The organist librarian

AgeUK art group enjoyed the exhibition and art in Farm Street church. Mass at the cathedral. Catholic Times half a page on Journeys in hope. We both enjoyed David Copperfield at West Norwood Picturehouse some delightful performances. Took Liz to maths after dinner and she goes to Acton for 2 nights.Thursday the day of the auction swim, art, interfaith lunch and commitee. Phil not doing a good job as chair. He brought Ivor to see the show. Not as many came as expected but we still sold nearly all the pictures. 3 of mine came home. £6000! Nelson 2 portraits. Jennifer Scott was lovely and said the work is beautiful!  Met Alex Roch at Farm Street and we watched videos from last night. Took glasses back to Majestic and pictures to the cathedral. Fr Daniel and Fr Andrew Gallagher had been to the exhibition. Mass and a quick look at the Tents of meeting. Tom Hanks for an Oscar. A beautiful day in the neighborhood made me laugh and cry. If you ever worried about being a son and ...

Swam, to David Warner's funeral at Addiscombe. A packed church, unimpressed by organist's choices far too sad. A hint of the f word in the eulogy and two mentions of bodily functions. Everybody so friendly nice to see Fr Dennis and Gill Beach. Liz sang at Frank Lum's funeral. Quiet time. To Dulwich gallery for opening of Journeys. Jennifer Scott excited about the auction. Saw Rembrandt's light again and the community creators were good. Took part in a gallery conversation. Watched pottery throw down.

Swam, finished Van Gogh mosaic, St Michael Cornhill recital which was a popular programme, to Forest Hill to see Ros. Westminster city hall Holocaust memorial day. Lots of RCs there a superb male voice choir from New West London synagogue Bayswater, 3 speakers including Nick Ross and a holocaust survivor but it was such a long stand! My knees were unhappy. I gave out a lot of leaflets about the auction.

To the panto Cinderella at St John's - very well done. I have not mentioned the incident after the match on Tuesday night. We heard glass smash and looked out and saw a bottle on the ground. It was only on Wed when returning from swimming that I saw the top left hand pane of the porch had been smashed. The outer skin had held. I removed the redundant display unit from the porch and the big stones from the front garden. Police support officer came in the afternoon and we marked valuable items. She said teenagers had slashed tyres so maybe the tyre I had to replace was not age! It is all very odd - why break that window? It seems the notices emails did not go last Sunday.

Planning meeting for auction. I now have a better idea of how charities operate. To St Dunstan in the West. Hamish Wagstaff from Sydney lots of noises off and the organ itself not in tune or very impressive! Dupre, JSB, Buxtehude, Franck, Howells. 4 hotels including Claridges took the exhibition leaflets. To St Paul's for vespers sung by Westminster cathedral choir. Palestrina. Langlais Fetes.Took Henry swimming - he loves it. Drawing, Thomas the tank and Night Garden. I missed Hurtado and Bloomsbury organ day.Oratory chamber choir sang Haydn and Elgar at Mass, confirmation candidates, appeal for the Passage, kids hyper. Fr Andrew. The week of prayer for Christian unity has just ended. Did your parish take part? I went to 3 events but only at the Coptic church were there specific prayers for unity! At the Masses I have attended this week only once was it even mentioned!!! Interfaith has taken over. But we do need to work and pray for unity. Revd Sara Goetscher had an interest...

Swim, Mass at Thornton Heath nice to see Clare , art just drawing and setting up visit on Wed to exhibition. At the Baglioni Hotel which used to be the De Vere where we had our wedding reception. Delightful Italian high tea with chocolate Baglioni tea and chocolate treats. Liz had rose tea. Prosecco. Delightful recording at St Paul's Knightsbridge by  the BBC singers with Richard Pearce of German romantic music. The highlight was the Schubert. Attractive Clara Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Great to chat to Paddy Russill and Robin Martin.

Thinking about A hidden life and St Agnes martyred at 12. How far would one be prepared to go for the Faith? What about family and home? Thomas Becket as so many others faced this dilemma. We are now in a world of right wing leaders enforcing their will. Be ready to suffer for the Faith. Henry came and was good as gold. Liz came back from Newcastle. St Paul's sang evensong at the cathedral. 22 boys! Howells in B minor and Rhapsody no. 3. MacMillan Christus vincit. St Mark's Coptic Church for Kensington unity service Good turnout. Archbishop Angelaos very welcoming and the deacons sang well. Good sermon by Revd Emma Dinwiddy Smith vicar of St Mary Abbots. Gave out all my leaflets about the exhibition. Wed Swim, Mass at Addiscombe and good chat to Fr Keith about Catenians, coffee and rock cakes . Won an icon. Long chat to Agnes. To Mount Street for Henry Wansborough on New Jerusalem Bible and Nicholas King was there. Met some nice people who liked the art. Took leaflets to Conn...

