The organist librarian

Watched Antiques roadshow, Race around the world,Victoria. The Durrells start next Sunday! 

Mothering Sunday and a church full of cubs and brownies. Played Bach, Lascaux Fugue and Vierne Berceuse for the prayers as everyone wrote names on their rose picture. I played this at the crem for Mum and Dad. We sang For the beauty of the earth by Andrew Carter and a piece Oscar brought using Tallis Canon and I played Peeters on the tune. Fr Jerry's reflection on celebrity mothers and what they call their children amuses me. Crazy to call your child Sir! Quite a lot to play but it went well. Actually 16 pieces of music! Salisbury cathedral evensong not very inspiring. Worked on jigsaw. Excellent lunch of lamb shank and poor man's Viennetta! At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and O pray for the peace of Jerusalem by Howells. I read the first lesson Manasseh's plea. Liz got lovely chocs from Bruce.  Nice to see June who had come for Mary Johnson's 90th birthday. The rose altar frontal dedicated in memory of Marshall. I showed them the Leslie Craske leaflet from Gu...

A stimulating session at Dulwich with Norman Harper. I have not been getting Couperin registrations correct. Dulwich gallery Sahlberg Norwegian disappointing. To Wallace collection to see impressive Henry Moore helmets and sketched 3. Simon Gledhill entertained us at Bloomsbury Baptist. Peterborough Chamber choir sang Howells and Mathias beautifully at Mass ably accompanied by Michael Butterfield. Like as the hart was gorgeous. Earth hour so dinner by candlelight including strawberries. Race around the world reaches China. 

Mass and stations at Virgo Fidelis. Lent group led by Revd Jonathan on sin. Nice to meet Ben Giddens at St Bride Fleet St. I was taken in by the Viscount digital! Great choices Bach, Demissieux, Langlais, Dupre and Tournemire. To Seen and heard Victorian children at Guildhall library. Millais and Tuke are masters. It is very difficult to paint a child's face. It strikes me that my Syrian migrants painting is like Don McCullin, trying to tug at the heart strings in the same way as portraying poor children can do. It is also important to tell the story truthfully. There are many working together to get off the crowded migrants boat in my picture but I have to ask why are they fleeing? Who caused this? Choir practice and no basses. Masterchef final. Nelson happy to join in an exhibition at Farm Street! 

Mass, art, South London interfaith group lunch and my first committee meeting. Good to catch up with Jon Dal Din. It seems the seminarians are hard work! We heard about Tooting community kitchen's great work. Went to Farm Street but the talk is next week! I did see Dominic and my paintings could go on display in the autumn! I tried the Ecco shoes and my big toe did not hurt so much but I had a fright when I missed the brake pedal! Masterchef finals.

Sunday enjoyed chatting to Peter and Edna Morgan from Basingstoke and he loves Parry I was glad and organ music. He worked in Dubai. Mass at the hotel hardly any singing then coffee. Another lovely day pity the pool was closed. Drove round North coast Rousse tower, Fort Pembroke, Fort le Marchant, Fort Doyle and marina. Earlswood garden centre for tea and lemon cake. Motorcross on beach. Very warm in our room hence a cough. Pizzas from the bar long wait but good. Watched Antiques roadshow, Blue planet live, Victoria. Monday breakfast with Peter and Edna. To Ladies bay and walked round Delaunay Park. Mass at noon for the Annunciation at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Polish priest. Interesting circular wooden altar and evangelists in wood like Steyning or Oberammergau. Guernsey museum to see photos Chimera. Cream tea and bought soapstone elephant and gifts. Priaulx library really old world.  Town church excellent Lenten stations, large organ with hidden console. M and S for salads. Fin...

