The organist librarian

6 in the choir today and we sang This joyful Eastertide. I played voluntaries on this tune by Thalben-Ball and Alan Ridout. Also meditation on Slane by Eric Thiman. Godparents Sunday was interesting. I  am afraid I know nothing about my godson Jonathan Cherry mainly because his family are dreadful about keeping in touch. Lovely evensong from Winchester cathedral .Watched Versailles. 

Saturday to the excellent Resurrection art exhibition at Farm Street and then the Guild of Musicians and singers at All Hallows by the Tower. Maurice Merrall installed as third Master. Met Stephen Bryant and Patricia Routledge. Giles used to write music obituaries for the Independent and introduced me to an organist from Cambridgeshire. Giles thought I could do a talk on the Chorus. Silk Street sinfonia played really well - Handel and Elgar and did some sketching. The violas had a lovely sound. Stephen Haylett was there and met Fr John O'Toole at the site where Thomas More died.You were only executed within the Tower if you were really important!  Excellent talk on recording. Brian at Mass and lots of servers.

A great Gandhi conference at the Wellcome lots of practical ideas. I was amused at the Delhi professor of English dressed in English public school style complete with cravat and his comments on Gandhi's views of education would put him out of a job! He advocated national service in the villages for students in India. Met a Jain studying heritage conservation at UCL and a couple from Northern Ireland. William and Gandhi foundation fold were there. The electricity and nature exhibitions are excellent and good to see a section on zoos. Life drawing at NPG very good and some progress made!

Caught up on broadcasts - Lucy Winkett on Good Friday and Norwich cathedral Easter Day both excellent!

Back at the Gate. Yesterday Met Eugene Onegin with Netrebko and Ticciati conducting superb. Today RSC Julius Caesar I am particularly impressed by Cassius played by Martin Hutson. The killing of the boy Lucius is not in the play - the innocent suffer in a revolution. Had a quiet day at Acton and time to read the play. Swam on Tuesday and Mass Tuesday and Thursday. Saw Fr Sunith. Painted a baby elephant at art and Liz was at interfaith lunch. 4 spoke on forgiveness. Fr Adrian was there. Watched Tuscany, Masterchef and Mind over marathon.Victoria Wood tribute. 

Monday slept in . Nearly finished mosaic of Bruce and 6 at qigong. Home so Liz could go to Sutton chiropodist. Couples come dine with me , heard Norwich cathedral Easter Day broadcast and Lucy Winkett's Good Friday meditiation. To Beckenham Catenians - my last PP visit. Tuesday 19 coming to sing from school on May 21! To Gate Eugene Onegin from the Met with superb Netrebko and Ticciati conducting. Steven Rose asked about Jean and Ron. I got there during overture thanks to trains and stuck behind tall man for Act 1 so moved. To Provincial council and handover to Danny. My initiatives are to continue but he talks too much and time wasted moaning about national council. Home at 11. Micj had engraved badges and I got miniature. Clive liked the scroll. 

Saturday Liz went shopping and to Botanical Gardens. I had a lovely time at the Dublin writers museum where you get an audio guide. The Hugh Lane gallery is gorgeous and loved the Renoir and Manet. Francis Bacon's studio is a mess and new wing had Irish paintings. The special exhibition of the Belgian von Meulewin did not impress. Bus to the Zoo and met up with family. Baby elephants and mangabey, lemurs, rhinos, hippo, Asian lions, sea lions, zebra and giraffe, Amur tiger really close to glass. No birds because of bird flu. Back to b and b and salad downstairs. Dropped off during BBC young dancer. Sunday got cash and met 2 Edinburgh teachers. Bus to Finglas St Candice's church - folk group at Mass did not sing liturgicallt - wrong Sanctus, Lord's prayer and Peace song but no Gloria or Lamb of God, wrong psalm then they got applauded! 6 babies for baptism - hospital chaplain did OK. Walked to pub and got cab with Bruce to airport. Home by 8. Watched Antiques roadshow. Pro...

Thursday we set off by bus and train to Gatwick where we ate at Giraffe. Aer Lingus flight OK and then some delay while we found the bus and eventually got Leap cards at the second attempt. The bus drivers do not accept notes which is ridiculous. How is one supposed to have exact change? Having landed at 4 we had quite a long walk through back lanes to the b and b and arrived at 6.45. Marguerite Road very nice room and friendly lady. She suggested a nearby pub at the cemetery The Gravediggers which was excellent John Kavanagh's. We had Irish spring rolls and bacon cheese bake with Guinness -  we had enough cash! Friday I went to Chester Beatty library which I loved. Fascinating sections on books, bindings and illustration and the world religions. Beautifully presented and what an eye! Walked to the National gallery of Ireland which was most disappointing only 5 galleries open and the Monet the best. New portrait of Graham Norton as an Irish outdoor type! Have seen the Caravaggio ...

