The organist librarian

To Aylesford to put up 4 Catenian banners and leaflets and Bursary Fund posters given to teachers. Mgr Matthew presided. Lunch and Mass 25 Kent Catholic schools about 1000 there. Mike Reidy helped. To Emmetts garden for cream tea. Liz took Henry to play. Watched Couples come dine with me and Easyjet programmes.

Took minutes at SPIDIR AGM and a most interesting talk on unconscious bias in spiritual accompaniment by Chris Chapman. To Tate Modern to see Natalia Goncharova lots of colour and last room about her ballet designs is great! Did not go to Beckenham circle. Watched North Yorkshire Moors railway programmes and walk in Cornwall. 

Some of the parish are in Walsingham so Archdeacon Moira presided. We sang Bread of the world and I played Andrew Moore on Aurelia (dedicated to me) and John Bertalot on Repton (dedicated to Martin How because he went to school at Repton). I also played a piece discovered this week Prayer by Rene Vierne. Special trip to Croydon Minster for the flower festival it being Birth of John the Baptist tomorrow their patron. A bit disappointing. Nothing outside about it! So people just walking past unaware! Evensong Dyson and Nardone A new commandment. Antiques roadshow and Equator from the air. Did servers rota and typed up John East's conversion story. 

To diaconate ordination by the Cardinal. We know 3 out of the 5! William Lo, Ian Coleman and Wayne Oreilly. To Battersea Park peace pagoda. It was nice to be recognised by Revd Anand and the local councillor! Corpus Christi vespers and Mass with a full complement of servers.Cardiff singer of the world came to a triumphant conclusion. The Ukranian baritone won but they were all fab specially the tenor and Gaudaloupe who was so moving. 

To Mass at Anerley. Croydon Minster where Adam Field stood in for Tom Little. His Langlais Te Deum was excellent and we had Bach and Lefebre-Wely and alas Messiaen. Good to see Jonathan Vaughn's father who tells me Jonathan's recital there in July is the first since the organ was restored. More reminiscences of John East have come in. Liz working in garden. Sorted shelves and changed quilt to summer one. Watched Cambodia canals and Effie Gray film. More Cardiff singer of the world. Sad that Max Smith has resigned. 

Philip Luke played an engaging programme at the Welsh Baptist Church. I found the Cartoon museum closed until July 1 so went to the National gallery to see the amazing Spanish Renaissance paintings by Bartlomeo Boneja. Take one picture is work by children inspired by the Joseph Wright picture of an experiment with a bird. Pity the original is not on display. Buses on diversion because of a demo and no indication of where to catch a 24 so got underground. Jeremy Rodell on secularism excellent talk and discussion at Westminster cathedral interfaith group. Benjy Bloor really is an outstanding player. Larger chorales from Clavierubung 111 at the Oratory. Thursday St Alban. To art and started a new painting having chosen a subject! To Dulwich picture gallery - the pavilion is up, Pissarro in Dulwich consists of one painting! Cutting edge: British modernist printmaking is excellent and fun! I sketched a remarkable print by Cyril Power Monseigneur St Thomas - the martyrdom of ...

To Caterham to play for funeral all went well until the exit music which was the Birdie song but I couldn't hear it. Amanda had requested nobody see her leave so everyone stayed in church and I played Jesu joy and Moore Berceuse. We sang Eternal father, In the bleak midwinter and Love divine. Henry came from 1 to 3. He brought a mug and pen for me. Got annoyed with Dennis. Quiet time was not restful. Sorted out cruise trips. Cardiff singer of the world round 2. Had hiccups and burps during dinner. 

Good progress on mosaic. David Pipe played well at Southwark cathedral. Buxtehude and Mendelssohn. Not so keen on Bonaventure, Huw Morgan and Landemann. The latter was spoilt by an older man leaving a case next to me and wandering off. I pointed out to him on his return that this was hardly sensible and it might have contained a bomb. He retorted that my bag was on the seat beside me to which I replied I can move it but the whole point is that you are not with your bag. To St Chad's hall to see plans for Norwood Junction and East Croydon improvements - 4 years wait.Signposts took place this evening at the Polish church South Norwood. It was a great opportunity to find out about the Society of St Joseph and the 4 Catenians present spoke about the association to the Polish men. One has indicated he would come to a meeting but not just yet. The coffee and homemade cakes were delicious!

I  managed to get I bind unto myself wrong despite rehearsing with the choir! The print instruction in AMR is small. You have to go back to the start of the tune for verse 2 so we started again with verse 2! Jerry Garton preached on this hymn and we had prayers for RSCM Music Sunday. I played Willan on Nicaea and Alec Wyton March St Patrick's breastplate and we sang Schubert Holy, Holy, Holy. Sorted out the garden hose. Enjoyed Equator from the air and Antiques roadshow. All 3 children rang for Father's day and the boys did a great drawing in my card. Wrote the obituary for John East then Nick Kenyon sent a lovely tribute. Evensong was very simple Morley and Schubert (but actually not the Trinity text. Fr Daniel liked the Jeremy Davies leaflet and will pass it on to Berni. Roast lamb and red wine for dinner and avocados and apricot. Cardiff Singer of the world round 1 terrific tenor and NZ baritone. 

