Advent 2

 Monday 8th chat to Ann, Passport photo and he gave me a discount as I never used the ones taken last April. Swim. SDEN zoom about Advent was a delight. Phoenix centre Christmas party Sanderstead handbells so lovely and we won 3 raffle prizes. Now have 3 bottles of Baileys! Only connect, Mastermind, University challenge. 

Tuesday to hearing aid clinic - they no longer give out tubes so emailed Guys for them, Bought 5 raffle tickets. Beck meth felt very odd with the curtains taken down! Animal park Christmas special 2020.Loved Cor y Boro Christmas concert for cancer charities. Lovely singing, string quartet, lovely food, great people.

Wednesday to Westminster Abbey for a wonderful service for Advent. Thanks to Terence for telling me about this service. Matthew Martin O Rex gentian, Joubert There is no rose, Coptic and Syriac Orthodox choirs. Address by Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe. Wonderful to see the churches and other faiths there. The King gives such a strong lead. Delighted to see Abby's Mum and Revd Nassir just back from Syria. Liz shopped at Iceland. Finally got hymns for Sunday. Bruce is back. Christians aware zoom with Rowan Williams. SEee no evil exposure of John Smyth is very shocking.

Thursday up early to take Bruce to station in his Christmas jumper. Went back to bed after breakfast. To art and worked on Buddha painting. To leisure centre for very pleasant party for aerobics and clubs folk. To B and Q and bought a tile. Bruce had put the table upstairs and brought the trees down so started on them.

Friday did not go to Unacc as waited for Ben to install a reversing camera in the car which is a huge improvement. Carried on doing the trees. To Scarlet and Gold at Fairfield halls on the bus. Matt Goss can sing well at times! Bands of the Royal Household division on good form.

Saturday Roisin and Michael's wedding a musical bonanza with 3 conductors! To Mass Veni Emmanuel and another chnage of last hymn to Christ be our light. Strictly was great. On Shalom you tube we watched Maestro Muti conduct Cherubini Coronation Mass and receiving the Ratzinger award. He was a friend of Benedict XVI and Pope Leo enjoyed the music.

Channel 5 programme on the Queen’s last Christmas broadcast was most informative. Kingdom comes to an end tonight - it’s an eye opener. Gaudete Sunday at Beckenham Methodist. Played Krebs, Peeters and Walther Wachet auf, Robert Fielding Personent Hodie and Lloyd Webber on Helmsley so the Advent music can go away as I am not due to play next Sunday. Christmas trees decorated while listening to radio 3. BBC singers recording we attended is due at 9 not to be missed! Liz at messy church.i helped clear up. 400 there.

Monday up early to take Liz to station for Guys. Nurse rang about the colostomy. Swim and aerobics. Barbara announced that the leisure centre management had emailed that the music would be changed from January. This led to outraged comments! Practised at St Matthew's - the church is a mess! Christmas tree festival. A most enjoyable meal at Westow Arms the meditation group. I went on buses so could have wine. I had delicious beef and Christmas pudding. Liz was at UCM meal at the Elm Tree. Only connect and University challenge.

Tuesday woke late so no swim. To All Saints for supervision group. Antonio had been in Bali and Oz on sabbatical. Liz joined me there and we went to Cook in West Dulwich. To carers meeting. Harry gave me some useful tips. Watched Art Fund 2014 film Rembrandt the late works. Final what's the monarchy for. We enjoyed the Cathedral music trust Christmas quiz hosted by Xander. Passport application done £94.50! Add to that the cost of postage and repleacement photos.

Wednesday woke late. Swim. Post office (Barclaycard won't work) petrol and printed more Christmas letters. We did not go to Holland Park opera at C and W. To LJS St John’s Wood for excellent interfaith Chanukah. The Australian deputy high commissioner lit the first candle. Dale Eaton is there a condolence book at the Australian embassy? It was different this year and included a Zoroastrian and Jain. Nice eats. I was early so sat in Our Lady's for a while - Christmas trees up. 6 of the group were there. Rita brought her grandson. I was home by 7.30! Early night as I was tired.

Thursday woke late. To art and did a little on Buddha. Very nice eats. Liz rang so I skipped aerobics and took her to the station to go to Guys. Cheltenham was excellent Jane Mellett told us about Cop30. Watched a bit of Next to normal NT. Ordered a new blue bin the dustmen broke the lid. Dead fox in the road. Watched All Creation waits. Choir practice and we enjoyed drinks at White Hart. Good to chat to Dan and Claire. Luckily the Sainsburys garage was still open at 11!

