The organist librarian

Delightful lunch with Sue Albery.  800th meeting of Chichester circle at Chichester Park hotel excellent meal soup, fish, sorbet, pheasant, panna cotta, champagne and wine all for £36 and very good company. Hotel has a nice pool and spa. Met Josephine painter from L'Arche Bognor Regis. Bishop Richard and Tibkes.  Swim, jacuzzi and sauna, Full English beakfast, At Petworth House a lovely exhibition Skyscapes from the Ashmolean, a talk on Turner and Petworth and lovely photos of stars over the Sussex Downs. Met Kathy Edwards who worked at Battersea library in the 80s. We recalled Eric who was reference librarian. Love the Turners. Home by 4.

To waterfowl trust in Arundel seeing ducks and swans in the rain. Beautiful funeral Mass for Fr Gerry Coates at Arundel cathedral celebrated by Bishop Richard Moth and a delicious reception. Catherine Christmas was cantor/animator and sang beautifully and prayerfully.Paul Inwood ill with kidney problem. Handel Let the bright seraphim with trumpet, As the deer.  Fr Aidan from Worth amd met a Brighton organist who knew Fr Farmer. To tea at  Sue Albery 's which was delightful and we met her neighbour Sue who was also at the funeral. To Kingston circle for dinner and the Thomas More icon was much appreciated. Good company too. A brother who is 85 told me he persuaded the circle to vote in favour of adopting Thomas More as an Assocation patron saint in 1981. Liz went to Acton from New Malden and I drove home in the wet.

Took Liz to East Croydon to go to the cathedral. Watched more of Westminster Abbey programme and got more Christmas lights from shed. To Putney Vale crematorium for 11.20 funeral of a 101 year old lady. Albinoni, Bach and Handel. 11 miles there. Drove to the cathedral to park and buses. A short visit to the London Transport museum and a delightful display of pictures on Secrets of London. Good seat in upper amphitheatre for Meyerbeer Robert the devil. A very fine tenor and good production. Seemed a bit long and repetitive. My neighbour likes going to unusual operas like me. Back to Victoria and waited for Liz who had been at Earls Court military show. To the Alberys to say goodbye as they are moving to West Sussex. A good chat. Watched Claridges programme.