The organist librarian

Service went well and I played Gordon Slater's Easter Alleluya. I skipped the church AGM and got train and bus to Austin Friars in the City. From top deck of bus saw the London Marathon runners - hope Ian from the cathedral choir finished! Arnfinn Tobiassen was pleased to see me and Steve Garnett was there. The Dutch church is fine with excellent stained glass. Arnfinn played the Letourneau organ - Sweelinck and Kerll and then a Bach trio sonata and Bohm Prelude on the fine van Leeuwen organ. Tube to Brixton for Lambeth interfaith meeting at Corpus Christi (a fine church) on "Do religion and politics mix?" Clare Short MP was most impressive as was the imam from Hyderi mosque and the trainee rabbi from South London liberal synagogue. Nice to see Ebrahim and friends from the mosque again. Chatted to Michael Chandler who teaches at Heythrop. It was an excellent meeting. Home to watch marathon highlights, Songs of Praise from Windsor and evensong from Worcester. A lovely day ...

Last Sunday without choir. I played Thalben-Ball on "Monk's Gate", John Stanley voluntaries and Adoro Te by Boellmann at Communion. At the end the tears filled my eyes as I started to play Dad's Bishopthorpe March but I kept going and managed the 5 sharps section much better. I practised and then met Vickie to choose hymns up to the end of November. This is necessary as my Wednesdays are taken up with holidays and the group on Paul. Liz was cantor at 12 noon Mass and I picked her up from the swimming pool where she had rescued my swimming stuff from my 40 length swim yesterday. I am feeling fit! A pleasant afternoon listening to evening prayer sung by the RSCM millenium youth choir in Holland featuring Sweelinck. Then Lang Lang's piano prom which was later on TV. Scanned photos for Doris's card and cut out letters for her card.