The organist librarian

Mass, art and interfaith lunch. Good comments about Jonathan - a pity the meeting could not be longer. Recommended Sion centre. Got caught in rain - it has been so sunny and warm. 

Liz took Henry to music at the Salvation Army. To Ryarsh to the Sign of the Pipe and fascinating talk from Dr Shuker. Lunch at the Duke of Wellington and walked over the M20 to the church. Came home via Caterham. I closed the swell box which I forgot to do on Sunday after the Parry! Shopped at Waitrose. Watched sewing bee, Only connect and banker's guide to art. Wed a quiet day both to Mass and coffee, then cleaned carpets at Glyn Close and long discussion with Dennis. Home to do jigsaw and good progress and watched Couples come dine with me. Vietnam for the elderly. 

Mosaic and redid the corner as the photo I used last time was a reduction. Peter Wright played Guillou, Bach, Franck and Langlais at Southwark cathedral. We will miss him when he retires. Ros told me a lot about her life. Very warm for February. Liz to UCM at Anerley and I went to Beckenham Catenians. Back to school 90s and University challenge. 

We sang "Thee we adore" which fitted very well with the excellent sermon from Anne-Marie Garton. I played Boellmann on Adoro Te, Peeters on Lasst uns erfreuen and a new piece for me Parry's Bridal march from The Birds. Started a new jigsaw. Antiques roadshow and  Call the midwife excellent and now watching the wonderful Antonio Pappano on arias.

Mass Chair of Peter. Cleaned bedroom carpet with new carpet cleaner. Cut out felt Easter eggs for church. Mick came. To life drawing at National Portrait gallery. It was difficult to go from A3 down to A6 as we tried to do a miniature size colour drawing! Real Marigold in Argentina. 

Mass, art and good progress. I have darkened the blue to make the main figures stand out. Organists association committee meeting. To the Weston library at Southwark cathedral to hear Dr Jane Williams talk about her Lent book "The merciful humility of God". She was excellent. Came on the train with Gareth and Marlene. Lovely to see them. Watched Red Arrows and Chester Zoo.

We sang Lead me Lord by Wesley and I played Stanford on St Columba and Percy Whitlock on King's Lynn which is a great tune. Inspired by recent recitals and master classes I am working on Franck Choral no. 3. Lamb chops and homemade banoffie pie. Yum. At evensong Dyson in F and Howell Like as the Hart love that anthem. Fr John met with the choir and there was a frank and good conversation. Excellent vespers from Leeds and Berlioz from BBC Scottish. Boys and Lou arrived. Call the midwife, banoffie pie and white wine. Monday slept in so no swim or Mass. Wet so trip to British wildlife centre off. To West Norwood to collect our clock and Liz took boys to cinema. Tuesday finished the jigsaw which took most of 2 days. I did get to Mass but not mosaic.  Wed to Horniman museum. Took the boys to Brick Wonders, aquarium and sketching at the Horniman. Lunch at the Capitol Wetherspoons Forest Hill. Jonathan Gorsky gave a fascinating talk on Jewish/Catholic relations and 11...

Lovely exhibition of Sir Alfred Munnings at the National army museum and I enjoyed sketching horses. Interesting that Munnings thought it easier to paint a cow rather than a horse! Enjoyable party after Mass end of marriage preparation course great to see Mark Doran and Isobel. Fr Daniel on great form. Excellent homily and Peter Stevens played toccata from Widor symphony No. 2. Now have Henry and Emma on the family clock photos. Popular Royals and royal spending. America's biggest historical fibs. 

Swim, Mass, most enjoyable recital by John Webber at St Stephen Wallbrook and a good audience. The Royal Academy Bill Viola and Michelangelo is mesmerising. Do NOT miss it! I was late at church because a woman could not reverse to let a taxi through. After 5 minutes a man in a dressing gown came out of a house and moved the car! To choir with Adrian as Max is in Hull. 

Swam, both to Mass, art and worked on the figure of father and baby - pleased with it. Nice lunch at The Great North Wood, West Norwood and we enjoyed All is true at the picturehouse. Fr Rout spoke at Vaughn House on St Francis and Pope Francis. Synodality is being followed in Oz why not here?

Swim, nice chat to Ann, we went to Bethlem Museum of the mind for enjoyable Cake and conversation about the current melancholy exhibition. BBC programme on the making of ENO's War Requiem. Amazing production. To Dulwich circle and chaired the meeting due to the illness of the President.

Swim, we both went to Mass and remembered little Georgie who's funeral was at Acton. Liz went to see Henry swimming. I could not find parking. We all went to the pub lunch. Quiet time. Liz to council. To St Peter Eaton Square for live radio 3 BBC singers concert with Robert Quinney and William John Richard Whitehead at the end of Orgelbuchlein project. It is a great achievement but sadly I have only heard one new piece which I might wish to play. Enjott Schneider. I was no 11 in the queue but it was a very long wait to go in.

Swim, mosaic. Organ recital at St Martins in the fields well attended. Polina Sosnina plays musically. To RAM masterclass with Susan Landale. Unfortunately she spoke a lot to the player rather than us. She needed a mike. Marylebone Church not a comfortable space. Michael Butterfield and James Orford played well. I enjoyed the women musicians exhibition at the Royal Academy museum. To Broadcasting House for the recording of 2 heats of Brain of Britain to be broadcast in April. Most enjoyable and I did better in the second round getting 11 right.

