The organist librarian

Caught up with stunning Australian tenor Kang Wang at Cardiff Singer final. What top notes! Very hot, quiet time at St John moved into the hall as Adrian Gunning was practising for Thursday's recital. To the cathedral for mass with combined boys and Palestrina choir from Dublin. Beautiful singing Franck and love the end of the Langlais Mass almost Britten will it end in major but no it is modal. District line train did go on to Richmond in the end. Boys loved tshirts, cards, drinks bottles and books from Africa. Sean said he had missed me and Ciaran was telling us geography details about the Falls.  Retired librarian postpones taking grandson to library. It must be hot besides I can only find 3 books.  Marius Twomey  postponed coffee meeting re getting Poles to join Catenians in South London and reading out to university students in London. Happy to relax at home and pulled some ivy off! Sean saw ants in front of fireplace.  State opening of Parliament. Must be...

Tom cooked delciious breakfast - lovely sausages. To St John's for 10 a.m. 10 of us on the visit including Woolf van Silver who is working on All Saints Tooting organ restoration plans. Sam Barber is the organ scholar and Jamie welcomed us. Then to St Peter's where there was a fine exhibiton of paintings - the artist is to preach tomorrow! A lovely building with a good organ. Portobello Road very busy. Had lunch at Portobello ristorante - pizzas with chewy crusts. The Camerons were dining there! To St Matthew Bayswater which has a lovely Walker and then St John's Holland Park where Paul Joslin gave us a slide show and I played Willan. He played there and Sir Walter Alcock opened the organ. Got to the cathedral in good time and Fr Alexander enjoyed the Bainton anthem from Cardinal Vaughan school choir. They also sang Mozart and Byrd. Watched the British legion festival of remembrance featuring a new item by Paul Mealor sung by Royal Holloway.

To St Lawrence Jewry to hear Catherine Ennis play - interetsing programme includign Delius and Durufle. To St Stephen Walbrook for walk round city churches. Chose St Bartholomew the less, St Sepulchre, St Andrew Holborn and Tony Tucker who is outstanding took us also to St Etheldreda's - quite a walk but lots of fascinating detail including an unusual clock and garden near St Paul's Greyfriars where queens are buried. Henry Wood's ashes at St Sepulchre, windows to Nellie Melba and John Ireland and Sargent memorial. St Andrew's has lovely icons and organ Handel played from Coram foundling chapel. Served at volunteers mass and to the Abbey to hear Margaret Phillips play Guilmant, Alcock, Bach and Fredrik Sixten. Had an excellent seat so could see her at the console. Wed last music session until Sept. Very nice soup at vegan cafe in Bethnal Green and Liz took Ciarán to the museum of childhood. To London Buddhist centre and 8 came - excellent guide and beautiful Buddha pain...

Tuesday to Bromley Parish church with Liz to hear Adrian Adams play Alcock, Boyce, Elgar,Reger and Bach. Nice coffee and sandwiches with Terence beforehand. Liz has been painting and went to osteopath. To cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Philip Moore responses, nice chanting, Stanford in C Gloria sent shivers down my spine which doesn't happen often, Britten Te Deum in C. To Westfield to see The King's speech which was so moving. Louise treated us. Brilliant film!

Daffodils in Karlsruhe from Ann. To Croydon Clocktower to see the excellent exhibition about Islamic scientific discoveries and their influence on our world. In so many fields Arab scientists and doctors led the way long before Western equivalents. Had a look at the Chinese porcelain and the library. Commented on the plans for central Croydon - need a swimming pool and more green spaces. The library itself seems a little tired and crowded with shelves and people. It does not feel spacious at all. On the second floor I finally found leaflets and posters about local events. The tourist information centre was closed! And this is school holiday time! The Church Times includes adverts for assistant directors of music at York, St Albans and Southwell. Simon Bell is going to Winchester from Southwell and Richard Sharpe is going to York from Truro. To St Michael's for Ian Curror's recital. York Bowen Fantasia, 3rd movement of Elgar sonata, Chelsea Fayre by Goss-Custard (shades of Grai...