Hearing

 Such a relief that wax clearance means I can hear well. To Guys and tubing sorted. She will write to GP for  a  full hearing test referral - not been done since 2021. Liz picked me up at NJ where I had coffee. Put garden Christmas tree away. To St Mark's Purley for a superb piano recital by Rob Hao. Turnage, Schubert and Schumann - he really makes the piano sing. Listened to the rest of Sir Chris Whitty's lecture. Liz went to see Clare. Digging for Britain. Gresham on microbes. CCA meeting. Wild dogs, The Mistress with Felicity Kendal, Pottery throwdown.

Thursday. Woke late and felt tired. Did not go to swim but Liz did and I went to art and sketched 2 pictures. Somebody in Nigeria tried to get into Liz's Facebook account. Digging for Britain very interesting. CCT talk on art in Buddhist temples. LSIUK meeting very encouraging. Gresham lecture on breast cancer. Just stop oil zoom with Carmody and Jeremy Corbyn. The Apprentice was good.

Friday a swim at last! Disabled student trying to get into disabled change room. I went straight to UNACC. 9 there. Charge now £6. Liz was worried as she had been up at 3a,m, false alarm which could have been a spider! Dennis was woken as well so we need to change it so our mobiles are called first. I did not want to wake Liz. She was asleep when I left. Repair shop and Make it to market. Also watched the rest of My old school a remarkable tale of a 32 year old posing as a 16 year old! Forgot Boarbank hall retreat so missed the start with Bishop Terry who agreed with my comments on eco-conversion. Miriam Margolyes being outrageous. Would I lie to you? 

Sat SM Berwick on Tweed, S and B. To St George's Beckenham for a beautiful recital by Keziah Thomas of her own harp arrangement of the Four Seasons. We were late and some woman wanted us to move but I refused!! She left. Horrible day weather wise. I have a lot of Tablets to read! Listened to some of the Boarbank presentations on the way to Mass. We went via Leigham Vale because of works in Norwood. I played Walther Jesu meine freude at Mass and now asked for a recessional as well! Boarbank discussion on challenges we all face. Communication is a major one! 

Sunday played Walther and Bach Christ the Lord to Jordan came. We sang 'Twas in the moon of wintertime. Loved junior church teaching us actions Come, See, Tell, Repeat. Chat to AnneMarie at coffee. Evensong Dyson in C minor, O come ye servants of the Lord and lovely anthem by Philip Moore Come Lord. Boarbank final session - Bishop of Northampton. David Oakley very theological. Call the midwife. Fr Timothy preached at B.

Slept right through. B requiem for Pope Benedict.  Liz went to St John's to collect her bag and morning prayer. To swim and then we both went to chair aerobics with Barbara. To West Norwood to see "Tár" a fascinating portrait of a ruthless woman conductor. Cate Blanchett should get an Oscar! Nazareth community meditation and chat. Mastermind, Only connect, University challenge, Claridges hotel. What a feast!

Tues slept late so no swim. Abandoned plan to go and see Fedora at Greenwich. Cleared frost off car and started clearing up twigs in back garden - very cold. Essex chat - Chris going to Clare priory for retreat. Bishop Terry and Sr Margaret's talks at Boarbank. Repair shop. Catching up on The Tablet. 

Wed Swim. To cathedral for interfaith group - 6 there and a lively discussion on Fratelli tutti. Tea then St Paul's cathedral singing evensong in the cathedral. Lovely Leighton anthem and excellent sermon by the Dean. Sat with Martin Ball. Stephen Disley was with Peter Wright for his recital looking 20 years younger which is good news. I forgot about it. Met a server and had a nice chat. He said we had been missed. Watched pottery throwdown. Lovely film of Thomas Hampson telling the life of Verdi. 

Thurs woke late so no swim Just B. To art and good work on 2 paintings. Pushpa told me of the damage to the crib at St Mary's. Cheltenham prayer. Lovely to see Dan - he had not been since Sept. Repair shop, Make it to market, Pointless. Excellent R and B with Archbishop Charles Scicluna. Fernanda in touch. The Apprentice was good. Question time on the NHS. Nurses leaving the country because they cannot do the job. 

Fri. Swim. Both went to UNACC which seems to be doing OK despite loss of council fundind and rise in rates. Didn't go to Croydon Minster. Marie Antoinette. 

Sat slept late. It is a bit worrying that I get so tired.  Lovely sunny day. SM, S and B. Nazareth community sharing. I said I don't like snow! Repair shop. Gandhi multifaith service - sound not good! Played Brahms, Ireland and Purcell at Streatham Hill. Fr Valentine now wants an introit piece as well bless him! This means I will be playong more organ music than I do at Caterham! He said he wished all the masses were like this. We had pizza at West Norwood picturehouse as there was a match against Newcastle. In fact we got parked outside our home without a problem as most had gone. Watched Repair shop and BBC National orchestra of Wales conducted by Ryan Bancroft Rite of Spring and Rach piano concerto 3. Liz spotted an offer at Hotel Collingwood Bournemouth for Feb so we booked for Bournemouth SO at Poole on March 1!