The organist librarian

41 books read this year, 27 last year, 30 in 2016, 30 in 2015. Liz went to children's workshop at St John's and returned with a large white paper star. Ein Karem scene of the Visitation has a tragic past linking it to Yad Vashem and the destruction of Palestinian villages and the massacre at Deir Yassin. 254 children, women and men died in1948. We must never let these holocausts happen again. Tony Graham With sure fierce love towards Galilee1998. How time flies! 10 years since the Belmont Holy Land pilgrimage, I first went there in 1972 and have been fortunate to go 3 times in all. And still no peace! Catching up on Masterchef the Professionals and Laurence won! I had hoped all along he would. Reflecting on Christmas 1914 when carols brought a day of peace maybe music could bring enemies together in the Holy Land? Daniel Barenboim gave the lead on this. Just watching 100 years of King's carols. It must be molto scary to be a treble there and suddenly get to sing the...

To Meopham for the funeral of Peter Stevens . There was an excellent turnout from Province and further afield including National Council. The parish priest is also chair of KCSP and was not friendly at Ashford sports day. He is autocratic and very much a one man band so no servers! The organist is old and seems to only use one lot of stops. She murdered Mozart, Purcell and Bach! Soloist also elderly. We did not go to the crem but straight to the country club where the company and food were good. Long chat to Charles Nicholls and some networking with directors. Watched Masterchef and Apprentice and programme on Bentleys. 

No swim but Mass.  Went to South London interfaith group lunch and spoke about Safe Passage, Christians and interfaith in Jerusalem and Grenfell Tower memorial service Watched The Crown = shocked by Duke of Windsor revelations. Spoke to Ann. Masterchef professional final. 

Wednesday a quiet day. Louise took a couple of calls and Seán played and watched DVDs. Bruce helped to keep him amused. Did not go out. Watched Masterchef and Christmas university challenge and finally saw the last Christmas lecture about robots from 2014! At dinner opened a bottle of Julio Gallo Rose 2014 and it was sour so opened another which was fine! Did some work on ancestry.com - Pauline Clarke no help at all! BBC archives programme interesting and Mrs Brown's Boys.

Lovely John Lewis carol service with gorgeous new carol by  Thomas Hewitt Jones  which he must send to  Stephen Cleobury  !!It's called A Golden tree - great words by Paul Williamson. There were some interesting items by Philip Stopford and Praetorius, also Chilcott and Poulenc. Excellent choir and nice to have Authorised version read in the cathedral. We even had a sung dismissal of the choir in the Lady chapel! Watched Masterchef professionals final and Christmas university challenge.

Bruce working on wooden raised beds in back garden. To Heythrop to sing at mass - Helen Walsh played well. She plays at Brockley and belongs to SSG so has seen the article. We had to wait to get into chapel as there was an Anglican Eucharist to celebrate St George's college, Jerusalem. I otld one of the ladies about the kneelers from Coulsdon in St George's cathedral and she knew them. To coffee and then the library, Met Fr Xavier and Ahmad, also Mike from Liz's group. Worked on essay - earlier I had uploaded declaration fors and got them worng so emailed Michael. Early at the cathedral for Mass. The European Bishops conference were meeting at St Katharine's dock about relations with Muslims. They went to vespers. Met young priest from  Denver and Fr Joseph Ellul from Malta. He is a Dominican he lectures in Arabic at the Gregorian university. Lovely singing at Mass and I was mitre. Jon Dal Din came and met Cardinal Tauran - who is quite frail and very French. He said y...

Tuesday to Heythrop for the forum which was on "What is yoga?" Good presentations on history and development and modern yoga and its commercial aspects. Nice lunch and good networking. Next time issues need to be addressed like the Catholic document on yoga. It was worth going. Martin Ganeri hardly spoke to me - has he been told about my moans? To Acton and played with Ciarán. Liz was at servers council. Watched Masterchef. Wednesday took Ciaran to Maples nursery and Seán to music. Picked up Ciarán and enjoyed walk in Acton park and tea in the cafe then I went to Heythrop for dinner and lecture. Thursday met Louise at Tate Modern and enjoyed Roy Lichtenstein retrospective and had coffee in the members room. To Heythrop for Mass and Richard Price gave an excellent homily on the new Pope Francis I who was announced last night. Liz was interviewed by BBC London but was  not on TV. Heythrop Feastival featured football between philosophers and theologians, a fashion show, short t...