The organist librarian

Search for my mobile phone in the street and note through letterboxes. The wind may have blown it down the drain! The Find my device app shows it in our road. Another session of grouting the mosaic and still not finished!. Samuel Ali played a lovely programme at St Michael Cornhill Lloyd Webber, CPE Bach, RVW and Stanford. A delight! Went to see Clare. Liz to maths. Only connect, University challenge, Mary Beard on the nude. 

Delayed bus meant I lost practice time. We sang Veiled in darkness by Glenn Rudolph and I played Statham on Veni Emmanuel and Lloyd Webber on Helmsley. The carol service at St John Upper Norwood went really well with Norman Harper on the organ. The Bob Chilcott Midwinter came together well. Lots of people came.

A wonderful day! Swam, Nelson Ferreira and I put Julian Barron on the auction and he gave us lots of great advice. He thought my paintings would sell well! Coffee than Gauguin portraits at the National Gallery which we enjoyed. Tea then Pre-Raphaelite sisters at NPG which we hated but we liked Elizabeth Peyton. A delightful recital by Gerard Brooks at St John's. Great to have English music plus Bossi and Gothic Suite. The Apprentice.

We both went swimming and to Mass then shopping in Aldi. Reduced price stollen and pannetone? Silly question! Good to see Berni Excell at the shops! Emma Gibbins played Advent and Christmas music at St Stephen Wallbrook. Nice to know I am getting it right! Did not know the Weckmann and Liszt. Good to hear Lloyd Webber, Rowley and Peeters. Splendid trumpets in Noel Suisse. Welcoming at cathedral and 3 of us on. Family from Durban delighted by children's guides. Sad to see Christmas tree and crib in Trafalgar Square gone. To National gallery to see Landseers (wonderful lions) and Artemisia. The lion and the unicorn is rubbish. Gainsborough's family portraits lovely but rooms are too small. Gorgeous Royal wedding photos. And I was very struck by a portrait of Ed Shehan. 

Dark and cheerless is the morn... Rain and first bus delayed but I caught the second one OK! Advent 4 Flor Peeters and Walther Wachet auf Lloyd Webber on Helmsley. We sang People look East and some Marian hymns. For Mary mother of our Lord such lovely words. The busy world had got no space or time for God on earth; a cattle manger was the place where Mary gave him birth. From For Mary mother of our Lord To St John's for the carol service. The Stopford I found rather dull and none of us warmed to the Whitacre - it needs a big choir. The Shephard Song of Mary works well and we also sang Sussex carol. Sad to find verses cut out of Once in royal. Good to see Adrian,Robert and the Wests. Mulled wine and cupcakes sent by Bishop Beverley. I met Edmund Max's brother who is a philosopher.  Watched The Bishop's wife. 

Up at 6.30 a.m. 2 buses to Caterham as train replaced by bus at that time but now running. Played Gordon Slater on "St Botolph" as we sang my favourite Marian hymn "For Mary mother of our Lord". Beautiful tune. I am afraid " Shall we not love thee mother dear" feels very Victorian. We sang "People look East" which seems very appropriate as people were very busy after service preparing for Christingle and Midnight. I think I have 4 sopranos tonight so descants are on. Lloyd Webber on Helmsley a great piece and also played Noel pour L'Amour de Marie. Compliments about carol service but more importantly ecumenical first.  Washing put away, presents wrapped, dishwasher loaded. Delicious ham lunch with squeak and Aldi Chrstmas pudding. Can now settle down to listen to King's - let Christmas begin!  Served at 6 p.m. mass at the cathedral which was packed. Blessing of the crib. Ex-choristers sang lovely Reger and Stille nacht. Missa de angelis...

A day of mixed fortunes spent at Caterham. 2 girls came to sing one of them 5 minutes before the service and Folake was late. We sang For the fruits of all creation at both services. Good Harvest lunch.  A day spent at Caterham. Harvest and we had 2 youngsters singing this morning and choral evensong. Harvest lunch was excellent. Our table lost out as we did not have all the clues! We sang For the fruits of all creation at both services and I played Francis Jackson's voluntary on East Acklam - happy birthday 100 year old! Also played Statham on Monkland, Lloyd Webber on Fair waved the golden corn and Peeters on Wir plufgen. Very disappointed that the first choral evensong since Jill left was marred by the cleaner of the hall who was unpleasant to me and downright rude to Andrea. Sadly Andrea chose the moment to have a go at Jerry about poor publicity which he of course did not like. She quoted  Matthew 25 and I am afraid that Margaret's comment was very unfriendly. I cannot b...

