The organist librarian

  Lent 4 and a baptism at Beckenham Methodist. I played Brahms Herzliebster Jesu and Bach Fantasia in. C minor also Berceuse by Vierne and Andrew Moore, Fasciating that baby is baptised first then godparents are payed for and the congregation make a promise. Methodists did not use to have god parents!. A lighted candle is given! To St Michael Beckenham for an enjoyable concert by the South East London orchestra a very competent amateur orchestra and an unusual programme. The Ruth Gipps symphony no 4 is very well written. I used to play at this church and it’s 8 years since I was there. I had forgotten how large the building is! Parking is a nightmare. Brian Newman was playing horn and I was particularly impressed by Iona the harpist. Dennis and Henry came. The Peru jigsaw is finished at last! Watched Art Fund film of Van Gogh Poets and lovers.

 Thursday art and started on VE day painting. Aerobics and Liz came. Swam 20. To Lidl very busy. Lovely and sunny in the garden. Bruce arrived. Interview with Lord Sugar. Apprentice. Root and Branch Tony Cassidy on the Eucharist.  Friday booked car at Honda Orpington for washer bottle. Ironing done. Unacc and 10 at class and Liz came for lunch. Liz went to get her cross fixed. To Natural History museum Visions of nature some displays not working. Wildlife photographer of the year stunning as usual. I think the manatee and baby should have won. To Pret and Liz met me there. To Mountbatten Festival Royal Marines on great form. Ukranian singers and Norwegian composer. Tribute to evacuated children. Liz bought a Royal Marines bear. Home at 11.30.  A fascinating Saturday. Bruce was up early and off to Hammersmith. To St Martin in the Fields via East Croydon and London Bridge. Oscar Romero service. Martin Prendergast organised the music. Richard Carter presided and at last met ...

 Monday March 17 chat to Ann. Swim and Liz came to aerobics. We both went to Downsview Methodist and met Judith. Nice sound and I can practise there. 2 manuals built by Arthur Davies. Nice people. Looked up Welsh steam raiways, To Town Hall FTIC no Muslims there because of Ramadan. Two from council adult social care dept and Charles from Black churches. Liz went to UCM. Mastermind, chess, University challenge very close match, Thames Water, Antiques roadshow.  Tuesday Swim  Fidelio from the Met fabulous singing especially Lise Davidson and Rene Pape and the chorus. It is 47 years since the Philharmonia Chorus performed this in Orange with Jon Vickers and Gundula Janowitz conducted by Zubin Mehta. It feels like yesterday emotionally. Liz was in the audience as she was expecting Dennis Woodhouse . I said then that it was THE performance above all others and I still think the same after so many concerts! CAFOD reception about global debt relief at Speaker’s house. The Speake...

  Beckenham Methodist Bishop and White. I played Bach O mensch bewein, Andriessen Aus der tiefe, Franck Prelude and Fughetta. It was the first time the congregation had been told in the newsletter what the music was and it was much appreciated. Had a lovely chat to Dennis the minister. First thing I noticed was the flowers! Porj for dinner. Watched Giovanna d'Arco from Parma not Verdi's greatest and the costumes in yellow were ridiculous. Crufts won by whippet. Pottery throwdown James a worthy winner. Looked up places near Bognor for Paul and the Chichester theatre. Liz did not go to Messy church. Monday short chat to Ann. They have seen the play at Chichester theatre. Liz set off to go packing medals but ended up at Horniman and nails. Swim. Colette's meeting reflections. Transcript does not appear. Phoenix centre found talk hard to follow. Chat about UNACC and cuts. SM reflection time. Mastermind, Chess masters, University challenge, Stacey. Tuesday awake in night again....

 Monday sunny but cold. Woke up late and chat to Ann. Aerobics and swim. Watched Prom TV Andrew Davis recreating Sargent's 500th Prom. Wrote article abut iftar and draft letter to Bishop Nicholas. Mastermind, Only connect final, University challenge, Mona Lisa (seen it before).  Tuesday up late. Swim. Quiet time in the sunshine and Liz came after she had been at the surgery. Nice chat to Jan. Lovely chat to Clare. Myles Allen on carbon offsetting. Simon Shama on Romantics. Cleaned hoover - no wonder it was not picking up stuff. Hymns for Sunday. We had lemon and blueberry pancakes. Ash Wednesday  Lovely service at St John Waterloo before the No Faith in fossil fuels 24 hour vigil outside the Department of Energy and Net Zero. I liked the Margaret Rizza items - good tenor parts. We enjoyed lunch at Central Methodist Hall cafe with the animators. A rare chance to meet up! Lovely Ash Wednesday Mass at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood Byrd 4 part mass, Purcell Miserere,...

