The organist librarian

I have an infection in right ear so operating on one ear for a month and right in the middle of the Proms! I was lucky to see Dr Ojo and he will remove mole on my arm. I got the ear drops. Delightful lunch at Rosemary Callan's. Miss Lyn. She has great plans for the house. The talk was on writing about London. Strange that South London is so neglected by authors. Sad that so many 20 year olds are leaving the city. I commented that Dad said you could tell a Londoner as they were know it alls. Not so true I think now. It is more that Londoners are mostly from somewhere else. A superb concert BBC Scottish and Manze London symphonies of Haydn and RVW. Lovely to have Haydn and very atmospheric and NO applause between movements!!

Henry stayed overnight as good as gold. Mosaic then amazing Prom Joseph Tawadros playing the oud.Mosaic group visit to Orthodox cathedral Hagia Sophia Moscow Rd and Rita Day came. Early at Guys and seen immediately about hearing aids. Infection in right ear so operating on one ear only.  Pre prom talk on mountains. Enjoyed Mozart Nocturne for 4 orchestras, fell asleep in the Haas work for 4 alpenhorns, nearly got the brolly out in Alpine symphony! Big organ part. Ivan Volkov and BBC Scottish.

On iplayer the Prom of Holst Ode to death and Vaughan Williams Martyn Brabbins conducting - lovely way to start the day! We sang Bread of the world arranged by Alan Bullard. I played Poco adagio from Saint-Saens organ symphony and Flor Peeters on Cwn Rhondda and Lasst uns erfreuen. Train times changed again so home in time to listen to "I'm Sorry I haven't a clue". Played Dancing years Novello selection and Brewer Marche heroique on piano. Took music to David Dibbs miserable rain. Great singing and playing from Southern Cathedrals festival at Salisbury Blair in B minor, Jonathan Dove, Vierne. RVW Pastoral symphony and Parry Symphony No. 5 on Iplayer. Poldark came to an end for the moment (sad). Watched Shostakoich, Beethoven and Rachmaninov from prom. Henry came to stay overnight and went off to sleep happily. 

Quiet day. Got ready for Wednesday. Andy at No. 11 has upset us with notes wanting branches cut off the birch tree. Of course bits will come off especially in hot weather. Playing from memory Andras Gabor Virag impressed at Bloomsbury Baptist. Windy but warm. Andrew Bowden at vespers and Mass and spoke about Lourdes to servers, Shireen and Andrew. Also saw the 3 organists. Watched 2 Proms extras. Liz went to the Beethoven Prom.

The Lourdes pilgrimage really was very special. Highlights the Cardinal's homilies, the torchlight procession with a stunning view from the Basilica steps where the choir were, the Cathedral of the trees Mass and the St Sabin abbey. Feeding Fred was very special and the parties were fun. Such lovely people we were looking after and hugely impressed by the Sant Frai volunteers and the redcaps. Joy, tears and healing said the Cardinal and he was so right! So many happy smiling faces. 

Toulouse. Taxi to the hotel Ibis and shower and rest. Walked to find dinner and we enjoyed the organic food and craft beer at Roulez Papilles. After breakfast Liz went to the market and I went with Veronica to the basilica of Saint Sermin which is splendid and has an 1889 Cavaille Coll organ. Did some sketches including the wedding cake tower from the tea room. We got a taxi to the get the Navette at the station and were very early at the airport. Had a salad meal after checking in and had assistance. Easyjet were 50 minutes late. Collected car at Gatwick and home by 8.30. Signs of rain at last! House hot so opened up doors and windows to cool it down. Tablets not come! Heard part of the Prom and watched Room 101. Unpacked. 

Woke early and got to church by car 8.40.No bells or junior church. Played Mascagni Intermezzo and Easter hymn for Mary Magdalene. Also Tambling on  O filii as we sang O sons and daughters. Visiting preacher good and finished 11.10. Gatwick 11.40 I had not noticed I needed to contact the driver but he appeared in 10 minutes. Assistance from Easyjet. I had time to get  a salad and coffee. Taken to wrong gate and chatted about NHS. Flight delayed 70 minutes lots of kids and crowded. Got his into Toulouse centre seems a charming place with canals. Missed train at 6.30 so got 8.30 one. Ate at Pauls at station found could not read books on Fire without internet but watched downloads Art of Scandinavia and Songs of Praise and read old Oremus. Arrived at 11 and got a taxi with the Oxford ladies. Hotel Metropole room has 2 double beds and we overlook courtyard. Had a beer. Monday to morning prayer and saw the Cardinal and Bishop John. Good breakfast. Choir a bit cramped open air ou...

