The organist librarian

Swam and Mass. Grenfell Tower memorial service from St Paul's is going to be very moving. Be still my soul and Fr Gerard Skinner and representative from the mosque carrying the Grenfell banner. St Paul's service beautiful and very moving especially the children. Giles Fraser on this old heart of mine radio 4. To Design museum to see Beazley designs of the year (I voted for a new typeface for all languages),Ferrari and Jon Snow ties. Tea and mince pie at Marks.  Prof Frank Clooney SJ brilliant on 4 Jesuits in India at Heythrop. Good to see old friends.Michael Redman, Sylvia MacDonald, Fr Malachy.  

Saturday to the Festival hall for Roald Dahl festival. The concert was sold out but the story bed was great and Ciaran loved posting dreams in a jar and then sorting them out downstairs -  a very simple but clever installation. Also chalk on the floor, audio books and story telling boats. Lunch at Giraffe sitting outside with blankets! Story of suitcases and an excellent guided tour through the wonderful world of Roald Dahl. Lovely meal at the Canteen with the family which was a nice surprise. Watched Dickensian and the 70s. Had a wierd dream about an ordination with PM and Louise Sage.  Went to 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's West Croydon. Arrived at church to find a large skip full. I have now brought nearly all my organ music home! It seems a pity that the paper was not recycled but a clearout was certainly needed! I played Bach Lenten preludes and Fantasia in C minor. Only one more week of the Murray setting - hurrah! Have played it nearly every week for 3 years apart from Chris...

Liz at Acton and servers council dinner. To St Mary's for 9 a.m. practice tme lost by morning prayer then told to play! I played Faure, Elgar and Handel and Brahms. Fr Michael very friendly. The ladies turned up to sing plainchant mass setting unaccompanied - not bad. Fr M announces nothing and adds to the Mass all over the place particularly bad during the censing of the coffin. Louise Sage there. I got to Bandon Hill cemetery in the end having got slightly muddled. Tony was buried with Bernadette. To Wndmill pub and Felicity and Hilary were there and John Beers' wife. Met Michael Mead and 2 singers from Southwark cathedral Thursday singers - it was my email which alerted Peter Wright to the funeral. To LJS for Channukah. Paul Champain director of 3 Faiths forum spoke and the mixed-up chorus sang well, We learnt 2 songs and 4 candles were let. Met several people over doughnuts - John usher at cathedral, Bishop Michael Ipgrave, Michael Redman, Alan Rainer. Home to watch The Ap...

Tuesday swam. To RAC club to meet Michael Redman for lunch. I had forgotten to wear a jacket but there was no problem. Siriol did not come. Had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding in the Long Bar. Took a photo of the lovely swimming pool. Then to Aldgate East for visit to the East London mosque which is very impressive. I popped into Whitechapel gallery and saw Emily Jacir exhibition.  Liz and Jan came and Juber was a most informative host explaining Islamic history very clearly. We also saw the old synagogue which the mosque has purchased - it is right next door and there were still old prayer books and shawls under the seats. Then we went to Moorgate and got a train to Alexandra Palace. The dinner was good (steak pie and trifle) and was in the Lanesborough room which has remarkable frescoes. The silent film was brilliantly accompained by Duncan Mackenzie. Buster Keaton in the Cameraman and we also saw London scenes. There were some technical hitches and at one point the organ stopp...

Swam 20 and we both went. Started elephant mosaic as we could not decide on the corners of the border! Qi gung and meditation. To West London synangogue for a moving service including Peter Tatchell and lovely singing. Great to see Michael Redman, Jon dal Din and the nuns. Sat with Stefan Byron. Briefly met Mrs Gryn. The concert by the London International orchestra was good with lovely singing. Most moving was the Schindler's list theme and Nimrod at the end. Lady next to me impressed by my sketching. First woman bishop consecrated in York Minster. 

Woke at 7 but dropped off so no swim. I went to South London interfaith lunch where we heard about the campaign against the arms trade, then to Chanukkah with William Rhind at Liberal Jewish synagogue (Michael Redman was there) and to Kidbrooke for commissioning of Bonny's husband as Church Army evangelist. Took ages to find Onespace in the dark!

Swam 20. Met Michael Redman at Royal Academy and went round the summer exhibition which Brian Sewell quite rightly slated! Very few pictures of quality - one fine drawing of a spoonbill and some nice prints. Hugh Casson display much better. To RAC club for a lovely lunch and chat. I had roast beef and a huge Yorkshire pudding. To British library and joined up again by a very nice man who goes to Christ Church Beckenham - he loves the organ and had 6 hymns at his wedding at St John Redhill! To Senate House and found scores then had to buy a bag to carry them! To Catenian council meeting at Brendan's. Philip was being awkward again! Fell asleep on the sofa and had a dream about a presentation for Catenians today! Wed Swam 20.