We sang Rutter A Clare benediction and I played Bonighton on St Denio and Fish and Thiman on Hanover. A busy day - up at 6.30 a.m. After Caterham I went to Holy Innocents and met the Polish parish priest and he has given me a contact who might be interested in Catenians. Death cafe at St John's was very interesting. Did you know that after April everyone will pay £6000 tax when they die? The most basic funeral costs £4000! At evensong we sang Stanford and Bach. Susan Heath-Downey played well at Christ's chapel Dulwich - Andrew Carter, Mathias and Bach. Call the midwife was very moving.

My article about this week Celebrating UN World interfaith Interfaith harmony week February 2019 The week began with a civic service at Southwark cathedral for the Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth the themes being Together in health, youth and faith. Amir Eden, Chair of Living Bankside gave an inspiring address about the interfaith work around the terrorist atrocities in Southwark. The youth speakers, Police cadets and Fire Cadets were all most impressive and Steve Chalke spoke on “Who are you? Why are you here?” I particularly enjoyed learning a South African song Te Dumela and we raised the roof in “Amazing Grace”. The Bishop of Southwark led the Act of Commitment. The next day I was at committee room 19 of the House of Commons for “Building Bridges Through Interfaith Dialogue” chaired by Toaha Qureshi MBE, Chairman, Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD) and Chairman, Ash-Shahada Housing Association (ASHA) with Dr. David Dangoor DL – Chair, Lord Lieutenant of Grea...

Car back and has been cleaned as well. Trevor moved the seat. Got petrol for Kia as did not know where the button was! Ben at osteopath. One of the comments on the Bonnard at Tate Modern "just a load of pretty pictures". A little unfair. He certainly knew about colour although not so good on faces! Enjoyable servers dinner at Brook Green with Archbishop George Stack. Michael Chute is now an equestrian Knight of St Gregory and may park his horse in St Peter's Square! The uniform costs £800! Liz went to Acton as at servers Mass in Birmingham on Saturday. Left 9.30 home 11.15. Sat. Drove to Caterham Repair cafe at St Lawrence's and James fixed 2 clocks the musical one and the one with the photos. Very pleased! 

To Streatham drop-in centre for Asylum seekers and migrants which is a lovely hall for Interfaith harmony week breakfast. Great to see so many there including Catriona Robertson and Jill Gregson. Painting and Mind, body, spirit. To Farm St Church Hall to hear Barry and Margaret Mizen and Fr Michael Holman on violent crime and what we can do. Great to see Jimmy Burns and Dominic Robinson and meet Ruth chair of Westminster Faith interchange. Watched Couples come dine with me and University challenge. 

Jill Benet took morning session of the quiet day on Wisdom. Had to walk to House of Commons because of taxi demo. The Interfaith harmony event had some good speakers especially a Muslim head and Muslim police officer. I spoke about the need to defend faith schools. Met several new people and some young people which is encouraging. Some of the MPs were difficult to follow! To Caterham for Grow meeting so missed Kirkham cup at Maidstone. I did not want to drive the hired Kia there at night. To Streatham drop-in centre for Asylum seekers and migrants which is a lovely hall for Interfaith harmony week breakfast. Great to see so many there including Catriona Robertson and Jill Gregson. Painting and worked on faces and Mind, body, spirit.

Mass, Henry came late and had a great time - lots more words. Only connect. To civic service at Southwark and Lambeth at Southwark cathedral. OK I know we live in Croydon but I do go to lots of Faiths together in Lambeth and South London interfaith group events! Really enjoyed singing the South African song and we raised the roof in Amazing Grace. The young people and police and fire brigade cadets were most impressive.. Steve Chalke challenged us "Who are you? Why are you here?". Lovely cello playing and some good singing too! Nice reception at the Mudlark and networked - might get two speakers out of it!

To mosaic and then St Michael Cornhill for an interesting recital by Eleni Keventsidou. To Norwood Catenian circle 8 of us, 6 visitors. Watched Couples come dine with me. Eggheads beaten by 4X400 to win £26,000! 

A favourite feast Candlemas played Bach prelude and Andrew Moore Light of the nations. We sang Nunc dimittis by Shera. Good to see the children involved. To St Paul's to hear Richard Harries on his latest book. It was packed and some good points from the Dean. Very nice lunch with pears and cream. At evensong and benediction we sang Byrd and Eccard. Antiques roadshow, Call the midwife and the end of Les Miserables. 

To St Stephen Wallbrook for fine recital by Jeremy Lloyd. Enjoyed the whole programme! Welcoming at the cathedral - it was quiet and cold. Had a chat to the manager. He wants to move information desk but no cash.My idea of selling the children's guides in the shop fell on stony soil I think! Snow and went out to Kia car for choir practice but could not start it. Tried again Saturday and no luck and no replies from phone calls either. Insurance company sent an email! Annoying that when Ivan brought the car it was running and he did not show me how to start it. Since then we have had snow so not used it at all. Watched secret life of 4 year old and 5 year olds, also Victorian arts and crafts was excellent. What a joy to celebrate Candlemas. Amici Coro sang well Eccard and Mawby. Laura, Anne and John Berbuto were singing. Craig Revel Horwood on his family tree. Secrets of royal servants.