The organist librarian

To 10.30 a.m. ordination of 3 deacons. The music was indeed splendid. Howells, MacMillan, Byrd. Well done David Knight, Adam Dora and Axel. Lovely singing by the Frideswide girls choir from Oxford at St Matthew Westminster. Particularly liked the Robinson canticles and RVW The call. For once the judges of BP portrait award got it right although I liked Resting red headed girl with dog. Robert Seidel last year's travel award winner produced some fine work. The choir of St Matthew Westminster directed by Nigel Groome were excellent at cathedral Mass for Trinity Sunday - Caesar, Britten and Tchaikovsky.

An enjoyable workshop on still life with acrylics at Bethlem and John O'Donnell's paintings really are affirmations of life. Liz at St Joseph's college celebrations. Great preaching at Standing together. If you have woodworm in your posterior you need to get and do something! Saw the Cardinal and Marcin - his address was really excellent! Bishop of Southwark and Bishop of Croydon and lots of black church leaders who really know how to get the crowd going. Big demo about Sudan. A very long confirmation but all did well. Bishop John Wilson was just great. I am now pretty tired after a long stand this afternoon but so glad I went. I found myself shouting Amen in response to the preachers!!! Jesus is the answer to violence and knife crime but we need youth centres, libraries, more and better housing, more police on the beat, more care for each other. All this costs money and time but we must have hope. Tosca from Met on radio 3 with Calleja.

Woke early and got to church by car 8.40.No bells or junior church. Played Mascagni Intermezzo and Easter hymn for Mary Magdalene. Also Tambling on  O filii as we sang O sons and daughters. Visiting preacher good and finished 11.10. Gatwick 11.40 I had not noticed I needed to contact the driver but he appeared in 10 minutes. Assistance from Easyjet. I had time to get  a salad and coffee. Taken to wrong gate and chatted about NHS. Flight delayed 70 minutes lots of kids and crowded. Got his into Toulouse centre seems a charming place with canals. Missed train at 6.30 so got 8.30 one. Ate at Pauls at station found could not read books on Fire without internet but watched downloads Art of Scandinavia and Songs of Praise and read old Oremus. Arrived at 11 and got a taxi with the Oxford ladies. Hotel Metropole room has 2 double beds and we overlook courtyard. Had a beer. Monday to morning prayer and saw the Cardinal and Bishop John. Good breakfast. Choir a bit cramped open air ou...