The organist librarian

A delightful day. Took the boys to Watermans theatre to see Tales from Birbal advisor to the great Akbar Moghul emperor - cast of 2 ladies, very well done. Tamar delighted to see us. McDonalds in the park then to Kew Water and Steam museum for steam train ride. engine from Sierra Leone and tea. Did some drawings and bought toy Mallard for Sean and notebook for Ciarán. To Catenian council meeting. I wish I had gone to the hustings instead. They will not change. Our meeting now costs £125 a night at the golf club, wine is £4.60 a glass for visitors. It cannot go on like this. Why won't brothers come to a weekend social event with their families? Why belong at all? I finally snapped when Philip criticised Kirkham Cup which he has not been to for years! Colin thanked me as we left - I reckon he realised I was annoyed. 

Power washed the patio but need to do it again. Daniel Moult stunning playing at Bromley parish church.I liked the move from Liszt to Piece heroique. Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Elgar, Hollins and Ronald Corp made for a delightful programme.  Cleaned patio again and the front path. Had fun making spirals in the green stuff on shed and fences - could this catch on at Chelsea? Our shed has not looked like this for years!. Now knackered so second shower of the day Earl Grey tea and Antiques Roadshow! At Southwark cathedral refectory you will find paintings by  Adam Boulter  and poems by Malcolm Guite. Who would buy them Adam? Resurrection is lovely but £1200?  Marko Sever from Sydney played Dorian and L'Ascension at St Lawrence Jewry. He knows Peyer  Peter Jewkes  and  Thomas Wilson .  Mark Quarmby  no doubt. Goodvaudience and refreshments. John East there. Had cappuccino cake at Acton park cafe and Liz brought Ciaran from cinema and lunch it b...

Bank holiday. Dennis fussing about Facebook again. Borrowed his patio cleaner.  Power washed the patio but need to do it again. Daniel Moult stunning playing at Bromley parish church.I liked the move from Liszt to Piece heroique. Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Elgar, Hollins and Ronald Corp made for a delightful programme.  Cleaned patio again and the front path. Had fun making spirals in the green stuff on shed and fences - could this catch on at Chelsea? Our shed has not looked like this for years!. Now knackered so second shower of the day Earl Grey tea and Antiques Roadshow! Watched Queer Britain and Paul Hollywood driving in Italy.

The service today was for the Manchester victims.I played "I know that my redeemer liveth" and Bach preludes for Ascension and Easter.We sang O King enthroned on high. I was very chuffed to get my first text from a school choir parent who is very enthusiastic. Cleared up the patio in the back garden just before the rain and got the water features working. Watched Songs of Praise from Manchester. 

Woke early and did some posting and then back to sleep. Helped clear up the garden and the bark is now down under the tree at last.  Bloomsbury Baptist Karg-Elert festival. Ouriana Gassiou and  Eleni Keventsidou  played duets for organ and piano. The problem was that a succession of movements left one confused which was Karg- Elert and Kienzl. Wagner and Weber more successful as it was all rather similar. Stefan Engels played well.  The cardinal celebrated Mass for New Catholics at the cathedral and gave an excellent homily. It was good to see Deacon Kassa and Carlos there. We had a word with him about Sayed Ali Razawi and Ibrahim Mogra's visit to the Pope. He did not realise our friendship with them. Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen on TV.

Another glorious day. Life drawing at National portrait gallery. Excellent model. 

Andrew Wilson played Andriessen, Mendelssohn, Franck, JSB and Mathias at St Bride Fleet St. Went to moving Syria display at Imperial War Museum.  Show Another glorious day. Life drawing at National portrait gallery. Another glorious day. Life drawing at National portrait gallery. Another glorious day. Life drawing at National por

Swam 21 and Mass. Art group outing to Dulwich picture gallery. Did 5 sketches. Watched dancers and spoke to them outside after picnic. I gave lifts. It was Julie's birthday.

A most enjoyable Old Johannian reunion dinner at Royal School of Medicine. Good that Colin Hartley and Maryka Nettleton joined us for the first time. Greetings from John Wilder and Stan Trollip and we remembered the departed including those in Manchester and around the world. Dwight Wilder was remembered too. Opera outing next year? Had a good chat to Colin Hartley. He visited Angus Rose in MacGregor with his third wife who was much involved in the church. Angus died 5 years ago and Colin wrote his obituary as St John's wrote him off - he was our best teacher! When Colin taught at St John's for a year with Jimmie Gordon Doug Jeffrey always called him "Hartley" just like he was still a student! Liz was at St John's and picked me up - home 11.30.  Friday swam 20 and after Mass put up Catenian posters at Anerley. Another glorious sunny day. Damian Howard is new provincial for Jesuits. 

