The organist librarian

Dream of Gerontius from King's conducted by Christopher Robinson. Superb Brenden Gunnell, Kathryn Rudge and David Stout, Philharmonia Chorus trained by Robert Dean. Enjoyed Tony Robinson on York Minster and he was shown the King's book which we have seen as we have 2 relations commemorated in it. Easter from King's excellent.

3 hours ar Caterham. Pictures by Giotto, Angelico, El Greco not keen on Rubens or Dali. I would really like to hear a traditional 3 hours again with traditional hymns. Kendrick and Townend just do not do it for me at all. 4 in choir and went OK. Lots of rain and knitwear on Caterham railings looks good. Did not go to art exhibition as I had forgotten my phone and agreed a 4 o clock pick up.  Had St Matthew arias on my mind. Enjoyed the 3 programmes on the Camino and Painting the Holy Land. Mastermind final was great.

Painted 2 acrylics at art of the cross and feet. To South London interfaith group lunch - a moving presentation about the care learning disability needs. I gave Fr Adrian my copy of the JRS report on the homeless migrants which makes shocking readiing. To Caterham and played Wordsworth and Hwnry Coleman and we sang Elgar Ave verum. For some reason the choir stopped in the middle of Pange lingua. Not many there. The repair shop on TV.

Imperial War museum for Age of terror. Perhaps what is not shown is more disturbing but I thought one film of men searching women very distressing.  Beautiful Pergolesi Stabat mater at St Matthew Westminster with Susanna Groome and Sarah Shipton and Matthew Jorsyz on the organ. What can I say about the moving part 2 of St Matthew passion conducted by Simon Rattle at Sisters of St Andrew Blackheath? So beautifully and devotionally performed.Took Dennis Woodhouse to the last of the Pivotal players at Anerley on G.K.Chesterton who I fear not many read nowadays - Sean says style is very florid.

Woke early. To Glyn Close to look after Henry as Ann-Marie had dental appointment. He was fine. To Bishop Thomas Grant school to collect shield. Liz got plant pots and I went to St John's for quiet time. To Swanley for my last PEG. I am to chair youth matters. Programme on Picasso's last stand.

Grouted 2 mosaics messy job. To Sisters of St Andrew Blackheath for beautiful and disturbing meditations on the passion and part 1 of Bach St Matthew dramatised and conducted by Simon Rattle. Superb. To Norwood council at Mike's - meal cancelled. Colin proposed that negotiations start with Beckenham about amalgamation!

The dementia talk underlined that the brain has two modes -so one half can forget people but the other half has a feeling of wellbeing and happiness as the result of a visit. So it is vital to keep visiting those who appear not to know you. Does the same thing apply when someone is very ill or dying? Talking to the person can break through in some way. Did this happen when Jesus said "Mary" to Mary Magdalene? Recognition came at the supper at Emmaus from an action. I have been reading "The grace of waiting" by Margaret Whipp and she has much to say about waiting with those who are ill. Palm Sunday played Bach and we sang Drop drop and To mock your reign. The way of the cross at St John Upper Norwood was beautiful. Monteverdi, Walton Litany, Monteverdi, Parry on Rockingham, Bach and Philip Moore. The Durrells and the repair shop.

Mary Beard on civilisations and religion is strangely rather dull. An inspiring morning with Stephen Power SJ at Hurtado centre then Whitechapel gallery to see Mark Dion loved the zebra finches and art for the Elizabeth line. Tremendous James Macmillan Romero a special appeal at evensong at Westminster Abbey. Reuben Thomas and Graham Neal singing and saw Martin Pendergast and Canon Stanton. Worth the long stand in the queue. What a pleasure to see Fr Brian O'Mahony - it really has been a day for meeting people. Canon Christopher at Mass Rebecca there

Liz went for blood test. To Mass. Boots to get replacement frames under guarantee and adjusted the other pair. Played for funeral at Caterham of Bob Veness - lots there. Swing low sweet chariot went well. Got a new watch battery at Aurum. Organists committee ar Ken's. 3 choirs tour looks good and I made some suggestions about Belmont. To Acton and Lou went to first communion meeting. Library 9 to 2 and catalogued new stock which came last week and non-fiction some of which was returned today being end of term. More donations came and chucked some. Choir practice for Holy Week went well and Ben can sing on Easter Day. Dennis popped in.  Waitrose after several emails and calls have come up trumps with a voucher. It seems the tiny glass balls in the apple were probably from a BB gun fired by children in the orchard.  The Tablet this week says that 8 staff from Heythrop including Michael Barnes are to work for Roehamptioon university. Alas the library is not going with them but i...

I tripped over the new piano stool leg and fell on my left hand. I think it is OK. 

Organists visit to Union Chapel Islington and a most interesting concert saxophone and organ. Colin Matthews and Naomi Sullivan. Good to meet one of the composers Andrew Glover-Whitley. The piece was about ravens so tried to draw some. 3 pictures from the Breda at the Estorick which I sketched. Modigliani and Campigli. Excellent Westminster cathedral interfaith group meeting. Dr Irina Bradley on icons The family is holy and Rita on Sufis and the family. Alan Rainer spoke. 12 there. Took Dennis to film on Newman. 

Upearly, swam, Mass, hearing aids retubed at AgeUK, Henry came. Bravo Marko Sever playing Bach, Handel and Mozart brilliantly at St George Hanover Square. More importantly the music came over so well. As Dame Gillian Weir remarked "anyone can play loud and fast but can they make music?". Tate Britain All too human especially the films outside the exhibition. Freud splendid and Paula Rego a real discovery for me. Celia Paul and Cecily Brown impressive but Bacon less so. Enjoyed Michael Portillo Indian railways including Amristar, Chandigarth and Shimla. Grand Irish hotel Ashford Castle. 