Led with Nim second day of SPIDIR refresher course. It went well but quite a few missing. 10 came.o Hackney picturehouse delicious cod and chips! A hidden life is a truly remarkable film great acting, photography, scenery, music. Franz Jaegerstatter refused to swear to support Hitler when called up. He was mistreated and condemned to death. Pity they did not say his widow was present when he was beatified by the Church which tried to dissuade him!

Angela Tilby led day of prayer at St Margaret's on Seeking the face of God. Wonderful talks. Had lunch at Methodist Central Hall. Had the shrine to myself!!!! Evensong Noble in B minor and favourite anthem Wesley Ascribe unto the Lord. The boys were great not so sure about some of the men. The B team? Harwood sonata movement. Had a look in the new Waterstones near Victoria. It's huge. Bishop Paul confirmation. His Irish accent is so think I did not understand his homily at all. He filled the chalice so Aymeric and I had to drink it! Patrick seemed confused! Fr John helped out.  To fit the gospel played Bach O lamm Gott unschuldig and Handel Behold the lamb of God. We sang Webbe Lamb of God. Full marks to Imogen who had been to see the exhibition. She found it too sad to bid! Reached Caterham station in time and tried to get on train. Turns out front 4 coaches only. Furious with 2 staff more concerned with waving the train out. They could have made it wait. Why long trains on...

Swam, mass at Addiscombe, Ensemble concert at St John's lovely violin Ellie Fagg and pianist Eleanor Meynell playing Schubert, Massenet and Beethoven. Did a sketch. National gallery young Bomberg and old masters. Cass art sale got frames and sketchbook. Tom, Louise and the boys were impressed by the exhibition and we enjoyed Wagamama.

Planning next pictures at art. Sketched Henry. 5 of the art group will visit Journeys in hope on the 29th. Liz on way to Newcastle. Father Brown enjoyable.Copying sheets for the refresher day on Monday. Quite a bit of babysitting coming up! Couples come dine with me was fun! Press release for the exhibition. Listened to Rowan Williams on Staging the sacrifice talk for Arts and Christianity which I have now joined.

Back to the pool after a long gap. Henry painted 4 pictures, had is on a bear hunt complete with hats, rucksack and umbrellas and watched Tiger came to tea. I insisted he held my hand to cross the road to the car. He is inclined to say No and change the subject. A delightful afternoon showing Meryl the exhibition and Farm St. She met Pauline and Fr Dominic. We had tea at Royal Academy and a great chat. Weather horrid. Liz at council. watched Peter Ball, pottery throwdown, Keeler part 3. Twitter to media.

Mosaic nearly done. They enjoyed Irish Christmas cake and I gave out the rest at St Michael Cornhill where Johnnie Allsop played Bach Passacaglia, Byrd, Widor, Schmidt and Tournemire.  Tate Modern Dora Maar good but unimpressed by Walker fountain. Storm. Prince Harry and Meghan pulling back from royal duties. Call the midwife, only connect, university challenge, shocking programme on Peter Ball Bishop of Gloucester. A bid for the Lourdes picture!

To Fairfield Hall on bus. In the foyer we heard 23 young cellists and they did well. A good audience. We saw Angela, Joy and Geoff, Nula and Jenny. Lmp conducted by Jaime Martin with much flair. Mozart Paris symphony, Ravel Pavane for a dead infant a and Bizet Symphony 1. Sheku was stunning SaintSaens 1 and the Swan with one of the cellists which was a delight. We paid 21.50 and it was worth every penny. So glad the acoustics are still so fine. Amazed to see the seats have not been redone! 