To 10.30 a.m. ordination of 3 deacons. The music was indeed splendid. Howells, MacMillan, Byrd. Well done David Knight, Adam Dora and Axel. Lovely singing by the Frideswide girls choir from Oxford at St Matthew Westminster. Particularly liked the Robinson canticles and RVW The call. For once the judges of BP portrait award got it right although I liked Resting red headed girl with dog. Robert Seidel last year's travel award winner produced some fine work. The choir of St Matthew Westminster directed by Nigel Groome were excellent at cathedral Mass for Trinity Sunday - Caesar, Britten and Tchaikovsky.

I went to Mass this morning at Addiscombe and Signposts posters are up and it will be in the newsletter this weekend. The new priest from Kerala kept on about die-vorce and sex and told us to close our eyes and pray! Delivered posters to St Chad's and Holy Innocents. Lovely lunch with John Hallmark who was a Wandsworth councillor for 16 years. He was deselected and despite the wheelchair is a governor of school and hospital. He is RC. The person next to us prayed for John! Loved the Leonardo drawings at the Queen's Gallery and the loop audio is excellent. Why can't other galleries provide this? At Somerset House a display by Saturday children's art groups from across the UK and photos and videos of immigrants. A first visit to St Mary Le Strand for evensong sung by King's college London with Michael Butterfield playing a Viscount. Lovely anthem by Philip Moore Sancte et sapienter. Why are Charles 1 and his queen not on the wall? St Matthew Westminster for a beautif...

Mass at St Andrew Thornton Heath and met the new parish priest chatted about Catenians (there are none in the parish) and Signposts. He quite rightly pointed out that both are gender specific which no longer washes. To art and finished 2 paintings for the charity auction. Festival of music and liturgy at St Matthew Westminster launched by Canon Jeremy Davies' inspiring lecture on priesthood. I have the notes let me know if interested. All priests should read this! Lovely singing by the Westminster cathedral Boys at vespers at St Matthew Westminster Martin Baker directing. Simon Earl from Christchurch priory played an interesting recital at St John's including Bairstow, Howells, JSB, Widor, Bedard, Saint-Saens and Dupre. I met Baroness Williams and the organiser of Thy Kingdom come for the Archbishop of Canterbury on the 507 bus!

Drove to Arundel cathedral to play the fine Hill organ - the staff were very friendly. Cod and chips at St Mary's Gate Inn. The dog did it's best to get some.I think they may be a cricket match? Rain stopped play and it meant a miserable drive home on a packed M23. To the Grand Lodge for recital by Henry Fairs a large audience and splendid sound. Great we could see his hands, feet and talking to us. 3 cameras I presume. I liked the Florentz and Vierne. Rachmaninoff, Elgar and Schumann and Whitlock Fanfare. When we visit in September must bring romantic music. What a grand place! Liz went with Bruce to oils presentation. 

The funeral of John Michael East at St Etheldreda's was beautiful with 3 male cantors singing the Latin requiem plainchant. Fr Tom sang the Mass in Latin. 29 present including many old and new friends. Enjoyable reception in the crypt. There were 3 Old Johannians present and 3 directors of music at St Etheldreda's. The Society of St Gregory, Latin Mass society and Monastic musicians were also well represented. We both went to the Royal Academy. Phyllida Barlow did not impress and as usual the Summer exhibition was a hotch potch! Liked the elephants and one or two paintings and prints. The architecture section was very interesting. Mali Morris RA had a small colourful display of works on paper. Ate at Itsu. Liz took robes back to the cathedral, went to servers council and dropped her Freedom pass. I went to an excellent lecture on the architecture of British mosques and I met 2 Muslim ladies one of whom asked a question about involving youth in planning mosques. Cambridge mosqu...

Mosaic and good progress. Southwark cathedral and a pleasure to meet Philip Moore. His Fanfare a maris was composed for Portsmouth cathedral and very effective it is too! We will all miss Peter Wright. Good to see Stephen Disley. I found the icons. The one in the Harvard Chapel is lovely not so keen on Paul Chateney's work.To see Ros. She was a bit dismissive I felt. Had tea at Costa Farringdon. Had to buy a new umbrella as mine broke and it rained all day. John East's body received into St Etheldreda's which looked lovely with tea lights and stained glass. Fr Paul Gilham said the Latin Mass extraordinary rite. Chris from the cathedral was there and a member of the LMS. Roger served and we met Fr Tom. It seems the church records were burnt by a predecessor! Liz forgot the sheets and reading for Patricia and then left car keys with cottas in sacristy. I was not pleased. 

