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Sept 30th and up to find the dining room decorated with banners and balloons. Had delicious blueberry and strawberry pancakes plus smoked salmon! Louise has gone to such lengths to organise everything so well. Dennis and Henry arrived and we had barbecue lamb and pork and lovely salads. Then it was presents time, Ann had bought a Lift 109 jigsaw (perfect) Liz bought membership of Dulwich picture gallery, Bruce brought chocs. After blowing out the candles I was part of the zoom from St John's college the 60 year reunion. It was OK but it would have been better if everybody had introduced themselves! Later got a fuller report from Ant and it was obviously a big success lasting 3 days. Much champagne and wine was drunk and we ended up enjoying Paddington Bear 2. A perfect day.
Sunday Oct 1 Mass was 9.15 at Billingshurst so that idea was abandoned. Louise interviewed us about our childhood and Ann was a bit upset at one point. As Bruce said talking is better than reading a book. Dennis and Henry came again and we headed for the Onslow Arms at Lozwood on the canal. A very nice sunny spot. Then it was time for carols and favourite songs round the piano. In the bleak reduced us to tears. Angels carol always a highlight. Liz got a lovely top G in We'll gather lilacs. Bruce sang A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square - he really should be in a choir! Had a great laugh Monty Python and the Holy grail - I had not seen all of it!
Monday we were packed and ready by 10 and set off for Petworth House. There is a buggy from the car park. Ann and Paul enjoyed the art especially the Turners and the talks. Had tea and sausage roll. Drove to Box Hill and had cream tea there. Then on to the hotel in Croydon (went past it once and they have changed the roundabout nearby). Decided to unpack and have a quiet evening at home. Only connect, University challenge.
Tuesday swim and Dennis and Ann-Marie came with Ann and Paul. Sat in the garden and went to St John's to lay roses for Mum and Dad. Met Danny in the church. They went to pick up Henry and we met for a walk round the lake. Ann saw a rat! Fish and chips and champagne then farewells and saw them onto the 468 bus. Feeling happy and so glad they came. Watched Bake Off but fell asleep.
Wed took Henry to school so Dennis could take them to Heathrow as there were strikes again. Liz and Dennis came to Munch with music. Jaimee there and saw John Staples and chatted to several people. Robin volunteered to sing in the choir. Munch with Music went really well with a good audience who enjoyed my choices which reflected the Woodhouse family (pieces by my Dad), Francis Jackson, Karg-Elert, Jongen, Woodgate, RAF and Dambusters and finished with everybody singing Land of hope and glory. Profiteroles. Nov music list (Jaimee seems to like Kendrick) and caught up on emails. Cooked. St Francis of Assisi feast day and launch of Laudate Deum. Excellent webinar including Justin Welby. A very important day.
Thursday Liz went to Guys and saw spinal dept about pain relief and orthopaedics. Dennis went with her. Swam. Art - spilled paint and then knocked over water jar! D on What's App as well. Julie announced she wanted a picture for the hall so started on a Cezanne style landscape. SM lecture Lemn Sissay poet. Tom Holland and Richard on martyrdom. Ironing. Peter Simpson's funeral booklet came but you tube video no longer available alas. Great hymns of course! Cooked basa. Maid of Orleans from Berlin part 1. Stacey Solomon clearing a house.
Friday Liz went early for Sean'a assembly. I hoovered the car! Swim, Unacc exercises, to Croydon Minster for recital by George Inscoe excellent playing. A two hour drive to Acton Hammersmith traffic solid. People trying to edge in King St solid. Maid of Orleans and Mountbatten festival Royal Marines from RAH.
Saturday took Cairan to Grasshoppers rugby club for school match. Managed to join some of Society of St Gregory autumn assembly on my phone but battery ran out! Excellent liturgy including Coe fen and talk on the synod. Will listen to the recording. Liz to Westminster cathedral for servers Mass. Watched rest of David Olusugo Union series and read The Tablet. Took the boys to Mass at Acton - did not like the recorded music at all. Took an hour to drive home via Chelsea Bridge as Albert was closed. Recording of Strictly.
Sunday Jaimee very bright and breezy. I was not expecting a late start and an announcement from her from the front and giving out hymn numbers! For the Creed she stood at the front of the congregation facing the altar. Her mike was slung across the front of the chasuble - it looked awful! 3 of the hymns were new to us so not well sung. John Staples said I should have played Janacek on Wed! Robin was there - turns out he is a troublemaker and has been barred locally. He mentoned animosity and I said we should all forgive each other. It was good to see new faces! I played Willan on Rockingham and Buxtehude Toccata in F. We sang RVW The Call. Drove home and changed into shorts as it was very hot! 2 and a half hours driving from Caterham to Acton. Liz had gone with Louise and Sean to the church picnic. I had a sleep and listened to the Spirit unbounded first session and Cairan made chocolate brownies. Drove home in time for part of Antiques roadshow from Wales. RSC Shakespeare, Bake off an extra slice.
Monday swim (only 10 too many people including 3 fast ones) aerobics (in fits of laughter at the cabaret act). Liz went to gym and swim. To Phenix centre talk by Annie Besant's great granddaughter. Had a long chat to her and met Bernard and offered my chorus talk. Cooked. To ENO to see Peter Grimes. On the way met prommer Murray John who is now fixer for BBCSO. We have seen this production before and the singing and playing conducted by Martyn Brabbins are excellent. Man coughed right through Act 1 so I spoke to him at interval. We treated ourselves to Dress circle on Disabled offer. Easy to get to Charing Cross station and home by 11.15.
Tuesday to first session supervising group with May at All Saints church. Antonio on good form - 150 came to open days! There were 5 sds there. Nice cake. To Sainsburys to get red roses and carnations for 50th anniversary of our engagement in gardens of Musée Rodin Paris. Only connect. To Meditation but hall door not open! Recording in church. Labour conference on TV. Talk on history of tradition in the Church and the positin of women. To West Norwood to see The Great Escaper. Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson in her last role and John Standing all perfect. Very moving and how kind everybody was! Home to bacon and sweetcorn and berry pudding. Bake Off. University challenge. Don't look down. Found photos around engagement time - no selfies in those days! I suppose momentos are Verdi requiem score, My dearest dear score, the ring,
Wed awake in the night. Spirit unbounded contd. Such a lot of material! Both swam and we met Natalie who was in Louise's class. Supervision group - good to see Anne Marie. To West Norwood to see The Old Oak Ken Loach film the Syrians showed great generosity from their want and the strength and anger of North East communities. CCA zoom and Westminster J and P zoom. Did not go to Addiscombe for The Letter. Celebrity race across Europe a bit dull.
Thursday raining. Liz set off for Cardiff. Luckily I did not go to the pool as I was late and she rang and I took her phone to the station!.Spirit unbounded talks interfiath and children. INterfaith zoom on what to do after Israel and Gaza attackes - a prayer vigil? Jaimee was OK and discussed Christmas, Excellent animators zoom and 17 there. CAFOD webinar on Laudate Deum. Chat to Ann. Stacey.
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