The organist librarian

Friday set up book sale, senior development forum at Putney went O.K. To hospital after work. Saturday tai chi and Dennis here again. Book sale going alright. Home to see Ciarán and Louise and saw then Sunday morning. Trinity Sunday only 4 in choir (rest singing at Canterbury) so we sang "Most ancient of all mysteries" and "Father we adore you". I played Willan on "Nicaea" and Harper's Triptych of the Holy Trinity. We sang "Holy, holy, holy" "Eternal ruler of the ceaseless round" "Thou whose almighty word" and "This day God gives me" so a good choice with the Inwood setting and Rutter Gloria. Practised and coffee and then to Purley listening to Gyorgy Pauk's Desert Island discs. Gave Bill organ music for manuals with an explanation encouraging him to avoid "O sacred head" and "Wachet auf" at Eastertide. Canon O'Sullivan. Deacon Joe Parsons does nothing. 2 servers sloped in late and wer...

Monday and Tuesday 40 lengths. The Hungarian Olympic champion as I call him was going far too fast! Monday finished at 6 and to St Cyprian's for MacMillan slog. Tuesday met with children's librarians and attended rhymetime (41 kids!). Good staff meeting with lots of involvement. Met 2 more staff in office. The Balham town centre manager came to see me and I met the manager of Waitrose. More weeding - a good day!

Just missed bus so only 34 lengths. I saw 3 staff for a get to know you chat in the office. Have still to actually do a parking permit! Did some more clearing up. Chat on Skype to Shirley and Micky. Grandma had a fall so Liz and Dennis went to see her.

40 lengths and saw Jim at bus stop as usual. Yesterday was a lovely clear day with a feel of spring in the air but today is wet again. Put up pictures in office and locker but I have so many some will have to go to church and others be stored. Giulini has pride of place! Did some weeding in 700s and a busy time on information desk. Closing procedure and on train to West Norwood at 8.19 and home by 8.45 which is not bad. Liz, Dennis and Louise arrived later having been to see Ciarán who is trying to stand and smiling a lot! Watched a bit of Masterchef and had an early night.War is declared on sellotape and tippex. Sellotape dispensers are potential weapons and scissors must be kept out of sight. Stationery order has to be redone. My box containing my mug and sandals is still at BTP! Nice shirt and tie from Khadija came on van.

Had to walk to pool as Whitehorse Lane was closed. Policeman allowed me to walk down left-hand side of the road. Turned out there had been a murder of a 26 year old after a wedding. Buses were diverted. 30 lengths as a result. Jeremy greeted me and all the staff very helpful. Unpacked boxes and saw Jeremy. Completed H & S. Quite clear that Marijana had been leaving things because she was retiring. I finished at 2 and eventually got the message from Coulsdon that the organ had been well covered so no need to go there. I returned home and Liz came back from the funeral at Northfleet of Ros's Dad, a deacon John Tuggey. I went to MacMillan rehearsal and this upset Liz again. I fell asleep on the train coming home and ended up at East Croydon so came back to Norwood Junction and bus to Selhurst to get the car. She has made contact with Jackie's singing teacher in Orpington.

Today not allowed to walk down Whitehorse Lane - have to go round says policeman but does not say go via Ross Road or Whitworth Road so I walk down Egerton Road to the scene of the crime! Police let me through and take my name and address! 30 lengths - Marvin passed his French exam. My first 9 to 8 for 10 years! Saw HT and SP. Put out flowers in library and changed labels to my name. Threw out some stuff but there is loads to do. To Sainsburys at lunch time - it is huge and eventually found the cappuccino and biscuits which I ought to try and give up for Lent! Very pleasant young man on checkout. In the evening weeded fiction 4 bays - the whole library needs doing! Informed a casual that I needed a full hour of shelving from her. Home by about 8.45 and delicious pancakes with hot fruit sauce. Produced notices for interfaith group. Printer would not work - turned out there was a pen in the paper feed! Dennis and AnnMarie arrived from Burnley very late. Sent email to chorus withdrawing f...

40 lengths. Prepared display of photos - very nostalgic! 2 boxes and large bag of pictures on van to Balham, including artificial flowers and numerous photos. To park for a nice walk if rather cold. To town hall - saw CD and DS and met with AG and MJ - very positive and helpful. To Wandsworth Town for discussion with DA. Saw GM (expecting) and CM. To Mahler 2 rehearsal, Liz did her reassessment with Stefan who worked on her posture! I got fed up with a young pro behind me who did not sing pp at all. Richard next to me from National Youth choir. Fell asleep on train and ended up at Waddon back to Selhurst and football coming out so 75 bus and walk home. Fed up, black shoes not comfy and tired and cold. Nice pc from Tasmania from Rosemary and Lyn.