A quiet morning and the talks prepared for August 1. Listening to lovely evensong from Rugby school including Hear my prayer. Phoned for assistance on both flights. Cut out poppies 4 to a sheet of red felt so I have 2 spare buttons! Conducted London Mozart players at Centrale Croydon. Pizzicato polka went well! An hour at the Lambeth country show on the interfaith Stand which was in a more prominent spot next to the ice cream van! Hot! Truth is it is an ordeal! The crowds at the crossing to the station! Superb singing of Amy Saunders, Rheinberger and Paul Patterson from Nottingham cathedral choir and Fr Thomas. We heard them at Simon Gillespie's ordination. Listening to the Prom on phone on train many interruptions. Trying to follow the score of Sinfonia da Requiem was awful. Good thing I did not plan to go to the Prom as there was an appeal from Missionary sisters which went on far too long although she got a round of applause! Hilarious tribute to Victoria Wood. Tony Robinson ...

I was expecting a morning working on my spirituality day talks and I have done some work on them but also done a Youth matters Catenian report. I went to CALAT Zion Road to see the art. Georgina Godwin's version of the Finnish painting better than mine. I really think Thornton Heath Arts Week should combine all the art at the library next year. CML to return reserved score and pick up one more. To Peter Jones to change buttons for poppies. To the Serpentine gallery to see the London Mustaba and the Sackler gallery. Tomma Abts' paintings very calming. Intriguing idea to float such a large object on the Serpentine. In a way I wish it were a pyramid. I thought Frida Escobado's concrete pavilion ratehr dull compared to previous years - after all it supposed to be a fun space. On the way out of the park they were filming and I saw Lucy Worsley so I said I enjoyed her programmes on TV and thanked her for which she thanked me and smiled. Very intrigued by the talk on Morfydd Owen...

Swam,  Mass Fr Sunith did it all and read writhe as rith! Penge library for 3 scores from Bromley and bought new washing up bowl at Poundland. To art and progress on holocaust painting. Lunch and then to Balham to return scores, recycle batteries and pick up ordered buttons at Waitrose. A good hour with Clare. Still hot and no rain. Everyone very excited about Clare and Mick getting married and Louise and family going to Sydney for Christmas. A delightful programme by Richard Hills at St John Upper Norwood with light and serious well-mixed.

Ciaran was sick twice when I was at the Prom. He and I were up early and he wanted Calpol so I got some from Tescos having tried Sainsburys and got petrol. To Mass - Fr Stuart had to read! Ciaran clearly not on form so plans to go swimming and the Horniman museum were abandoned and he slept. Made 4 red felt poppies and put our Tower of London ceramic poppy from 2014 in the garden at last!! We did do some painting with Sean and Tom came and collected them. Watched 2 Antiques roadshow and Africa. Listened to Gershwin American in Paris from the Prom but not the Messiaen!  Nice to have a quiet day and a break from travelling to the hall. Went through my box for the spirituality day and checked CDs.

Mass and got hearing aid batteries. Great having the boys to stay and Henry loved the water play. To Glyndebourne Prom so had Pimms. Pelleas and Melisande. The talk was good and explained the weird production which does not help. Great singing and orchestral playing. Best not to look at the stage!

Swam, mosaic then a superb prom at Cadogan Hall by the Calidore string quartet music by Caroline Shaw and Schumann piano quintet with Javier Perianes. A trip to the excellent free exhibition of forgotten London at the London metropolitan archives Clerkenwell. TFL got it wrong. The stop is Tysoe St not Mount Pleasant glad I followed Google maps. I had a meal at the Union and dropped off in the preProm talk on Shostakovich 7 which was well played by BBC Phil and Mena in his last season, The Lindburg clarinet concerto was pleasant and played by Mark Simpson. 

