Sheikh Ramzy

 Wednesday to National Gallery for St Francis of Assisi free exhibition. 6 came including people from Holloway and Barnes. Beautiful Caravaggio, El Greco and Zurbaran. Not so keen on some of the later stuff. One exquisite painting of Francis of Clare and baby Jesus. Rita and I had lunch in the cathedral cafe and Jeremy Lloyd recital of Jongen. Clerambault and Durufle. Michael and Francis were there. Sheikh Ramzy was on great form and once again Fr Hugh brought it all together brilliantly. 7 there. 3 bus to Lambeth palace but TFL was wrong. The Lambeth palace library is new and is further along the road. The Coronation exhibtion is small but interesting. It includes the Bibles presented to the Queen and King Charles. Back to 5.30 mass at the cathedal with Fr John. Loads of Latin from the men and it did not inspire. The congregation are left with responses and Pater noster to sing. Train to Kent House and Liz met me. To Balham Catenians and I was pleased I could hear everything. Salmon for dinner. Nice chat to Charles about music and art then Paul started pontificating about Russia and Ukraine! Watched Victoria Wood Pat and Margaret - brilliant humour.

Ascension day. Liz went to meet ne spiritual director in South Croydon. I only did 14 lengths then to art and finished the lake picture - not really happy with it! To St John's for Mass and we sang Gabrieli Mass and Tantum ergo de Severac. Great to have Peter Wright directing. Champagne and fireworks in the vicarage garden. 

Friday swim and Unacc. To Museum of Kent Life Aylesford which we enjoyed. Tractor ride, old village buildings, alpaca, owls, pigs and sheep. To Premier Inn and ate at the Beefeater next to the river. Lovely steak and lemon tart. Are you being served.

Saturday full breakfast at Beefeater and to Aylesford. Played for Mass and Archbishop John was very friendly. The keyboard is reasonable although it turned itself off! A couple of ladies sang and it was much appreciated. Met Bishop Philip. We had our picnic and played for rosary and benediction. Liz served. We got home in good time and had a quiet evening. Lancaster bomber 80 years on, Vicar of Dibley 30 years on. 

Sunday Liz went to English Martyrs for servers medals and was impressed. Stephen Wright celebrated and I played Willan on Miles Lane, RVW on Hyfrodol and we sang O King enthroned on high. The new incumbant will be Jaimee Summers from St John Epping which has a choir and organ! The school liked her the best of the 3. I went to Mass at Purley. Fr David is very trad with lots of lace, cleaning of hands and the cleansing of the vessels was so thorough as to be ridiculous. Some of the speaking was like a Dalek! Quite a good homily. I cooked risotto. Evensong was directed by Matthew. Stanford in B flat, Gibbons Almighty and everlasting God and Harris Behold the tabernacle. Pimms afterwards. Why start piano so loud - nowhere to go! 

Monday after swim to CAFOD HQ at Romero House. We were taken through to the Amigo Hall. Having arrived at 11 did nto start until 11.45 nice to meet people. Mass at 12.30 in the cathedral after we had visited the Romero shrine. Lunch then presentations about CAFOD and meeting your MP. We then moved to the top floor of Romero House which has great views and a session with Liam on Catholic social teaching. Got bus to Parliament Square and reception in Pavilion bar with MPs. Steve Reed did not turn up. Several speeches invluding famine in East Africa. It was great to see the speaker's coach in Westminster Hall and the new plaque for where the Queen lay in state. Home by 9. University challenge. 

Tuesday swim and quiet time - 9 there! To Croydon circle ladies night black tie at Farleigh Downs golf club. Sat with the Whitmarshes, Noel and Moira Allison from Glasgow. Lamb shank was huge. Chat to Maureen Martin. 

To RSM from NJ and Elizabeth Line to Bond Street. Good meal and chat. Took photo. Home by same quick route. Saint-Saens Henry VIII from Brussels. Strange production! 

Thursday Liz to concert at school. Swim and art redid the centre of the lake picture. Cooked aubergine with Chinese spices. Cheltenham prayer. LSiUk meeting. To Finchley Road for The Letter - 20 there and the parish priest was there for the whole meeting St Thomas More. A good discussion with Cath Attlee and home by 10.15. Liz went to SJ organ recital. 

Friday swam 10 lengths and then to doctor's for blood test (the results were very good so nothing to worry about). Unacc - sorry to learn that Bill had died - he was there last week. Peggy hurt by elastic strap I think. To Wallington to collect Liz's baskets and plants. Nice sunny day. David Attenborough Zoo quest in colour. Chelsea flower show and Sewing Bee. 

Sat SM at Whipsnade tree cathedral. Hurtado. Car tyre pump plug broken. Saw mouse in hall. SLN Ilio on cosmology of Christ. Took Liz to SJ for overnight camp. My train was very late so I missed the York Bowen when I got to Bloomsbury Baptist. Peter King played very well - I like the Grieg Holberg suite and Pescetti, Gigout and Grisson. Tea downstairs and chatted to Philip and Peter. To St Patrick Soho Square lovely church and lots of young people but I will not go there again. Ad orientem and kneeling for communion, lots of mentions of being Catholic. Home and saw end of Henry VIII of Saint-Saens. Also Gilbert and George and Sandra artist. 

Pentecost. Played Down Ampney by Ley and Postlude for Whitsunday by Thiman. Clarissa came and we sang Liek the murmur by Alan Smith. Berni celebrated. She said the agnus Dei so have now put a note on the priest's copy that this is normally sung! To coffee and some discussion about Walsingham - unfortunately it coincides with the lunch at Lionel's. Picked up Liz and well went well. The Bishop came. Both sleepy. Much ado NT at home was very well done. Victoria and music followed by the Yeomen of the guard from ENO.

Spring Bank holiday to Bromley PC for Daniel Mount's recital. Amazing pedalling and technique. Reubkhe sonata, Bruhns, Mendelssohn and modern pieces including Bingham and toccata written for Sydney Opera house organ. Dennis Moore from St Bartholomew Sydenham telling me his woes with new vicar. Saw the Toplises and Martin. Watched Britain's Lost masterpieces about Rubens (a repeat) and the final of University challenge won by Durham. 

Tuesday swim and it was quiet. Tyre inflator not working so sent it back and ordered a more expensive one from Argos. That too did not work - on/off switch and light. Quiet time and then to the tip - electrical stuff and bags of soil. Cooked. To St John Sidcup to hear Tim Harper Schmidt, Anon, Buxtehude, Bach trio sonata. His wife Charlotte sang Vierne very well. Wilby, Harris sonata, Jackson and Lanquetuit. Quite a programme presented in engaging style. Home at 10.30. 

Wed swim and the butterfly nut was there but he kept away from us. To Argos and new one at 4. Graduation of animators - very repetitive. In the name of the father - a shocking expose of an orthodox Jewish community. Gresham on AIDS history. Catena published my Big One article. I sent the letters to the bishops about divestment. Tooting offered a date to show The Letter. Spelling Bee was good.