Swam 20, Mass and coffee where I met Emma from Malta and Philomena who used to go to Addiscombe and made a delicious fruit cake.Michael Overbury played Handel and Stanford's Sonata Britannica at St Michael West Croydon. An outstanding talk on Amoris laetitia by Fr Ashley Beck. Interesting programme on Roman tombs and Baiae.

Excellent recital at Bromley parish church by Travis Baker - an unusual programme Bach Passacaglia, Drayton, medieval dance s and Pierne. Good to see Tim Harper. The influence of Dame Gillian Weir on Travis is excellent! Nice chat to Ann. Good evensong yesterday from Norwich.  At Stratford picturehouse for encore of ROH Jewels Balanchine's masterpiece. Great dancing, costumes and the music! Faure, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 3

Did a scroll for Clive and worked on my life story. 8 to  10.30 played 3 hymns and Hallelujah chorus at vigil at Anerley. Nice bottle of wine from Fr Stuart. They badly need an MC as various things went wrong. Readers went ahead so Sunith had to go back to the Gloria.Baptismal garment missed and nearly left out the prayers which Stuart had to find!  The channel 5 Last days of Jesus seemed to accept some of the gospel accounts and tried to make much of the fall of Sejanus. The Mary Magdalene programme had some good points. Easter from King's excellent and the new series on Galapagos very interesting. Up at 4.30, 5.45 a.m. to 8 a.m. vigil went well and we sang O sons and daughters at both services with breakfast in between. Howells Saraband and Hallelujah chorus the 2 closing voluntaries. Peregrine knew Howard Thomas! To St John's for lamb lunch. Liz made a pavlova. I fell asleep after red wine and missed evensong but Liz went. Good thing I was home as Dennis, Ann Marie and...

Maundy Thursday to art and completed painting of Mum and Dad for May 9 Bereavement support day. Played Night so traurig William Wordsworth and Bach O sacred head. We sang To mock your reign and Ps 88. Good Friday 3 hours excellent meditations with art. Practised the Vigil psalms. Ben came and Susan but not the new soprano. Sketch of Picasso's portrait of Poulenc.   Watched BBC young dancer, Decline and Fall, jaguars. 

We saw the new elephant house opened by the Queen the day before and the new African hunting dogs and a 3 day old ring-tailed lemur clinging to its mother. Lots of sketching! A lovely day out. Butterflies! I renewed my membership. I had planned to get to the Dulwich meeting but a fire at the start of the M1 meant a long detour for Louise.

A real privilege to be at the Pesach service at Streatham liberal synagogue Tuesday 11 a.m. I was early so had coffee in Streatham High Road Stefan and his wife came as well. To quiet time at St John's. Tom trying to find Frances Young's book for me.  To Sisters of St Andrew for meditations on Haydn's 7 last words beautifully played by the Saunders quartet. I was much taken by the displays about Holy Week and the simple cross in the chapel. To Acton arriving about 10.30. 

Swam 20 to Mass mosaic and qigong. Linda announced we were to start a landscape after Easter but I said I have 2 portraits to do. Watched Child of our time. 

Dear Prime Minister, Thank you for the reply of 6 March 2017 to my letter about the resettling of unaccompanied child refugees in the UK. I have also received a reply from Robert Goodwill MP via my M.P Steve Reed. I find the response to be very disappointing. The Motion before the House on 7 th March stated that only 8 children were transferred under the Dublin III regulation last year and none under the Dubs scheme.” Limiting the number to 350 under the Dubs scheme in the face of Dethe enormous demand is simply astonishing. Have you forgotten your excellent work in the Sancta Marta  group and the appalling evidence of human trafficking? Steve Reed states correctly that “these children are vulnerable to human traffickers, defenceless and in need of help”. This week I heard Lord Alf Dubs speak at St Mary at Hill at the invitation of the Speaker’s chaplain. She rightly stressed that we must all do that we can to help. It was very clear that the audience supported Lord Dubs...

Wrote to  the Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration about unaccompanied refugee children as I am not satisfied by their figures and explanations. Delighted to see Henry who is 4 weeks old and has grown - looking and smiling and kicking! A lovely Meditation at St John's including Morley which worked better at the service, Byrd, Howells, Walton Litany. Watched Antiques roadshow and Ecuador jungle hotel. 

The mystery of last year solved - I sang at St John's in the morning and played for evensong at Caterham in the evening. Mr M was very friendly last night and left us to it although most of the youngsters were not there. I played Kauffmann on St Theodulph, Henry Coleman and Tears of grief. Good having 3 manuals for that. Sing my Tongue went well and Rebecca sang although could not rehearse as kids there. 35 in church and 2 at junior church. Watched South Asian BBC young dancer final and spotted the winner. Masterchef. Twice had lights in left eye flashing. Yesterday wrote letters about refugees and resurrection. Also put up my photo at church been there a year now!

