The organist librarian

 S and B. Moved jigsaw to back bedroom. Iceland delivery. Lots of emails to clear. Christmas at Salford with Bishop John Arnold. Christmas repair shop. Quiet time. Louise and boys came at lunch time. Tom had to work. Henry arrived 3.30. We had a delicious meal of shrimps, prosecco, beef and puddings. The cracker carols were chaotic. Sang our favourite carols. Only connect with Baileys on ice delicious. Christmas university challenge. Bed at 11.30 Thursday SM, B and S. Delicious breakfast bacon rolls, avocado, smoked salmon. Annie Spain's funeral - Wagner and Strauss and Bach. Nice to be able to watch it. She was 91 - that chorus generation are all going. Louise and the boys went ice skating at Hampton Court. We very much enjoyed the Royal Institution Christmas lectures explaining at last viruses and vaccines! Sewing Bee was fun.  Friday Lie-in SM, B and S. Can't stand ant-eye Christ is 1 John. American student at B. Fr Timothy preached yesterday, Dean Andrew spoke really well....

 Chat to Ann and Paul. Delicious breakfast.  A lovely day with Ann Marie, Henry and Dennis. Watched programme on the Nutcracker, Strictly Christmas special and Christmas with the Kennah-Mason family. St John's day at Upper Norwood. Eyre setting and a first outing for the Gloria. How fragrant the lilies. Fr Steffan from St Peter Streatham preached and we had a lovely chat at lunch. Bairstow Toccata from the sonata. I showed Frances the Madonna painting which is linked to today's anthem. The dates fit. Caught up on some TV, Midnight from Birmingham music was not very festive. Good homily from Archbishop Bernard Longley. Duchess of Cambridge played piano Westminster Abbey carols. I do not think verse 2 of Adeste Fideles should eb choir only!. Christmas University challenge and bake off. A very British scandal about the Argylls very well done. 

 Woke early again. Played Bairstow and Sumsion on Veni Emmanuel and Puer nobis Noel. We sang Rudolph Veiled in darkness. Short practice of the Ahs in the Rutter. Got petrol. Songs of praise from Westminster Abbey spoiled by Gospel version of O holy night. Changed bathroom light.  On the way home I had the misfortune to tune into a radio 4 "festive comedy" "Some hay in a manger" introduced by Stephen Fry. It was a)not funny and b) offensive to Christians. I have complained. Watched Songs of Praise from Westminster Abbey ruined by a gospel singer version of "O holy night". B. I'm sorry I havent a clue. Sports personality won by Emma Raducanu, Adam second and Tom third. Antiques roadshow, Tabernacle choir. Belmont vespers. Chat to Ann. B and S. Got ladder in and set up heater in toilet on it. Watched Daniel Barenboim in his own words and Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams friendship. Started on Syney opera house puzzle which we have had for a year! It...

 Woke at 4 and 6. SM and S. Belmont Abbey on the incarnation. Liked the Oscar Romero quote. " But let us remember that Christ became a person of his people, of his time; he lived as a Jew, he laboured as a worker in Nazareth and ever since he is made flesh in all people. If many have moved away from the Church it is precisely because the Church has been a little alienated from humanity. But a Church that would feel as its own all that is human, and would wish to incarnate within itself the sorrow, hope and anguish of all who suffer and rejoice, that Church would be Christ loved and awaited. Christ present and that depends on us." Archbishop Oscar Romero 1978  Big discussion on changing to the thicker quilt.  Meditation. B. WM UK carers group zoom. They liked the joke about excusing because of short of lateral flow tests. A badge would be a good idea so people keep their distance. Flight Free UK Christmas zoom. Good quiz Grounded got 16. Interesting travel talks and a gu...

 Lovely Nazareth community walk with Catherine in her home town of Lincoln which looked so lovely. B and S. Set up the lights and the crib so decorations are now finished. Very good CSN Advent day on the 4 Sundays. Walked in garden. St Paul's interview with Stephen Cottrell. Wrote to CMQ and minutes from yesterday done. Strictly excellent standard. Griff in New Zealand. Grayson's art club in Bristol. Gresham lecture on ancient Greek and Roman libraries, Advent 3 pink candle Gaudete. Bach Nun komm der heiden heiland. Willan Prelude on Bristol, Advent message Martin How, JSBach Wachet auf. I managed for the first time to leave my anthem copies in the hall! Susan took the service as no priest was available and it worked well to have the anthem after the Gospel. D|isappointing that the opening voluntaries were not livestreamed. Songs of Praise from Lincoln. B. Gresham lecture by Richard Ovenden librarian Oxford on attacks on knowledge and one on religion and secularism (Charles Ta...

I dropped off before lunch!   To St John's for a lovely evensong and Benediction Howells Coll Reg, Shephard Never weather beaten sail, Stainer How beautiful upon the mountains. Not so keen on the organ at the Benediction! Paul Carr playing at Worsley. Dan out of Strictly. Copied carols. Monday SM, S and B. To M and S Bromley for Liz to change bras. I had croissant and cappuccino. Colette's meeting and Fr Dominic told us about Brentwood's amazing initiative which only cost £8000. Rang Honda - fuses go because we should not be plugging dash cam or tire pump into cigarette lighter!! Got big tree and front garden tree down. Lights on the big tree. A good way to do it was layer by layer. Vespers from Belmont. Balham Catenians. An excellent meeting with Dr Kathryn Mannix and Greg Wise who even addressed me as one of only 3 men present! I commented on Catenians in the chat and how we speak to children. Only connect and University challenge. Christmas University challenge. Tuesday ...

 Thursday woke at 5. SM, S and B. To art and did some good work. Only 2 more sessions before Christmas. To Clare's to get her phone which she left behind! Cleared up food waste mess caused by the fox. Watched the Pope in Cyprus live. Secrets of the forest x 3. Missed the Sion centre talk. MultiFaith Channukkah from LJS was good as usual. Liam Draycott on Pope Gregory and St Edmund. Wrote to Xavier. Sam got in touch at last so did carol service music list. Composed Christmas letter.  Friday swam 20. Zoom with Ian, Marian and Gareth about meeting Steve Reed MP again. SM, S and B. Redid Christmas letter. Deleted loads of emails! Christmas cards. Masterchef. To Sainsburys Crystal Palace pharmacy for Liz.  Saturday Nazareth walk St James park, S and B.  To St John's for a lovely concert by Dawid Kasprzak from Lodz. 16 year old violinist studying at Wells cathedral school. Loved the Franck sonata - bittersweet and such joy. If he plays like that at 16, who knows what he wi...