To mosaic and finished Dennis's portrait so grouting next week. 9 at tai chi and we did a new exercise routine. Watched Little Women (I had no idea it was so dark) and ballet from National Gallery.  To Bromley circle for presentation of 50 years scroll to Roy Parker and 40 years to Joe Duffy by the National President. The ladies sat in on the meeting and the speeches and food were excellent.

Played Brahms O God thou faithful God and Herzliebster Jesu and we sang Ah holy Jesus. Took hot water bottle to warm my hands! No service tonight which is a relief as the buses take an hour each way.  Despite more snow we managed to get to vespers at St John's where we sang Stainer God so loved the world and Morley Magnificat. Also We sing the praise of him who died. The Durrells are back! 

Snow! Superb playing at Bloomsbury Baptist by Thomas Trotter. Bach,Wammes and Elgar sonata. Organ club there in force. Watched Michael Portillo in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Also Civilisations with Simon Schama. Emails about public speaking.       Played Brahms O God thou faithful God and Herzliebster Jesu and we sang Ah holy Jesus. Took hot water bottle to warm my hands! No service tonight which is a relief as the buses take an hour each way.                                            

Swam 20.  Two Catenian occasions. Keith Pearson's funeral at Sidcup and province 7 heat of public speaking at St Gregory's Tunbridge Wells very high standard and good support from TW circle. It was good to have choir and organ at St Lawrence Sidcup and a good homily about "Fallen angels" from Fr John Driver who used to be at the cathedral. Had tea and cake with the Rayers. Traffic not great coming into TWells and the satnav took me all over the place for no good reason. The runnerup was my winner! Good support from TWells circle. 2 hours from there to Acton!  Friday Ciaran's first guitar exam and Sean's assembly which was a delight especially the penguin song. Catalogued a lot of fiction and gave Mexican drums and patterns to Monica. She is interested in a link with the school in Chiapas and a meeting with potential library volunteers on April 20th. My mood was not helped by the arrival of 4 boxes of new books in memory of Maya with Anna putting them out?? W...

Henry played happily upstairs. Mick came. To Picasso 1932 at Tate modern and did some sketches. To St Paul's cathedral for excellent presentation on the glory and scandal of the Cross in the Bible and poetry from Paula Gooder and Mark Oakley. Today catalogued a lot of library fiction and the kids came as book characters. To Anerley for excellent film on Michelangelo. Interesting that he was Christocentric. Nudity was obvious but nothing said about this poetry and homosexuality! Art and finished reading The music shop by Rachel Joyce which I loved.

Excellent spiritual directors refresher day with Chris Chapman at Sisters of St Andrew Lewisham.

Mothering Sunday played Bach O mensch bewein and Fantasia in C minor. Good turnout from uniformed groups. To Joannas for Mothers Day dinner very nice. I had crab tart and pork belly and Liiz seared tuna and veggie Wellington. Watched Sir Bruce Forsyth tribute and Call the midwife. Liz to Acton.

Finally finished reading the magesterial "The stripping of the altars" by Eamon Duffy - sad that the Kindle does not include the many illustrations. Watched Sea Cities on BBC the first one features Sunderland - it is on Iplayer for 7 days only. Spoke to Bruce. Wrote article on the dementia event. 

Henry came as Anne Marie had a dental appointment. He was good as gold and loved the oranges and exploring and the bath! Watched Masterchef and Mary Beard on civilisations. The TV keeps jumping to VCR for no reason.  After my remark about Better taking over the pool, 2 lockers not accepting my pound, showers cold and changeroom door would not close! Swam 20. To the school library 11 to 5 and have now catalogued all of the huge pile of new non-fiction. Nice meal at Fiorito's Chiswick. To the Mountbatten festival of music at the Royal Albert Hall. Impressive to have massed bands of the Marines but at times the drums were deafening even in the circle. Some excellent soloists and John Suchet introduced it and played the trombone.

To Gaynor Mullane's funeral a sad but uplifting occasion. Don and the children all spoke so movingly. 42 came to the dementia awareness talk! It was excellent and Aoife urged us to support Dementia friends and raise awareness. A major part of the problem is reluctance to tell the GP about short term memory loss. Henry came and saw Anne Marie about children's guides.  To Royal Academy to see magnificent Charles I collection. Stayed overnight in Acton and spent the day cataloguing non-fiction in the library (which is in a mess again). I got my young helpers to tidy up. Great to see the boys again and they loved their new dressing gowns and the San Diego zoo map. An inspector came to see the library and said immediately a full time librarian was needed. Louise says no money for that!  To Anerley to see a  film about St Catherine of Siena. Back to swimming and did 20 lengths. Better have taken over Croydon leisure centres from Fusion - I wonder if they really will be better?...

Got to Caterham no choir as Linda unwell. Bach O Lamm Gott unschuldig, Lasceux fugue. Brian got me a heater as my hands were so cold. Did not got go to St Paul's talk or vespers as tired - kept waking up. Made some more cruise videos - only San Diego to do now. Call the midwife so sad as Barbara died. Watched Chris dementia programme - also sad. 

Finally got out of the house after being indoors since Tuesday! Made some videos of our cruise on Liz's computer - she has Windows 10 I have 8. To vespers and Mass First Scrutiny with Fr Andrew Bowden - he was excellent not heard him at Mass before. Cardinal Vaughan schola sang Byrd well. Watched A little chaos. I cleared downstairs loo. 

Another day at home because of the snow. The car has passed MOT. Watched the 6 episodes of Broken with the incomparable Sean Bean and Mark Stanley. Raises a lot of issues about the priesthood and the police. Grandpa's escape by David Walliams good.