The organist librarian

Henry came early today and enjoyed himself. We went to East Dulwich picturehouse to see Samson and Delilah conducted by Mark Elder from the Met. It was simply fabulous. Great singing from Alagna, Garanca and Naouri, terrific sets and production, the chorus were amazing! Finished reading Simon Reeve's excellent autobiography "Step by step: the life in my journeys" Highly recommended! Watched repair shop, evensong from Chester.

Listening to the super Halle prom with Mark Elder Warner, Debussy and the Firebird. Seems the folk prom now on TV was packed and enjoyable. Got no 9 in queue for Liz.  Reading Barbara Boehm's Jerusalem in the fab National Art library Victoria and Albert museum.  Beautiful book. T shirt wringing wet after Vespers and Mass. Glad I wore my shorts. Listening to NYO Prom on phone (lost end of the Benjamin) Liz is at the concert. Shower, cold beer, cone. Ligeti, Debussy La Mer, Ravel left hand piano concerto, Mussorgsky, Benjamin. 

To the funeral of Eileen Haines at Sanderstead with Canon Jim Pannett. He remarked that I should have played. I had offered but the family decided not to change the arrangements. It sounded like a feeble instrument. Gerry apologised at the reception. Gill was there. News of the passing of Laurence Jones aged 90.  A most enjoyable prom from BBCSO and Sakari. Sibelius, Saint-Saens piano concerto no. 2 with brilliant pianist and Elgar 3. Boys spent the day relaxing and I finished 2 books.  Enjoying Halle prom Dvorak New World effective use of 4 actors and films. Mark Elder on great form. 

Monday swam 20.  After mosaic and tai chi went on the hard hat tour of St John Upper Norwood. Impressed by the underpinning. Catenian council at Kevin's - I made a strong case to do away with clergy night and replace it with lunch for parish priests. We will continue but have 2 events instead of meetings which will save some rent. Philip has a grizzled beard. Good food at Rupees and lager. Brendan gave me a lift home. I went on the bus and there were delays because of a robbery at Shell garage in Portland Road so buses diverted via Elmers End.  Tuesday swam 20. Liz to West Wickham. I parked near Dulwich college and got bus. Really enjoyed the Met opera Rusalka excellent production and singing conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Went to Dulwich Books but Chetna Makan (Great British bakeoff) had left but I had pancakes and delicious cakes.

A long day! Train from Selhurst cancelled so drove to Norwod Junction and got train there. Liz later moved the car back to Selhurst. I played Thiman on Slane and Karg-Elert Nun danket. No time to play Pilgrims chorus from Tannhauser. Fr Tim Goode is a musician and enjoyed the music! To Mary King's workshop on Semiramide choruses which was enjoyable. Dudamel conducted the first prom with great panache - Villa Lobos and Ravel and one encore. Mark Elder conducted the Rossini which had some fine singing and choruses but it does go on a bit. Finished at 11 and home after midnight! Liz stayed for an hour then went to visit Dennis and AnnMarie - they came down last night and Dennis did the Catenian form.

Swam.  Bravo  Benjy Bloor  for brilliant playing at St George Hanover Square and great to hear some Howells. A programme full of sunshine incl Hollins and Vierne!  The Found exhibition at the Foundling museum is worth a visit and Ironbaby by Anthony Gormley is very moving in its simplicity. A baby on the floor - a powerful comment.  Interesting works by Colin Matthews and enjoyed the Dresden bells. Das Lied von der Erde with Alice Coote followed by the 16 (actually 34) Bach and beautiful Part. Took an hour to get to Acton.  BFG with the boys. Excellent film and followed by Pizza Hut.  East West Divan with Daniel Barenboim Liszt and Wagner - great sound. The preProm talk on Wagner was a little dull.

A hot day with lie-in.  Stunning Mahler 9 from the National Youth orchestra Prom on TV conducted by Sir Mark Elder.Watched University challenge and Barenboim's encores at the Prom -  he certainly dominated the triple concerto.  Stunning Mahler 9 from the National Youth orchestra Prom on TV conducted by Sir Mark Elder (with score).  Served at Mass and had an excellent dinner at Il Posto so we missed Mahler 6 at the Proms but we went to hear Andras Schiff play the Goldberg variations - a rapt audience. 

Swam 20. Sent off Catenian posters to churches. Delightful 2 hour coffee chat at Knights garden centre Warlingham with Anne-Marie Garton. After a late lunch to Dulwich Picture gallery to copy two Prudhon drawings of nudes - beautiful and enjoyed the Rembrandts as well. The Eric Ravilious looks nice. Only cost £4. Rain and the family have gone camping in Cornwall. Had a night off from the Proms as it is swing! Watched Life in Squares. The alley gate is off - No. 18 has refused. Very annoying! Catching up on TV proms - Colin Currie, Aurora orchestra and Sinatra. Elgar 2 conducted by Mark Elder. 

Swam 20, art and worked on Galilee painting, interfaith lunch, delivered some letters reminding neighbours to return the form about getting a back lane gate, joined Kensington library to get scores (which they keep in store) Got a nice card with koalas on it! Lovely prom Debussy, Vaughan Williams and Elgar 2 - Mark Elder conducting the Halle. Annoyed to be told not to use the torch to follow the score. I shall complain to the hall. Watched Nielsen and Hugh Wood on TV recording.Also went to mosaic workshop in Norwood and got tiles and posted BT parcel at post office. Liz's ring to be fixed - insurance does not cover it.