Swam 20 and Mass at Anerley. Excellent playing from Charles Andrews at St Stephen Wallbrook including Lloyd Webber and Rheinberger. Guiding at the cathedral Women's world day of prayer service written by Filipino women so Filipino ambassador and deputy Mayor of London came. To Royal Academy but the American exhibition was far too crowded but I enjoyed Anthony Green. Dennis and AnneMarie came. 

Advent 1 we sang John Scott's arrangement of Creator of the stars of night and I played Flor Peeters and Alec Rowley preludes on Conditor Alme also Lloyd Webber rhapsody on Helmsley. Organ has been tuned. Carol practice with 4. Edited church website and put appeal on Streetlife. Watched end of Midsummer night's dream on TV.  St John's Cambridge Advent procession very good. Lovely Advent service at St John's including Michael Fleming's Kindle a flame (we sang in the first performance) Charles Wood and Stanford. Es ist ein Ros in German . Bridget's version of Wachet auf quite different to Ben Bloor's - well he is young! Interesting to see Plimouth plantation in programme on Mayflower pilgrims.

The psalm was as I expected pretty disastrous. Bill has had his op but not well enough to come. Shirley arrived at 9.20 and we went through it. When she went down to the lectern there were people abut and I do not think they helped at all. We went through it again at the organ which meant I only played one voluntary. The warning buzzer is working and is loud! Phillipa arrived at ths point so the situation was one singer who had rehearsed but is new to all this plus 2 who had not rehearsed together. Leon went through it on Tuesday. They stood in front of the lectern so all I could hear was Leon on the loop. The main problem was starting! By the third verse things were more confident. The alleluya Leon was of course busy so I played and sang loudly. In future it will be done upstairs or said. After service we rehearsed psalm for next week, Camino Kyries, Salazar Gloria and On Christmas night. I did play Griffiths on Maria zu leben and Lloyd Webber on Hemsley. I copied my contract and pu...

Tuesday we both swam and I did 20 - it was cold again.Liz went to Brick Lane and Somerset House and then to Acton. I went to Church House for the Boroughs interfaith forum. There were reflections on recent events and I said I was bewildered but wanted the police to do something about hate crime. The MP from the Dept of Communities a Liberal agreed. We heard about Near Neighbours and food banks. I left early to go to the cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral. Stanford in G (did not like either soloist and the men were far too loud at the start of the Magnificat, Brahms Geistliche lied. Exc sermon by Canon Oakley. Nice to see Michael Durand (with a stick) and Anne Welch. To Alexandra Palace for fine recital by Gerard Brooks. Saw Jack Beeson and the Shepherds. Coleridge-Taylor, Lloyd Webber, Guilmant and Widor (with a sense of humour!) My tea came out of the cup! Reached Acton at 10.15. Wed Sean ran about and his behind the curtains at music but he did join in some of i...

Played Bach and Peeters on Wachet auf and Lloyd Webber's Rhapsody on Helmsley. Had a good carol practice and Hayley sang Once in royal beautifully. People are coming to carols at Kent House station on Friday! Louise brought Ciaran and Seán to Dennis and Ann Marie's and then they came down to help with the tree. No streamers this year! Listened to some of Clare College's evensong.

To Beckenham by car and got flowers at M and S where I parked. Peter Cook played Camidge, Vierne, Lloyd Webber and David German. His John Williams Film surprise was lost on me. The organ has some water damage.To Central Music library and got all the scores I wanted. The Prom was BBC Phil with Noseda playing Casella, Chopin, Franck with Ben Grosvenor and Saint-Saens 3 with David Goode - splendid. Saw Ben Saul and his family and Damien Howard. The talk on French music was interesting. What makes French music French? Many German influences. Stayed for the first 15 minutes of the battle of the big Jazz bands but it was very loud and could not hear the speech well. Pouring. Liz went to Acton as on Saturday she got some reading glasses - dispute with insurance company. 

We sang Lo he comes at the morning service so I played Lloyd Webber voluntary on it and Sumsion on Veni emmanuel. Liz ahd made cakes for the boys, clergy and servers. Fr Augustine is moving to Walsingham aged 98! Louise arrived for lunch and had a sleep. The carols went really well. Choir of 8. The Rutter Angels'carol and Little road were beautifully sung and we sang On Christmas night and Sing lullaby. Applause was a little odd  -45 there. Mulled wine and mince pies. Antiques roadshow, final fo Choir in the workplace won inexplicably by P and O. I thought Citi were much better and I like Cheshire fire service's sound. 

Liz to cathedral bearing cards and rosaries for the leaving choirboys - they had some of the delicious chocolate cake from yesterday. I played Peeters and Lloyd Webber on Lobe den herren and practised. Great hymns - Praise to the Lord the alnighty, Ye servants of God, Love is his word and When morning gilds the skies at my request. Paul was back in black shorts - I had mine on too as it was hot again. Finished clearing up and Dennis came down. We met Ann and Paul at St Pancras off Eurostar from Brussels at 4.15 and I got the pianist to play Waltzing Matilda as they came through. Anyone can play! Got the train to east Croydon amid great excitement and Liz met us there. Had a very nice meal with champagne and cleared up the garden ready to take everything to the tip tomorrow. 

