The organist librarian

To Mass in rain, Liz saw nurse about her hand - she fell outside school. 2 mosaics finished and we now have a break until June while some go to Corfu. Finished 2 small mosaics and chose Van Gogh for next project in June. Bravo Peter King at St Michael Cornhill cheering up a wet day with a varied programme. An enjoyable evening at Duke's Hall Royal Academy of Music. 6 excellent organists competing for the Dorothy Cooper prize won by James Orford. Thomas Trotter adjudicating. Well done Marko Sever and Michael Butterfield and great to see Paddy Russill and meet the South African Hannes Ebersohn. Andrzej Malitowski and Jamie Rogers also impressed. It is so important to play expressively and not just fast and loud.

Played Michael Fleming's variations on Noel nouvelet and Slater Easter Alleluia. We sang "Sing God's Easter people sing" arranged John Barnard. Also Christopher Jones' splendid hymn "Faith overcomes" to Highworth by Terry - I think his widow lives locally. Also "O food of pilgrims" to the sublime Innsbruck. After 2 years I again found time to go through the organ music left by a predecessor and found some goodies. It does seem strange that he left all this music which is valuable. I seem to inherit organ music Dad, Alan now Paul and interesting the similar repertoire lots of Bach, English and French, Buxtehude. Enjoyed Rejoice in the Lamb from Norwich cathedral choral evensong. Well done Guildford for choral evensong for St Mark. I remember that hymn from my childhood at St Mark's Yeoville. Simon Schama brought Civilisations to a fine end. The Durrells excellent. I had not seen Wilkie Collins as a feminist - Woman in White episode 2.

Excellent day Catholic Spirituality network with Chris Chapman at St Aloysius Euston. Got to part of the amazing Scott brothers organ /piano duo at Bloomsbury Baptist. Not thrilled to find Paul and Rebecca came for confirmation with Bishop Mark Jabale who is 84. Paul Ryan was there wiith Mayfield school choir who sang Saint-Saens and Malcolm well. Neither of us had anything to do. Massenet Cendrillon from the Met on radio 3. 

A bird walk in Knights Hill Wood led by Dave with Dennis Woodhouse. Amazed at the variety and birdsong. To interfaith lunch and not so many there. Monet and architecture at National Gallery is a lovely exhibition. BUT is it worth £10 with art fund card to struggle to see the pictures? In some rooms there were at least 30 people. The National Gallery is more interested in money than people's enjoyment. Maybe one must go at 10 a.m.? Or not go at all. Murillo self portraits are free. Excessive to charge £1.50 per item in cloakroom. In future I will leave bag at NPG which is £1 for a locker. The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society is a wonderful film. Penelope Wilton is outstanding in a great cast and the scenery! Surprised to hear it was filmed in Devon. To Acton and watched rest of Lisbon and Baku art lover's guide. A lot done in the library Disney and baby books thrown out, 3 volunteers came for some training and the Year 6 girls did a lot of labelling and shelving. 3...

Woke late and got to the library around midday. It had been tidied! Liz's class took a lot of books out many of them not in stock and messed the place up! To Shakespeare Road and watched programmes on art in Baku and Lisbon. Seems we missed some goodies . Peter Stevens played well at the cathedral. I am no fan of Messiaen or Guillou but the Franck and Widor were splendid. Nice to see Madeline Smith Marko Sever Graham and Jonathan Holmes. Paul Moynihan barely greeted me and he went and sat near George - pathetic. Worked out I have been playing for 55 years!

Woke early then late so no Mass. Anne Marie and Henry came but he seemed out of sorts with a cold. she had not been at all well. Quiet time was disturbed by noisy kids in the hall. My last Provincial Council. No more driving to Kent and my 10 year sentence is over! Peter Stevens liked the scroll. The parts I enjoyed were being Provincial President. Programme on Singapore Airlines and Camilla. Great that Sheku is playing at the royal wedding.

Both to Mass St George's Day, mosaic, 12 at tai chi, to Bishop Thomas Grant school Streatham for first meeting about Catenian public speaking heat for Province 7 in October.To Beckenham circle meeting and Don Donal Mullane became President again. We had delicious duck with cointreau sauce yesterday and finished it off this evening! Came home to find carpets being cleaned. Had to reset my laptop. I have seen 2 people wearing roses today - one of them has a broad Irish accent!

Good Shepherd Sunday. Mike spoke at Mass last night he is 3rd year at Allen Hall. Today we sang Brother James' Air and I played Harold Darke's lovely meditation and Bach preludes. I was privileged to have met Dr Darke. Had a first go at Norman Cocker's Tuba tune. The tuba is out of tune and I noted the flute playing c# with top D. Must be the heat. Good sermon from Anne-Marie Garton. At evensong we sang Panis angelicus and Faux bourdons. The last hymn Come ye faithful I recall an anthem by Thatcher. Liz went to help at St Bartholomew's orchestra concert. I watched Durrells, London marathon highlights and Woman in White.

