Mothering Sunday

 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.

Monday Liz set for Newcastle with Louise. Dennis saw her at St Pancras. Chat to Ann. Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine spoke so well at Bloomsbury Baptist Friends of the Holy Land event. Made the mistake of using the Dean Street exit. William Rhind, Bishop Jim, James Holland and met James from Ealing. Exquisite Sienese paintings at the National Gallery. The nic elady gave me a token so I did not have to pay to put my bag in the cloakroom!. Fish and chips at Breadline cafe. I am really surprised Edvard Munch portraits at NPG got 5 star reviews! I don’t know why I bothered! Tea at SMITF and finished Tablet and crossword. Excellent lecture at SMITF Daniel Munayer “Is there hope for the Holy Land?”. Bishop William spoke. Danuta and saw Richard. Timothy Radcliffe was there and Siriol. Home by 9.40 University challenge. 

Tuesday Swim. It was like Hyde Park corner - one guy going fast and splashing everyone. Washed towels. To quiet time which was outside. I put my hood up as it was windy. We had chocolate icecream and pudding! Gresham lecture on carbon offsetting. Liz rang they had seen the family and had a meal at Ryton.

Wednesday swim (it was quiet) Beckenham Methodist practice, word games and good lunch at UNACC. Ethna Regan spoke on Christian hope Sisters of Sion. Mentioned Fratelli tutti. I wrote a brief note for Ellen about Laudato Si'. SM Cath spoke really well and Jonathan played the piano. Lent group was great. 

Thursday passport photo taken. The photographer is from Nigeria and tells me his cousin who lives in the US owns 27 guns! Why? To art and good progress. Aerobics and skipped swim. Sat on Streatham Common for a while. To St Andrew's school for a moving dance portrayal of the Easter story. Henry did very well. SM Great Sacred music George Herbert. Apprentice and we lost Liam and Mia! 

Friday To St George’s cathedral for the moving funeral of Colin Garvey with some great jokes! Back on bus to set up penguins jigsaw for Henry then back to the Courtauld small exhibition Oskar Reinhardt. Loved the Manet and Cezanne. Liz picked Henry up from school. I missed the reception at the Oval, A lot of time spent on buses - read Music and Liturgy, Dilexit nos and Eric Varden. Got back at 6.10 and Dennis picked up Henry. Welsh chapel dream, Mastermind, Hattie Jacques this is your life. St Patrick.

A delightful concert at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood by pianist Andrew Garrido who taught himself to play aged 11 used Youtube and went on to the Purcell school and the Guildhall School. Brahms and Faure. Most interesting of all the Grieg piano sonata in E minor Op 7 written at the age of 22. The shadow of Beethoven and Mendelssohn as Grieg finds his own voice. When you visit Bergen you can see that Grieg was so small that he actually sat on Beethoven scores on the piano stool! Congrats to Terence on his recognition by Croydon CVA. Items to Jan and Michelle. Nets washed. Quite a battle to find out how to get them down! Unfortunatley the nets in our bedroom had mould and holes after the wash. The one in the back bedroom has one small hole hidden by the curtain! Watched part of Mozart Mitridate from Spain. Hotel chocolat, Fake or fortune Gerone, Hotel chocolat.

Sunday Fifth of Lent. Frances Wimpress preached so well at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood. Very nice lunch outdoors. Home for a rest. Excellent sermon by Richard Sewell Dean St George’s Jerusalem at Southwark Cathedral. Bob Chilcott St John Passion. What a beautiful work this is. The cellist and the soloists were excellent. Climbing great buildings. Canon John O'Toole died. Bishop John Sherrington going to Liverpool.

Monday Fr Sunith died - sad news. Sent article about mosque May visit. Swim and quiet despite the holidays. Aerobics. To get 7th covid jab and to Penge to order new nets for all front windows. Wrote letter based on church leaders letter about Quaker house arrests. To Town hall for Mayor's Eid reception. He remembered me. Took the opportunity to talk to our Police rep about the Friends House invasion. Food very nice not tea and biscuits. University challenge. Mastermind semi.

Tuesday Liz to Guys. Swim and 7 at quiet time. Sunny so sat on the meadow. I read Richard Carter on Holy Week during covid. Artists and models. Raiders of the lost past.

Wed swim and practice at Beckenham. Liz took card to Lee and had tea at Wibberleys. She also posted cheque at Nationwide. Vicky from Alzheimers society came. She is so helpful and reassuring! Finished the VE80 painting. Bread for the world Duncan McCall who leads group 7 spoke so well. I am playing on Easter day after all - All Saints Shirley! Andreas Loewe on Bonhoeffer who died 80 years ago.