To Balham for SDF and Marijana's farewell lunch. Sam is to come to BTP which is great and Ros replaces Fiona. DS came to tell staff and see RA. Liz had to take Grandma into King's for kidney infection so she had the car. I nipped in home and had a quick bite and then buses to Coulsdon. Practised in church for a bit but it was cold so we went downstairs. The acoustic in the empty building is excellent. Our final attempt at the Byrd Senex puerum was the best! Gibbons going well too. Long wait for 60 and 468 so I was frozen. Had hot toddy with whisky. Woke today to snow again!

To Balham for second session with Marijana who was bossy and patronising! To Carlisle Place looking for SW1 gallery which I did not find. Saw Hanna outside cathedral. Mahler 2 rehearsal with Stefan Bevier on great form and getting soft controlled singing. But he had the 6 first tenors singing unaccompanied - very tiring. Gave him Peter Wright's greetings and spoke to Annaliese about Lesley. To Jugged Hare to meet Liz, Fr Michael and later Mark (confirmation class) Ian and baritone also there. Late home after much red wine had been drunk. I was driving!

Lie-in only a short swim as pool was busy. To Balham library where Marijana tried to tell me far too much in 4 hours. I was desperate for coffee by 11. She even went through the gameplan as if I have not done dozens of them! Mind you the budget is far bigger than my present one! Much of the infrastructure needs replacing like alarms. To BTP for a while and then to visit Louise and Ciarán. He had a nice sleep on my shoulder and was then grizzly - he has grown a lot. Underground to chorus reading CMQ. Nic did difficult bits of the MacMillan. Told Jean about the promotion. Liz was at confirmation class and then at the Jugged Hare.

I had my usual swim (it was quite slippery in our road but later rain cleared the snow) and met Chris D on the bus from Clapham Junction so that was good. The interview was 1 and a quarter hours and went really well. There were 2 other candidates. Back to the library and then to York library for community workers meeting. Back to BTP for start of the reminiscence group - 9 came and they loved chatting - it was hard to get them to stop! Julian rang with the news and I was so chuffed! This means a higher salary and a better pension. A lot more work but I can cope. Working until 8 twice a week and 9.30 to 6 on alternate Saturdays so will not be able to serve alternate weeks which is a shame. I will also have to go in occasionally on Sundays to meet staff. It is nearer home and an exciting challenge. I started there as a humble music librarian 35 years ago! Spoke to MR and MJ. To chorus and Nic Chalmers was excellent. Stephan Bevier was also there!

On the 9th I worked and to Vespers and Mass - Liz and I were a little late as on the bus. Fr Michael at mass. Train home. I always think this feast is intriguing. Why did Jesus have to be baptised? I think it was to show him and everyone around who He was. The voice from heaven is the whole point. He is then driven into the wilderness and begins his ministry with that amazing statement at Nazareth - "this day this prophecy is fulfilled". On the 10th we sang a lovely setting of "Come down O love divine" by Hilary Tadman-Robins born 1947 one year after me and I played Bach's "Christ the Lord to Jordan came" which was one of Dad's party pieces. I was rather chuffed I got the pedal part right. The left hand running semiquavers are more tricky. Spent the afternoon taking the tree and decorations down but the crib stays up until Candlemas. The tree in the front garden will have to stay for the moment because of the snow! The boxes are still waiting to go...

Monday Jan 4th and we returned home. Walked up to the bus along the road because of the snow and got the bus to Metro centre then train to Hexham and on to Carlisle. I stayed with the luggage at the station and Liz got to the cathedral but was unable to buy a mug for her collection! Virgin train to Euston on time and lots of snow. X68 to home and time to change to go to Catenians. I took Roses chocolates to celebrate Ciarán's arrival and they were much appreciated. 5th to work and Abi started. Caroline's last day. Abi is keen and young. I visited Balham librray on the way home and saw Marijana who is retiring. Clearly a busy place (I worked there before years ago) and not enough space! On the 6th snow really came down at home so stayed home. No way could get to spirituality day and tried to get bus to chorus Christmas party but no hope of a bus! I worked on the application form for Balham job. It is a higher grade so good to retire on the highest possible grade. On the 7th by t...

18th staff meetings and to ACCL for excellent party to farewell Selma Elrayah. Met her husband. To choir practice on train because of snow. 19th to reading group. Philip Neale and Lyn were late coming from Essex and used Power point. Unfortunately this meant that we did not really discuss "A ticket to Tewkesbury". The lunch at Antipasto was excellent but went on rather long - I had zabaglione! Met Liz at Hammersmith hospital to see Doris and no time to meet Louise. Only there for 20 minutes and then to Mass. Archbishop was starting 5 deacons off! Ann's birthday. 20th Stayed at church all day because of snow and read The Tablet with lunch from Waitrose. Nine lessons went really well. Only one mishap where Norman was late at rehearsal and came in on wrong note in Noel nouvelet! To Vickie's for nibbles and drinks. Most enjoyable. 21st King's Cambridge concert at Albert Hall. Stephen Cleobury as friendly as ever. Rutter Gloria good and Messiah choruses. The choir on g...