  My first Sunday at Beckenham Methodist went well once I actually got in! I played Ley on Down Ampney, two Harold Darke pieces, Eric Smith and Andrew Moore and it was much appreciated. Lots of Davids in the congregation and very friendly. The steward arrived 40 minutes after I got there. David has now told me the code. We went to Wibberleys for Death cafe - the best turnout yet and interesting chats. Sorted out boxes knocked over in front garden (fox?) and swept kitchen. Miss Austen, Antiques roadshow, pottery throwdown and Call the midwife. Monday chat to Ann. Liz to GP infection and she went to UNACC and the lake. The road was closed at Waldegrave so did a big dteour round Crystal Palace to get to Penge East station. I went to the Ukranian Catholic cathedral for interfaith service for 3rd anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. The singing and playing was very moving and Rabbi Jonathan spoke really well. I did have a short chat and saw Bishop Jim Currie. Nice eats and chatting t...

 Monday chat to Ann (going to Melbourne. Liz gone to pack servers medals.  Four meetings in a day - just too much! Spidir committee, Bp John Arnold at Southern dioceses environment group. Dreadful speaker at Phoenix centre. Lord High Sheriff at Faiths together in Croydon at town hall. Only connect, University challenge, Go back to where you came from. Tuesday Liz went for infusion. She has anti-sickness tablets this time. Swam. Quiet time. A most interesting CCJ meeting at Catford synagogue about Our Street Lewisham community opera. Fascinating that it was an opera. The director who worked at Covent Garden was amazing! Wed wrote to Ms Crowley and she replied. GP rang blood test on 26th. We both went to Beckenham Methodist and we had a nice lunch there. Took 2 more decanters to Hospice shop. Sisters of Sion on Jewish pilgrimage. CCA meeting. Contacted Louise. Thursday Ms Crowley will only answer questions to Liz's email! Took Liz to Dulwich. Art and sketched new horse picture....

 Sunday the Bishop did not preach but she presided for the second part. I was not mentioned at all so I told the Bishop I was looking for another post at coffee. We sang 'Twas in the moon of wintertime" and I played Walther on Jesu meine Freude, Bach In dulci and Pachelbel Von himmel hoch. Imogen very sad. There was a match so I picked up Liz. Cleaned behind chest of drawers in bedroom. Black marks on wall - hopefully not damp. Call the midwife and Pottery throwdown. Monday Holocaust memorial day. Ann rang. Liz went to funeral of Sonia's Mum. To Town Hall. Oasis Academy did well, address by Professor of piano and a Syrian refugee. Philip Pond was disappointed at no prayer. Fr Tom was there. Met police inspector, John and cantor from Shirley synagogue. Afternoon event from Auschwitz with 50 survivors and in the evening Guildhall event. Last musician in Auschwitz explored music in the camps. University challenge and Only connect. A memorable day.  Tuesday swim. Liz went to d...

 Jan 2. Louise and family came for lunch. Delicious beef and pavlova. We had champagne. Played Cranium and sang Angels' carol. Delightful! Quizzes on TV, sweets we used to eat.  Jan 3 woke at 4 and then 8.45 so no swim. Lovely day, frosty. Petroc on Radio 3 in Budapest. Took 3 parcels for return to corner shop. An organ for the Sultan BBC Sounds interesting. Quizes on TV. Jan 4 Saturday lovely walk on Holy Island with Richard and Augustine from the Melanesian brotherhood. SJ delightful playing by Jay Bevan and Stephen Dickinson Saint-Saens, Martinu and Brahms. Nice chat to Jan. Henry came and he did a canvas and baking. Dropped him back early as there was a match against Chelsea so we were very early at church. Tea at Grace's. Mark played 3 Epiphnay hymns and Fr Andrew sang a bit in the sermon! Liam student from Richmond and Vallodalid. New Year Bakeoff and Hannukah cooking. Finished Bookshop ladies by Faith Hogan - loved it!  Epiphany snow washed away overnight by rain. ...