The organist librarian

Fr Jerry blessed chalk so we can write above our front doors 20+C+M+B+18 the year and the Magi Casper, Melchior and Balthazar. It also stands for Christus Mansionem Benedict "May Christ bless this house". He also gave us some lovely prayers to say as we do it. My hands were so cold today I found it hard to turn pages! Peregrine sang Three Kings beautifully. I played Buxtehude and Gade on How brightly shines. Also Andrew Fletcher on Was lebet one of my favourite hymns O worship the Lord. I have enjoyed serving and playing for the Epiphany 2018. For some reason we tend to be away for it e.g. Sydney 2017, India 2015 and 2013, and York Minster 2012. Tree and decorations down and put away. Cribs and dining room tree stay up until Candlemas. Stunning playing and musicianship from Nicola Benedetti with the London Mozart Players at St John's. Beethoven violin concerto and Coriolan overture. She signed my score. The rapport with the conductor a joy to watch. Lots of children ther...

After Mass to Balham library to get lots of scores. To St Stephen Wallbrook and Christopher Harris asked if anyone would be brave and turn pages for him so I volunteered and got a clap! He played really well - Bach, Langlais, Telemann and Liszt and great to have the whole Dvorak Largo from the New World. He practises at Tunbridge Wells RC so knows Fr Peter! I had to go back to the church as my Michael Palin Sahara book had fallen behind the bench. Glad to get it back as I am enjoying it and it was a present from the junior choir. Met Nigel Groome and said I would try and get to his recital at St Matthew's his new appointment. To the cathedral to do welcoming - people from USA, Germany and Spain.

Listened to Ripon cathedral broadcast (well done Tim Harper) and watched History quiz on the Tudors and Mrs Brown's Boys. Nice chat to Ann in Tasmania. We walked up to Grangewood park - railings need painting. C atching up on recorded TV - Dickensian, Carlos Acosta in Carmen, Darcey's ballet heroes. Dennis came for dinner and I played the piano and we watched Christmas lecture and Michael Palin on Artemesia Gentileschi. Brentwood cathedral Midnight Mass was splendid.

To Waterman and music session with Tamar. Ciarán seemed a bit out of sorts but Merle enjoyed it. To Marks at Kew for a nice lunch and Louise did some shopping. Home to Acton and I stayed until 7.30 bedtime. Liz went to RCIA. I didn't go to Margaret Lane's spirituality day but listened to vespers from the cathedral. Superb MacMillan Magnificat and new piece by Diana Burrell. Michael Palin in Brazil was good.

To Terence's for a delightful lunch with cake and champagne to celebrate Adrian's 40 years at St John's. Anne Fleming was there. Louise brought Seán who fell asleep in my arms! To confirmation and Paul was in a good mood and asked what I'd like to do. I ended up doing book and various other jobs as Eugene and Eric did not make it. Tim was assistant MC. Bishop Alan Hopes and 26 candidates. Told Fr Alexander I had a dream about him dismissing me as assistant master of music! He laughed. Fr Michael had his photo taken in the black cope for All Souls vespers on Friday. Paolo has to sign in with the police each week! Watched Michael Wood on story of India and some useful material on Buddhism. Michael Palin in Brazil is fun. Sunday to Catenian Mass for 6 provinces. We took the car as trains up the creek and it was very wet. Bishop John and I was crozier. G minor mass and Mawby Ave verum stunning as always. Nice lunch at the Rubens of beef but we had to wait while each table ...

To Brentford on trains and bus and met the family at softplay. Amelia was there with Rufus and Scarlett and her Australian mother-in-law. Had a very nice lunch at Syon House - I had beef pie. Built track and the boys put on their Buzz outfits. To opticians in Ladbroke Grove and Mr Shannon advised new specs - £591! Not had new ones for 4 years and eyes are healthy! To British Museum to see the Spanish prints especially Goyas and fine Asian galleries and Asian drinking rituals. To Westminster Abbey for Professor Keith Ward's lecture on faith and secularism. Saw Graham Hedges. Watched Michael Palin in Brazil and University challenge.

Up early despite a day off and watched end of Big silence part 3. Also more episodes of Michael Wood's history of England based around Kidworth in Leicestershire. Changed to thick quilt, hoovered and took out vegetable stuff to compost heap. To Towards Advent in cathedral hall and saw John Ainslie and Mary Rouse on SSG stall, also met Clare and Polish tenor from Acton who sang at the wedding! Bought a CTS booklet on praying with Newman. To Royal Academy. The Glasgow boys very crowded. Nothing new under the sun an intriguing collection of old and new. Dennis was late for tea and we only saw him for 15 minutes! Vespers and confirmation with Bishop Alan Hopes who does it so well! The new Westminster children's choir enthusiastic but not very much on the note and this caused younger servers to giggle. We sang Now thank we all our God and Peter played the Karg-Elert. Car in Pimlico and home amid fireworks. We got fish and chips. Watched Michael Palin on the end of World War I. Alexa...