Played for a funeral at Caterham. Considering he was 83 on PCC not a great turnout but the church warden said he enjoyed my playing. Met Anne-Marie at station - why did she not attend? He was an 8 oc'clocker. A great pleasure to have tea with  Michael Goldthorpe  in Acton Park.Wednesday o ut to lunch in The Mill house, Churchfields Road and then Acton library. Watched Simon on My great big Jewish conversion. Orthodox Jews against gay marriage despite Tel Aviv being the gay city of the Middle East!  Jonathan Holmes played well at Holy Trinity Sloane Street. Bach, Wagner, Heiller and an attractive Mandala by Hans-Andre Stamm. This cathedral of the arts and crafts is gloomy with dark stained glass and modern chairs. Brilliant playing by  Peter Stevens  at the Cathedral. Bach, Mozart, Tournemire and stunning Durufle. I am not surprised radio 3 gave him a miraculous performance award.

Swam 18. Tree pruned and some of foliage cut back on John's side. He agreed to more being cut back. Result did not get to Mass. To Southwark cathedral and saw the Dean in passing. Freddie James played Muffat, Merkel and Reger. Had a chat to Martin Ball and some guy who talked a lot about himself! He is connected to St Peter Eaton Square. Had a lot at the painting in the refectory and then to Tate Modern to see Wolfgang Tillmans and Giacometti - did two sketches. He is either a genius or a frawd!. Wrote to the Tablet about music at first communions. To Beckenham meeting Bill was there. Chat to Don - Gaynor is doing well and he does not want help with provincial website. 

9 of the school choir sang well and I met parents. I played Dubois toccata and Michael Fleming on Noel novelet. I was pleased that the kids came, Billy seemed interested in the organ. I noted he was the only one to receive communion. The all age service will be a better choice for the group who are year 3s. There was a discussion about school and evensongs. Jill was there. I was glad  did not have to go back in the evening as the train between Purley and Caterham was replaced by buses and the 12 o clock did not run. I went to St Mary's for 3 p.m. Mass - it was first communion and awful. Lealfet wrong, music group singing and parsih priest launching into items. The worst was the children going up individually to be photographed. The deacon had the chalice and then swopped that for hosts! At evensong we sang Dyson in F and My beloved spake. 6 years since the Wests married! Louise brought the boys to see Henry. Sean loves a game. Watched the Durrells and Antiques roadshow. 

Left at 8 and home at 9.30 too long a day. Arnos Grove and prayer at Our Lady of Lourdes (the plan was to go to Mass there at 6.30 - no chance).  Coaches to Bahai cemetery Southgate then on to beautiful Jain temple Potters Bar (been there). Cockfosters Christ the King midday prayer unaccompanied dung by Chemin Neuf (it was not good) and lunch there provided for us. To mosque where I dropped off. Local imam dull. Everything takes so long getting on and off coaches. Harakrishne centre was more interesting and nice meal at Sikh gurdwara. Came back on tube with Rita and William. Liz at school. 

To Mass and then the dentist. Rebecca really hurt me when doing the injection and explained that she had caught a blood vessel hence the white cheek! She did the filling which feels like a cusp. Julie would never have done that! To St Stephen Wallbrook not impressed by the paintings but the playing by Kayol Lam from the Royal College of Music was impressive -Bach, Liszt, Boellmann and an overlong tribute to Liszt by Lionel Rogg. Watched Betroffenheit - amazing acting and dancing. Also Versailles and art guide to St Petersburg.

Sketching at St Stephen Norbury. Went up to the organ but could not get it to work! To Farm St to see Sr Catherine (she was pleased that I am trying to get to daily Mass) then to the Estorick collection to see the works by Balla - well worth the trip. Excellent joint recital by  Bridget West  and Adrian Adams at St John Upper Norwood. Good to hear some Francis Jackson (100 in October) Buxtehude, Howells, Elgar, Guilmant and JSB, We picked up Dennis and Henry on good form, Molly not impressed! Liz made delicious fruit loaf for it. 

To MAss and got Pilgrim which had my report on public speaking. To St John's school - 9 sang well. Tunbridge Wells 800th meeting was excellent and we enjoyed a treat staying at the Spa hotel. National president was impressed by youth matters. On the way back enjoyed Emmetts garden.  Excellent recital by  Andrew Scott  at St Michael West Croydon. How I wish all players gave us such good programme notes and the organ specification and advance publicity should list the programme too!  Good talk by Rose Hickman about Home for good the Passage's volunteering programme. Enjoyed King Charles III on TV. Awful rain. 

