The organist librarian

To the airport at Christchurch in heavy rain we said our farewells to the family. Aidan not up. It has been a very happy time together. No problems checking in and getting wheelchair. we ate the rolls Malcolm had prepared and Liz spent the last bit of NZ cash on more gifts. The flight was 11 hours and we had nobody next to us. Not as good a choice of films but enjoyed Bridget Jones the edge of reason again and read Laurie Lee. Wheelchair plane to taxi at Singapore again. back at Park Royal shower and then to Gardens by the bay for the spectacular 15 minute light show. wait for taxi back. we had got cash earlier and bought some things in the supermarket. Slept a few hours showered and bleeding must have been bitten and left at 5.30 a.m. traffic jam near airport but in good time. then a long wait for a chair to go through passports. Special service lounge full and asked twice what was happening. it will happen shortly is no reply. Liz went off to get duty free and the lane took off 30 m...

Woke at 10. Swam and checked out at 12. Ate at eat well go well in amazing plaza,Taxi to Gardens by the bay  fantastic 2 large indoor conservatories Christmas display, baobabs, succulents, Mediterranean gardens, the other is the cloud forest showing different forest zones as you walk down. We ate at cafe  Rain so skyway closed taxis to hotel then airport. Wheelchair and able to have food and shop. Good flight in a 2 and slept. Watched programme on port. Taxi into Adelaide dry heat and lovely serviced apartment at Oaks Embassy. got shopping at Coles and slept. To State library to get on Internet, good displays of fine books. Spoke to Ann. Slept well woke at 3. 45) to tourist office and played organ at Scots church very friendly. Walked to the zoo and saw pandas, bilbys, potoroos glider squirrels

Louise rose early and drove us to Heathrow. Very good of her as the family would be at Beanie'zs for the New Year. We had breakfast and the wheelchair service was OK although it was quite a walk to the desk and also no Wheelchair while in shopping area .i was able to get an eyeshade and water. The flight was excellent. Singapore Airlines staff and food excellence. We were in a 2 on top deck. I was able to do my exercises and watched Bioto Mefistofele from Munich brilliant chorus, Pape, Calleja. Lohengrin which I have not seen before from Dresden again great singing and acting Netrebko. Lan Shui conducting Singapore SO. In Berlin Schumann cello concerto with Jan Vogler, Strauss, Ravel, Hindemith. Did not sleep much 12 hours. taxi to Park Royal on Kitchener unimpressed by staff. Arrived 8 am no room until 3! Trailfinders will hear of this. Shower at pool Liz very cross. Taxi to Good Shepherd cathedral for packed mass got a seat Liz outside. Homily rambling, overheads, odd choir lots...

Ivan's funeral at the cathedral - Simon playing the organ but no singers. Good to see Graham from St John's and James O'Donnell there. First met Ivan at Belmont Abbey on retreat with the late much missed Dom Alan Rees. Ivan was such a nice man. There were 35 at Understanding Islam which was excellent! Liz came too. Skyped Ann and Paul in Wurzburg - they enjoyed Singapore! I have at last finished the rather dry book "How to understand Islam" and now have Chris's book to read!

Friday Shaun left to start a journey through Europe ending in Croatia. We will all miss him as he is so good with the kids. He wants to do teaching. Caught the X90 to Oxford and was at the Sheldonian theatre early so heard some of the rehearsal. The conductor expected the men there at 3 p.m. but called us early so some drifted in "late". Still all went well and the idea of getting the prisoners to enter through the big double doors worked really well. Had a nice tea with David and Anthea. Mark Griffiths was outstanding as chorus master. This is the most wonderful music expressive of liberty, love and freedom. I remember so well the Orange performance 30 years ago. Liz was expecting Dennis and there were various mishaps - coach crash, soprano flat on back for the whole fortnight, Nella broke her wrist. The producer really pulled it out of us and we saw the film 10 years after it was made which was very moving as several had passed on. Zubin Mehta conducted the Israel Philharm...