The organist librarian

My last Saturday and rather busy, Claire Corcoran came in and she said she remembered me at Addiscombe! Played for Songs of Praise for St Andrew's day featuring modern hymns. Lots of fish and chips and desserts followed by talent of auctions. Missed train by seconds so buses home on a very cold night.

Liz stayed home. To Coulsdon and found pedals not working at all as bottom C and D were stuck. Also lights on console were off - Bob found the fuse. I abandoned RVW Rhosymedre and Karg-Elert our wedding anniversary pieces and played good old John Stanley on manuals only. Nobody seemed to know "Mount Ephraim" to "For all thy saints O Lord" which is odd as we have sung it before. Teresa apologised about the email muddle up for Friday's funeral. Ann had kept aside Fairtrade muesli, biscuits and yoghurt covered raisins for me. Practised despite lack of pedals. To Croydon M & S, Debenhams, Allders and eventually Barratts where I found some Hush Puppies sandals which can be adjusted and are comfortable - £35. Unheard of for me to go shopping and loads of people about. Tidied up garden and swept patio so we could BBQ and have lunch outside for the first time this year despite the weather we have been having. New laptop on charge. Listened to prom - Schumann and Joh...

Colin was supposed to give me a lift to council but had another meeting and forgot to tell me. I got there in time in our car but knocked my beer over when Declan arrived - I got up to let him in. I was also grumpy with Philip and Jim! Thursday was election day so I was up early to vote at the Polish hall and so no swim. The library hall was being used as a polling station and with all the activity I forgot Andrew Green was coming. I'm not sure of the purpose of his visit but it did not inspire. I worked until 8 and Bruce and Dennis spent the evening at the hospital as Grandma was in the stroke unit. There had been trouble with the care manager wanting her to go to Mayday's new unit which is not on. Fell asleep watching results in an extraordinary election and woke to find Martin Linton had lost Battersea. Whatever one may think of his politics, he was a good M.P. now replaced by some unknown Tory. A hung parliament could give the Lib Dems the chance to improve our ridiculous e...

Swam as usual Thursday and Friday. To Catenian council meeting at Brendan's and then Xin restaurant in West Wickham for delicious Chinese meal with lots of variety although never very filling. At the very end Jim swung the circular table centre round and a glass of tonic water went all over my trousers! In the car and home to change! Liz was at confirmation class and late back. Friday more weeding and tidying up - I even found a Christmas decoration behind the fax machine! Off at 5 and to Thornton Heath and Josie's road where Liz got fish and chips. Louise and Ciarán at home and he enjoyed his bath. They had visited Grandma. To choir practice - organ is out of tune and I will use piano on Sunday. The choir were arguing again about tempi, leaving out notes, you name it. At one point I said "Who's conducting this choir any way?" Also a question about Good Friday just as we were about to rehearse an item. They are infuriating. Watched "Embarrassing bodies"....

I was late at the pool as I was doing emails - only 28. Dan was there. Liz brought homemade cakes and loads of eats and drinks in car and set up in the hall with a display of library past and present. Loads of people came many with gifts and cards and they wrote in my book from my 30 years party. It was very touching. Liz fetched Louise and Ciarán. The staff gave me a DVD of tai chi for seniors - perfect gift. Home for dinner and Ciarán's bath time in inflatable bath. To practice and Peter Sanders came to look at situation re covering the organ as decorators coming Monday. We eventually found that the organ chamber key was on my key ring! It will have to be done from outside the chamber and front pipes are soft and worth £1000 each so they must be careful.

40 lengths on Thursday and Friday. Busy at work with survey. Fell asleep during "The history of Christianity" part 1 on BBC4. Friday to Catenian clergy supper - 70 at Addington Palace golf club but not many Norwood brothers or clergy. Picked up Fr Sixtus at St Chad's and Fr Tim Dean from the cathedral at East Croydon which was very busy because of rain! Fr Tim spoke well and enjoyed the evening which was too long thanks to a raffle. Good meal - roast beef. Home at 11.45! Woke early and lie-in - Liz fed up as I was out again this time for St Andrew's day on outreach at the very attractive Holy Trinity centre, Wallington where Freda Curtis's funeral was held. An interesting discussion in small groups and useful. Home to find a match on so parked outside Hyacinth's and tried to find reason for water overflowing onto back roof - baffling!

