The organist librarian

 Only connect, fell asleep during University challenge! Programme on the Press and the Princes.  Tuesday.  We now have a disabled parking space outside our house which will make life so much easier especially on match days! Alleluia! Liz went to physio at Guys today and saw Fr Jake the chaplain after her routine blood test. She doesn't go back until February! I swam 20 lengths and had a chat with the Essex interfaith group. Quiet time on zoom. I dropped off listening to Lord Bird giving the Craigmyle lecture from Farm Street church. If I wanted his life story I can read his autobiography! He never got to the subject of his lecture and repeated himself. A recent experience with Bark. It is worth knowing that every conversation and email may be charged for ar a rate of £35 an hour. This was NOT made clear by the professional. Even sorting out the dispute was charged for! That contract was terminated. By contrast I gave Jack Lau an excellent review. He worked very hard and c...

 Henry came and drew some stars and we got the Advent boxes ready. He is an angel in the Nativity. Guys urology rang and pleased with my results. The medication will continue. Balham Catenian  .  .discusssion.Checked proofs of Dad's music. Wrote minutes of Colette's meeting. 

 SM, S. Huge relief to resign as chair. Bruce sent a pompous email in which he did not apologise to me. Others are more sympathetic including Harriet! Now the process begins of handing everything over including the wretched tree planting business which has given me much grief.  The boiler was serviced, the shower fixed and the 2 leaks in kitchen and bathroom fixed! Also thermostat must be on manual not automatic!! Arthur Pallecaros playing Jongen and Ibert at Gonville and Caius. Sarah wants me to change my resignation letter but I sent her the email where she spoke of bullying and manipulating so I am not changing it. Brian Pearce hopes I will return! Gave Jack a really good review but I cannot give Julian a bad one at the moment! Very good meeting Colette's group and I took notes. Put shopping away and Dennis came. Birdbath frozen solid when I went out for my walk and it's cold! 

 It now emerges that Sarah has not been reading my emails so no wonder there is confusion. A first aider had to be found in time and Sarah got a teacher from another school. Swam 21. Excellent but tiring work with Jack on the video which is in a presentable state. Have closed the bookings. Southwark LSI group was good.  Thought we smelled gas - it was from cooking cabbage, Mark Nash already answered a question!  Saturday slept through to 8.45 after waking at 6. Hurtado on Advent was good, The Baruch was new to me "put off the dress of sorrow and distress" very appropriate. There was an angry reaction from Rizwan and Sarah about the timed programme which was a draft and Jack asked for it. They can do what they like as long as my 2 videos get shown. I did get an apology of sorts. That draft programme has been knocking around for weeks so how come Rizwan never commented before?? Because he did not read it?  I sent through the final list - Phil just added somebody. I did...

 B. Rosenkavalier from Garsington. The interfaith session Lifting the Lid went really well. I spoke about John East. A very rich experience. Strictly. I was at the closing session too and dipped into a couple of discussions. It's been amazing!  Monday what a day! Swam 20. Worked steadily with Jack on the history video but it is very slow adding photos and editing. Colette's meeting at 1 was good and heard about Saturday's Southwark J and P. The committee meeting decided to go ahead with Nov 28th. Rizwan spoke far too much and basically dominated Prem who was in the chair. I dissented with Balbir. I have changed Eventbrite and dealt with emails. Let's hope that is the end of it. I don't think we have the people to deliver this and a hybrid zoom as well. The ACTA meeting was interesting. Jack's bill has gone right up. Finished with Julian and he did apologise to me. University challenge, Masterchef. Tired!  Up early and emailed Prem who wrote back that the only re...

 Up to swim 20. Balbir sends email wanting to put forward more proposals. Bruce sends a stupid message saying he is willing to check people in but not require any form of testing for COVID so what's the point? I have asked Prem to chair Monday's meeting and he will have the casting vote. I have indicated I may resign. It's all too much. I never want to see or speak to Rizwan again. I went to dentist and the hygeniest did a thorough job for £50. It seems the new denture has lead to some inflammation on adjacent teeth but it shoud settle down in a week. To Rambling Roses happy to refund me but I needed Liz's card. I went back and it seems their payments had not gone through so a further delay. I don't understand this as it is over a week. Later Tony came to the door and offered a cash refund but I said we would phone on Monday. Lifting the lid on death and dying started online. I was shocked to find that I had not read my normal meditations on the daily gospel for 2 w...