A lie-in and carried on with the Holy Land blog - I have reached Galilee! Louise came over to get a hat for the wedding only to find the hat hire shop closed! She accompanied us to smoke vespers and mass for Epiphany (sadly transferred to Sunday). We had 7 servers and I went through the movements beforehand with cross and acolytes. Challoner choir murdered some items. I came home on the train - it was very cold. Liz took Louise and her presents home and unfortunately Louise caught Liz's head when shutting the boot so they went to A & E at Hammersmith and it was glued. Liz came home in a taxi as I could not get through to the insurance company to add Louise on to the insurance so the car is in Hammersmith at the pub. I watched Michael Palin revising India.

The year is slipping away. The pool was late opening so only did 20 lengths. Good thing I left when I did as the 8.03 train was cancelled. I got the earlier one to Victoria and was in the library by 8.45. Watched programme on early career of Mrs Thatcher and fell asleep during Michael Palin programme.

On Wednesday I took it easy and finished reading Michael Palin's excellent "New Europe". I also went to the dentist again and Judy did the root flling. I didn't go the cathedral spirituality day or my Sharing in his life group or the servers Guild dinner but Liz did. She also went to the presentation of Guild of Church Musicians awards by the Cardinal in the Lady chapel and she served at that. Alas I missed meeting Desmond Tutu!!! Grrrrr! Always wanted to meet him! Alison Stimpson got her ACertCM. Actually had I been there I would nto have gone to tea as I would have had my group meeting any way. Such is life! Thursday to my health check and all is well. Same South African lady doctor I saw last year and she said I was OK. Then to the church to find Last Post and Reveille copy for Remembrance Sunday which turned out to be under Blair, Hugh! Practised that and the other pieces. Then to Stationers Hall for the Chorus 50th anniversary reception as by then I was feeling b...

At Coulsdon there was a baptism and we sang Darke in E and "The Lord hath been mindful of us" by Wesley. The hymns included "Oft in danger, oft in woe" and "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds". My playing of Elgar's "Chanson de Matin" and Pomp and Circumstance March No.4. Liz acted as cantor at vespers at short notice last night - she had served at the big Polish Mass. She cooked a nice lunch of mackerel with orange and onion, mushrooms and courgettes. At evensong there were 6 in the choir and I sang bass and acted as cantor. We sang John Harper's RSCM Choristers' Prayer, Rutter's "I will sing with the spirit" and Dyson in C minor which is in unison. The choir sat on one side of the chancel and the small congregation on the console side.Teresa included one of the prayers for musicians I had provided. I played Francis Jackson's voluntary on "East Acklam" as we sang "For the fruits of His creation" ...

Watched Palin in Europe and enjoying his book on this too, Stephen Fry on HIV, Antiques Roadshow.

Steak for birthday lunch and crumble! To Croydon Parish church for 4pm ordination of 4 deacons including Linda Williams from St Andrew's. Good turnout of Coulsdon parishioners (I sat next to Vickie) and St Matthew's folk too. Martin Goodlad was there too. 4 good hymns to sing but no Veni Creator! Bishop Nick on good form. Holdup after offertory hymn and we could have sung another communion hymn. Penny Brown preached well. To Grandma's to move broken fridge into garage - new one coming tomorrow. Bruce rang and missed me so sent a face book wall message. Dennis rang from Dublin. Off to watch Antiques roadshow and Michael Palin - hope to stay awake!

Have now starting prioritising work and I produced a listing of our current workload and prepared an email about a workshop with Nigel Groome in November. Louise and Tom came for Sunday lunch with CD of the wedding photos which are superb. Had a quiet afternoon enjoying sunshine and watched some old programmes. Songs of praise for harvest, Antiques Road show, Michael Palin in Bulgaria and Turkey. Interesting book on Olivier. Handel prom. Also cleaned kitchen floor and hoovered. Fed the birds.

To St John's for Harvest evensong - canticles by Coleridge-Taylor, Kindle a flame by Michael Fleming and "A new commandment" by Peter Nardone, all composers who lived locally. The same programme will be sung by the choir at Southwark cathedral on Saturday. Liz will go but I will be working. Watched Antiques roadshow and Michael Palin in Eastern Europe.