Joy

 Saturday June 28 woke late hot again. Hurtado on gifts of the Spirit - joy. Ann and Paul safely home. Michael Portillo in Portugal series. Very hot. Abandoned penguins jigsaw. Programme about getting into Oxford university organ scholarship. Corpus Christi procession Maiden lane to Warwick Street. Clarence House history. SS Peter and Paul in the homily we were informed that Peter was a stammerer. There is no evidence for this. Also a date of death was given even Wikipedia says 66-68. His wife was conveniently not mentioned!

Sunday Played at Bromley Methodist for first time and was very well received Elgar and Andrew Moore. 2 hymns new to me. This is the third Methodist church in Bromley and the organ was moved each time and stained glass. The carpets mean the acoustic is poor. SoP from Bradford. Very hot again. Enjoyed London assurance NT at home again. Organ visits with Paul Fey and the Scott brothers.

Monday very hot 31 degrees. Woke late Chat to Ann who is all wrapped up! Swim shortened as I met Ian Morris in the pool, aerobics. Wimbledon.

Tuesday very hot again. Swim and organ practice at Beckenham. Quiet time and Freya joined us. Wimbledon.

Wed set off for Newcastle - car to NJ and assistance. When we got to St Pancras no sign of help so asked and 2 guys arrived. After Liz made a fuss they brought 2 chairs and took us to King's Cross where there was time for Liz to buy lunch at Marks before we were taken to our train. Alas despite careful checking we were going backwards and the same thing happened when we returned. Actually it wasn't too bad. We ot the bus to the Ramada encore Gateshead where we stayed before unpacked and then visited the Baltic. Paintings by the Lanchester sisters and lovely bird's nests and wood circle on the top floor. Good dinner at the hotel - huge helpings of salad and Spanish lager.

Thursday good breakfast and Andrew and his wife gave us a lift to the crematorium where we met Dennis. The service was not religious but the grandchildren all spoke well. NIce to see everyone. The flats at Prudhoe put on lovely food and I got the 4 cousins together for a photo. Jill made a good speeach which I videoed. Barbara took us into town and we walked to the cathedral for evensong which was Byrd and Tallis. The choir of girls did very well. The men sang plainchant. Had a rest at hotel reading Lucinda Riley and Wimbledon.

Friday left cases at hotel and to Discovery Life centre which was excellent. Science show 2 planetarium shows. Lots to do and learn. RC cathedral and shop. Buses back were delayed so booked a taxi and we got to the station in plenty of time. Walked across to St Pancras and train to East Croydon and taxi home after a good trip. Rev shown again on TV!

Saturday Liz to Philharmonia orchestra weekend at St Anne and St Agnes for dementia patients and others which she enjoyed. She stayed at Acton and met C's girlfriend! Daria Bitsuil and Iain Laks playing a super concert at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood. 2 pianos and piano duet. Faiths together in Croydon interfaith walk in Coulsdon. St Andrews where I used to play 10 years ago, Coptic Orthodox and Hindu temple. Jenny, Ann, John's wife from choir, Monica and Moira and Molly all very friendly and met the vicar who is nice. NIce food. Excellent Tredici concert at St James Sussex Gardens. Poulenc, Whitbourn soprano sax. The transport was dire - no buses going through because of Pride so tube and taxi to church. Great to see Richard, James and Alistair again. . Home 10.30.

Played Webber on Lobe den herren, Faure, Darke and Thiman at Beckenham Methodist. Lovely garden party at St John's - some rain! Lionel's last evensong Dyson, Lole, Like as the hart. Wimbledon. Guess what? The minister responsible Steve Reed is not available on Wednesday. Typical of my MP.

Organ crawl 3 churches in Hastings and recital by Tom Bell in Victorian garb. All Saints an untouched Willis, Snetzler at Unitarian church and Christ Church St Leonards. Parking not easy and one ways tricky. Cunning plan by Hastings council on street parking for residents full forcing overnight visitors to pay in car parks. Hove is even worse. We abandoned an organ visit there and went elsewhere!

Tuesday Sissinghurst castle a favourite NT place. Excellent exhibition about Vita Sackville-West at Sissinghurst so I bought one of her novels “Heritage” at the shop. I’d be interested in secondhand copies of her work. Great lunch at the Aperfield Inn Biggin Hill. Joined in organists committee meetin g on zoom. A perfect day. Home by 5.30. Too tired to go to Ben Chewter recital.

Wed Liz to doctor. Washing done and chat to Ann who has had her first piano lesson! Swim. To QEII centre for Climate coalition lobby of MPs. Several animators there and Sam. Excellent speakers especially on our dependence of gas. Giles, Sikh lady and Rabbi Wittenberg. Tea at cathedral hall and Mass with Bishop John. Sat with CAFOD folks. Home by 7. Wimbledon. Too tired to do CCA zoom. Lovely programme Haitink.