The organist librarian

To Fairfield Hall on bus. In the foyer we heard 23 young cellists and they did well. A good audience. We saw Angela, Joy and Geoff, Nula and Jenny. Lmp conducted by Jaime Martin with much flair. Mozart Paris symphony, Ravel Pavane for a dead infant a and Bizet Symphony 1. Sheku was stunning SaintSaens 1 and the Swan with one of the cellists which was a delight. We paid 21.50 and it was worth every penny. So glad the acoustics are still so fine. Amazed to see the seats have not been redone! 

Unpacked and Ocado delivered so put all that away. Washing on the line but it rained later on. Liz went to take Henry swimming as Dennis hurt eye and AnnMarie had an infected insect bite but it wasn't happening so they went to Crystal Palace park. Fr Rajiv at Mass and he requested quicker moves as he has to cut his homily every week! I said we were obsessed with the length of Mass whereas in India time was not important!  Michael Butterfield has gone to Truro as acting assistant director of music. Watched Sheku play Elgar superbly and with great feeling and Steinberg. Also Stephen Hough playing Mendelssohn and Prince Albert on a gold piano from Buckingham Palace. Excellent prom for Sir Henry Wood 150th including Ireland and Grainger. On Proms encore they used the footage of us crowning the bust! 

To St George's cathedral to sing in RSCM service of remembrance. A good programme well conducted by Norman Harper. Considering this covered three RSCM areas not a large choir and do not like the idea of areas being joined up. Victoria choir at Mass still not much improved. Royal British Legion service from Royal Albert Hall was different. Bryn Terfel and Sheku.  

Up at 6.30 a.m. 4 in choir so I accompanied John Harper's Benedictus on the organ instead of the keyboard. Played Peeters Canzona and Finlandia. Can't believe Liz's Dad died 1997 a kinder gentleman it would be hard to find and always immaculately dressed. We also sang Bernadette Farrell's Lord you search me and you know me. Am on buses only one train an hour and even that uncertain plus 2 changes. On today's service sheet. A personal prayer to use after Mass and during the week.. Dear Lord, I might think that I can't do much to make the world a better and fairer place. Help me to see myself as a little drop of rain making ripples in a big puddle. In your strength, and for your glory. Amen. Helped on teas at Friends of Grangewood Park. Sold a lot of prizewinning cakes. The chocolate and Guinness one excellent. Saw Dennis Woodhouse and Molly. Also Karen Jewitt and community choir. 3 p.m.Mass at St Mary's but I do think children should be encouraged to stay in...

Went to recording of Just a minute x 2 at radio theatre Broadcasting House. Huge demo outside against Trump. Just a minute was great laughed and laughed. They go out September. A splendid In tune with superb string quartet, 3 cellos, quitar and quintet, Brindley Sherratt and ondes martenot. Did not care for James Collier. Catch it on I player. First night off to a good start with Oliver Knussen, Vaughan Williams and Holst. The very loud new piece by Anna Meredith was not helped by being in the same programme as The Planets. A attractive quiet choral section but what was the text? 5 telegrams? Have to watch the TV recording to see if the visual effects really worked. 6 bays of the gallery taken by equipment and seats moved. Home at mdnight.

Lovely wedding and glorious day! The sermon was amazing! St George's choir on great form and Sheku was sensational! All went beautifully.  Bride stunning. Lovely music not heard because of ceaseless chatter. The Handel and Boyce worked really well for the processionals.

Sunday served at Mass at conference centre. Mark Davies Bishop of Shrewsbury friendly and brought good cathedral choir and organist. More reassurances from highups. Drove to Birmingham M54 closed eventually got to M6 despite the satnav. Ibis Budget OK and walked to Symphony hall. Pavements closed ended up on road. Excellent final and all 3 played brlliantly but so different Cello, sax, piano and pianist won. Lauren Zwang she is local and lots of Chinese, students and kids. 4 to 7. Shaku playing Elgar was very special. Got a roll and drink and watched most of  it on BBC4

Woke early then late so no Mass. Anne Marie and Henry came but he seemed out of sorts with a cold. she had not been at all well. Quiet time was disturbed by noisy kids in the hall. My last Provincial Council. No more driving to Kent and my 10 year sentence is over! Peter Stevens liked the scroll. The parts I enjoyed were being Provincial President. Programme on Singapore Airlines and Camilla. Great that Sheku is playing at the royal wedding.

Colin at Mass so had a chat. Liz could not get in to the prom. The system is unfair that online prommers get in up to 7.30. We have paid for the concerts. Annoyed by interviewer at pre Prom talk interrupting speakers on Lenin. Great playing from Oslo Philharmonic under Petrenko. But why was this a sellout! Rachmaninov, Firebird and Shostakovich 12. For the second time big black car parked by woman in our place and bollards moved. Jeanette was rude to Liz abut this.  To St Cecilia's North Cheam for funeral of Laurence Jones who was 90. Lunch at Victoria and Albert sweet potato with avocado. Sat at a table with a lady between two women who talked non stop over a cup of coffee with people looking for seats. Cannot get worked up about plywood but the Constables are great and were recently on BBC Fake or fortune.  2 splendid proms -Renee Fleming gave us two encores and was superb! Nielsen 2 a great work. Chineke! and Sheku excellent. Home at 12.30. Thursday to Mass. 

Unpacked and watching the Trooping - good old Britain. It's hotter here than in Botswana and Zambia. Good flights with SAA apart from the muddleup on the flight home. As it happens I needed 2 seats so I could elevate my leg. I grazed it getting off the safari vehicle so had to have treatment at the Avani hotel. We met a lady from Florida who said she normally came to London every year but not this year. Understandable but sad. The LMP concert attracted a good audience no doubt attracted by community choir singing Adiemus. Ken Burton conducted Vivaldi Gloria. Good for all to hear Poulenc and Mozart. The ensemble in the organ concerto was remarkable. Hot and trains replaced by buses so going whole way on tfl buses. We sang Day by day by How and I played Ronald Watson Elegy in memoriam Herbert Howells and June Nixon improvisation on Adoro Te. She signed my copy when I played it at Melbourne cathedral. Happy 50th birthday to her. Super concert by the London Mozart Players at St Joh...

For Christ the King played Elgar Imperial March (bells started late and had to cut it short - no light) and Walton Crown Imperial. We sang  Stephen   Cleobury's setting of Let all mortal flesh with Linda and I singing top A in the descant! The keyboard works better than the piano and being in the chancel the singers sound better. Good carol practice and a new recruit. Will try for more at the fairs.  Christ triumphant has to be one of the greatest hymns with a wonderful tune. Lovely to have Bruce with us for lunch of lamb and Christmas puddings with pinot noir. Dennis and AnnMarie came down with Molly. Watched Planet earth II, Pentecostal Brixton church. Lovely programme on Sheku.