Uber to East Croydon. Breakfast at Gatwick Avirgny flight delayed but arrived 11.30. Hertz car rep met us and the Ford Corsa is an upgrade. Did not really want this as it is wider than our Jazz and the roads are narrow with granite walls! 25 mph speed limit in towns. Drive to Hotel Peninsula comfortable, recently refurbished.To Guernsey museum to get Discovery Passes. Lovely park, birds singing, Spring flowers. Guernsey tapestry is lovely and good audioguide. Museum is good. Cake and ice cream at Cafe Victoria. Drive to the Rockmount but pricey so after walk on Cobo Bay beach delicious cod and chips. Lovely sunset from ridge above hotel overlooking the sea. Jim and Maureen Saunders on our place and 4 couples from Province 7. Watched Blackadder II. Friday good breakfast and slept right through. To German Occupation museum. The little roads are confusing and tiring. Very interesting and good videos. Keep meeting Catenians. To Fort Grey shipwreck museum great views over the sea and a R...

To Mass. Chat to Ann Lennox on Skype. Produced servers rota. Clare came for coffee. To Spiritual directors supervision group at Holy Trinity Clapham. Along with 2000 others St Paul's cathedral first evensong (Purcell Hear my prayer, a modern anthem. Sadly could not get a single word in the psalm!) then Rowan Williams who was slower and clearer. Good to see William Rhind, Brian Pearce, Ken, Alan, Ivor, Alan Rainer and Sally.

ToMass, Joe Fryday's funeral to follow Irish shirt on coffin and cup for ladies Gaelic events donated by him. Lunch with John East. Quiet time. We both went to West Norwood picturehouse to see "Whitecrow" which was excellent. BBC programme on Nureyev's defection.

Both to Mass. Cleaned the lounge carpet. Sent scans of Signposts. Many thanks to Nelson Ferreira for the fab Dior exhibition at V and A and such a lovely chat over coffee and lemon tart. Loved it. Excellent meeting with Revd Robert Reiss on death and assisted dying. An excellent and balanced conversation. Next time we need to talk about life after death. It was wonderful to have two Hindus with us. Then went on to Conversations in Croydon on preparing to die well which was fascinating and I now have copies of the pack. 

Both swam and Mass. Feast of St Joseph. Signed book of condolence at New Zealand house. The staff were really nice. Don McCullin's photographs at Tate Britain raise so many questions. Should war and famine be recorded? What about violent films? Don't they breed more violence? Images change minds and can lead to the end of wars. Similarly the huge donations in the face of famines. But why are root causes not addressed? New lady at quiet time who was in India for 5 years and did a lot of yoga. Antiques road show, Sewing bee, Bake off for cancer, Only connect. Sorted magazines. 

Lent 2 played Bach O man thy grievous sin bemoan and Franck Prelude and Fughetta. We sang Hear us O Lord to This is the truth from above tune. Good practice and started on Holy Week psalms. There were prayers for Christchurch and junior choir made cards to send to New Zealand. Henry came to play as they go to Ireland tomorrow for Joe's 80th. I actually fixed a new handle on the grill pan. To South London interfaith group AGM at Royal Trinity Hospice. Interesting video about Compassionate neighbours. I am to be coopted onto the committee. Rizwan gave me a lift to Hyderi mosque where there was a very heated debate about security and much else in the wake of the Christchurch tragedy.At Hyderi mosque last night a letter from their neighbours was read out. In its simplicity it said so much. A Jewish lady spoke movingly of why she had come to the meeting. To those who tried to disrupt the meeting and attack Zionism I say not all Jews are Zionists. Many Jews deplore Israeli actions. So ...

A good day. Servers mini retreat with Fr Andrew Gallagher. I took flowers and a card to the New Zealand memorial at Hyde Park Corner and a moving sight - people in tears. Meanwhile a huge demo against racism passed by. To the House of Illustration for the first time North of King's Cross. I liked the early work of Sister Corita Kent, Ludwig Bemelmans' nuns and Journeys drawn: illustration from the Refugee Crisis. All in all a very pleasing small gallery. I returned to the cathedral for an excellent servers training session with Paul Moynihan. Fr Daniel celebrated Mass and the choir from Woldingham school sang well.

