The organist librarian

Swam 40 lengths. To see Vickie. She produced draft contract and quite happy about New Zealand. On way there to Ikea to get mattress for sofa bed. Bruce went shopping. Liz picked up repaired clock, Drove to Acton and Ciarán on good form. To cathedral to Mass - I was boat. Bishop Alan Hopes stuck in traffic. Student protest closed Westminster. To APRG at New Scotland Yard nice eats and met man from Kingston mosque.

To Coulsdon where we sang Psalm 27 and Farrant's "Hide not thou thy face" and I played the Lasceux Fugue in G minor. The organ cover coming away at the bottom on the nave side and I saw more dirt in the chamber. I was putting things downstairs when Vickie came along in tears. She had spoken to Molly's brothers about their behaviour in church and this had led to uproar. Any way I advised giving it time and was pleased to find Molly had not gone home. Long chat to Catharine and Molly and then practised Buxtehude and Bach. I did my best to help and rang Vickie in the evening. There have clearly been previous incidents with the boys and their behaviour. Quick lunch and Dennis set off for the hospital. I parked at Selhurst (it was very wet) and got a fast train to Victoria and then a 24 bus as Warren Street station was closed. 3 hours of working on MacMillan detail. Buses back to Victoria and bought lilies for Liz. Trains cancelled because of flood at Clapham and got a tra...

Monday spent a lot of time on the game plan redoing it. Tuesday to Power station community forum - I flew the flag for a new library in the revised plans which are looking much better. I shall have retired long before it all happens! Liz was at servers committee where she is now taking the minutes. She got the hired hat back from Louise who sang at Gerry's wedding in Ireland on Saturday. Wednesday to choose March hymns with Vickie and Sue. To dentist Rebecca Naidoo ahs taken over form Judy and is very nice - no work needed!. To Catenian council meeting which was very long and some things never got mentioned!

Baptism at Coulsdon so no Gloria. 7 in choir including Bob and Tony Trent (no choral services at Croydon Parish Church for 2 weeks!) We sang Coventry carol and I played Pachelbel "Von himmel hoch" and a rather attractive piece on Coventry Carol by Gordon Phillips. Tony was going on about a boys choir again so he spoke to Vicky. We met again and talked about the ethos of the church and choir discipline. Practised in a cold church and home for lunch. Liz had been to the sales and got Christmas cards. Watched Kings carols, Vasari, How to build a cathedral, Peterborough cathedral midnight Mass with excellent sermon by the Dean. Did Christmas Tablet crossword and quiz. Wrote to editor about Fr Aidan Rossiter's new word "Willcoxian" -should it be "Willcocksian"?

liz returned safely on Tuesday. Quality control had a lot ot say about how little had been done in her absence so got on with putting up tree lights and decorations which is after all a major task and best done together any way. One set of 100 tree lights took 2 hours to unravel! Little Dorrit came to a fine conclusion and a happy ending! The review meeting with Vickie proved to be quite critical but on Sunday she was keen to affirm my position which is good. Quite what happens in the New Year is uncertain so it's all systems go for Christmas and today Sunday I practised for over an hour. Wednesday to chorus with Edward. Thursday to Christian's for the organists supper - not many there, excellent food. Friday to Jane Allen's retirement party at Balham library hall. Chris Lally, Elaine and Victor there and a good turnout. Excellent eats and champagne! The speeches went on for ages and she ended up thanking everyone. I could not leave till the speeches were over which meant I...

The 15 day Holy Land pilgrimage was amazing and I will have much to write about it. We returned on the Friday and I went to choir practice as usual to find much consternation about the choir's fee for the wedding while I was away. Liz went to the servers dinner at Allen Hall. Saturday unpacked and I played for the wedding at 1 p.m. and Vickie was not best pleased that I arrived at 12.50 because the back tyre was down and had to be pumped up. The bride was 15 minutes late any way. To Vespers and Mass. Sunday all was sweetness and light again at Coulsdon. It seems the bride was not charged for the choir as we never had 6 people available to sing so the 4 who came were given £5 each from church funds! We sang Cleobury's arrangement of "Let all mortal flesh". To Adrian Adams' recital at St John's and long chat to Bev - we saw her in the Holy sepulchre church! Evensong - Howells Coll Reg and RVW O clap your hands. New guy called David played. Ironed all my long sle...

On Monday Lauren arrived on standby flight from Sydney and her case came the following day! It is 4 years since she stayed here! Watched University challenge and fell asleep. In fact slept so well missed my swim. Interviews for SAturday adn weekend essistants - impressed by 16 year olds but sad about Darcy who has lost confidence as a result of being knifed while trying to break up a fight. Hope to employ 4 of them. Barbara Costanzo interviewed with me. I went to tai chi and felt fine. However on Tuesday the pain in my left side returned. Watched Maestro and again impressed by Goldie. David Soul was eliminated. Chat to Daniel on Facebook. Wednesday swam 22 lengths. By car to Buckingham Palace with Grandma and Lauren. All well-organised with wheelchair access. Most impressed by the audio guide and the Vermeer and Rembrandts. The state banquet wonderful! Tea in the garden and chatted to a staff member who sings in the Bach Choir and visited Sydney. Dropped off at British school of osteop...

Day off but to Coulsdon to discuss January music with Vickie. Home for lunch and then on train to Victoria. There was a closure at Vauxhall so buses were diverted so I ended up walking to Tate Britain where I met Bruce in the Millais exhibition. We had tea in the members room and visited the modern art sections. I watched 2 new films Estabrak's "Self-portrait with Aunt and Rebecca 2007" and "Finding Grandma's garden" by Denis Hyka and Violana Murataj from Tirana. To chorus where Robert Dean rehearsed Classic carols. Christmas letter is ready at last and emailed.