The organist librarian

Lovely to spend time with Peter Simpson and a short visit to York art gallery. ellent tour of York Minster, saw King's Book and shop. Lovely unaccompanied evensong. Soft singing in the psalms magic, basses a bit strident at times. Bednall anthem, Tallis canticles. Good meal at Gusto. Really enjoyed the SSG assembly in York. Great talks and discussion, lovely food, beautiful Mass! John ainslie and I sang Christus vincit. English Martyrs is a fine 1930s church with a lovely hall. Journey fast and non-stop and buses took me from centre to Bar Convent and station. River high. 

Dream of Gerontius from King's conducted by Christopher Robinson. Superb Brenden Gunnell, Kathryn Rudge and David Stout, Philharmonia Chorus trained by Robert Dean. Enjoyed Tony Robinson on York Minster and he was shown the King's book which we have seen as we have 2 relations commemorated in it. Easter from King's excellent.

Sunday was welcomed back to St Michael's very warmly. I played the Willan and voluntaries on Carlisle and Cwn Rhondda. Sue has been playing the piano. A lady joined the choir! I ws asked to speak about my travels so I mentioned St Joseph's. Picked up Dennis and we proceeded to Acton where we had a delicious meal of pate and lamb. Lovely to see the family again after nearly 4 weeks. Monday Louise dropped us near Wood Lane and we got our train without a problem. Ciarán behaved impeccably. We walked to Jorvil which he thought very smelly but it has in fact been much improved although there were too many people in the exhibition area. The ride was good. Lots of people everywhere so a long wait for Carluccios table and the meal but it was OK. We arrived at the Minster at 3 and met Esther. She provided a children's trail and pack. While I handed over the King's Penny and she scanned a lot of my postcards and photos for the children's box. It was great to see the King...

We also visited Bar Convent and Priory Street and were able to get into St Mary Bishophill Junior to see Herbert Harold Worley commemorated on the war memorial. Thursday we met Peter Stanhope at St Michael le Belfrey which has Frank Woodhouse on the memorial and some wonderful stained glass. The organ bench is replaced by electronic equipment. We went into the Minster and the head verger kindly allowed us to see the magnificent King's Book. There for the first time we saw a photo of Frank Woodhouse, granddad's cousin and Herbert Harold Worley. Edwin Tate designed the cover. Peter then took us to see where the Tates lived at the college of St William and on to the Bedall hall. We had coffee in the Shambles at a nice Italian place. Then to Park Grove school to see the Nellie Woodhouse memorial board with 10 years of names on it. Ann interacted well with the children who asked lots of good questions. Andrew Calverley came to see us. Back to the b and b for a rest and then up the ...

Broadcast from Manchester cathedral including the People's passion music - well done. Super TV Eucharist from Coventry cathedral. The Bishop is a contender for Canterbury. Peter has video of Royal Maundy from York minster on his blog.

Sunday Baptism of the Lord. Dubois Mass and Palestrina Sicut cervus. Coffee then Mattins with Elgar Te Deum and Bach Christ unser Herr and the Bach prelude on the tune to follow. Met Dennis at Art gallery cafe and asked about Ridsdale Tate - they have some pictures. Evensong Stanford in G with 2 excellent soloists and Gardner Tomorrow shall be my dancing day. Good chants too Bairstow, Buck. Splendid organ playing from Charles. To Bettys for afternoon tea and saw a book about 1952 when I first went there aged 5! Dennis got train to Manchester and we walked back to b and b over footbridge past the new Wheel of York. Watched Antiques roadshow and Great Barrier Reef.

Friday car to Selhurst train and tube to King's Cross. Lucky not to be held up on journey to York despite a broken rail at Newark Northgate. Straight to rehearsal. Epiphany Eucharist - lovely Saint-Saens Mass and Eysler Omnes de saba sung at the crib and gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh presented. Procession led by a lit star! Good hymns. To b and b in Bootham Crescent and got picnic. Saturday good breakfast and rehearsal at 10.30 a.m. Borrowed some cufflinks. Rehearsed in medieval hall at St William's College. My neighbour a fat tenor just loud and smelly! Not pleasant! No idea about church either. Dyson in D. To mass at St Wilfred's organ and carols. Lovely crib. To Bella Italia - very long wait for food 28 in party. Good company but noise makes hearing aid difficult. At lunch time to art gallery to see William Etty exhibition.

Having come home early on Boxing Day tummies settled down! Had a quiet day catching up on TV = excellent broadcast from York Minster, horrid one from St George's cathedral Southwark - difficult to find anything good to say about it! Becoming Jane excellent, alleged portrait of Jane Austen, Nutcracker from Royal Ballet 2000, Christmas University challenge has been good. London's burning about the riots in Clapham Junction was terrifying. Tuesday to St John's for sung eucharist - nice David Thorne setting and AJEyre carol. Surprise lunch in the vicarage which was lovely.

Swam 16 as I was late. Woke at 4 a.m. Liz to singing lesson. I cancelled osteopathy session and my £6 had not been found last week. Met Malcolm and co at Tate Britain and they went to watercolour - nothing much provided for the kids. I thought the Vorticists very unimpressive but I liked the new modern section and the sculptures in the Duveen hall, also a film of arrivals at an airport accompanied by Allegri's Miserere. Met Shono my Buddhist friend. Walked to Vauxhall and train to Clapham Junction for tai chi. Bought flowers and biscuits at M and S and collected more scores from library. Jim and Lindsay were on duty from Battersea. Watched Sex researchers part 3 and evensong from York Minster. To Catenians 33 there and Luke Tope was enrolled. No meeting in August which is great.

Thursday up late so only 10 lengths - back twinging again. To cathedral for 5.30 mass and procession to mark start of Quarant'Ore - 40 hours of exposition. Splendid Mozart Kronungsmesse. Amused at choir gradually disappearing at the end leaving just 2 cantors to sing the Litany. Nick did not follow instructions so we ended up acolytes and cross stuck there. To chorus using tube which was not a good idea as Warren Street was closed and had to get a bus from Euston. I sat upstairs as not singing well. I then went to Tulse Hill where Liz was with the catechists at Paul's for a nice party. Lovely red wine and port of which I did not have much as I was driving. Home at 1 a.m. Result Liz not too well on Friday and I missed my swim. To practice and organ practice too. Ella came late and no Molly. We stopped at 8.30 p.m. for choir meeting. Karen away and John had to go. Went through forthcoming events and nobody ate snacks so will not bother again. Home to watch Richard Wilson driving...