We woke to horrendous news from Christchurch where 49 died at 2 mosques. Liz went to server Roger Burton's funeral at St Anselm Tooting Bec. He used to come to Westminster cathedral organ recitals. Philip from Salvation Army led an interesting Lent group discussion on the problem of evil at Virgo Fidelis. I saw Fr Clark and gave him new Catenian posters. To Science museum excellent exhibition on The Sun. Solar energy is the way forward. Lots of students about as there was a demo on climate change. The Design museum fascinating exhibition of architect Sir David Adjaye's projects. I cannot see what the objections to the UK holocaust memorial can be! Home futures is a puzzling exhibition some really wacky ideas. Would you live in a plastic bubble? Eric Chan played Bach and Liszt at the Royal College of Music. Plenty of drama in the Liszt, Great technique. Comic Relief on TV Liz went to choir. 

Both to Mass. Some good work on the painting thanks to much encouragement from Nelson Ferreira. To the Mandela exhibition which is terrific! Alas Liz could not come after all waiting for electrician.  We heard sparking but nobody turned up. Darren having lots of work done next door and the system is linked. Great film "Pope Francis - a man of his word" by Wim Wenders at St John's.

To Dulwich Catenians with Liz for Mass for deceased brothers and wives and very nice food. Fr Jim is very affable. They are very pleased I am to be a joint member.

Nelson Ferreira took me to see the superb Hilliard and Oliver miniatures at NPG. Thanks so much. St Matthew Westminster to hear Carl Jackson play. Royal Academy Renaissance nude. So a day of much beauty and encouragement.

Great celebrity bake-off and Great British sewing Bee both fun! Calendar for art galleries. 

Gareth Malone does it again! Lovely programme about a choir at the school next to Grenfell tower. Both to Mass. 2 hours assembling the kitchen for Henry's birthday. How I love the Swedes! Despite the rain we took him to Barnado's The Triangle softplay. Later delivered the kitchen and he loved it. Liz went to servers council. When I left he asked for Agga - so sweet! Watched race round world, Couple come dine with me and Teresa May loses Brexit vote again. 

To mosaic but Linda had forgotten keys so by the time the door key and then the cupboard key were retrieved I did about 25 minutes work and then got train to West Norwood and bus to surgery for Dr Ojo to remove stitches. Wound is good and covered for 2 more days. He chased referral about my feet to Bowley Close. Watched Antiques roadshow from Wrest Park. Post Office to send parcel to Jersey. To see the film Capernaum originally called Chaos in Arabic on recommendation of Barbara at mosaic class. Very moving and disturbing. How many similar children are in poverty on the streets of the world and in this country? Go and see it. It is good that children are given a voice. To meditation and 4 there. Found it hard to concentrate after such a disturbing film and Fr John's comment last night that there are families on the local estate in one room. 

High winds. 468 late but just got 407. Played Homage to Howells by Ronald Watson and De profundis Aus der tiefe Hendrick Andriessen. We sang Lent prose and All my hope on God is founded. Anne-Marie Garton preached on spring cleaning and Lenten promises. 6 weeks with no alcohol....Superb singing on radio 3 from St John's college Cambridge and the second reading was riveting! Disturbing BBC news item on poaching of Botswana's elephants. Evensong Thou knowest Lord Purcell and Harris in A not his best setting. Great playing by Eleni Keventsidou at Christ's Chapel Dulwich and a good audience enjoyed the eats afterwards. It has been a good start to Lent with quiet reflection on Ash Wednesday and a moving funeral on Thursday.It strikes me that the outside world seldom sees the church at its best when a community is united in grief and joy at the loss of a beloved brother and friend. The media seldom portrays this. All they see are the faults. And that is not to deny the fa...

Hymn society regional day at All Saints West Dulwich. John Ainslie on Catholic hymnody, Gordon Giles on English Hymnal, Janet Wootton on Billy Graham, Nicholas Markwell on How great thou art. Henry's second birthday party Postman Pat theme - it was packed. Escorted the blind lady to the cathedral and saw John East who has cancer of the liver and is very frail. Mass with Fr Michael. Alexander in tears at communion - legs hurting. Second week Fr Daniel has been called although this was not an incident.  Henry's second birthday party Postman Pat theme

The lady who conducted the gospel choir at the royal wedding was on my bus at Clapham common so we had a short chat! 

