Busy Sunday

 Woke early. R4 on BBC singers and morning service. Played Willan on St Peter, Moore Barcarolle and Toccata. LJWhite prayer of St Richard of Chichester went well. Chose hymns for Advent and agreed to use Christmas ones from last year. Drove to NJ overground and underground to North Harrow. 3 flights of stairs. Al Salaam centre is still a building site! Huge sports area and theatre and prayer hall above. It is for everyone. Presented a copy of Laudato Si' and mentioned petition to save Interfaith network for the UK. Chatted to several people. 30 there. Nice samosas. Got home quite tired. Liz had been to messy church. Young musician semi final - wrong 3 got through! Judges are rubbish! 

Monday chat to Ann, rang GP as they had not rung back but Xray was on system so straight to Mayday and crown is in my stomach thank goodness. Wait another week. Swim. Liz went to pack medals. Cancelled aerobics and took notes at Colette's meeting. Powerpoint about Salford. Had trouble with sound on laptop so used phone. To Phoenix centre talk by lady whose parents were both in the magic circle. I dropped off. Chat to Sylvia. Won a book on raffle. Finished Welby interview. SM meditation. Only connect, University challenge, Mastermind. 

Tuesday a busy day. Took Liz to memory services and she did well. I was late at the Stella Maris mass at Farm Street. Singer belting out Panis angelicus. Nice food at reception and Mike Belfourd was there. Spoke to Bishop Paul and he asked about Catenians. Deacon John told a moving tale of helping a stranded ship which nobody else would do! Sent a contribution. To Vic and A but it was hopeless. The lift I got to the second floor eventually but then found I could not get through to paintings so I gave up and got the underground to St James Park. Sat for a bit in Caxton square and arrived at the Abbey at 4.30 to find a long queue - longest I have ever seen there! Saw Paul Neavey and he asked after Liz. Sat with Paul Tobin. The Bruckner Ecce sacerdos was the highlight. The combined choirs made a big sound. Saw Brian and Fr Hugh introduced me to the Dean as our interfaith person! Train and bus to West Norwood picturehouse to see Royal Ballet live Alice's adventures in wonderland. Francesca was amazing, the score is terrific and a stunning production. Dropped off in Act 1. Caterpillar and Cheshire cat a triumph. Home by 11.

Wed woke late. Swam 16. To Beckenham chemist for covid and flu jab - pharmacist said the crown business was a rookie error and I agree. John and Margaret Stephens were there. Apparently the organist from St James Elmers End plays hymns too fast! To framers with Sean's portrait. Sion sisters Fr Nicholas King on Genesis. Watched TV for a bit. Felt tired and congestion so decided not to go to Catenians. Dec music list done. 

Thursday had a bad night. Felt like I wanted to burp. Left arm sore from the 2 jabs. Decided not to go to art, aerobics and swimming and rest. Query from a Fr Emmanuel in York so checking up. We are in Oct Catena. My letter has been assigned to Rochdale John Woodhouse! James apologised. In ICN and Tablet about Salford. Rest of Sam Wells in inspiration. Philippe Sands on international law. 

Friday feeling much better and woke at 8.30/9. Swam 10 and to Unacc. To GP to get X ray organised for Monday. Got compost. Did minutes of SDEN. Bake off an extra slice. NT at home London tide is based on Our mutual friend - it's brilliant. 

Saturday Liz to SJ for last training session about involving ADHD children. To St Oswald Norbury and met Revd Aison. She is very much on my wavelength. Church is warm. Organ is 2 manual and reasonable. The Silk Road at the British library is a small but well presented exhibition including the oldest dated printed book! To Pret and met John and chatted about reformation Sunday and good speakers. To All Saints Margaret St. STephen Farr talked too long and it was hard to hear him. I am not relaly interested in the RCO! PLayed Bairstow Meditation - the 34 foot is amaazing. To Mass. Missed Strictly as we went to SJ for food and concert. Reclaiming narratives BHM 2024 at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood lovely singing from Maureen Braithwaite, Yolanda Grant-Thompson, Josh Gordon and Christian Noel accompanied by Michael Rose.

Sunday Played RVW on Song 13 written for Harriet Cohen and Bairstow Meditation. Speaker from A Rocha. Paul and Imogen rehearsed. Had a rest as I was awake in the night. BBC young musician final was very impressive and a worthy winner. But I still think it would have been much more interesting if the cellist and harpist had been in the final. Evensong was lovely Sumsion in A View me Lord and Chilcott Be thou my vision. BBC4 Joan Bakewell interviewing Mandela and Duchamp.

Monday rang GP and went for second X ray. Pauline on desk. They took 2 inages of stomach and said OK and go home. Aerobics. Somebody from surgery rang and said no sign of crown on X ray but still do not know if they imaged the whole abdomen! On train and dentist rang. She said I closed my mouth after the flossing. I said I did not! I am not taking the blame for her mistake. I was furious. I don't close my mouth at the dentist unless told to. National gallery sketched Stubbs Whistler. First one the best and a lady said it was good. SM Rowan Williams on soul friends. Excellent.Marlene from Addington village next to me, met poet from Kent, Richard and Jolley. 

Tuesday swim. Liz to Guys. Quiet time moved to 3. Good chat to Clare. Call my bluff, Bake off, Face the music. Only connect, University challenge. Online Ashton circe meeting was interesting. Spoke about LSi. Kevin asked me as I wrote to Catena about no longer holding meetings on zoom. Ukelele players up there! 

Wed GP rang no sign of crown on second Xray. Too many X rays not a good idea. Assume it has passed through so emailed dentist who chased the GP. Swim. Liz went for hair cut. To West Norwood picturehouse to see Grounded new opera from the Met. I have the cinema to myself! Chorus and singing very effective and the production is excellent. It’s about a drone fighter pilot who falls pregnant and her reactions to killing people. The ending is very moving. She sings “What god would allow the killing of innocent children?”

Application to Norbury sent.