A day hoovering and cleared up my prayer drawer, Bruce's room and started chucking out papers I had kept. Fr Andrew asked about the exhibition. Thibault did well as thurifer. The repair shop features Simon Moore repairing an egg. Fish and chips and rose. T 

We both went to Milleret house. How strange to see Heythrop labelled as mothballed! Fr Michael Holman led the day. He was great. Good lunch and mild weather. Mass in chapel. Great to see Rita and Gillian and the nuns. Liz went to see Little women and I carried on taking decorations down.  Harry and Meghan pulling back. Friday to mass and got petrol. Tree down and put away. Dentist one filing new back tyre fitted. Mick came. Couples come done with me. Choir.  Father Brown 

Woke early again. To Mount St. The direction signs in the A4 frames were gone! Glasses back to Majestic. Checked cellar for catalogues and elderflower. Picked up Henry and he loved the little ladder and staking decorations off the big tree. On bed and slept. I was exhausted. Did not go to quiet time or Chris Town's recordings. Louise set up a website! Martin Baker resigned which is so sad. Sent catalogues to Jennifer and Joanna Moorehead they are just right. Income last night was great nearly covered our costs.two of the bids are large! Finished reading A vintage summer. Gareth Malone does it again in prison.

Monday 6th a day to remember! Woke at 1 and dozed. Got to Vaughan House at 10.15 and Alex was there. Into a taxi and reached 114 Mount St quickly. Adrian was working on the lighting. Sebastian worked so hard all day fixing up the box and hanging the work. The lights made all the difference. I had left one card at home so Liz copied it.Henry was there and unimpressed that Grandad John was not there. Alex did a great job. Nelson arrived from Lisbon and Pauline and Mike helped too. By 3 all were up and it looked fab. Theresa came later. Norah's was the last picture to come. Louise brought the refreshments and got salads for supper. Caroline and Catharine from ACN worked hard on prosecco. 18 bottles drunk. At 6 people started coming.over 100 lots of Nelson's students and friends, folk from Lourdes and friends. Mike Quirke came. Jennifer Scott agreed to come to one the auction instead. Dominic gave a great welcome and I spoke to a full hall. 3 people registered to bid. 40 on even...

Sat vespers and Mass with Fr Daniel and most of the servers. Callum improvised on How brightly shines and I played Buxtehude and Gave on Sunday. Peregrine sang 3 kings beautifully. Evensong Gibbons and Rose Lord's prayer. Call the midwife and Christine Ke eler excellent.

Tim Posner and Sophia Rahman played superbly at St John's coffee concert and a good audience too! Romantic Schumann Fantasiestucke and Romances and Beethoven cello sonata - such expressive playing! This has to be the best Saturday concert I have been to at St John's! Printed labels fro the exhibition. Vespers with incense and Mass for Epiphany with Fr Daniel. We sang As with gladness and Bethlehem of noblest cities.

To Farm Street and put up posters at library. Put up poster sin the church - they had 4 and the exhibition is not in the newsletter. Unimpressed! Nowadays it is rather hard to know who the staff are! To St Michael Bedford Park 26 there. Ben Giddens played Daquin and Buxtehude. Dupre and Durufle bearable but not the Messiaen! Nice to see the decorated church and the cymbalstern in use. Quiet afternoon welcoming at cathedral. Oremus has articles on Colin Mawby and Sir Stephen Cleobury. Quiet afternoon welcoming at cathedral. Oremus has articles on Colin Mawby and Sir Stephen Cleobury. Leeds won Christmas university challenge, Only connect and programme on Hawaii. 

To National Maritime museum to see the Moon exhibition. I think we have made such a mess of the Earth that we should leave the moon alone. I recognised the man on the door -  a singer in Simon's choir and we met in Costa Caterham! Watched Repair shop and couples come dine with me. The Tablet did not include details of the exhibition despite encouraging noises from Joanna! Great programmes on wildlife of Madagascar and Borneo.

The two programmes on releasing lynxes into the wild were interesting. With Dennis to see Dr Ojo and get a referral to Dr Shaw following the MRI scan.Terrific concert from Berlin Phil with Kirill Petrenko and the stunning Diana Damrau. Gershwin, Bernstein, Weill, Sondheim, Arlen, Waxman, Loewe. This lady can do everything from Send in the clowns to Over the rainbow. If your necklace comes off scoop it up and down the bosom and laugh!In Acton so Lou and Tom could enjoy party at Station House, salmon, chocolate tart and prosecco. Tv pretty dire Dame Edna and Norton but fireworks were impressive Heard some locally. Put up 10 new calendars and watched Romeo and Juliet ballet and Vienna New Year concert. Wrote SLIFG minutes. Contacted art listing sites and radio stations about the exhibition. So pleased with the art exhibition catalogue! Looks fab. Watched festive bake off and animals in the snow.