The organist librarian

Played Brahms O God thou faithful God and Herzliebster Jesu and we sang Ah holy Jesus. Took hot water bottle to warm my hands! No service tonight which is a relief as the buses take an hour each way.  Despite more snow we managed to get to vespers at St John's where we sang Stainer God so loved the world and Morley Magnificat. Also We sing the praise of him who died. The Durrells are back! 

14 in church. Played Stanford Gartan, Pachelbel and Walther Jesu meine freude and Murrill Postlude on a ground ready for the Festival Hall organ! More work on old photos for the family tree. I sang at evensong Stainer in B flat and Wood Expectans expectavi. To All Saints West Dulwich evensong there only finished at 7.30 so recital by Jonathan Vaughn started late. Met Alan Littell who is deputy organist there and plays at Addiscombe. Anthony Sisley plays at Our Lady's and at Anerley! Harpers, Carl jackson and the Vaughns were there. Watched War and Peace, circus and story of zoos.

Not a good night! We had Corpus Christi procession this morning and I played voluntaries on Picardy and Adoro te including the lovely Boellmann. Dubois Toccata, Fr Leon gave us a long explanation of why the parish should join the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda which is basically against the ordination of women. I am not convinced! After 23 years it's about time the C of E stopped tearing itself apart! Shared lunch but not many there. Liz home after a night of babysitting Sean and partying! It seems it is true that Beverley voted against the ordination of women bishops in the Southwark synod because provision for traditionalists was weak. Had a sleep after picking up Liz. Evensong and benediction was fun with Smart in B flat and I saw the Lord. Fr Leon seems to know everyone including Mother Theckla! 

Ciaran came in around 7.15 and Sean woke a bit later. Nice cards. To church and played Harper, Bach and Willan and Wyton. Good hymns including Holy, holy, holy and Alleluia sing to Jesus. Home for lunch and kids had gone. Back to church for 2 for final things with Daniel then back to pick up Liz. Only 12 came but they enjoyed it. I don't think I relaxed enough - not sure it was good to have Daniel there to turn over. To St John's and we sang Stainer in B flat and I saw the Lord - always a good sing. Watched programmes on Hay-on-Wye, Dylan Thomas and QI. Dennis rang.

Sunday to Corpus Christi Brixton for Xavier's first Mass there. This was a joyful occasion with a full church at 10.30 a.m. and coffee afterwards with cakes. Chatted to Colette the keyboard player about the Mass of Joy and SSG. Only one item was hard to sing - Foley because of gaps between lines. Needed a flute rather than a guitar. Pity they did not do psalm for the day. Took some photos. Saw Fr Tom. Then to St George's Hanover Square for Simon Williams' 12.30 recital on the new American organ. Mendelssohn 6. He plays really well and is moving to Croydon Minster. Liz working on essay and I did some more reading. To evensong and we sang Stainer in B flat and Stanford O for a closer walk with God. Chatted to Jeremy about India and Frank and Phillipa were there. P. not keen on India at all. Adrian and Terence are off to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Worked on Liz's powerpoint all evening. Monday to Addiscombe for Kitty Duggan's funeral - she was 89 and such a happy pe...

At evensong we sang Stainer in B flat and I saw the Lord and we had solemn benediction with unusually 4 servers. Cardiff singer of the world final was worthily won by Valentina from Moldova. The Ukranian baritone won the song final last night and was also excellent but all the finalists were brilliant in different ways. Interesting programme on the history of Wimbledon. I found more about the Tates and a book of prints by Ridsdale Tate signed by him. My grandmother and aunt had noted important dates to remember.

To music - Ciarán seemed more interested in hiding behind the dustbin during the first part but enjoyed the instruments bit. To Chiswick for Mass where Tom and Louise were married - nice Mass and Ciarán slept right through it. To Chiswick House where we had a lovely lunch outside and Ciarán loved the sand pit. We both wnet round the house with the excellent audio guide - it is English heritage. It was a glorious day again and most enjoyable. Met Lou in Acton for delicious ice cream. Tom came home and I went to Westminster Cathedral for Martin Neary's recital - De Grigny, Bach, Franck No 1, Stainer, Howells, Liszt - McCabe not impressive. Met Paul Moynihan on the way there and he was chatty for once! Saw Andy Scott, Carl Jackson and John Wardle. Watched The Apprentice. Liz had gone to see "Water and elephants" at Westfield.

