The organist librarian

Woke late. I really enjoyed meeting art students from the Brit school at art at AgeUK Thornton Heath this morning and looking forward to clothed life drawing in July! I drew 6 small paintings on the theme of harmony and in the afternoon painted them.   Francesco da Mosto's TV series on Venice excellent but sad too. Are tourists destroying the city we love?  Deeply shocked by the death of Jo Cox MP. Terrible, Up early to  Explore session on marriage at Beacon school, Banstead. Regal cars are rubbish - late, went wrong way, etc. The students were year 10 and the quietest so far - maybe too young or too big a group? Not many questions. Liz went shopping and I took stuff to the tip at Lambeth and the pictures to Alan Gadd, Watched Penelope Keith and Silk road, also Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III. Alexander Armstrong on underground Rome excellent. Royal Academy summer exhibition programme.

Woke at 5 and 8/15 too late to swim. Ameena came to clean and the builders are at work next door! We went to Lullingstone Roman villa which has been brilliantly presented by Englsih Heritage. I drew the Rape of Europa mosaic and there was an excellent film. We went on to Knowle and met Vernon Warner volunteering for the third time. The paintings are very fine. We had tea at Sevenoaks Marks and had a bite at home before going to the Prom. I had intended to come late and miss the Boulez but it was good to get our seats and enjoyed the Ravel concerto fot the left hand (astonishing!) and the Firebird. Home to watch Simon Sebag Montefiore's series on Rome.

Played for service and Fr Leon very friendly – he is American and sings everything including the Gospel. Only 17 in church. We managed the psalm OK although Debbie and Phillipa did not arrive early enough to practise it with Bill. I dashed off at the end. John Williams asked me to park further back which I said was no problem although I do worry about the bollards! Dennis kindly took us to East Croydon and we got the train straight away to Gatwick. The British Airways plane was a basic one but the crew were friendly and we go wraps to eat – no entertainment. Arrived on time and got the train to Termini which is a nightmare. First a minicab  driver tried to get involved and then at the taxi so-called queue a driver swept us off to an unmarked car with no meter. We got there OK but then he wanted E35. I think we gave him 30 but in the course of it all a 50 euro note has gone! All very annoying. Fraterna Domus is ideal with a comfortable room and we were given a very nice dinner whi...

We took Liz's cakes for servers and clergy and they were much appreciated. Fr Michael at Mass so he leant on me to get up and down the steps. Took clothes to the passage. Have got most of the things out that we need for the trip. Took present to Josie and Ken was there so had a good chat. Saw the end of "The Hour" and watched 2 programmes on Rome by Simon Sebag-Montefiore.