie was sick. Left early to go to Acton to avoid strike on trains. We got to Olympia in good time only to receive message from Louise that steam trip was cancelled. It seems the steam engine could not have got into ely stationa dn the diesel broke down. Offered discount on April trip. Had a quiet day at Acton watching the rest of "The Crown" which is excellent. Allt he plans to meet Fr John and play Ely cathedral organ after the carols went out the window. Watched Gareth Malone. Louise and Tom went out. Wednesday  Ciaran loved his nirthday presents especially the lego. Sean on good form with track and reading. Louise was home and Matt came about the extension works. I left early and got to Caterham early. Good organ practice. To Waitrose to get pain au chocolat and croissant. Liz had my passport so got later flight to Copenhagen! I played for Bakers undertakers carol service when all the names of deceased were read....

I watched Earth II and a programme on Britten's last years which I have seen before . Swam 20. No mosaic as Linda was ill so did Provincial President's blog. The Christmas letter is ready. To BSO for last session with Katy. Right knee still twinging but left is fine. Filled in forms for survey on perception of touch. 

Played Thiman on Winchester New Bach Nun komm der heiden heiland and Reger Wachet auf - the only Reger I attempt! Too many notes. We sang People look East and Walsingham acclamations.  Barbara Mosse gave a good talk on Advent at St Paul's cathedral. Excellent evensong from Portsmouth  Show Mor Barbara Mosse gave a good talk on Advent at St Paul's cathedral. Barbara Mosse gave a good talk on Advent at St Paul's cathedral.

Friday swam 20. Magisterial playing from Peter Guiding at cathedral but very quiet and SVP kids including Bianca and Simon servers practising play, Saw Francis and Noel and Ellen. Emmanuel's behaviour had been noted.  British library maps exhibition very interesting. Last session with  Nelson Ferreira  really enjoyed it but the people in Regent Street!  Lovely retreat day with Michael Holman SJ at Sisters of Assumption next to Heythrop. Brian at Mass, Peter played Bach at the end. Chester Zoo programme. 

Swam 20, art and started a new oil painting. Liz looked after Molly while fences were being redone. To Medway Towns Christmas dinner. We eventually found Medway yacht club - excellent food and company and carols. Hour;s journey back 30 miles each way. Worked on Christmas letter and waecged Edinburgh tattoo and Apprentice, Ben Fogle in Outer Mongolia with missionaries.