Drive to Crayford for the moving funeral of Catenian Brian McKie. Church packed and he was a stalwart and great example to all. Always cheerful. Bernice his wife is a special minister as he was and I found it so right to receive the chalice from her. We are the Body of Christ United in joy and sorrow. So sad that their daughter died and Brian remained faithful to the end. Much discussion over tea about conference and our motions which I think we will withdraw. Home to change and then to see Clare and a great chat. To Whitechapel gallery for tea and saw some modern art and a film about the French ambassador's wife in Burkina Faso. To Greatorex St to see beautiful icons by Nelson Ferreira and a lovely chat to Christopher Lane. To Acton. Ciaran was great at assembly with his new haircut and playing the drum. To Wimpole Street for introduction to clinical trials re Alzheimer's. I might have the right genes to take part. Patrick Hopper played an unusual programme at St Stephen Wal...

Mass at Anerley and a good turnout, coffee, quiet day on the gift of faith with Antonio Benet. Have read a lot of Jane Williams' The merciful humility of God. To Caterham for 7.30 sung Eucharist. We sang Miserere of Sweelinck and I played Willan and Peeters on Aberystwyth. What a fine tune that is! Just caught train home which saved me a half hour wait! Watched pensioners in Mexico. 

Took Henry to music gems at the Salvation Army and he loved it. Then to Crystal Palace park playground, bacon butties and the dinosaurs. To quiet hour and Liz went to Lourdes Mass in the cathedral crypt. Caught up on Antiques roadshow, Only connect, University challenge and Couples come dine with me. Sewing bee. We had American fluffy pancakes. 

Mosaic, St Michael Cornhill where Jeremiah Stephenson stepped in at short notice for Samuel Ali and was most impressive in Buxtehude and Eben and at last a new Orgelbuchlein project piece I liked. Then to 2 Temple Place for the lovely free John Ruskin power of seeing exhibition. Dennis took me to Catenians.  

Miserable weather. I played part of Franck Choral No. 3. The children read well. Amused by Fr Jerry's talk on Mary's selfies. It was not a great day as had to change shoes to go to hall for choir practice and seemed to run out of time. I had been pleased with the Franck but only got to pay about 3 pages of it! Liz had a badly cut flat tire just after leaving church this morning. Called the breakdown who were quick and helpful. Fine but then they found there was no spare. We've only had the car about seven months and had absolutely no idea about this. I have complained as we were certainly not informed of this. Luckily I was taken home after leaving the car at a tire place as our normal one and others being shut on Sundays. Dennis brought me home from the station. I checked the oven and then walked down to near the tire place with credit cards. Wet and windy. Lovely chicken with orange, turmeric and fennel for lunch. Worked on jigsaw. At evensong we sang And the glory of th...

An interesting day.Coffee concert at St John's with the Dunn family - Kodaly Duo Op. 7 and gorgeous Ravel with the harp. I did not sketch as the playing was riveting! To Bethlem for Dr Peter Tyler on Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross on melancholia - fascinating. Tea at the Toby. Fr Andrew at Mass and Victoria choir sang well- Archer and Langlais. There was a small accident before Mass and Fr Daniel recorded it. More work on jigsaw sky -slow going! 

Liz was not well so did not go to the opera. Electrician came and fixed kitchen switch and outside light. Suggested renewing smoke alarms.  Fish and chips at breadline cafe At Akhnaten at ENO amazing spectacle. Nearly dropped off at end of Act 2. The bells seem a bit out of place in ancient Egypt. Still a great achievement. To Acton and in bed by 11.45. Friday to Sean's assembly. It was cute. They sang about the yellow machine! To Dr Ojo and at last mole removed from right forearm. No swimming or showers for a week! Decided not to go and do guiding. Choir practice and a new tenor joined. Max seemed relaxed and pleased about 12 juniors. Work on jigsaw - bridge done and river so now it is the sky!