Up at 6.30 a.m. 4 in choir so I accompanied John Harper's Benedictus on the organ instead of the keyboard. Played Peeters Canzona and Finlandia. Can't believe Liz's Dad died 1997 a kinder gentleman it would be hard to find and always immaculately dressed. We also sang Bernadette Farrell's Lord you search me and you know me. Am on buses only one train an hour and even that uncertain plus 2 changes. On today's service sheet. A personal prayer to use after Mass and during the week.. Dear Lord, I might think that I can't do much to make the world a better and fairer place. Help me to see myself as a little drop of rain making ripples in a big puddle. In your strength, and for your glory. Amen. Helped on teas at Friends of Grangewood Park. Sold a lot of prizewinning cakes. The chocolate and Guinness one excellent. Saw Dennis Woodhouse and Molly. Also Karen Jewitt and community choir. 3 p.m.Mass at St Mary's but I do think children should be encouraged to stay in...

To St John East Dulwich for recital by Graham Powell which was excellent. Had a long chat to Graham Hempstead from East Grinstead. I was late because I was wrestling with IKEA shelving basket brackets but all now installed and back bedroom sorted out at last. I was so hot had another shower. Djokovic beat Nadal at Wimbledon but only just! Preprom talk on original story of Daphnis and Chloe and the first ballet versions. What a lovely prom Faure Pavane Mozart Piano concerto 27 and Daphnis and Chloe. Bravo RPO and the choirs! It was good that Liz got there in time from the cathedral.

Went to recording of Just a minute x 2 at radio theatre Broadcasting House. Huge demo outside against Trump. Just a minute was great laughed and laughed. They go out September. A splendid In tune with superb string quartet, 3 cellos, quitar and quintet, Brindley Sherratt and ondes martenot. Did not care for James Collier. Catch it on I player. First night off to a good start with Oliver Knussen, Vaughan Williams and Holst. The very loud new piece by Anna Meredith was not helped by being in the same programme as The Planets. A attractive quiet choral section but what was the text? 5 telegrams? Have to watch the TV recording to see if the visual effects really worked. 6 bays of the gallery taken by equipment and seats moved. Home at mdnight.

Woke early intending to swim but found my creditcard holder was missing. Emails and Ritzys had it so collected it this evening - what a relief! Took Liz to hospital for scan then to Mass and on to art where everybody loved the video of the library exhibition. We are having a garden party in August. Organists committee. I have taken on 2 events and part of another. To Hillgate pub to meet some of the Saint Frai team at Lourdes. Lots of John's! Far too noisy. Dominic Robinson coming after 10 years away! Liz's directions hopeless and I walked too far. Programme on the Greeks. 

Hot in the night again. To mosaic and cutting lots of little pieces and sorted out colours. To Southwark cathedral for recital by Jonathan Hall. Lesley from chorus was there! To my first SPIDIR committee. RAF 100 on Horse Guards Parade - planes with RAF personnel in period costume. Interested in Dakota as I flew on one aged 3 months. To 75th anniversary garden party at Westminster Abbey of Council of Christians and Jews. Excellent to hear from young people of projects at universities. Michael Redman, William Rhind, John Parry, Siriol Davies and met some new people. I was cross as Liz did not come down to station depite 2 emails - I had left phone at home. Tuesday we both swam (liz had not been for ages) and Mass. Henry came and played in the garden. I went to Thornton Heath library to video our art exhibition - looks great! To quiet time and a new lady came. I will miss it over the summer. Picked up Liz and went to Acton for the year 6 play Aladdin. For some unknown reason we went to ...

Hot again. Played Sheep may safely graze (Liz's Mum's favourite) and Sortie Noel Rawsthorne. We sang Marry Haugen's Let us build a house, We have a gospel and David Ogden's Christ has no body now but yours. Next Sunday I will play Finlandia Liz's Dad loved that. Good thing Finland not in the World Cup! I am working on Easter hymn by Mascagni. I need a piano score without vocals so will have to arrange it myself I expect. To the first Death Cafe at Sylvan Road which was fascinating. At evensong we sang Coll Reg and O pray for the peace of Jerusalem - a feast of Howells. To Christ's chapel Dulwich for Andrew Benson-Wilson playing Couperin and Tournemire. How nice to know that Ellie Gauge whose mother I met today is still singing in church. She was in the choir at St Andrew Coulsdon. Poldark was good. 