Swam 22 - woman in yellow cap insisted on going fast in our lane when she could have gone in fast lane! Some people! To Heythrop to see Michael Barnes and discussed essays and dissertation which is now Meister Eckhart and Buddhists: what appeals to Buddhists? Think I can cope with that. Chatted about opera and Giulini. Had a delightful lunch with Michael Redman - always an interesting chat. Worked in library on Eckhart reviews. No. 9 bus on a lovely sunny afternoon to Somerset House - a good exhibition on Becoming Picasso 1901 at the Courtauld and then a fine photography exhibition in the East Wing. Some amazing photos. To SS Anselm and Caecilia in Kingsway for Mass celebrated by the Archbishop for Michael O'Leary 50 years as server and diocesan award and 50 years of Guild at the church. Ian Coleman directed Mozart Spatzenmesse and Palestrina. Not sure his unaccompanied psalm setting worked for the congregation! Home to watch programme on Turner.

Swam 23 and Liz came too. To Christ Church Methodist for Rosalie Hughes's funeral - packed church and lots of Our Lady's parishioners. Saw Fr Denis and warm greetings from many people. Alan Hickox played really well and excellent choices including Ave verum and How beautiful are the feet. Peter Clarke preached on communion. Nick sang well from Elijah, Arthur and Cath read inspiring readings very well. Fr Joe led prayers and gave the blessing. It was truly ecumenical. Great hymns sung with gusto Dear Lord and Father, Lord for the years, Love divine, How great thou art. Had time for tea and some chat and then to St John's to sing at Judith Wallace's funeral. The church was very cold. We managed Ave verum by Byrd - at least Frank kept in time in the end! Dear Lord and Father and Love divine (why can't we have the Stainer tune?) The King of love and The day tho gavest. Bridget played and conducted - Adrian and Terence in Laos. Nice eats and people had travelled a long ...

Swam 24. Have not been all week but now snow has largely gone and the car was clear this morning. It was St Francis de Sales yesterday - I had not realised that he was in Calvin's Geneva. His gentle approach must have helped. Reading Helios on Judaism and Christianity. Damian responded well to my comments on the course and changes are likely which is encouraging. Liz still finds the authoritarian approach at the cathedral difficult. Everybody watching their back and checking with higher authority about the smallest things! How can change ever occur in such circumstances? Philip very funny about Catenians. Helios now showing 3 of my videos of ordination, first Mass and Kurisamala. Liz to West Wickham and got my watch fixed. Rat catchers came so set one up. Liz to marriage preparation course and I went to St Paul Rossmore Road NW1 where Michael Redman is curate for the patronal festival, procession and reception in the school. Cold. Wore my More than Gold jacket for the first time -...

To Bromley to return Debussy score and attend festival winners concert. Excellent Fench horn and cello. 15 year old girl singing like an opera singer - not to my taste. Older man best in a comic song rather than Handel or Schumann. 2 good pianists. Flute and harp started well then in second piece harp cocked it up twice. Saw Gary Sieling and chatted to a man from Harrow male voice choir. To St Paul's cathedral for Karen Armstrong the case for God. She made it clear that we can say very little about God at all as "He" is beyond all telling. Focused on compassion and the golden rule. Road to Emmaus was well explained at question time. Covered a lot of ground and myth as action, mystery as doing very interesting. Sat with Simon Surtees and saw Michael Redman. Watched Ian Hislop on stiff pper lip and Great British bake off. Did some more reading.

Swam 24 and Liz came but the water was cold and the "muzak" far too loud. To mosaic and cleaned up the mosaic and had a session of tile cutting. To St Paul's cathedral queueing in pouring rain. The Dalai Lama received the Templeton Prize which he promptly gave away $1.5 million, £900,000  to Save the children fund because of how they had helped Tibetan children, some to Mind and Life and some to Tibetans in India to study science! He said he had empty pockets - he was charming and amusing. A simple message - money does not bring happiness, love, forgiveness and compassion bring happiness. Jessye Norman sang 2 spirituals and the choir sang Hadley and Britten Jubilate. Stunning organ fanfares and Bach at the end. I was in North transept and could see the podium well and also a screen with the text from the live web cast. White scarves were given out including Andrew Carwood. I was amused at Rowan Williams not having to show a ticket. Met Michael Redman for coffee and a ch...