The organist librarian

Friday was a quiet day catching up on TV. I went to Mass and saw a near collision at the Robin Hood lights when 3 vehicles were turnng right and a van came fast between them. Both the Thames Water who was turning and the van which came up in the turning lane were wrong! Saw more of Valkyrie, Pottery challenge final, Couples come dine with me,, three wives, one husband (Mormons). Piano tuner Robert came. Wrote an obituary for Gerrard for SSG. To Beckenham black tie dinner. Andrew Hollingsworth of the Passage spoke well. Cheque for £800 handed over. Bruce arrived.

 Gerrard Goodhind died at the age of 65. Gerrard sang bass in the choir of Our Lady of the Angels, Erith, Kent for many years. I knew him through the Catenians as a dear and much loved friend, secretary of Blackheath and Chislehurst circle and outstanding editor of the newsletter for Province 7. He is indeed a great loss to all of us. At his funeral the celebrant was Brother Martin Mikuskiewicz and the church choir lead by Christine Bould and accompanied by Michael King at the organ sang Psalm 84 arranged by Gerrard’s brother David and “The Lord is my shepherd” by Howard Goodall. The hymns were “Lord for tomorrow and its needs”, “On eagle’s wings” ,“My God accept my heart this day”, “O bread of heaven” and “Thine be the glory”. Paul Wellicome, Liz and I sang in the choir. In the prayers his grandchildren said “Help us all to think... that Grandad is in heaven, singing hymns in the choir, flying aeroplanes and enjoying a John Smiths with the angels”. Gerrard always s...

Saturday was an enjoyable day in Reading. William McVicar demonstrated the fine organ in the Town hall an untouched Willis with amusing anecdotes and Norman Harper demonstrating. There was time to see the copy of the Bayeux tapestry and the museum and lunch there. Quite a walk to and from St Giles but a fine Bishop organ in a very High Church building. Got to Mass in good time and Brian was doing the first scrutiny presenting the Creed. I haled mike and Michael the book. Went well. Fr Martin got me to take communion to the choir Byron consort from Harrow school and they sang Poulenc really well. Liz was at the hospital. Watched end of Big painting challenge Suman won, Pottery challenge was good too. Tired out. Sunday morning and evening at Caterham in between lunch and to hospital to see Henry who looks well and should come home today Monday.  Lent prose went well today and I played Bach O lamm Hottest unschuldig and Lasceux Fugue in G minor.  Played Herzleibster Jesu by Bra...

To Dr Ojo who removed stitches and pleased with the wound. Liz to hospital after shopping.  To Croydon Minster for a lovely Recital by Gail Winter, Julie Beaumont, their mother Ann and beautifully accompanied by Jack Oades who I see was organ scholar at St Edmund's Cambridge and St.Germans. The Peter Nardone was really the highlight for me. Terry's arrangement of Humperdinck as Ave Maria worked really well and how good to hear 2 Mendelssohn duets! I looked after the boys so Louise could stay at the hospital. They were fine!

Tuesday to mass at Anerley then drove to St John's school Caterham. CRB done and saw Stacey who produced a list of hymns they know. I went round trying to get the poster up - library, museum, shops £3, Morrisons board full. The community boards are for charity only it seems. Came home for lunch and went back on train to GROW meeting at the vicarage - all very straightforward. To Acton. wednesday Sean happy to play at home - hide and seek, snakes and ladders, jigsaws.  14 came to the excellent talk on Laudato Si' and Amoris Laetitia by Dr Susy Brouard theological advisor to CAFOD. We had a good discussion on being more welcoming at church. Why do people look right past you when greeting you? Would not the Asian hands together gesture be a better alternative to the handshake at the Peace? Some new comers as well. To 5.30 mass - rather a nice setting by Isaac sung by the men. Liz got home after me. Baby not coming home just yet. My CAFOD box emptied and taken to school £28.  Th...

