The organist librarian

Served at Morning prayer at the cathedral. Superb choir and strepitus. Not sure it was a good idea to kneel for the Anerio. I was extinguisher 1.  Having a lovely family day at Acton delicious lunch and a sleep! The 3 boys are having fun! Back at midnight from serving at a fabulous Easter Vigil at the cathedral. The Vierne and anthems from the choir were absolutely stunning and the organ was just magnificent. The Cardinal again gave a fine homily and there were 4 baptisms and 12 confirmations. The neo-catechumenate attended in large numbers. Now to bed and up at 4 a.m. !Arrived at church 4.57 amazing full moon. The porch decorated with Easter eggs and flowers.Both Easter services went really well with good singing from the choir and cooked breakfast in between. Played Hallelujah chorus and Saraband for the morning of Easter and we sang 4 vigil psalms, Sing choirs of heaven and This joyful Eastertide. Fell asleep watching Pope Francis! Now enjoying St Mary Warwick broadcast. I...

Today is my last Sunday morning "off" before St John Caterham from next week. I did consider going up to the Temple church or even the Shakespeare walk but I'm glad I didn't in view of the marathon crowds. I realy enjoyed the service at St John Upper Norwood and we sang Sumsion in F and Lloyd Webber Sing the life, National anthem and Jerusalem!! I need to find the quote but Alexander McCall Smith hs something about our patriotism being influenced by what we ate for breakfast as a child! Maybe something in that? The children like  the idea of a new tree in memory of their grandparents - Dennis wants two! At evensong we sang Noble in B minor and Greater love with Liz singing the solo. Bridget conducted and Fr John played - toccata and fugue in D minor at the end. Watched the Queen, marathon, Indian summers and Antiques roadshow. 

Dennis came to lunch which was nice. At evensong we sang Noble in B minor and Ireland's Greater love. Watched some Winter Olympics and young teachers. Call the midwife was quite sad. Come dine with me was good. 

To evensong Noble in B minor, Howells Like as the hart. Told Adrian Tommy is leaving All Saints so I have sent an email. I was furious this morning and had to stop my reading. Email from Vickie saying she had got a deputy for March 4th so I can have an unpaid Sunday off. This would not have happened if Tommy had kept March 4th for me but someone else on Organists online got in first! So now I am out of pocket. It really does look as though I am being eased out at Couldson so maybe Upper Norwood is a good alternative as it so close to home (bus or walkable). Watched Antiques roadshow, Last Call the midwife and Upstairs Downstairs. Am enjoying the 2 books on icons Liz gave me.  Missed Dvorak and Macmillan at the cathedral this morning but got first essay done! Monday to mosaic and started new project involving flowers and a Paisley pattern. Only 4 at tai chi with Hendrika. Liz to see new mentor and tutor at last.

9.30 a.m. eucharist and 10.45 service with a good bugler. Played Elgar, Bach and Walford Davies much inspired by Simon Lindley's playing on Friday. Did not get to Mass. Noble in B minor at evensong. Monday to mosaic and tai chi and returned books to Balham library. Linda back from Mexico and god progress on the cross. Tuesday to Heythrop and essay went in last week OK. 4 of us for coffee before the lecture on Charles Taylor. Liz's birthday and to dentist and she had her hair done. To Acton and on Wednesday Ciarán who is chatting so much cried when I left to go to interfaith group. Excellent talk on Korea by Matthew Jackson who showed 6 films and gave us a book on art - amazing nation. Back to Acton and Bruce came which was nice.

Slept badly again. We sang Simon Lole's "O God of mercy" 6 in choir and the Stephen Dean St Andrew's acclamations going well. Jill Cliff celebrated 80th birthday with Pimms. I played Webber on Lobe den herren (first played that when I was a teenager and had to play for the Mayoral service in Dad's absence) and Finlandia Dad's favourite. He passed away July 1999. It was appreciated! The children sang Panis angelicus really well. Edward George was at cathedral for Mass - he is here from South Africa. Had an hour's sleep after lunch. At evensong we sang Noble in B minor, Bairstow Save us O lord, The duteous day now closeth and Adrian played Bairstow's Toccata Prelude on Pange lingua - very satisfying. Cleared up garden pots. Liz is cutting down on them.

