Easter 4

 Tuesday swim and to quiet time. Decided not to go to St Paul's for Sons of clergy service - too hot and too noisy beforehand. Parkinson episodes.

Wed. Swim Liz to SJ. Practice and met Dave. Sion Nick King on Jonah. Walkure from ROH at cinema was fantastic. Singing and acting. Having young singers meant that we got the childhood and lifelong trauma of Siegmund and Sieglinde and Brunnhilde as a teenager. Hunding was terrifying and Christopher Maltman as Wotan beautifully sung. Best of all Pappano and the orchestra on fire!

Thursd art was cancelled without warning. Liz went to West Norwood in search of her red coat. Aerobics. Part of Cheltenham meeting. Kumi Choi played at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood. The Bach was quite unusual with lots of reeds. She is a very accomplished player.

A most interesting day in Salford. The launch of the songbook at the Lowry celebrating Laudato Si’ with the children singing in 3 parts and Sir John Rutter conducting his song. It was terrific! Well done all. Immersive experience at The Lowry gallery and Imperial War museum North. Hard to find the entrance and it's a huge space. It was a long day 6am to midnight!

Sat had a rest and read The Tablet. To vicarage tea party at SJ which was very pleasant in the sunshine. Crystal Palace won the FA cup! Eurovison was pretty dismal.

Sun played Easter preludes of Bach and Easter alleluya of Gordon Slater. Nice chat to teacher from Bristol. THeology cafe at SJ on economics and local effects. Evensong Brewer in D and Bairstow Save us O Lord. Watched the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV. There were 3 choirs. Commemtary over the singing irritating.

Monday Liz went to art course in Peckham. Spidir committee. John knows the actress who played Erda in Walkure. Aerobics. Mastermind final won by one point by teacher. Living with dyslexia. 

Tuesday to Brondesbury Park The visit of the Westminster Cathedral interfaith group and friends from North Barnet interfaith forum was excellent. We began with Aliya sharing part of a document on Spiritual ecology by Mohammed Ali Ismail. The 5 students presented a PowerPoint about prophets in the Qu’ran which was a revelation to many of us. A round table discussion followed which addressed many issues including community building, working together, influencing leaders in power and what we can all do. We enjoyed a visit to the mosque and a warm welcome from the Imam followed by lunch. Well done to all involved. It was particularly good to engage with the young people and hear their point of view. To Catenians not many there and it was noisy.