Mosaic meant to do grouting but not enough grout. Qigong. Watched Barcelona, Costa Rica and Durrells. Did reports on Catenian conference and posted photos. 

Just home from Bristol from the Catenian conference. SS Great Britain dinner really was great, served at the Mass at Clifton cathedral, Fr Frankie was good at the conference and some signs of much needed change. Visited Clifton Zoo, John Wesley's New Room, @Bristol, Arnolfini and Mshed. The coach journey was good double deckers and comfortable, Liz got the season tickets OK . Very nice air bnb in Avon Crescent and convenient for ferry and buses. Nova Scotia very good pub food swordfish. Friday to the Zoo which is lovely Asiatic lions, bugs, reptiles, gorillas, giant tortoises, seals, penguins, butterflies, Lunch at the Hive. John Wesley's New Room is the oldest Methodist chapel. The reception was @Bristol an amazing science centre so plenty to play with. Had to pay for drinks.  Conference was good especially Fr Frankie. Some signs of change/ Rather a lot from Australia and India - I thought this was a national conference? Arnolfini gallery did not impress. MShed fish an...

A very interesting day at Age UK with St Christopher's hospice on end of life and death. I spoke about my painting of Mum and Dad and their funeral. Light lunch and the drove to St John's school where I only got 30 minutes and was at one point left in the room while Stacey went to try and photocopy! The second part was choir karaoke.  The clear message of the Parents for Peace event from both the Palestinian and Israeli parents who have lost children in the fighting is that taking a pro-Israeli or a pro-Palestinian position is not helping in any way in the progress towards peace. There must be reconciliation and forgiveness.   Forgiveness means giving up the right to take revenge - a powerful statement indeed. Hampstead synagogue is beautiful. Nice eats and met Philip's parents. To Acton. Had an enjoyable day. Lou took us to lunch at Llawellis and then Sean played in the sandpit at Chiswick and I did some sketching. To Euston Square to meet Alan and Berna Foden, John Thin...

Saturday coffee and cake at St John's and excellent saxophone quartet Royal British legion central band. We sang Brother James's Air and I played Darke's meditation and RVW on Hyfrodol. The Newlands 60th wedding anniversary.  Prof Alister McGrath on Inventing the Universe at St Paul's brilliant lecture and good questions. To complete a busy Sunday LAMAG Faith in the community at Hyderi mosque with Richard Wood Lambeth police borough commander, Alan and Ibrahim chaired by Fr Adrian who told me about hate crime at Corpus Christi. Enjoyed The Durrells and Antiques roadshow, also Costa Rica.Monday to mosaic and Bruce finished and qigong. Played Rachmaninoff on station piano. Come dine with me.  To Norwood Catenians AGM. I was very unimpressed to see that the council decision to hold 2 meetings a year at the weekend so that younger brothers and families could attend was not raised so I raised it and got precisely nowhere. It was deferred despite there being 12 present. Phi...

To Mass Liz in Acton. Bravo  Alexander Pott  for great playing at St Stephen Walbrook. Especially the Dorian my favourite Bach and Mendelssohn. Guiding and saw Francis who is going to seminary, Kate and Muriel who had a heart attack in Limerick. Lots of French people. Keys for upstairs still not found after a month! To Tate Britain to see Queer British art (amazing what we can show now!) and Cerith  Wyn Evans. Himlayan wildlife programme.

Thursday to Mass English Martyrs. To art and elephant baby painting finished. Julie liked my life drawings. To dentist and one filling needed. To Aurum to get new watchstrap and 80th birthday card for Umberto. Liz to osteopath and babysitting as she has school meeting tomorrow. Enjoyed 4 programmes on Dark Ages art an age of light. Victoria Wood programme. 

To St John's school Caterham by car for first choir rehearsal. No point in being early as Stacey Hawkins does not reach the choir room until 3.35 and some time was wasted finding texts on the laptop. However we went through nearly all the music for the 21st. I was surprised that they did not know Here I am Lord or Be still and know. 2 more rehearsals to go and I enjoyed it. To Acton and quite sleepy. Wednesday watched Acts 1 and 2 of Opera North Gotterdammerung and Service of hope from Westminster Abbey including an anthem by Matthew Martin. Evensong was Gonville and Caius with Tommy.

Delightful programme by Tim Harper at Bromley parish church Schmidt, Bach, Bairstow, Whitlock, Jackson, Sanger and Reuchsel.Liz went to Aylesford servers Mass. Sad to hear St Michael Cornhill will no longer have Sunday sung services and will become a Chinese church. Watched The Casual Vacancy at last by J.K.Rowling and Miranda Hart also Jago Cooper on Easter Island. The Rowling was brilliant on the haves and havenots and quite disturbing.