The organist librarian

Played before funeral at Caterham. I only found out yesterday that I was glad and Stanford in G Nunc was to be sung by a professional group so by mutual agreement Laurence played. He was most impressed by the organ and my playing. I know, Faure Elegie, Thalben-Ball Elegy. Deceased was big in St John Ambulance so church full. Because of the change in funeral arrangements I was able for the first time to attend the Holocaust memorial day candle lighting and presentations by 4 schools and a survivor at Croydon Town Hall. It was most impressive and moving. Met the rabbi from Shirley, Rose from South Norwood, Irene Siepka and the Mayor. Excellent string quartet from Whitgift and a fine singer from Oasis Coulsdon. Programme on Rembrandt and otters. Long chat to Andy Pritchard. 

To Selhurst train delayed so drove to Norwood Junction. Train on time then delayed at East Croydon. Why can't trains run on time?  Played Sheep may safely graze and Finlandia favourites of Liz's Mum and Dad. I also played Come unto him from Messiah. Train cancelled so on buses home.  Enjoyed the sunshine at Friends of Grangwood park picnic and excellent Norwood society tour of the park. Bought some good local history books. Saw Claire Kedves  Dennis Woodhouse   Ann- Marie Woodhouse  and Henry.  How I enjoy a recital where we smile and Bridget West certainly achieved that. Very elegant playing at Dulwich. The Tambling based on Sagina prompted me to sing "And can it be that Daniel is wearing shorts?" Nice eats. Interesting programme on 90 years of Wimbledon. 

Played Vierne Epitaphe, Thalben-Ball Elegy,  George Thalben-Ball  on Gopsal and Crown Imperial it being Christ the King and St Cecilia. Camino Kyries start next week and rehearsed for Christmas. Turns out the Advent service uses Penitential rite 3 so we will sing the complete Kyries after the lighting of the Advent wreath candle.  Both went to interesting scriptural reasoning at British Museum on pilgrimage and to Strada Great Queen Street on free dessert offer! Excellent food and service - veal, sea bass. Watched Antiques roadshow and The Hunt.

Swam 20. Took Bruce up to the garage to get his skies. We arrived in good time at St Andrew's and went through the Faure. Lewis Horner kindly came and indicated good stop choices so that helped. All went well and the hymns were just right. Got to Croydon crem early and saw Ian Verran and Edward Rook. I played Thalben-Ball Elegy and Nimrod. Bruce was a pallbearer. It was lovely that Adrian mentioned the honorary grandma for our 3 and that quite cut me up. She was such a kind and loving person always smiling and we will all miss her. Lovely reception at the Surprise not least the chocolate cake. Saw several Addiscombe folk at crem and at the pub. All the family read really well - Josie would have been so proud of them. We left at 4 as Bruce had a flight back to Jersey. 

To Tesco pharmacy for flu jab for the first time - very nice pharmacist explained it all. My arm still a bit sore. To Hurtado centre Wapping for an excellent Advent pilgrimage with Paul Nicholson SJ and bought his Advent book of reflections for each day. The walk round Wapping was most interesting. A lovely section like a Dutch canal scene then dull estates. The mosque is currently on a top floor and very dark. St Peter's Anglican church very high and quite lovely compared to the Catholic church which is cold and very Roman - St Patrick's. Pat and Kerry and a nice group. Damian was there and lent hats - I chose a splendid black one from Bailey of Hollywood. It was a great chance to reflect on pilgrimages especially the Holy Land and my role. John the Baptist seen as someone who decreased. To Bloomsbury Baptist for Norman Harper being funny and playing Thalben-Ball complete with happy stickers on his soles, Bach, Peeters, Leighton and Karg-Elert. Large crowd outside for auditio...

Only swam 12 as we were late frost on car but I did find Liz's cap and goggles in the case. To Bromley PC and Kevin brought the Catenian banners from Chatham which was kind of him. The recital was by Laurence Carden a young player from Highgate who won the award at Oundle this year. There were one or two slips but an interesting programme including Thalben-Ball, Fletcher, Chilcott, Mathias, Geissler and Jirak. The curate presided somewhat awkwardly. There was no sgn of Ernest and Cecilia. St John's churchyard has been dug up for work on drains.

Played Albinoni Adagio, Faure and Thalben-Ball Elegy at church. Hayley copied carols for me and Paul changed some hymns on Dec 22 to Advent ones! We said the psalm and it looks as though sung psalms are finished which is a shame. Bill was not there and Debbie was pretty bad. John Williams was there again - he's the one who did not want a paid organist! Hayley is keen to use the organ and we had a look at the gallery above the altar - it is a dumping ground but Louise could sing from there if unaccompanied. Played the piano - found some operatic arias and popular songs and some Eric Coates. Can't find my carol sheets and music! Evensong was Harris in A minor and Lead kindly light to Alberta. Kathy wrecked Loosemore - her vowels and intonation are dreadful especially Amen! Rehearsed the Cox Litany for the baptism next Sunday of Amos Dmitris Cox - not easy. Watched Billy Budd from Glyndebourne (2010 production). Doris Lessing has died. 

Friday train to Leeds and walked to Jurys Inn - fine view from 8th floor room which is very comfortable. To Leeds Parish church for lunchtime recital by Simon Lindley for Armistice day. 11am marked on the train. Harris, Elgar, Coates, Walford Davies and Thalben-Ball, A fine church and a fine recital. Enjoyed the art gallery and library and had tea there. A quiet evening but noisy people next door in the night. Saturday to the SSG AGM sung Mass in Leeds cathedral directed by Martin Barry. Nice to sing Greater love and the new Klais organ is impressive. Chris the organist is moving to Liverpool cathedral and wears hearing aids. A fine Crichton lecture by Father Daniel O'Leary - more of a talk on the heart of liturgy. After compline to station and we waited for train and changed at Chesterfield. Nice to see people again and home about 11.30 p.m.