The organist librarian

Unpacked and Ocado delivered so put all that away. Washing on the line but it rained later on. Liz went to take Henry swimming as Dennis hurt eye and AnnMarie had an infected insect bite but it wasn't happening so they went to Crystal Palace park. Fr Rajiv at Mass and he requested quicker moves as he has to cut his homily every week! I said we were obsessed with the length of Mass whereas in India time was not important!  Michael Butterfield has gone to Truro as acting assistant director of music. Watched Sheku play Elgar superbly and with great feeling and Steinberg. Also Stephen Hough playing Mendelssohn and Prince Albert on a gold piano from Buckingham Palace. Excellent prom for Sir Henry Wood 150th including Ireland and Grainger. On Proms encore they used the footage of us crowning the bust! 

I went to Mass this morning at Addiscombe and Signposts posters are up and it will be in the newsletter this weekend. The new priest from Kerala kept on about die-vorce and sex and told us to close our eyes and pray! Delivered posters to St Chad's and Holy Innocents. Lovely lunch with John Hallmark who was a Wandsworth councillor for 16 years. He was deselected and despite the wheelchair is a governor of school and hospital. He is RC. The person next to us prayed for John! Loved the Leonardo drawings at the Queen's Gallery and the loop audio is excellent. Why can't other galleries provide this? At Somerset House a display by Saturday children's art groups from across the UK and photos and videos of immigrants. A first visit to St Mary Le Strand for evensong sung by King's college London with Michael Butterfield playing a Viscount. Lovely anthem by Philip Moore Sancte et sapienter. Why are Charles 1 and his queen not on the wall? St Matthew Westminster for a beautif...

Bravo Michael Butterfield such musical playing! Great to chat to you, Marko Sever, Peter Stevens, Andrsez and Gerard Brooks. Nice cafe Conran kitchen. Rosemary Shaw is on SPIDIR committee with me a lovely surprise to see her in Oxo gallery exhibition on women priests, also vicar from Tooting who as at iftar last week. Met Dale Eaton at Globe Swan showcase very nice and enjoyed chat over tea. Champagne and canapes. Osterley 100th meeting very enjoyable evening and a substantial meal. Came back with Croydon brothers home at 12.15 in taxi.

A stimulating session at Dulwich with Norman Harper. I have not been getting Couperin registrations correct. Dulwich gallery Sahlberg Norwegian disappointing. To Wallace collection to see impressive Henry Moore helmets and sketched 3. Simon Gledhill entertained us at Bloomsbury Baptist. Peterborough Chamber choir sang Howells and Mathias beautifully at Mass ably accompanied by Michael Butterfield. Like as the hart was gorgeous. Earth hour so dinner by candlelight including strawberries. Race around the world reaches China. 

Swim, mosaic. Organ recital at St Martins in the fields well attended. Polina Sosnina plays musically. To RAM masterclass with Susan Landale. Unfortunately she spoke a lot to the player rather than us. She needed a mike. Marylebone Church not a comfortable space. Michael Butterfield and James Orford played well. I enjoyed the women musicians exhibition at the Royal Academy museum. To Broadcasting House for the recording of 2 heats of Brain of Britain to be broadcast in April. Most enjoyable and I did better in the second round getting 11 right.

To Mass in rain, Liz saw nurse about her hand - she fell outside school. 2 mosaics finished and we now have a break until June while some go to Corfu. Finished 2 small mosaics and chose Van Gogh for next project in June. Bravo Peter King at St Michael Cornhill cheering up a wet day with a varied programme. An enjoyable evening at Duke's Hall Royal Academy of Music. 6 excellent organists competing for the Dorothy Cooper prize won by James Orford. Thomas Trotter adjudicating. Well done Marko Sever and Michael Butterfield and great to see Paddy Russill and meet the South African Hannes Ebersohn. Andrzej Malitowski and Jamie Rogers also impressed. It is so important to play expressively and not just fast and loud.

To Mass and Liz did shopping. Concert 53 for John and 33 pre Prom talks. Delightful art group garden party dodging rain. Super Tchaik Manfred and Rachmaninoff piano concerto 1. Great to see  Michael Butterfield  from Sydney who is starting postgrad organ course at RAM and staying in new student accomodation in Goldhawk Road. Good discussion on Byron with Sam West doing thee readings. Saw Chris Tew on train and got home in 45 minutes.