The organist librarian

Uber to East Croydon. Breakfast at Gatwick Avirgny flight delayed but arrived 11.30. Hertz car rep met us and the Ford Corsa is an upgrade. Did not really want this as it is wider than our Jazz and the roads are narrow with granite walls! 25 mph speed limit in towns. Drive to Hotel Peninsula comfortable, recently refurbished.To Guernsey museum to get Discovery Passes. Lovely park, birds singing, Spring flowers. Guernsey tapestry is lovely and good audioguide. Museum is good. Cake and ice cream at Cafe Victoria. Drive to the Rockmount but pricey so after walk on Cobo Bay beach delicious cod and chips. Lovely sunset from ridge above hotel overlooking the sea. Jim and Maureen Saunders on our place and 4 couples from Province 7. Watched Blackadder II. Friday good breakfast and slept right through. To German Occupation museum. The little roads are confusing and tiring. Very interesting and good videos. Keep meeting Catenians. To Fort Grey shipwreck museum great views over the sea and a R...

Both to Mass. Some good work on the painting thanks to much encouragement from Nelson Ferreira. To the Mandela exhibition which is terrific! Alas Liz could not come after all waiting for electrician.  We heard sparking but nobody turned up. Darren having lots of work done next door and the system is linked. Great film "Pope Francis - a man of his word" by Wim Wenders at St John's.

Baptism of the Lord and I got wet! We sang Like the murmur of the dove's song by Alan Smith. I thought We have a gospel at the end was an inspired choice. I played Bach The old year now away is gone and Christ the Lord to Jordan came. The latter was Dad's party piece and a steady speed paid off with an accurate pedal part on 4 foot clarion. The Great has a 16 foot diapason so that works well against the choir flutes in the right hand. Watching BBC Icons. How to choose? Thatcher No but Churchill, Roosevelt and Mandela are icons.  Here is the little door at evensong.  Christ's chapel Dulwich for Marilyn Harper's excellent recital. She played a cradle song by Howells. Enjoyed Call the midwife. Grouting at mosaic not my favourite task. I was expecting an organ recital at St Martin's in the Fields. St Martin's voices were excellent especially bass and tenor. Soprano too Emma Kirkby for my taste! Nils Greenhow excellent as the blind Samson, Nathan Harrison exciting...

A moving remembrance day with a full church. For the fallen poem accompanied by Nimrod worked well. Played Elgar In memoriam, solemn melody and When I am laid in earth. Trumpeter Steve did well. Mandela's unsung heroes on channel 5 very interesting. Most impressed by the Westminster Abbey service marking the centenary of the armistice. Anthem by Judith Weir.

Swam 20. Mosaic and 6 at tai chi - Tony back. Watched Mandela service from the Abbey. Robert Cooper tuned the piano and my Bach was much more enjoyable as a result. Louise safely arrived in Manila for a week.

Monday to mosaic (I was late as trains were delayed). Worked out lettering on 4 blocks. Tai chi was good - my right knee still twinging. Train to Crawley and straight on bus to the hospital. Philip pleased to see me and I gave him a mosaic. Physios were assessing him so I went for a coffee and muffin and when I returned his sister was there. He spoke quite clearly at times and is moving on to thickened liquids. I was amused at Mary trying to stop him writing. He now has a small radio - they can't get digital there! I left at 4.30 straight on a bus and train to Victoria. Met Liz at Pret. Power was off for new street lights. First confirmation session and met everyone. Julie took register and cash upstairs so I went round the room introducing myself. Fr Paolo is very good and clear and I am looking forward to the sessions. I was impressed by the young people. Eugene is among them. Watched film on Mandela. 

Thursday Liz was off to college. I took part in an interesting Webinar on Public service commissioning. I got petrol and took down Dennis's few decorations. We now only have Christmas trees to put away! To Clapham Picturehouse for Mandela the long walk to freedom - a moving film excellently acted and directed. Friday to St Matthew's for an interesting session in denominational differences. I spoke on RCs, there were Anglicans, Church Army, Methodist, Salvation Army, Moravians, Baptist and Charismatic. Had a chat to Howard the retired hospital chaplain. I observed an interesting discussion between Steve and Lesley. Shocked to hear that Tim Penrose had died suddenly - pneumonia.

Debbie was not at practice but arrived for the service. The 3 who did come did well. I played Peeters on Wachet auf and Conditor alme and Num komm der heiden heiland preludes and Reger on Wachet auf. I was horrified to see the crib and Christmas tree up - what is the point when we have a crib service on Dec 24th. Stephen offered a lift home after Midnight and I can go to their home after Mass that evening which will help. The plan had been to borrow AnnMarie's car but she is in Ireland. Jo's op is next week. Practised but then remembered there was a  council meeting in church so stopped. Enjoyed I'm sorry I haven't a clue. Christmas letters and cards all done. Watched Michael Portillo on the continent. Exeter cathedral evensong. Liz worried about condition and did not go out. At evensong we sang Hark what a sound to the Terry tune and Purcell Rejoice - Terence was all over the place! Watched coverage of Madiba's funeral. BBC sports personality of the year is Andy M...

I had a quiet day on Monday after the extractions. The new tree lights needed unravelling and we got them onto the new tree. Tuesday woke too late to swim and Liz set off early to get to St Vincent's school for class nativity. Have since seen the video -  2nd king certainly bigged up his part and the donkey was good! Ciaran did start to sing after Louise mouthed toys at him i.e. his reward! 4 of us visited Nightingale House and Sally Miller went to a lot of trouble to tell us all about it. It was very interesting to hear about dementia care first hand and the facilities are excellent. It is Orthodox Jewish. I returned home as AnnMarie had to go to Dublin as her Dad was in hospital with leg pain. When I got to Glyn Close there was a card to say they had tried to deliver the furniture at 1.15 instead of 2 as arranged last night. It is now coming Friday a.m. I headed for SA house to sing the book of condolence for Mandela and met Liz there! lovely flowers and tributes. Liz went to se...

Arrived to find a new Mass booklet for Advent including Kyries. Bill sang a Haugen one and found accompaniment in Alan's folder so we used that. 4 rehearsed carols - Debbie last to appear so missed warmup but she seemed to improve but was back to the bad forced tone during the service! We sang Wake o wake and I played the Bach and Walther also Bairstow on Veni emmanuel. Practised a bit before baptism at 12.30. Mandela described as a prophet. I suppose he was but he himself said he was no saint! And I'm not sure about his faith either. 

Spent the day resting in bed. Listened to radio 3, watched English heritage on Battersea Power station, Strawberry Hill and Sandcombe House, master chef, Simon on Byzantium. The news broke of the passing of Nelson Mandela with great tributes.Liz went to Acton. Recalling the day of his release, the first multiracial vote and visiting Robben Island.

Thursday A most interesting visit to the South African Jewish museum. I looked in vain for Kadden and Sherman in the lists of passengers arriving and those at the Jewish shelter in Cape Town. It was good to see Helen Suzman celebrated among many others. A big surprise was the reconstruction of a shetl from Eastern Europe and a wonderful collection of Japanese netsuke. The modern art did not appeal. The great synagogue is most impressive. I bought a rabbi fridge magnet and a guide book. We were back at the house in good time for our 12 o clock pickup. The driver finally appeared at 12.30 after long costly phone calls to Ecco Tours and even calling a cab which I cancelled. The ferry to Robben Island actually went late and was a good trip with video to watch. The bus guide took us to a wonderful viewpoint looking across to Cape Town and we saw a huge gun never fired in WW2. I would have liked to see the Mosque. Then a former political prisoner took us around the prison and we saw Mandel...