Tony Trent turned up! We sang Wood in Phrygian mode and Stainer's "God so loved the world". I played Bach O mench bewein but had to cut it short as John was late at rehearsal. Parry on "Rockingham" was somewhat marred by noisy children. Hymns included Lift high the cross, When I survey and It is a thing most wonderful. The AGM went off calmly and there was only a brief mention of a review of what we sing.The point is that 2 congregation memebrs asked to join in with the Eucharistic acclamations but this was not in the minutes! We have 2 choir members on PCC. I was thanked. Set up the new water feature which features otters but we will need an outside plug. To evensong where we sang Vexilla regis and Walton's Litany "Drop drop slow tears".

Had a lie-in and chatted about retirement in September 2011. Did some emails from last night's provincial council and found items on "Blessed are the gentle" on internet, also checked CDs for music. To Town Hall for JCC on Health and Safety. Met Meryl in foyer - she remarked on my magic touch to tidy up Balham! Directors never mentioned the appointment but it was cordial. Still not budging much on PRP for full-time LAs on lowest grades. Flagged up closing up time. To Victoria and popped into St Paul's bookshop before evensong at 5 sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Stainer in B flat, Achieved is the glorious work, Bernard Rose introit and responses. At the reception afterwards met Andrew Carwood, Tim Harper and Simon Johnson and one of the Westminster cathedral basses. Good white wine and sandwiches. Train to East Croydon for President's Wednesday at Croydon Park hotel - excellent buffet. Sat with Austin, Mike, Carol and Brendan and took photos. Colin and Mary...

Reading group enjoyed Rose Tremain's Return home but only 4 came. However we had a good discussion and touched on local problems too. Still messaging mobile phone numbers but a slow process! At vespers I had to be cantor at short notice. All went well apart from the intonation of the hymn which was unclear from Edward. At mass Fr Michael is avoiding steps! The choir from Billercay sang well - Bach, Schiavone, Chris Walker and Stainer. I left to get to Islington only to find James O'Donnell's recital is next Saturday - should have checked! Liz picked me up at Norwood Junction. Interesting programme on Montezuma.

At Coulsdon only 5 in choir but we sang "Most ancient of all mysteries" arranged by Greening and "Father we adore you". I played Willan and Vernon Griffiths on "Nicaea" and Ley on "Down Ampney" as "Come down O love divine" was missed last Sunday. Straight to Selhurst to get train to Victoria to be at 12 noon mass - Fr Michael Durand not coping too well with all those steps. Eleanor cantor in Lourdes setting. Louise Sage there. Bus to Royal Academy was diverted because of big Sikh demo in Piccadilly. The Friends preview of the summer exhibition was pretty crowded. Some fine pictures especially a Venice scene in Sickert style and Damien Hirst's St Sebastian. The people more interesting! Jug of Pimms for £18 - obscene! Liked the prints exhibition by Richard Austin from the 1930s and 1940s. To evensong at St John's where we sang Wood Coll Reg and Stainer "I saw the Lord" which is always fun! Watched The Apprentice final (e...

A rare Saturday off with nothing planned. Hoovered, washed kitchen floor and cleared up. Washed nets and cleaned windows. Louise came for lunch - nice meal but not so keen on ginger. Nice pudding with raspberries and a fine day. Garden looking lovely. To vespers and Mass and I was cantor. Lots of servers on for procession. It turned out to be a big sing. Oliver introduced me to David Grealy who is from Galway and is to be organ scholar from the autumn. The procession went well - I stayed at the mike and then joined the end in Morpeth Terrace for a short while. Some of the choirboys were leading the hymns. Liz was thurifer. Sunday to Coulsdon - only 3 in choir but they sang Taize Ubi caritas very well. It seems Kevin Shears did not rehearse the Rutter setting last Sunday so the tempi were too slow. Monica said she had missed me! I played Andrew Moore's voluntary on "Aurelia" dedicated to me, Vaughan Williams on "Hyfrodol" which has a splendid pedal part, and Coli...