Up at 8 to go to Cadogan Hall to get tickets. Met lady from interfaith group at bus stop who told me Ivor has shingles. Saw Rosa and lady from Chile in the queue. To cathedral to take Liz's robes and signed 2 Pax christi petitions. Saw Rose and William. To Clapham Junction - new ring will take 2 weeks to be made smaller. To Kensington Chimes shop and the hall to get seat ticket (first in queue). RGS Travel photographer of the year - excellent photos. Sketching silver at V and A and close look at the miniatures which are breathtaking. To Cadogan Hall and saw Hannah. Lapland Chamber orchestra (none of whom come from Lapland!) conducted by John Storgards. CPE Bach, Honegger and Sibelius Rakastava. Hakan Hardenberger played Birtwistle and PMaxwell Davies Sinfonia - both composers are 80 and were present. Incredible trumpet part but neither work is pleasing in any way! Fr John at vespers and Mass and we were late so abandoned trying to get to the hall. Listened on radio Berlioz, Sea pi...

Woke early. Liz went to Anerley for Mass and to return the white cassock. I played Elgar Chanson de matin and Pomp and Circumstance No. 4, Tambling on Slane, George Dyson on London New (his anniversary this year) and Thalben-Ball on Old 100th. Practised Dorian and Prelude in C minor. Only 18 there. Had to wait to be collected and dismantled our wooden bedframe for Emmaus to collect tomorrow. I will be away 3 nights baby sitting. Liz will come tomorrow once John Lewis deliver the new bed. Watched Proms plus with Mark Elder. Have had Friday's lovely Enigma on the brain.

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. 

I added Dermot (died aged 92) and Mum and Dad to the cathedral prayer list last night. I played Dad's pieces and we sang Father hear the prayer which we had at our wedding and My God accept my heart to St Botolph which Dad set as a confirmation anthem. The programmes for the recitals are ready to print and Hayley took them and discussed the organ Mass for Sept 29th. Home for lunch and to talk on Parsifal. Stephen Fry seemed to defend Christian content but then said Christ was not mentioned in the libretto which is clearly incorrect. The Prom was excellent and Mark Elder conducted. The Halle youth choir and Trinity boys were in the gallery near me and did really well. I dropped the torch at one point - a sure sign of sleeping! 

To Balham library for a bumper load of scores! Watched a bit more Olympics (amazing men's open water swim in the Serpentine) and Come dine with me. To pre Prom talk with Matthew Rowe and 4 BBC singers on the Elgar. A superb Prom of The Apostles. Sir Mark Elder conducting Halle forces. Great soloists including Alice Coote, Rebecca Evans and Paul Groves.

Thursday swam 23. Watched women's open water swimming in the Serpentine - amazing stamina. To the Russian display in Kensington Gardens about the winter olympics. 20 minute wait and no explanation - just like St Petersburg! Turns out a guide tells a group of about 30 about the films on Russia, the sponsors, transport, modern developments and a rather good 4D film about winter sports. Sochi looks like a great place on the Black Sea but with mountains nearby. The African village is closed and the park looks occupied. To the pre Prom about Per Norgard who is 80 and unable to travel so Ivor Hewitt spoke about his music and we heard a string quartet and Dances from Jupiter for 4 saxophones based on actual sounds from the planet! It was interesting and even amusing. The prom was great BBC Phil 2 Sibelius symphonies 3 and 6, Grieg piano concerto with Steven Osborne, Delius Cynara with Roderick Williams, The Norgard symphony wasn't that exciting. Late prom tribute to Ivor Novello with...

Sunday Dennis came down - he had been to handball yesterday and boxing today. Set off and held up near Bromley North tip so Louise used satnav to get us to M20. We arrived in time for a practice with the cantors - could not find music for Mystery of Faith so said it. All went well despite the horrid organ and 2 new hymns or choruses. Very nice picnic in Bishop John's garden and had a good chat to him. One spot of rain. Ciarán had a great time with the other kids and the Scaletrix! We were home by 5.30 so I went to the Prom -  to my surprise got a 52 straight away both ways and chatted to Harry Bramma. He too does freelance on Sundays. An excellent concert Aldeburgh World orchestra playing Britten, Mahler, Charlotte Bray new work and Stravinsky conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Chatted to a lady from Edinburgh and her mother who lives at the Barbican - they know Matthew from Sydney playing contra bassoon in the orchestra.

Ciarán woke around 6.45. To Hormiman musuem and had not been there for years and it is transformed. Loved the aquarium and a quick tour of the music gallery. Had coffee and then to the Spa Beckenham for swim. Ciarán loves the water and did not have his armbands so held on to me but he did do some swimming and jumping in! He hardly slept today. Water plat in the garden and slide and trampoline. Watched a lot of Thomas the tank engine DVD and he took the cover to bed. Liz went to buy new HDD recorder and I put him to bed - he was quite lively despite the lack of sleep. Watched Prom on BBC4 - Halle conducted by Elder - Sibelius, Bartok and Janacek.

To Coulsdon on buses and arrived early so time to copy hymns for September and "On eagles wings" for Richard Pilliner. I played Dad's march and they were prayed for. We sang "He who would true valour see" and "King of glory". Last night we had "Father hear the prayer we offer" and "Holy, holy, holy". Excellent BBC4 broadcast from Bath Abbey - the RSCM choir did really well and interesting choices from Geoff Weaver. Good that Liz and Grandma are there with Bruce. Got buses home straight away. On Skype to Dennis, Ann Marie, Clare and Ann in Sydney - Dennis had to help medically on the plane. Both very tired. Watched HDD Rivers and Mendelssohn Lobgesang well sung and played by Halle under Sir Mark Elder. Had score for first 3 movements. David Cairns was interviewed. Szymanowski Stabat Mater from Proms. Edited blog and it is now a closed blog. Jam and Jerusalem was funny. Enjoyed "Bad Catholics" thriller by James Green.