Saul

 Thursday St Thomas Becket. Swam. They liked the shortbread gift. Saul from Glyndebourne 2015. 2 Wigmore Hall concerts. Henry came and we watched Zootropolis very funny. Made mince pies. 2 Wigmore Hall recitals and 2 winter walks in Yorkshire and Cumbria. Only connect, University challenge. 

Henry slept late and Dennis came to pick him up. Antiques roadshow of toys. Boxed chocolates at Christmas with Jo Brand. Last part of Saul. Third Christmas institution lecture. Fish and chips. Only connect, University challenge won by Balliol, Masterchef. 

Sat 31st SM next to the Thames, S and B. Hurtado on the call of the fishermen. Pope Benedict died aged 95. Dennis came to collect big teddy and we went through my medical records. Back to the cinema after a very long gap. Picturehouse West Norwood New Year concert Berlin Philharmonic. Jonas Kaufmann on stunning form. Kirill Petrenko precise but exciting. His face in the Death of Tybalt Prokofiev! Capriccio Italien sounded like a new work! Loved it! Nino Rota is a discovery. Christmas at Castle Howard. To 12.05 Midnight Mass preceeded by Benediction. Fr Kevin from Bourdeaux led a countdown using JESUS to midnight and Hallelujah chorus. Liz served and I was asked to read, Prosecco and Turkish delight afterwards. Organ should be usable next week but parish hall closed for months!

St John the Evangelist played Bach preludes for New Year and two Balbatre Noels. We sang New Year Carol by the young Britten. We sang a hymn but new to me for St John's day "We sing of that disciple" to Ellacombe words by Ralph Wright. Not quite the grandeur of "Word supreme" to the wonderful Grafton but it is good.Enjoyed the Vienna New Year's day concert very much. Archbishop of Canterbury's message about carers was good. Mary Poppins returns - lovely to see it again. Call the midwife addressed Enoch Powell well, Bake off. Only connect. Delicious lamb, leek and red cabbage.

Slept in so no swim at 11. It's a holiday today. Programme on the start of the BBC. Lovely letter from Dom Brendan. We have some fine calendars this year. I read 37 books in 2022 the highlights being the Seven sisters series by Lucinda Riley and Alexander McCall Smith. The most challenging was "The Beekeeper of Aleppo". This is 10 more than 2021 but doesn't quite match 41 read in 2019. My New Year resolution is to reach out to interfaith contacts and do more art. Repair shop. How the BBC began. Had to rescue Liz at Clare's again = something wrong with lock on front door. Henry not coming for sleepover - tummy ache. Mastermind, Only connect, University challenge. Rebuilding Claridge's. Simon Armitage winter walk to Robin Hood's bay.

Tuesday woke at 6 alarm set for 8. Saw Dr Roberts at 9 right heel is plantar fasciitis so Xray and do exercises. We both went swimming at 10 and then I went to Beckenham. Parked next to the Green - miserable wet day. The Beckenham bookshop lady was amused by my disaster buying the Kennah-Mason book for Liz which both of us have read! Got biography of Prince Philip instead. To Gallery 17 and picked up the 4 framed portraits now at last hanging in the lounge and they look splendid! B reflections on Epiphany. Watched first part of Anna Nicole from ROH - I dropped off! Repair shop. Make me a match. The rest of Anna Nicole - Gerald Finlay was outstanding. Not sure I liked the subject matter! Nelson sent link to video of a guy who made his shed the most popular restaurant in London on Trip advisor even though it did not exist! Incredible! The series on John Stonehouse is excellent.