Claire arrived OK and Liz picked her up at Stansted and there was a hold-up on the motorway. We had 2 baptisms at Coulsdon and the Boyce Alleluia went really well. We added in a communion hymn to "Liebster Jesu" so I played the Bach preludes on the melody. At the end I played Finlandia Grandad's favourite as it is near his anniversary. As it is Sea Sunday we sang "Eternal father". Fairtrade stall so I stocked up on muesli and biscuits. Spoke to Ann, Paul, Dennis and AnnMarie on skype with Claire. Abandoned plan to go to Alexandra Palace to hear Francis Jackson as it would have taken too long to get there. I practised for Tuesday's songs from the shows. To St John's so Claire could see where the ashes of Mum and Dad are buried and I sang at evensong - Noble in B minor, Balfour Gardiner Te lucis, Michael Fleming's splendid Palace green tune to "Sing praise to God on high". Christopher Moore played. Josie and Grandma came for a meal which Clai...

At Coulsdon we sang Statham in D and "What wondrous love is this" beautifully arranged by Geoff Weaver. The baby to be baptised was keen to fall into the font! I played "Come unto me" from Messiah (gospel of the day) and Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This was much appreciated especially by Molly and Ella who seem keen to join the choir in September which is great. The problem will be fitting in choir practice in the their busy lives. Rehearsed with Karen for her ACertCM exam on Friday and she told me more about Jo Richards (formerly Richard Jones). To Vespers at the cathedral and we were acolytes. Stunning "Great is the Lord". Liz stayed to turn over for the Czech recitalist who played an odd programme. To evensong at St John's Upper Norwood. Paused for a moment in the rain where the ashes are buried - it will be 2 years next month since Mum and Dad were called to glory. We sang Noble in B minor and "O Lord my God" by Purcell. Dad's favou...

Friday straight from work to meet Liz at Clapham Junction to get the train to Windsor. Bought a senior railcard for £20 so return fare only £5. Checked in at new Travelodge next to Central station and had pizza in the room while watching again "Meet the Fokkers" with hilarious performances from Dustin Hoffmann and Barbara Streisand. Saturday Bruce joined us and we spent the day rehearsing with the Bridgeman Singers in Vicars Hall. Noble in B minor and a beautiful "Sure in this shining night" by Morten Lauridsen - very touching piece. To Zizzis for an excellent Italian meal. Sunday we arrived in good time for the 9.30 a.m. start. The superb George Malcolm Missa in praesepio as heard at the cathedral at Midnight Mass - what a joy to sing! At Mattins Howells Coll Reg Te Deum. To the pub for half of Old peculiar and at Arthur's excellent vegetarian lunch we enjoyed Kosovan beer! Evensong Parry 2nd service in D and Bob Chilcott's 7/9 version of the Sussex Carol. ...

Psalm 77 - very suitable - much about thunder and lightning - our weather has remained damp and stormy - typical Wimbledon fortnight! We are told summer will be on one day 11 July. Did it rain on St Swithin's day? I had a busy time as I had to play and sing tenor. The setting was Noble in A which quotes the bells in Parsifal and David Ogden's "Christ has no body now but yours" was the communion anthem. We began with Angel voices ever singing for Karen's birthday - another favourite of mine. "Craftsman's art and music's measure for Thy pleasure all combine". I played the Widor Toccata (one bad page turn)and several people remarked it especially the Denleys who had just had their wedding anniversary and requested it last year. I went to see Grandma in hospital and she was quite chirpy. Liz came home to make lunch and went with Louise to see her. I served at Vespers at the cathedral. Stunning Bairstow "Blessed city" and brilliant improvisa...