Bruckner in Gateshead

 Wed cab to East Croydon and train to St Pancras. Walked to King's Cross where we had a ride in a buggy to a First class carriage on LNER! A nice surprise. Chicken lunch. Arrived on time and delivered servers medals at RC cathedral.and walked to get 53 bus from Grey Market street. Could have got the bus there! The hotel is not Leonardo's so up the hill to the Ramada Encore which is fine. We ate there steak and ale pie and waffles. Big helpings. Lent group at St Martin's.

Thursday bus and metro to Tynemouth to meet Barbara after a huge breakfast. Walked to the seaside and had coffee. Then walked to Tynemouth castle inn (30s) and we saw Cullercoats church which has a famous organ. Stuart have us a lift to Spanish village where we had tea at Valerie's. Then lift back to the station and just missed a Metro. The service was disrupted. Sainsbury's for food. Bus back to hotel. The Apprentice. 

Friday buses to Ryton and Jill's. Asa is a delight! Jill then took us all to Flo's and had a nice chat. She might move? Shirley came. Weather turned wet so back to Jill's where Levanta had cooked tea and gave us a lift to the Glasshouse. Bruckner 7 with Royal Liverpool philharmonic and an interview with the conductor with John Suchet who introduced the whole weekend. Hard to hear and I don't think he said anything new. Terence was there. The walk back to the hotel is 8 minutes and a bit dark.

Sat Liz went shopping and I went to the Baltic. Lovely garden. Interesting films about Nigeria and Amazon and not wanting outside teachers to destroy tribal culture. 

Back to the hotel and then to the hall for Bruckner Mass. Elizabeth Watts did not start well. Chorus were good. In the evening Bruckner 8 Halle and Mark Elder. Beforehand the chorus sang some motets. Elder was terrific and an interesting discussion afterwards. This was the highlight of the weekend! 

Sunday to hall for the quintet is Sage 2. Muddleup over tickets and we ended up at the top! A most interesting discussion with Julian and Catherine about Bruckner, Liszt and Wagner. At 3 BBC Scottish Bruckner 9 with the stunning Alpesh. The prommers will love him! We ate at the hotel I had dahl. Service was slow. Call the midwife ended. Pottery throwdown and we lost Steve! 

Monday to St Nicholas cathedral for coffee and organ recital by Ian Roberts. We slipped out during the Reubkhe. Asistance and first class again on LNER. Young man took our cases all the way to St Pancras! Train to East Croydon and cab home by 7. Got the heating back on. Kindle not working all weekend so used phone. Usual quiz evening. Another fraud letter and from same company address so reported it to police.

Tuesday woke late. Sorted heating I hope! Sent notes on the Easter vigil to Jaimee and asked for a meeting. It seems some people want hymns to be repeated that they know. I can see this is not going to last! Quiet time was good and had a nice chat to Adam. Chat to James and drafted letter to the King. 

Wednesday swam 10 - have put on weight and back hurting. New washing machine installed. Meeting about the climate vigil on zoom. Sion centre Rabbi on Psalm 22. Interesting. Zoom with James. Updated petition. Lent group St Martin's. April and May hymns do not please me at all. Easter Vigil is now very complicated! Good Friday is going to be awful. 

Thursday art and copied the figures in pencil. It's going to be a long process! Led Cheltenham prayer on fasting and some very interesting contributions. 20 at animators including Irene and James!  To Mayday St Barnabas chapel for service of prayer for peace Faiths together. Both mayors came. I read Isaiah. Home to Apprentice and Great British menu.

Friday back playing up a bit. To Unacc exercises only 5 there. Minutes of meeting. Father Brown. Did not feel like doing April music list - the choices were too disappointing. To RAH on train and bus via Olympia. very nice meal at Verdi Italian kitchen. The Mountbatten concert with the Marines bands was excellent apart from the Iron Maiden drummer - too loud. Very good flautist and trombonists. Very lucky got a 52 and train to Selhurst and home by 11! 

Sat SM from Soho in Blake's steps. Parked at Sel and train to Epsom Downs where Jonathan picked me up. Copeman Hart at Epsom college - played Wordsworth. A lovely site.Lunch at pub - I had pizza. Good Shepherd Tadworth Manders rebuilt the organ. Mick Elfred was vicar and used his rock band proceeds for the organ. I played some Moore. Tea and train back. I read at Beckenham - second scrutinies. Chat to Leon. 

Mothering Sunday no Peregrine. Rehearsed Holy Week after service with 2 choir. The hymns were just naff especially We shall go out n piano with percussion not in time! Even the giving out of flowers was a mess! I played Bach Fantasia in C minor. Liz at messy church. Crufts was excellent and pottery throwdown final won by Donna. 

Monday chat to Ann. Swim and aerobics. To Phoenix centre for talk by Colin James on spring flowers. Lovely photos from Japan, Netherlands and Madeira. Met his wife and chatted to a few people. Liz went to confirmation class at Beckenham. Last of the peaceful principles sessions which have been good. Mastermind, Only connect, Manchester won university challenge to get to the semis. 

Tuesday swim and Liz went to gym class. To quiet time and chat to Brian about Tenerife. Went to check cafe for Friday and met Darren. Henry came for his 7th birthday - Liz baked a cake. National Trust secrets. Commonwealth Day service from the abbey. Brian and Sayeed were there. April music list done. 

Wed swim. Laudato Si contemplation training. Did not like sound and talking during meditation - bird song is good! Chat to Joyce in San Francisco. Sisters of Sion on Esther. The Father and the murderer from NT about Gandhi and Ghose. Stunning play. SM Lent course. The Flower beautifully set by Alec Roth. An excellent discussion in my group. The actors programme was great.

Thursday bell rang. Bright seasons come to do fence! Swim - asked to move in to slow lane but I said I was getting out. There was somebody much slower than me in the middle lane. I think I need to find a different time avoiding school visits. To art and background done. Took sample to surgery. Lsi platform webinar on approaching church leaders was disappointing. We need practical simple tips not more talk. Simon Reeve in Australia. Apprentice and we lost the cheery Sikh. 

Friday swim. Saw imam. Mick came. Took Liz up to Clare's as Grainne and Dino are coming to close up the house. To NJ to meet Mark. Margana was closed so had tea at Yoha Nena. Started watching Vermeer exhibition. Dennis and Henry came. Comic relief. Fish and chips but it was too big!