  Thinking about music and what a comfort it is!! Nazareth Community walk with Catherine in St John's Wood - been there quite a lot over the years and sharing the music we all love. WMUK summit with the wonderful Prof De'Sa. To St John's for a superb recital of Russian cello music by Constantin Macherel and Frederic Bager. The Shostakovich cello sonata so moving and consoling. Real attack in the Schnittke even stamping his foot and so difficult. Prokofiev sonata exciting! Bravo!! It took my mind off the stress of the last few days and nights. B. Great family meal and birthday cake for Liz. Photos removed at Dennis's request. Watched Lord Mayor's show and Royal British Legion festival of remembrance. Had such a nice chat to Ciaran. He has settled well at Gunnersbury school. He draws well and did his homework. Remembrance Sunday up early. Steve came to practise the trumpet and organ sections. He was not on good form and several fluffs. I told him there is no christing...

 Monday SM, S and B. To Crystal Palace to post calendars - far too expensive. Got steradent at chemist. Paul came for lunch and was here for 4 hours. Good to hear young servers are keen to restart but we must all wait until everything is in place. Fine with that. It was an enjoyable afternoon and I took him to the station. Only connect, University challenge.  Tuesday the whole cake thing blew up a storm thanks to Rizwan and Sarah reacted badly. Tried to find a compromise! Why people can't do what they were asked and what was agreed is beyond me. LMP chat was lovely and the viola and concert agent told us a lot about their world. Tried a bit of COP26 webinar. Also a bit of Cambridge lecture which was dull. Quiet time was certainly needed! Practised piano. Liz had made delicious cupcakes. Excellent Swk spirituality commission zoom with Chris. Nice to meet everyone and old friends like Sr Catherine! Bake off, Yorkshire farm. Wednesday. Swam 20 lengths. Picked up Jack Lau at Wandl...

 Woke at 5. B, SM and S. Wrote letter to SLIFG. To dentist front tooth taken out with some difficulty and new temporary denture. Feels different on palate but I will cope. Jack was due to zoom but had food poisoning so postponed to tomorrow afternoon. Rested and Gresham lecture on portraits and biographies, Olmec Mexican civilisation. Joe Lycett Who do you think you are. Woodworking. Steam train York to Edinburgh. Stunning scenery. Woke at 5 (again!) Nazareth walk in Kensington gardens, S and B. Watched a bit of the vigil from Glasgow but it was rather dull. To Catford for the blessing of Nick Wibberley's new shop which is lovely. Nice to meet Roger again. Fr Anthony spoke about Isabella Ghawi. Got back OK despite football traffic. Zoom with Jack and agreed changes to script. Sarah was delayed returning from Bosnia. Jersey zoo. Merton college evensong. Pembrokeshire nature. Sunday was exhausting. Played Giazotto Adagio and Howells Set 1 no 3. The theme was thanks. The big surprise ...

 Monday Nov 1. Woke at 5 and dropped off B. Up late. Letter came about speeding course so booked it online and it is virtual. Electrician came and leak found in upstairs loo! Colette's meeting focused on militarism and the climate. Bruce Kent was there. To Selhurst and up to Victoria. Walked to buy frame from Snappyshots and then back to Marks to meet Nelson for tea. He was on great form looks a little grey in his beard. We walked over to the cathedral and I went to Mass . Mikey gave a great homily. Procession was blessed outside by Bishop Nicholas. Fr Damian, Fr Steven, Fr Dominic, Alison, Sr Elizabeth and Martin Prendergast about 80. I did not attempt the walk to Farm St. In any case Liz wanted me home so got fast train to Selhurst. Turns out she had dropped Clare's keys so we got the set from Ann Marie but they did not work. At that point Clare came home from Heathrow so I came home and watched University challenge and Blair and Brown last episode.  Tuesday All Souls day B,...