The organist librarian

Swam 30 lengths and saw Humphrey and the kids on my train. Weather has turned cold again, In the afternoon 2 staff training sessions in the learning centre and we looked at Our reading futures website and different scenarios. Home to get keys (Liz had gone to the cathedral)and traffic was bad but I got to Coulsdon by 7 p.m. The service went really well and the choir sat in the transept creating an upper room feel. Vicky said all was well and she had spoken to the bishop at the Chrism Mass. We sang Byrd "Ave verum" - there were 12 in the congregation so no need for "To mock your reign" Psalm 116 to Goss chant, Psalm 22 to plainchant and Taize "Stay with me". The tricky bit was when the lights were turned off during the psalm! I did stay for a while - a beautiful altar of repose and I read Thomas a Kempis. To swimming pool to pick up swim stuff and home at 10 p.m. for dinner.

Chris on great form at Understanding Islam. The Quran claims Jesus was born in the desert - what of 2000 years of tradition about Bethlehem? What of the Eucharist and Passover - have we all got it so wrong? Chris Goodchild led the spirituality day linking the Alexander technique to the theme of "Beyond Desire". His section from Gerard May's book on desire "Addiction and Grace" was most interesting contrasting addiction and repression. "after 20 years of listening to the yearnings of people's hearts, I am convinced that all human beings have an inborn desire for God". During the quiet time I sat in St Andrew's chapel in the cathedral which has fine mosaics of Istanbul and St Andrews and the lovely cross. I found a quote from "The Imitation of Christ" which finished the day well. "All that matters is the cross and dying on that cross - there is no other way to life and real inward peace except the way of the holy cross, and of dail...

No reason for the picture - just like it! A busy day at work after 40 lengths of the pool. Chatting to man at the pool who turns out to be Andrew and father of Louis in the cathedral choir! Book sale is going well. A new guide to Turkey arrived right on cue and I have several books to read but I am persevering with Michael Mail's "Exposure" for reading group in March and "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis. My bedtime reading is James Naughtie's excellent Journey through music. Choir practice seemed oddly ill at ease. Some adverse comment re the new item by David Ogden "As a mother" and the difficulty of Byrd 4 part Mass. Sicut cervus needs to settle down too. My voice seemed tired after last night's exertions. Home to watch the last of "The choir Boys don't sing" with Gareth Malone triumphantly taking 100 boys from Lancaster School to the Albert Hall. Also watched most of "A boy called Alex" about amazing Eton ...

Who is my neighbour is the Westminster diocesan Lent book. I found an old paperback on my shelves of Thomas a Kempis "The Imitation of Christ" and it is inspiring stuff. Avoiding gossip and idle talk - good idea. At the spirituality day we unusually ate in silence at lunch time and it was helpful. Well not quite silence - we had a CD of quiet guitar music!