Pentecost. I played Bach, Wyton, Pachelbel and John Cook on Veni creator. We sang the sequence Holy Spirit Lord of light. Jerry blessed icons of Michael and John so my 3 are now coming home. Server John taken ill and went to hospital. Enjoyed the BBQ at St John's and the family were there too. A rare chance to chat to Max Smith. Liz made a delicious pavlova and there was lemon meringue pie too. At evensong we sang Brewer in D and Tallis O Lord give thy Holy Spirit. Needed a beer after that! Antiques roadshow and canal journeys in Vietnam.

34th Westminster interfaith peace walk and a pleasure to meet Eric and Michael Barnes who were there in the 80s. The Thai Buddhist temple lovely and the Ahmadiyya mosque at Morden one of the largest in Western Europe huge dome. I tried the Design museum but the Kubrick exhibition was sold out for the day so enjoyed cake and tea at Cafe Tarte. Met Ciaran from St Andrew's Thornton Heath who was serving at the huge Marriage Mass. Saw Roger. Showed Michael how to serve Vespers and he did really well. Fr Daniel celebrated and the Victoria choir sang. Blessing of married couples at the end. Home to have pizza and red wine -it was lovely that Louise brought them to the mosque and a pity that they saw so little (too much talking at us). Watched Trooping repeat and part of D-Day celebrations. 

To Bedford Park for start of the festival. Oxbridge organ duo were fun. Ad Wammes worked well, the Wesley was a bit too long. Briggs on Veni creator Welcoming at cathedral and met 2 nice Americans and new shop manager. She is keen to produce children's guides. To Tate Britain to see Frank Bowling. Artists who pour paint on canvases do not impress. The photos and films by Joanna Pietrowska are wierd. A film of a hand stroking another arm and hand felt repulsive where it should be a tender gesture! Choir practice Tallis too slow and such a strain. Alan complained of loud singing from the tenors and David is loud but it was Brewer in D with top Gs! Louise and the boys arrived. Finished printing the memoir of John East and the prayers for Liz. Sir Stephen Cleobury and Sir Simon Russell Beale! 

Catenian banners for province 7 sorted. Art and pictures nearly finished. Mind body spirit started late but it was good. Memoir and funeral order of service for John East ready to print. Went to the Temple church to find Thomas Trotter played last night so Holst Singers under Stephen Layton as compensation. Byrd and Bruckner much beautiful soft and full singing. Entrance to Temple closed so had to go back on my tracks and no loos at the church! 

I went to the pool but had to get out as my left forearm was hurting again. The sauna helped a bit. I tripped on Sunday on steps and I may have sprained it as I went forward. Delivered Catenian and Signposts stuff to St Andrew Thornton Heath. Cathedral quiet day with Michael Dorey on Pentecost. To John East's flat to see Patricia. Cardinal Bea lecture at Sisters of Sion was excellent. Fr Peter Cullen and Debbie Weismann chaired by Canon John O'Toole.

Henry came and played. To quiet time. Worked on Catenian Facebook site for Dulwich Catenians and invites to Signposts. Interesting programme on modern Indian music and the Mughals. Bake off professionals. Started reading about Iceland. 

Mosaic and only 2 of us. Sang at funeral at St John's. I do think if a choir is requested 3 hymns and a psalm which could be sung by a cantor is a bit thin. We could have sung a Nunc dimittis? She was blind and we sang "He gave us eyes to see them". To see Clare and a long chat. Adrian Rownicki and Marius Twomey came to Norwood circle to support the Signposts launch on June 17th and it went very well. Long chat to Willie Britto.

We sang Alan Smith's Like the murmur and I played Bach variations on Christ lag and Alan Ridout on This joyful Eastertide. Excellent Fr Richard Peers from Liverpool talked to the children about icons and taught everyone the Jesus prayer. To St Paul's to hear Joan Taylor speak on "What did Jesus look like?" Certainly middle-Eastern, scruffy and unkempt (says Origen) not the perfect robes of a white English Jesus which we have imposed on other cultures! Songs of Praise junior and senior choirs - sack the judges! Why no judge with choral experience? Tring Park are NOT a choir. I liked the Bax choir. Well done Francis Holland - lovely tone. At evensong Stanford in B flat and Attwood. Heard end of Chopin concert. Still no change in dynamics from Max. Interfaith iftar at Hyderi I was dropping off - the ladies spoke well. Julian Bond was there. I slipped on station steps and sprained my left elbow. 

Delightful playing from the Sylvan Road wind ensemble at St John's - Faure, Warlock, Beach and Taffanel. Sunny and hot garden clearing up. The Cardinal celebrated Mass for new Catholics. Tim fussing around. Programme on Marianne North painter of flowers. Antibiotics.