An enjoyable programme of Mendelssohn, Couperin, Haydn and Bach from Ben Lewis-Smith at St Michael Turnham Green. Good chat to Jonathan Dods, Bored quiding at the cathedral / Fr Stephen Haylett came to hear confessions -  he is fat!  Holy Week practice went well rather a lot to do! Ben is a real asset and Rebecca as well so we had 6. Home at 9 but picked up Liz - 30 minute wait. Decline and Fall not as good as last week. Saturday cleaned garden windows and got water features going. Lovely day again. Clare came. Wrote letter about refugees.  This week I attended two similar events. Bishop Paul McAleenan gave the last Lent lecture at St Joseph's hospice Hackney and Lord Alf Dubbs spoke at St Mary at Hill on bringing unaccompanied refugee children from Europe to the U.K. Bishop Paul is the bishop dealing with migration and he said that only 3 church organisations in the diocese of Westminster had responded to Pope Francis's call to take in migrants. This is a very disappoi...

National Gallery Michelangelo and Sebastiano, NPG Howard Hodgkin (either brilliant or a con) and the interesting Claude Canon and Gillian Wearing. I went to 2 Temple Place but hit a large coach party swamping the gallery. Lent lecture by Bishop Paul McAleenan on serving the poor. I wonder why only 3 places in Westminster diocese have given accommodation to refugees? To Whitechapel gallery and enjoyed Paolizzi and women photographers.  A real inspiration to listen to Lord Alf Dubs on efforts to bring unaccompanied refugee children to the UK. St Mary at Hill. The speaker's chaplain is impressive. Met a lady from Essex and a lady who may come to the group. A good day!  Friday swam 14 and to Mass. 

Wednesday was a day to remember - my 70th birthday trip replacing the cancelled trip to Ely. Cathedrals express from King's Cross in Pullman first class dining to Chesterfield pulled by a diesel. 4 coachloads 2 and a half hours at Chatsworth. Interesting fashions but in some cases the bling hardly went with the glorious paintings - Rembrandt, Watteau, Reynolds! Lovely garden and glorious day. Returned pulled by steam engine Duchess of Sutherland. Back to King's Cross at 11.45 and cab to Acton after a great day! Nice to see David Gammie.

Passion Sunday played Bach Erbarm dich and Brahms Herzliebster Jesu. Excellent talk by Frances Young on Construing the Cross at St Paul's. I made the point that so many hymns are about me and she says her next project is to look at corporate responsibility. Maybe it is good to look closely at the theology behind hymns. Stations this evening effective meditations from Mary's Point of view. I played voluntaries on Rockingham, St Bernard and Herongate as we sang It is a thing most wonderful. Monday swam 12, mass, mosaic, qigong. To West Norwood to take Bruce's floor pieces to Emmaus and post office. To Norwood circle and installation of Juan and Declan. My official visit and John Barrie came from Croydon. Harry Mellor also there. Did not sleep well. To Mass and decided to stay home. Liz to hospital for scan. University challenge, Father Brown, fishing leopards Tom and I at quiet time - trees have been cut down. Adrian and Fr Joe both retiring!  Last Wednesday I was intervie...

Thursday to Mass and art. Sketched gardening implements. To St Joseph's hospice Hackney which is impressive to hear Archbishop Bernard on Lazarus and the option for the poor - as friendly as ever. To Museum of London Docklands - very impressed Crossrail excavations and slavery.  Excellent meal at Doubletree Hilton with Cava - had steak. Rotherhithe. Friday to Sharon Jennings funeral at cathedral - Faure, Anerio, impressed by number of clergy including Mark Langham. Do not like so much black! Chat to Francis Clark and Patrick Neal. To St Bride Fleet street for excellent recital by James Orford. Ritter, Bach, Howells, Vivaldi. Did not like Francis Bacon crucifixion drawings at Wallbrook. Home to change and then to Balham library for Bill Godfrey retirement after 50 years! Meryl, Chris, Lawrence, Neville, carol, Margaret all there and lots of memories - alas I cannot remember names. Loved Decline and Fall on TV.  Saturday lie-in and to Greek Orthodox Battersea - icon paianting ...

A week behind on this blog! Saturday at home with Bruce and went to Richard Hills recital at Bloomsbury a popular programme and enjoyable. Sunday clocks went forward and got to church on buses. Excellent Mothers day lunch of lamb with all the family and Clare. Henry made his first visit to our home and Sean was enchanted by him and presented him with a Henry engine. Had prosecco to celebrate. Monday to SPIDIR day at Sisters of St Andrew with Bob Reiss and bought his book Sceptical Christianity. To Beckenham circle which was pleasant. Tuesday to Gate for Met Idomeneo from 12 to 4.45 dropped off but Act 3 was great and the chorus were terrific. Levine conducted. Like the feature on Jessye Norman rehearsing Ariadne. Got to PEG in time - Brendan there and a rather unsatisfactory meeting - too disparate. I get fed up with people who dismiss good ideas - it won't work! Went to Acton early Wednesday hence tired. Sean amused himself and I watched rest of Valkyrie and Siegfried from Opera...