Antiques roadshow featured dear Geoffrey giving a valuation of £1 million! Civilisations with David Olusoga very interesting. The programme on the arts scene in Beirut excellent - alas the one in Lisbon did not record. Started watching Simon Schama History of the Jews. To London Central 2 circle 1300th meeting and they were at Mass and a good dinner at the Passage. The roof terrace was much enjoyed and a lovely evening. The Queen is 92 today!

To Mass and art good work on Angel musician. Delicious fish for lunch. Saw Clare in her garden lovely day. Waste of time going to Croydon planning committee. 5 objectors to Crystal Palace football ground given 3 minutes between us. I gave up after an hour on John Lewis site . Bridget West played well at St John's. 90 minutes journey to Acton 30 minutes outside Clapham Junction. Last night Southern could not agree on cause of delay of 30 minutes. Driver started with congestion into Victoria then blamed signals. At station the board said dealing with emergency t caused it. Why not just say We can't run anything? Now they say bear with us as we upgrade. Why should we? They should lose the contract full stop. A hot day cataloguing in the library. 6 volunteers and a good meeting with Anna and Reading co-coordinator so feeling much happier. Decided not to go to V and A and Exultet at Hammersmith home for a shower and rest. My right big toe hurts.Sean commented this morning "Why...

Swam and Mass. Told  Dennis to bring Henry at 10. They turned up at 11 so I saw him for 20 minutes. At the Met encore of Luisa Miller. Domingo is amazing and coming up to 50 years at the Met. Great cast. Liked David Milne at Dulwich picture gallery and sketched 2 and part of the fine Tiepolo. To Acton. Worked in the school library all morning and displeased at the mess including interference with new books waiting to be processed. Dr Helen Costigane gave an excellent talk on Amoris laetitia to the Westminster cathedral interfaith group. I was so hot and tired by the time I got home.Enjoyed Secret life of the Zoo and University challenge semi-final.

Swam 20, mosaic and tai chi. Life getting back to normal in spring sunshine! Absolutely fascinating talks at St Paul's on Who am I? John Swinton and Rowan Williams and some excellent questions on dementia. Huge audience. The Queen on trees. 

Yet again my 8 a,m, train was cancelled and I was on the bus to Caterham. Website says disruption until 10a.m. Please take an alternative train. There is NO alternative train! We sang This joyful Easter tide and I played Alan Ridout's cheeky piece on the tune and the more sedate Thalben-Ball. Willan on Vulpius at the end with tuba. 2 in choir. Why did we have to sing Before the throne again? Watching close of Commonwealth Games. Well done Birmingham great show #Brum At evensong played Philip Moore and Douglas Guest on St Fulbert and Bach Christ lag variations. 4 at evensong incl Jerry and myself. What is the point!  Watched The Durrells, Big painting challenge on portraits. Work is to start at St Michael Beckenham 3 years after I left! 

Lie-in and Bernard Noakes rang about the motion and procedure. Watched Simon Schama Civilisations . Good programme on Bacchus. RSCM voices conducted by Dan Soper at Mass this evening at the cathedral. Peter Stevens was playing. Watching the Gettys and University challenge.

On our last day in Jersey we visited the lovely Botanical gardens and a guided tour of Samares manor with a very enthusiastic guide. Soup at the cafe and delicious afternoon tea at Ransoms garden centre. Drove to Rozel Bay and Boulay Bay and visited the churches of St Clement and St Jean. Easyjet flight cramped and crowded. Got a train quickly so home at 11.20 by taxi from East Croydon. 2 Tablets to read!

Up at 7 and bus to East Croydon and train to Gatwick arrived 9.15. 10.15 Easyjet flight delayed to 12.15. Air traffic controllers were off sick. Avis car and got confused trying to get to the zoo going round the island. Ended up at Poplar tea rooms for clotted cream tea. Went past La Rocca. Excellent air bomb and charming host. Tea in Sun lounge. Trevor sounds South African but is Jersey born. Bruce picked us up and excellent dinner at  Little Thai. Bream and grilled pineapple. Tuesday 10th rain overnight . Bruce took us to Jersey War tunnels which was fascinating and very wellpresented then to the Jersey military museum in a bunker on 5 mileroad. Lots to see there too. To the wildlife hide and saw lots of birds. Tea and lemon drizzle cake at Elizabeth Best jewellery at St Peter windmill.  To the breakwater in the rain and a lovely coast drive back for a rest and read a brief history of Jersey by Peter Hunt. The spring flowers and willows are lovely. Excellent dinner at Bass...