A brilliant finale from Anna Abrams and Michael Barnes with videoed reminiscences. I recorded mine after lunch and got several to do it. My crazy idea is a multifaith pilgrimage to India led by Michael for the Heythrop association. I went to St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church as there was a fair but church closed! The sister looked without success for an icon of St John the Evangelist! I will try the website. Central music library for scores. Too hot. Bishop John Sherrington confirmations and first communion. Victoria children's choir sang Faure, Franck and Hurford. Rebecca busybody. Liz went to serve at Fr Mark's first Mass at Poplar. Liz helped at the St Vincent's school fete which was a success.

Buses and tubes to get to Heythrop for first day of the marvellous Let him Easter in us conference. A cornucopia of riches. Michael Kirwan amusing, Philip Endean on Ignatius, Dominic Robinson on Benedict's "Deus caritas est" agape and eros and the Lutheran perspective from Barth and Balthasar. Edward Howells on Bernard. Dominic McLoughlin's poetry. Ahamad Achtar on Adam and Eve in the Qu'ran. Terrance Walsh on Hegel. Had to leave Nicholas King on Luke to get to St Thomas the Apostle Nunhead for the Aspirations evening. As always the students were impressive although I told one to stop making excuses and look me in the eye. Some who want to be in the arts, architect, football, engineering and construction, banking. Nice eats and Brendan Fitzgerald gave me a lift home. Liz at funeral. Great to see Sylvia, Patricia Morris, Ann Blackett, Philip Wood, Anna, Simon Gillespie, Jill today!

Swam. I took the lost student card I found at the bus stop back to Brit school - his mother was very grateful. Also picked up the CD left in the old car from Newton Honda. To Worth Abbey for the funeral of Fr Charles Hallinan 91. It was a happy occasion in many ways - such a good, kind man. He spoke of the importance of prayer of the heart and singing Magnificat after confession. Lovely organ music and Faure Pie Jesu and Sanctus. Oddly on a retreat there I was at the funeral of one of the monks attended by Buddhist monks so I have processed to the graveyard twice. Lovely peaceful spot. Saw Paul Ryan (in choir), Fr Philip, Dom Aidan, Chris, Stella and got waylaid by Oona van der Poole from West Norwood! Actually watched England beat Colombia in World Cup with a beer at Acton! A hot morning in the library. 600s a mess as were the 700s. To Hinsley room Spirituality Roger talking on the coming of the Spirit. Found good quotes in books by John Main and George Appleton.BP portrait award at...

To mosaic and the new one is now traced out on the board. It is going to be complicated! Van Gogh Starry night. Skipped tai chi and got lots of scores from Westminster Music library and Balham library (the latter by car as trains disrupted). Liz took Ciarán to Vaughan school concert. Got hooked on Wimbledon - great match on centre court Warinkwa and Dimitrov. To Norwood Catenians (Dennis in Ireland). 10 plus 8 visitors. Interesting chat to Richard Mills about WWI and Brexit which he supports. Inside the American embassy is fascinating.

Missed train so train to West Croydon and 207 bus which beat the train by 5 minutes. Music from The Little organ book in honour of Hubert Parry 1918. Sang Panis angelicus and the Schubert adapted for Walsingham. Postlude on a ground by Herbert Murrill. Good to see quite a few children at the service and Fr Jerry Garton did a great reflection on what we should be grateful for and could we share more. I certainly try to share my skills but the enemy is time! Trying to do too much can also be a problem. Good food, exercise, sleep all  matter. Selina Stone spoke at St Paul's "Was Jesus political?" In a broad sense Yes. I think the Dean changed my question which was really about getting people to vote and being engaged but it is true that we need to stop bickering in the church and take a stand. Political influence better than political power? Perhaps Yes think of Nazi Germany and the apartheid regime. Individuals can do so much especially on social media and so can communiti...