Set off to church. Henry Francis was born by caesarean at 9 a.m but I did not know until 11.30 as I was playing. We sang Hurford's Litany to the Holy Spirit - we being Linda and I. Nobody else came to practise Holy Week music. After lunch we went to King's College Hospital first for Mass with Clare in the chapel. Colourful vestment and colourful Afrcan priest.  Baby was 8 pounds and lots of black hair. Louise had got there already. Abandoned the idea of norma's recital at Dulwich as Liz took items back to the ward. I enjoyed the final Call the midwife and the painting challenge was really  hard. Monday We both went to Mass. I was late at mosaic and again jokes about being arrested for writing to the PM. I went to Marks to get biscuits to celebrate Henry's arrival but for some reason they got put int he cupboard so I gave the strawberry creams to the tai chi group most f whom did not eat them! 8 there. On buses to the hospital and Mum and baby doing well. Lo...

Set off early to get train to Wembley Central then bus. I got off too early and ended up walking round Wembley stadium which was the wrong place. It was Wembley Arena, Met William outside but when we went in Bill said Oh you must be with the other Catenians. I was not on the list. Any way ended up giving out 1000s of bursary fund cards. The kids tended to come in vast droves so it wasn't easy. 10 coachloads from Newcastle. Others got T shirts to wear. I do not think I will dot his again as I got tired standing. Met several bishops including Bernard Longley, Paul Hendricks, Nicolas Hudson and Richard Moth. Matt Redman sang - not bad but loud. CAFOD and Sarah Teather excellent. Left before final liturgy with the Cardinal. Hold up on Bakerloo so train to Euston. Got to Mass in time. Michael Quaqoe. Watched Real Marigold hotel. Tired out bed early and got up an hour too early! 

By staying overnight at Acton we were able to go with Louise and Tom to Ciarán's assembly and he was David beckham in a feature on the news. I went to Mass at Acton with the funny little Irish man singing 2 hymns badly. Checked Acton library and got overground to Fnchley. Coffee at O2 and enjoyed the Freud museum and the special exhibition by Paul Coldwell.  The Catholic church is huge but no signposts (building work). Went into Waitrose to use the loo and could not find lunch stuff so got it at Marks at Victoria. Victoria coach station had old coaches and an amazing sleeper coach on show to mark 85 years and bought the booklet. Home to watch pottery throw down, Extremely British muslims, House of Lords and Real marigold hotel in Kochi. 

Slept in to Mass. Too late to get to art or St Lawrence Jewry for Bishop of Southwark on music. Saw Sr Catherine at good chat. To Estorick for Britain in Italy WWI. Did sketches and had tea. Nice garden. Met Liz and we ate at Workers cafe Islington very good. To Alexandra Palace for Bert Allwood scholarship and judges agreed with me. Buxtehude well played. John Pryor improvised. To Acton. Watched British Muslims but fell asleep.  The winner was Marion Bettsworth.

Gerald ceratinly gave me a bug buildup last night mentioning the Cathedral and the Proms. To Mass. It was followed by stations so no sign of coffee so went to Homebase to look for mosaic tiles. Topp Tiles had lavender ones. To Dr Ojo one hour wait. He decided to take skin off my back not my arm and it was quite a deep growth. Stitches out next week. I wrote the draft development plan for the province in my study as Allen was cleaning. To Ron's at 5 and Eddie drove us to Ramsgate where I presented the scroll to Frank retired policeman. New venue OK plaice and chocolate pudding. Slept on long drive home. Umberto in favour of Brazil and a Tory! Home at 11.15.

Swam 20 late for Mass because of traffic and tree man came.We enjoyed Viceroy's House at the Gate very much We were early so checked out Botswana guides at Waterstones. I went to see the Australian impressionists at the National Gallery - some of them I had seen in Oz. To Sutton Presidents elect night an excellent meal and enjoyed it. Presented icon of Thomas More and Gerald Soane as always was great company.  Invited to Kingston circle.

