The organist librarian

A day at Coulsdon. We sang Greening's arrangement of "O sons and daughters" and then practised with Molly and pieces for the next few weeks as I had done the May music list this morning. The organ report is rather bland - only 4 faults according to him! To Sutton but the 10 pin bowling super bowl is likely to close so cannot book for October. Have to ring the manager at the end of May. To Oaks Park and sat and read the Tablet and had my picnic. 3 p.m. memorial service for Mark Patterson who died 2 years ago of a heart attack. Started late - played 3 hymns and trumpet voluntary - lots of pop music CDs which are not to my taste. Just because the deceased liked them doesn't make them suitable. Evensong went OK apart from poor Amens in the Reading responses. The Shera canticles and Bach anthem were fine. We sang "At the lamb's high feast we sing". This morning I played the Hallelujah chorus. Home to see Songs of Praise senior choir final - I think Harrogate ...

Borrowed John's ladder and checked the kitchen roof with hose. Put two layers of bitumen on sections but had to delay 3rd coat because of showers. Hoovered and cleared up. Saturday to vespers and Mass and bought cards at St Paul's. On the way home listened to The Creation from the Proms. Mark Padmore was excellent. Sunday we sang Goodall's "The Lord is my shepherd" and at evensong the Shera setting and Bob Chilcott's Irish blessing. I played Arthur Milner's variations and a vesper voluntary by Elgar.The day thou gavest and God that madest earth and heaven. In the morning we sang "From thee all skill and science flow". Handel's opera Partenope from the Proms with the libretto online while finishing loading photos from the holiday in Scotland. I am on Proms discussion board. Liz had been to osteopath and sang at evensong at Bedford Park.

Friday Molly came in good time and we did some useful work and the new anthems went well. Karen was back although still coughing. Saturday I was off and went to Our Lady of Hal Camden Town for session on Lent groups theme "Holy Spirit" 3 of us but Mark Nash is always inspiring. Liz was at confirmation class. To Vespers and mass - 6 servers! Sunday Liz summoned to Grandma's after midnight and ended up at King's hospital - compressed vertebra so she couldn't sing at morning prayer or Mass. Coulsdon went OK - we did Alan Smith's "Like the murmur of a dove". I returned for evensong - Malcolm Archer's Brightest and Best is delightful, Shera setting, Psalm 97.One lapse in Ayleward responses. Visitor from Old Coulsdon was impressed. I played Daquin Noel etranger. 2 of the choir were late for rehearsal. Antiques roadhow and Lark Rise which was delightful. Monday a foul day with heavy rain. I couldn't find front door key (it was with church keys) and ...

Christ the Physician. We had some lovely hymns today "Immortal love", "From thee all skill and science flow", "Thou whose almighty word", "Songs of praise", "Will you come and follow me", "Love divine" and "Just as I am" - the theme being the healing miracles and the call of Matthew. At Coulsdon we sang Geoffrey Shaw setting in C minor in 3 parts unaccompanied and Loosemore O Lord increase our faith. this has lovely lines for tenor and alto. Sweet Jesu say Amen. I played Elgar "The spirit of the Lord" using Dad's arrangement and Langlais Te Deum (I was tired having not slept that well). Practised and looked at pieces for next month by Wills and Vaughan Williams. Home for lunch - a glorious day. To gardens in Croydon open in aid of NSPCC - lovely one at Croham Hurst Road. Mayor and Croydon male voice choir there having Pimms. Mayor looking hot in suit and chain! At Beech House Road 4 adjoining gardens -...