Funerals
Tuesday to Shirley Methodist - I did not realise I needed to book an appointment. I did get 2 tubes and batteries. To All Saints found door locked. Supervision group went well. Left car there and buses via Tulse Hill. Result I was sitting at the side. Liz did not make it - she wasn't well and went to Grainne's for rubbish collection. Road dug up so both our bus stops were closed. Church was full and I sat with David Mitchell from Mitchell. None of us knew the tune for Lord enthroned! It was a sung Eucharist with incense. The bishop set the right note of Easter. Lots of hymns. I did not go up for the viewing. Tea served in church which did not really work with so many people there. Saw lots I know and a councillor from Battersea and a lady from Somerset married to Richard from Imperial College. Ivor knew so many people and really had a gift for getting to know people. Bishop Rose was there. Spoke to Bishop Christopher. I just missed Catriona! A memorable occasion. We both went to West Norwood picturehouse and had pizza. Macmillan Triple live from ROH with 2 intervals. All the ballets were beautiful and thought provoking. I was not convinced by Requiem set to the Faure Requiem. For a start the opera chorus were using a lot of vibrato and the sound was very heavy. In the introduction it was said that MacMillan wanted to express the different types of grief. I find it very hard to find anger in Faure's music perhaps the Dies Irae but not O Domine Jesu Christe. Was the young man supposed to be the innocent child? I think it was a mismatch between well-loved music and what MacMillan was trying to convey? When setting anything to a masterpiece we need to tread lightly and carefully! Different drummer on Wozzeck was disturbing but what a score - Webern/Schoenberg! Stravinsky Danses concertantes.
Wed Liz went to Beckenham to serve at funeral. I took her to Penge. Watched the rest of Alexander on Netflix. Sion centre Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. Evensong fom Kingston and Tiffin school choir. Race across the world from Japan. Repair shop. Croydon Climate action zoom.
Thursday tok Liz to station to go to Guys for blood test and picked her up after art. LSi webinar on economics. To Shirley Oaks hospital to see Mr Kinmont. Not a long wait. I liked him. He was very clear and spelled out the options. A total knee replacement would not really change things much as my knee would want to go back to its old position and disappointment rates are high. As I have no pain best to wait and see. LSiUk meeting Irene is crazy. The map idea did work in the end and we got into breakout rooms eventually. Alas Judith left and said it was amateurish which it was! Apprentice interviews very good. Amazed Phil got to the final! Mary Beard on Roman emperors.
Friday Liz stayed home as temperature keeps changing. To St Dunstan Bellingham for Brian Preston's funeral. Stephen Disley played Bach. I'm afraid Faure Requiem does not work well with soloists. Ruth Holton was oversinging. The servers were pretty chaotic and palm trees at each end of the altar did not help. The priest speaks and sings well. It seems Brian played there for 24 years for nothing! Had a nice chat to Norman and Simon Standage the violinist.
Saturday an excellent zoom with Chris Chapman on change and priorities. To St Augustine Grove Park for organists AGM and I join the committee in Sept. Recital by Brian and Jonathan = Reger for horn and organ, unusual Widor. No time to play but Mark had a go. To Mass and Fr Andrew the new priest was there. We had booked for Desert Island music with Fr Steve. Fish and chop supper. Enjoyed meeting Jan and Anthony. She had seen me at the cathedral! The music did not appeal and it was accompanied by films. Liz not well. She had got antibiotics from GP in Purley.
Sunday played St Fulbert by Guest and Vulpius by Willan. Jaimee announced the wrong gospel and mentioned it in her sermon. Are there resurrected people in heaven? What about people with disabilities in heaven? I think St Paul is pretty clear that we shall all be changed? Stayed home and did not go to confirmation at St John's. Lionel understood. Watched the rest of Ripley. 3 more people for Cambridge from Beckenham newsletter! I fell asleep. Mammals. Dennis and Henry came and he lent me a tie from his collection so he borrowed one of mine. Dennis rang up hospital for Mum.
Monday swim and aerobics. Dennis came. I cancelled King's knee appointment - did not like the surgeon at all. Chat to Ann. Dennis went with Liz to GP and St Thomas's. Henry stayed with me - played games and chess. Watched The talented Mr Ripley. Thehouse of Bernarda Alna from NT with Harriet Walter. Constellations same text different actors.
The rest of the week was really strange. 3 afternoons spent going to St Thomas. Liz was moved from emergency to Henry Ward. I met Cardinal Vincent on the bus! Chatted about David Standley and interfaith funeral. Visited the huge chapel. I went to St Chad's for 9.30 a.m. Mass for Tom Kedves. At the end blessing and happy birthday - whole congregation went up front! Lady asked me if I was from the Spiritans. They sing hymns very slowly. :iz due home Thursday night but it was a mistake and she came back on Friday with Dennis. To dentist and ache on right hand side so filling removed and have to go back. Our dentist is leaving. The apprentice final. Race round the world and Pompeii the new dig also Repair shop. I did go to art but no swims. I was so tired! Miriam Reveley played well at St John's - she seemed shy and only took one bow.
Saturday to St George Bickley a fine church with a Walker organ. Strover students all played well. 12 in all! Read at Mass.
Sunday played Darke Meditation on Brother James's Air which we sang well. Worthy is the Lamb. Paul Miller was there. Church AGM did not learn much - Jaimee uses So at the meeting just as much as at the service! She is setting up a Forest church and youth group. Had a sleep so did not get to evensong. LIz still not well. BBC2 60 years of classical music. We saw many of the greats including a young Guilini condusting Dies irae. That awful Callas encore. No Janet Baker! Why do we need to be told music was used in an advert and NOT be told who is singing and playing?
Monday chat to Ann. The pool was cold so only did 14 lengths. Morgana took aerobics - she talks all the time and the beat was too fast for us. Watched Good by CPTaylor with David Tennant. Found a dead mouse down the side of the settee - I new I smelt something. Yuk.
Tuesday swim and showers were hot again. To West Norwood to see Met La Rondine. I have seen this lovely production before. Angel Blue was excellent. Andrew Scott interview. Gresham lecture on queer history.
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