The organist librarian

My third visit to John Fisher school Purley to talk about Thomas More and the Catenians went well. I got a round of applause! Beautiful playing by cellist Ariana Kashefi at St Bartholomew the Less. Bach, Hindemith and Casals. She is very special! 12 came to hear Sheikh Ramzy speak on Mary (Miriam) in the Qu'ran. Excellent. Antiques roadshow, Tom Kerridge, twins, Red Arrows. 

First the crisis with the cleaner and the comments after choral evensong on Sunday, then having to cancel to talk on dementia awareness in November and great unhappiness over that, then Sheikh Ramzy cancels October 18th talk so woe! Trying to get another speaker. On the plus side encouragment at Belmont from the group and George, a kind email from Philip explaining things in a better way and now this morning a delightful coffee and cake concert by the London Mozart Players sextet at St John's. Mozart Divertimento and Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence what a joy and a large audience. The wit and the passing of melodies from cello to violin - a delight. Nancy is 93. Ian is coming tomorrow and so is Fr Andrew. Hovering around 30/40 at the moment. We got home at 6.45 last night and I collected Bruce at 9.45 at East Croydon - great to have him home. He has gone to Louise's. Collected the cake from Alena in Tooting and it is a triumph!  German choir from Bernkastel at Mass sang Pales...

Did not go swimming. Did Wild Goose Qi Gong with youtube as Tony suggested and rather like it.   To Gate cinema to see Roberto Devereux from the Met. Great production and singing but they do go on a bit! 10 minutes to say farewell! Donizetti so often has a cheery tune at moments of crisis. To. V and A for Undressed and then the lovely Wildlife photography at Natural history museum. Mediaeval gallery at V and A always a joy! Met Rosie from tai chi. She has two pictures at Bankside gallery next week. Posh tea and waffle at Le Pain Quotidien and then to oil painting class.To Tamar's and after lunch at Watermans we went to the park. Sunny but cold wind. Am enjoying Isabel Dalhousie novel by Alexander McCall Smith. To interfaith group and Sheikh Ramzy gave an impassioned address supporting Pope Francis. 10 there. I bought Amoris Laetitiae. Then to Conversations at SGI - 9 came including Ishmael who is Muslim converting to Orthodox Jew! 

Swam 18. To West Norwood to collect repaired coat and cassock which is 30 years old and has a new scarlet lining. Painted still life of 4 bottles at art using my paints. To Notting Hill Dr Shiekh Ramzy gave a very rambling talk on Rumi and we also heard from a student who had been to Palestine. To Royal Academy summer exhibition and it was so much more pleasant than on Friends day. Met Tamar and her aunt. Had salad and tea in Keeper's House. To ENO and sorted out tickets for Pearl Fishers! We sat in dress circle row A at the side. Spectacular production by Terry Gwilliam with some stunning singing especially the chorus and principals. Morgan Pearse made the most of his scene and a spectacular falling death!