Drove to Caterham as trains cancelled. Miserable day. We sang O sons and daughters and I played Christopher Tambling on the tune and Worthy is the Lamb which was much appreciated. Annual meeting was interesting. Annual report not as comprehensive as Upper Norwood. I did a small display about the choir and there was discussion of the school and my efforts were appreciated. Ingrid Bergman programme interesting - she had 3 husbands and just left her children! Painting challenge excellent. Enjoying Keble college Radio 3 broadcast - a splendid organ! Programme on Jesus' women disciples.

Lovely concert by Emma Tring, Robin Martin, Anyssa Neumann and Tristan Horne at St John Upper Norwood and great to meet the composer Andrew Toovey. TheAlas no cantor this evening so most of the Mass was said. I think the Macmillan sanctus could have been sung as it is not responsorial. Johnny sang and played at vespers.  Jonathan Dove and Christopher Fox were particularly fine and really liked Andrew's Almost. 

Louise came to pick up the boys The wooden car and one of the side tables need glue. Lovely playing from Gary Sieling at St Stephen Wallbrook. Welcoming at the cathedral. Victorian giants of photography at NPG worth a visit also suffragettes. Simon Schama on story of the Jews. BBC Young musician of the year string final won by excellent cellist Maxim. Canterbury cathedral with Tony Robinson. 

Ciaran said he wanted to go home so rang Louise. He cheered up and we set off for Lullingstone Roman villa. However near Bromley was sick so headed for home and Sean did the same when we arrived! So had a quiet day watching Michael Portillo in India, repair shop, Pointless, Attenborough on eggs. Dennis came and we went to East Dulwich picturehouse to see Macbeth live from ROH. Fantastic singing and the production better than the Met. Chorus and Netrebko and Pappano brilliant. Home at 11 

I have actually written another section on my life story blog https://johnnwoodh.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/the-holy-land.html as we have a quiet day as the boys are not coming until later! I am supposed to do this every day but it just never happens. St Alban's Easter day service excellent singing. To quiet time. Richard was there and he seemed determined to be controversial! Daniel came in very wet from the rain being on his bike. Repair shop. Lousie came with the boys and Sean was being quite boisterous. Young Musician is 40 years old!  Great British bakeoff. 

Many thanks to Simon Surtees for recommending Waiting for the last bus by Richard Holloway. Fascinating and lived the poetry. Good to chat to Ann Lennox on Saturday and Bruce Woodhouse today. We went to Greenwich picturehouse to see the encore of ROH Bernstein centenary which we really enjoyed. The first ballet was Chichester Psalms which brought back memories of Daniel French's extraordinary ordination. The second The Age of anxiety and the third Corybatic games was very inventive. What marvellous dancers and choreography. Hilarious Dave Allen programmes, repair shop

What to do if you play something in the wrong key? I did this once before with a communion hymn after the anthem and started again but on Sunday I played the start of the last verse of Thine be the glory in E flat from the Rawsthorne book having been in D and realised during the first line so reverted to D. It must have sounded very wrong! But I put it down to tiredness and loss of concentration having been up at 4.30 a.m. and playing for 2 long services. Imogen remarked on the finale and I said too loud - I thought she meant the Howells but maybe not! 

Last night's vigil at Virgo Fidelis with Dennis was very disappointing.Plenty of servers but Fr Clark did not sing Exultet but led 3 hymns unaccompanied My God loves me hardly suits Easter! There were no baptisms so finished by 10. He announced that standing in oriente was following the Missal instructions which is nonsense. In the homily he said heaven was closed from Adam to the penitent thief. So what of Abraham, Moses and Elijah in the Gospel accounts? Were they not in heaven? He worries me as he is chaplain at John Fisher. 

Up at 4.40 a.m. to get to Caterham for the vigil at 6.15 a.m. 4 psalms and had fun looking up some of the saints in the litany! Breakfast then 10 a.m. which drew a much larger congregation. The choir did well "Sing choirs of heaven" by Richard Shephard. Great to have Ben with us. I played Hallelujah chorus and Saraband for the morning of Easter. I have wriiten about the Easter organ music in the April magazine. To The Chalet Caterham to see the gardens for the NGS and owls and vintage cars and a helicopter! Fancy having that on your lawn plus a Rolls! Now beef and red wine for lunch when Dennis Woodhouse and co arrive. The Lenten alcoholic fast is ended (it didn't work too well on the cruise!) Slept after lunch. Missed Bruce's call. At evensong Stanford in A and Te Deum in B flat. Liz sang the solo in Blessed be the God and Father beautifully. Had wine and chocolate. Watched Generation game, Urbi et Orbi. Durrells, Sheffield cathedral,