A couple of hours doing the game plan and seeing NS. Pretty tiring day - only had 30 minutes for lunch. The chocolate cake I took in for my birthday was much appreciated. The labels on these posts are no longer working! To choir practice and worked through programme for Saturday. I was irritated by M saying she could not get the time right in Jubilate of Mozart and then when I offered to go through it "We don't need help" - far too much chatter again which does NOT help anyone! John went through Ave Maria an octave down! Moved chairs and piano - church looks lovely and all neat and tidy. I put out free CDs in 3 places and the programme. Music for the Harvest flower festival St Andrew’s Coulsdon Saturday 10th October 2009 2.45 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sung by the church choir and played and directed by John Woodhouse ACertCM FGMS Director of music St Andrew Coulsdon and President of Bromley and Croydon Organists Association Prelude on “Aurelia” Father Andrew Moore born 1954 This pr...

To Putney for meeting - AG very friendly and a warning to all about use of internet and email in library time so warned everyone. Visited Wandsworth Town library on way back and Daniel gave me a tour. I was very impressed. Saw RA and CM, To choir - John commented on Rutter For the beauty of the earth implying I couldn't play it! The fact is I had not played it since the last time we sang it and it's not easy. Gave Caroline a lift to Purley as she cannot drive - eye problems. It was a good practice for once and I remained positive.

To practice and the girls were lively and enjoying themselves. Audra Proctor came to join us - she is an alto so Janet was delighted! With Nigel Groome and the Bishop coming on Sunday, I think we were all a bit tense but actually singing quite well. i was so busy getting Audra robes I forgot to turn the vestry heater off so rang Vickie - she was just going to bed so I apologised profusely. I won't do that again! Bruce got the job of manager of the new Evans store in Birmingham so we are all thrilled for him!

Adrian Adams' recital on 23 Nov at St John's marked some anniversaries - Leighton, Blow, Parry, Leslie Betteridge and Messiaen and ended with Jacques Charpentier's L'ange a la trompette. It was an interesting programme despite the inevitable Messiaen! On Sat Nov 29 St Andrew's celebrated St Andrew's Day with Songs of Praise. this was informal with no robes and free accompaniments which seemed a pity. We started with Vaughan Williams' "O taste and see" and sang Martin Shaw's "With a voice of singing". The position of the choir behind the nave altar space meant that we were not in sync in places. My choice was "O worship the Lord". Other choices were "How great thou art" "Morning has broken" and "What a friend" but at least we did sing "Christ triumphant" and "Thine be the glory". Then there were fish and chips and apple pie and cream followed by a quiz. Our table came 2nd - ha...

St Andrew’s Coulsdon Music list May 2008 The Gloria is by Peter Jones and the Gospel acclamations for the whole month are from Music for the Parish Communion by Martin How with the Celtic Alleluia Sunday May 4th Sunday after Ascension Jesus’ new body is the church in the world Organ: Prelude on “Llanfair” Groves 122 (i) verses 1,2,5,6; 130; Celtic Alleluia with Ascension verse; 116(i); 121 Communion Service in D Heathcote Statham The Lord ascendeth up on high OFB No 55a Michael Praetorius Organ: Prelude for Ascension “Heut triumphiret” Johann Sebastian Bach May 4th 5 p.m. Evensong Organ: Prelude on “Miles Lane” Healey Willan Responses: John Sanders Psalm 145 (Norris) 117; 119 with descant Canticles in A flat Basil Harwood God is gone up Arthur Hutchings Organ: Festal Fanfare Noel Rawsthorne May 11 Pentecost Come Holy Ghost Organ: Prelude on “Veni creator” Alec Wyton 186; Psalm 67 (Nares): 160(ii); Celtic alleluia with Pentecost verse; 161; 162 at communion; 168 v.1,3,5,7 Communion serv...

Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild restless sea, day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying "Christian, follow me" As of old St Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake; turned from home and toil and kindred leaving all for his dear sake. To Battersea for Anne Walker's farewell after 42 (!) years in the library service. A gathering of faces from the past including Tony Shaw (local historian), Victor Chapman, Roger Coton - I almost expected Mr Otway to reappear! The staff room for once looked nice with lit candles. I couldn't stay long so Anne gave me a bottle of Merlot! She liked the photo I gave her from my own leaving do at Battersea. How glad I am to be at Battersea Park - that building at Battersea is no fun but good for the waistline! Ann's daughter Laura is now 34 and of course Dennis is 30! Train to Coulsdon South in pouring rain where Caroline picked me up. The 7.15 service went really well. We sang the Haydn Gloria, Greening's ...

46 lengths in 46 minutes - my best effort so far! Yesterday evening I produced the draft September music list for St Andrew's Coulsdon. It's an unusual month with a 40th wedding anniversary and 2 ordinations. To mark the first anniversary of Mum and Dad and Ann's visit I am playing some of Dad's music. His "Lullaby for Claire" quotes the wedding march he wrote for Ann and Paul when they were married in St David's cathedral, Hobart. We were there for that wonderful wedding and I acted as MC singing the introductions to Anglican chant!