Swam 20, Mass at Anerley Stuart is quicker than Sunith! I was late at mosaic and they joked that I had been arrested for writing to the PM! 9 at Qigong. Played piano at Clapham Junction but nothing to sit on and not in great state! To Norwood cicle 7 of us and 5 visitors. Willie Britto was there and had advised no India trip this year. Programme on Kiri te Kanawa/ Cleared out my hall basket. First outing for my new dark suit.

Played Bach O mensch bewein and Descent from the Cross from St Matthew Passion bass Recit which mentions Adam. We sang Sweelinck Miserere and Walsingham Shrine Mass II. I commented that the latter is essentially a waltz and Jerry was amused by that.  Excellent talk by Stephen Cherry at St Paul's cathedral on the dark side of the soul. His clusters of sins very helpful e.g. Temporal disjunctions, tragic desires, malicious tendencies, impossible ideas, vicious regards, naughty but nice. How refreshing to hear snobbery, cruelty, lack of self esteem named.  Temporal disjunctions include getting time wrong, boredom, business, nostalgia and forgetfulness about the past. Tragic desires include lust, greed, insatiability and desire for control. He spoke about disengaging cynicism in face of modern politics. What am I For? is the? for young men. I liked sin defined as anything that makes God frown which implies that God smiles at good deeds but even there compassion can be tricky. Hom...

Today was yet another day when I rejoice at being a Granddad! Ciarán had asked to see the David Hockney exhibition so we met at 9 as Friends can go in before opening at 10. I did 5 drawings and he did 4 and did really well as he is only 7. We then went with Louise and Liz to Fire! at the Museum of London which he really enjoyed. I did 4 drawings. Great to explore the modern section and see the Olympic cauldron. Good lunch at London Wall Bar and kitchen. They went off to MnMs and Liz and I went to Marks where I bought 2 suits. My waistline is now 38 after too many Catenian dinners! Fr  Brian O'Mahony   gave a wonderful homily for the start of Lent at Mass. Watched the Great Pottery throw down and University challenge. Ciaran is so sweet - he gave me his first drawing as a present - he loved the sketchbook I gave him.

Swam 20 and Mass at Anerley. Excellent playing from Charles Andrews at St Stephen Wallbrook including Lloyd Webber and Rheinberger. Guiding at the cathedral Women's world day of prayer service written by Filipino women so Filipino ambassador and deputy Mayor of London came. To Royal Academy but the American exhibition was far too crowded but I enjoyed Anthony Green. Dennis and AnneMarie came. 

Swam, Mass at Anerley, painting, Nick Scott cleared up my laptop meanwhile Liz went to St Chad's school 50th anniversary and talk on trafficking at Hackney hospice. She visited Julie-Anne in Bow. We both went to King's chaplaincy room to hear  Mark Langham  speak excellently on "Can Catholics celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation?" the answer being to some extent Yes. Fell asleep during programme on Mandarin Hyde Park hotel and British Muslims. Liz was really scathing about the Last Night painting and my portrait of Louise. I agree they both need changes. 

To Croydon ladies quiz night excellent carvery. I presented the icon. Stephen Lake was there and chatted to Jim Mann. It was too late to go to Acton so I woke at 5.30 a.m. and got there before 8. Took Sean to Mass at Acton and he was good as gold with the Ipad. It was packed. Fr Ultan recognised Sean I think. Irish pub singer messing up hymns! Went to McDonalds and then on 70 to Acton park where there is a fine new playground. Sean walked home happily and played in his room. Tom was back early so off to Caterham. Practised Bach Fantasia and Dorian toccata! 14 there 3 in choir. We managed Sweelinck Miserere. I played Willan and Peeters on Aberyswyth and Hendrik Andriessen De profundis on Aus der tiede. John was very interested. Home on bus and train. Thursday swam 20, Mass at Anerley with Sunith and oil painting . Last night "finished" and started on portrait of Mum and Dad for "Death matters" on May 9th. Nick came and fixed my laptop.