Friday Ann is 69! AnneMarie still unwell so I did not need to pick up Henry. We went to UNacc. Saw the second half of a naff film The Holdovers. Very nice lunch. Decorations done in hall and dining room.

Saturday Tom's Dad Roger died in Ireland. Funeral on Tuesday so they have all gone over. Very sad - he was only 69. Liver bleed. Liz delivered cards. To Mass - we dragged through Holy Virgin and O come Ocome. At least the tree and crib lights were not on. Strictly final was great. George did not win!

Advent 4 Palestrina Missa brevis and Archer Creator of the stars of night . Lovely carol service at St John's. Elgar Benedictus and Nicholas Ansdell-Evans Joseph carol. Best of all Darke in the bleak midwinter. Enjoyed olf Morecambe and Wise shows and Bruce and Ronnie.

Monday woke late. Liz went to get nails done. Practised at St Oswald Norbury worked out how to stop the music stand falling down! The organ has been tuned but it's not great! Alison very friendly. What we watched in 1985. Crib. Ordered new razor and tyre inflator. A real shock. Dan dismissed. "not good enough"!! And we all like him.

Tuesday watched livestream of Rodgie's funeral from Doon. Tom and Ciaran spoke well. Huge family and packed church. Delighted that they are coming on Boxing Day after all. Tree in garden fell over so got stones from back garden to anchor it. Michael Palin and programme on Innes LLoyd. East of Ipswich very funny.

Christmas Eve wind blew tree down. The emails about Dan are most upsetting. Took mince pies to leisure centre and Liz to SJ to help with carols. Beautiful carols from King’s especially Bruckner Ave Maria, favourite Rutter and Berlioz. Played for Midnight at St Matthew Croydon. It’s a 2 manual Mander and Noels and Pachelbel suit it. Bishop Rosemarie and her husband in congregation, The reader gave a most unusual sermon about Rahab! On way home heard the end of Liverpool cathedral broadcast.

Christmas Day Christmas Day at St Oswald Norbury. 3 choir ladies sang well. Played Noels, Ireland Holy boy and Bach In dulci jubilo. It was much appreciated. The crib figures came from the Holy Land in the 20s. Liz went to SJ. Fr John played. Watched Westminster Cathedral mass Cardinal Vincent’s last Christmas there. Delicious mushroom wellington for lunch. The KIng was excellent showing all the right things. Call the midwife was great. Carols from King's. Listened to the broadcast carol service again.

Boxing Day such a joy everybody came and we heard about the funeral - a real village affair. Bruce surprised Liz. I gave her CD of Westminster cathedral Veni sancte spiritus and she gave me a lovely mug with authors. Excellent lunch, salmon, beef, Christmas pudding trifle. Played Trivial pursuit. I fell asleep. No carols! Call the midwife part 2. Great to see Emma Tring and Robin Martin in the Christmas TV concert from Snape Maltings.

St John's day to SJ small choir Eyre conducted by Adrian. Very nice lunch and David was there. Enjoyed the tribute to Prunella Scales and A question of attribution and Queen Victoria.

Holy Family we went to 11.30 am Mass at Addiscombe. How nice to see old friends who still remember us after 20 years! Catching up on Christmas TV Our Lady and English Martyrs Cambridge and Bradford cathedral stunning! Westminster Abbey choir on great form. St Martin’s excellent evensong. Enjoyed tribute to Prunella Scales. I once issued a freedom pass to her. She was so nice! Fasting from 1 and taking stuff. SM walk with Richard and Jolley. Enjoyed Nutcracker from Royal Ballet first part. The medicine led to a right mess on the kitchen floor as I dashed to the loo. Slept OK.

We both got an Uber to Chelsea and Westminster and were early which was good as I was seen straight away. The colostomy went well and 3 polyps were removed to be checked. It was fascinating watching the screen. I did not go to sleep. All the staff were lovely. Visited the chapel where there is a Veronese! Uber home and rested in the lounge. Cinderella from Royal Ballet 2023. Memorial service for Thomas Becket from Canterbury. ONly connect, Christmas university challenge. Celebrity apprentice.