Did some work this morning and then to St George's Beckenham for recital by Jon Payne of St Thomas Stourbridge and RSCM music advisor (Central and East). Preferred the way he played Bach concerto 593 to Catherine Ennis's version on Tuesday. Much more contrast and subtlety and slow movement more reflective. Lovely Lloyd Webber Benedictus and Hesse variations on the National anthem. Coffee and cake in aid of Macmillan cancer. To Beckenham bookshop and bought calendars - Gruffalo family planner and Monet.  At Victoria to St Paul's bookshop and got diary and Advent calendar for Ciarán. To Church House bookshop and finally used my book token from Marie and Caroline to buy Rowan Williams' latest on Faith in the public square. Also got a nice Celtic calendar for Ann and Paul and posted it off and a copy of "Sharing Eden" for Miriam. I kept meeting people - Reuben, Kate, Miriam. To Marks for tea with Duncan to plan Catenian conference Mass next May! Served at 5.30 Mas...

Up early on Saturday and Adrian picked me up at 6.15 and at airport by 7.10 a.m. Flybe flight to Douglas and waited at airport with Graham while Adrian collected the minibus from Douglas. To the vicarage and dropped case and into town for lunch at delicatessen on quayside - excellent Manx ham. Drove up to see the view of the town and back to Empress Hotel. Walked to the station. Rehearsal and sang evensong at 5 p.m. Gibbons short service, Wood O thou the central orb, Lloyd Webber Sing the life. They liked "Christ triumphant" - they use old English Hymnal. To Italian Job for a very nice meal. Taxi back to vicarage. Sunday rehearsed and sang at Mass at St Matthew's. Very old fashioned like the vicarage which is pretty cold although had an electric blanket! Ghastly hymn by Gladstone to a Barnby tune and horrid Lord' prayer! Caesar Missa Brevis capella regalis. Creed Folk mass Martin Shaw. 2 anthems by Nicholson. Light lunch laid on for us in the hal...

Cold! At Coulsdon we sang "Creator of the stars of night" arranged by John Scott, Kyries Byrd in 3 parts, Wood in the Phyrgian mode and I played Lloyd Webber's Rhapsody on "Helmsley". To Mass at Purley with David Palmer stuff - having a resident composer may not be a good thing! Soup and pizza for lunch - Liz bought party stuff at Iceland. Advent carols at St John's. Adrian gave me a funny retirement card. Guerrero Canite tuba, Stanley Vann (1910-2010) There is a flow'r, Jacob's ladder arranged by Stephen Darlington (I sang the solo - a charming piece), Veiled in darkness by Glenn Rudolph, Nun komm der heiden heiland of Bach at the end. Sorted out some songs for Tuesday but some missing from our Welsh visit!

Thursday chorus rehearsal and Liz back from Ireland. Friday to choir practice - some moans about Warlock instead of Ord for "Adam lay ybounden". Saturday 30 people came to hear Jimmy Burns talk about his book about his father "Papa spy". An excellent audience and he sold lots of copies. I drove to Coulsdon and hit lots of football traffic only just getting to church in time in the rain for Songs of Praise for St Andrew's day. An eclectic collection including Jerusalem and Blessed assurance and an old Methodist hymn about Emmaus! Choir sang "O come ye servants" and "Cantate domino" well. Andrew Nunn from Southwark cathedral preached well. An excellent fish and chip supper with apple pie and a good quiz. Took Marie and Caroline home. Advent Sunday we sang "I look from afar" and I played Lloyd Webber on "Helmsley". Ella announced she was giving up choir. Molly making great strides. No time to practise organ as went to 12 noon...

At Coulsdon there was a baptism and we sang Darke in E and "The Lord hath been mindful of us" by Wesley. The hymns included "Oft in danger, oft in woe" and "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds". My playing of Elgar's "Chanson de Matin" and Pomp and Circumstance March No.4. Liz acted as cantor at vespers at short notice last night - she had served at the big Polish Mass. She cooked a nice lunch of mackerel with orange and onion, mushrooms and courgettes. At evensong there were 6 in the choir and I sang bass and acted as cantor. We sang John Harper's RSCM Choristers' Prayer, Rutter's "I will sing with the spirit" and Dyson in C minor which is in unison. The choir sat on one side of the chancel and the small congregation on the console side.Teresa included one of the prayers for musicians I had provided. I played Francis Jackson's voluntary on "East Acklam" as we sang "For the fruits of His creation" ...