The organist librarian

2 splendid Proms Mahler 6 Daniel Harding and Vienna Phil and Bach well tempered Sir Andras Schiff what an achievement! Puzzled by the BBC proms poetry some of which had little connection with the music. Painted a picture at art and returned scores to Penge, Balham and Kensington libraries. Returned scores to Westminster on Friday in between getting number for Friday night and Last Night. Could not change rucksack as Mountain Warehouse shop in Eccleston street is closed. Rain. 

Swam 20 and got parcel from post office depot having gone once already without passport. Cleaned water features and put in algae control and cleaner. Lou arrived with the boys around 1 p.m. so that had given chance to tidy up and move things higher! Sean got bubble stuff in the otter feature so lots of foam. He also enjoyed the bird bath water. We cleaned up the play house stuff, They played track and watched DVDs. After the meal I went to the Hall for Mahler 2 -too late for the Martin Amis interview which I heard on the radio. Met one of the Philharmonia tenors and he confirmed Chris, David, Edward and Andrew were still singing. On checking the list I could see no soprano from our days, 3 altos and 4 basses. So Stephan has purged the lot! They joined with the Swedish radio choir and it was a good sound. Daniel Harding dared pp and all the ingredients were there but it seemed to hang fire. I used the score without the torch as I was sitting on the other side - large crowd there. The c...

Tuesday to the Horniman where Liz took Ciarán to see the Amazon adventure and aquarium. He liked the animals section and the bees which he remembered. I enjoyed the music section and the Art of Harmony exhibition. We had a very nice lunch outside and loved the chimes in the garden and the water fountain. Had ice creams. What a view on a lovely day! I was pleased to see that there are now lines across the glass doors where Ciarán ran into one. The Prom talk was about Britten's setting of text. I asked a question about Pears and Britten's religious beliefs which was well answered but it did not make the broadcast. Pears was the dominant one I think. Britten veered between conscientious objection to declaring himself a Christian in the 60s. The prom featured Ian Bostridge singing Les illuminations, Tippett and Elgar 2 instead of Sibelius 2. It was LSO and Daniel Harding's tribute to Sir Colin Davis. The Elgar was very fine. 

Up early and swam 20. Helped with bibliographies while Liz worked on the essay and reflections. Hoovered and cleaned kitchen floor.  Watched Britten and violin chamber proms on Iplayer and Schumann Piano concerto on TV. Pre-prom talk on Mozart in Vienna - Third programme style! Lovely prom from Mahler chamber orchestra conducted by Daniel Harding. Mozart led straight into Schumann Symphony 2 which confused the audience. Mozart Piano concerto 25 and Sibelius 7 - such joy! Elizabeth from St John's gallery along with a load of people with squeaky shoes. The lady next to me introduced me to the organist of St Bartholomew Sydenham who is interested in the Hayes vacancy.