The organist librarian

To mosaic and an enjoyable Christmas party for the group at St Luke's Kew where we were treated to songs from the ukelele group. I was interested that a lot of the songs had no intro and were set very low probably in C or D. To Caterham for practice for the carols. Why am I awake at 4 a.m.? The subconscious fretting over the carols. Watched Only connect and University challenge last night both enjoyable. Liz went to Bromley circle's Christmas meeting. No doubt all will go well on Thursday! I was furious that only Shona the conductor from Sacred Heart turned up at the rehearsal. It seems her choir are rehearsing tonight for a nativity and 3 Christmas Masses. Last year we had 2 singers at the carols who did not attend a rehearsal at all. All very unprofessional and a lot of the time I could not hear what she was saying! The Victoria is accompanied which helps. 

To mosaic and the new one is now traced out on the board. It is going to be complicated! Van Gogh Starry night. Skipped tai chi and got lots of scores from Westminster Music library and Balham library (the latter by car as trains disrupted). Liz took Ciarán to Vaughan school concert. Got hooked on Wimbledon - great match on centre court Warinkwa and Dimitrov. To Norwood Catenians (Dennis in Ireland). 10 plus 8 visitors. Interesting chat to Richard Mills about WWI and Brexit which he supports. Inside the American embassy is fascinating.

Doctor Ojo gave my toe the all clear and flu jab and shingles vaccine. Enjoyable mosaic group visit to Chiswick house covered in mosaics and party at Kew. Gave out gifts and got some nice ones. Cheryl and Linda drove. Nice eats. Long time getting home as not trains running to Clapham Junction from Richmond so went via Victoria instead of Willesden. Liz went to see Henry who has a bad cold. More decorations up and watched programmes on Mexico and Haddo House. Finding an Alan Ramsay,Claude and Raphael. It seems the Corfu painting weeks have been swopped so the week I could go is not covering Gerald Durrell's home after all and a £1500 it is not on. Interested to learn that the Kew ladies pay by the session not by the half term! 

Swam, Mass, mosaic (changed colour of lips to lighter otherwise he would have looked like the Joker) tai chi exercises (did not like Morrissey track at all). Lots of emails. Liz to doctor.  Patrick Russill played really well at Brompton Oratory and the priest said some lovely things about him. Titelouze, Dupre, Howells and Langlais. Great to see Benjy Bloor, John East, Peter Wright and  Marko Sever . I found a booklet from Jeremy Filsell's Complete works of Dupre concerts with notes by David Gammie. It was in Alan Burtonshaw's music. Patrick said the adrenalin really kicked in - only his second concert this year! Watched programme on Du Pre. 

Got back OK from Barcelona. It was an early start to get the coach at 8.30 so we missed Mass at 8. Long wait at the airport and it was true security was chaotic. Nothing much to do apart from a cafe, duty free and one shop. Train and taxi from Gatwick. Home at 3.30 p.m. tired. Unpacked. To Dennis and AnnMarie for dinner and Tasmanian apple cake. Henry sitting up and trying to crawl. Watched 2 episodes of Victoria which is excellent. Monday to mosaic (I was late as I put the Ocado shopping away) forgot to take glue.They are off to Ravenna.  Fr John gave me lovely bread and would like to come to the party. To St Martin Ludgate for concert by Maria Thomas playing the lovely Poulenc oboe sonata. Jim Wells sang Faure - not sure it worked singing in French about sensuality. Julian Cable played the piano very well and a good audience including 10 gallery prommers and supporters. Good flautist as well. The Telemann worked well. They know each other through the Hampstead music club. To Bec...

To mosaic and did a lot. 3 new ladies joined and one of them is coming to the cathedral mosaics tour so we have 10 for that. Skipped tai chi and heard a bit of the Bach Passacaglia at Southwark cathedral then to Guys. Very helpful audiologist cut the 2 new moulds and now it so much more comfortable to war in the right ear! I cam home and got wood glue to fix the bedroom drawers and I also got olive oil for earwax. Set off at 4.15 and reached the Maidstone venue at 5.40. Traffic bad in Chislehurst. The Kirkham cup went really well a slick meeting run by Maidstone and the presentation of the Mike McCarthy cup and scroll to Brendan Ducey was very well received and it was nice that Mick was present. Sad that Norwood and Canterbury did not support. Philip came from Dover. Indeed everyone greeted me very warmly. Bishop Paul was great and he is a great fan of Pope Benedict. He was interested in Explore and my library experience with Surestart and volunteers leading conversation. The judging ...

Swam 20 and Liz came as well. At mosaic painted two more tiles as kiln not working. We did Qi'gong and Wild goose Qi'gong. Did some shopping and emails. Not happy with Jerry changing muisc list, wanting me to pay deputy and not keeping me properly informed, Resolved in the end but if things go on like this.... To Beckenham for vigil Mass of All Saints - Ashley Beck very trad. 

Monday swam 20. To mosaic and finished Sean only needs grouting now. Tai chi we stood for 30 minutes while Tony wittered on and on! Got petrol and went back to Norwood Junction to ask about ym mobile phone which disappeared yesterday. Got home and emptied boot of car and there it was! What a relief! Phoned up about Catenian cups and they are ready. Practised Panufnik.  Really enjoyed Werther live from ROH at Clapham Picturehouse. JoyceDiDonato and Vittorio Grigolo very moving and Pappano superb. Horrendous journey home from Balham to Clapham Junction then to East Croydon no trains so walked to Whitgift centre and 75 bus to Selhurst to get the car!

Swam 16 but Liz did not swim at all as it was busy. Good work on the hat at mosaic and Hendrika did a good session on breathing and tai chi. She says the pain in my right thumb can be helped by pressure on the acupuncture points in my arm. Sorted Catenian matters.  To Vaughn House for Fr Michael Quaqoe's talk on Amoris laetitia. Is it unclear? Is it really such a problem? So much good stuff in the document so why let controversy wreck it? Al married couples should read chapter 4.

Swam 20 -  the lady who cuts corners on her back shouted at me as I overtook her! To mosaic and not many there. Linda charged for 4 weeks again. Started work on a new one. 6 at tai chi including Rosie who is an artist. Caught up on emails. Liz went to doctor at Shirley Oaks hospital - it is muscular. To Catenians and Fergus Poncia on great form. Fr Keith Sylvia from Addiscombe very nice and he spoke well. 25 there including Gerry Haines! 

Swam, grouting and walked to the park. Warched programmes on Napoleon, policing London, some of the Bach solo violin Prom but not to my taste. Had trout for dinner. University challenge, Leeds piano competition round 1.

Swam 20 and Liz came. Mosaic and brought everything home. Tai chi - have not been for months. Returned scores to St John's. Catenian council at Kevin and wrote the minutes. Watched progamme on Longleat and Room 101. Liz had been to Costco. 

To mosaic. Once again I have paid for 4 sessions 2 of which I will miss. Progress on Madonna's face very good.  Liz took Ciaran to Kidscape at Purley which he enjoyed. Very heavy rain. The Cadogan Hall prom was Jeremy Denk playing Scriabin, Bartok and the last Beethoven sonata. His introduction was excellent and his playing brilliant. Got very wet walking from bus stop. Ciaran went to see Molly.Li stened to the Philharmonia's Prom at home - Bartok, lovely Mozart and Shostakovich. Enjoyed Haydn Symphony no.90 (the audience fell into the trap!) and Barber from the Boston Symphony orchestra on Iplayer with scores. V ery impressed by TV broadcast of Nielsen with the Danish National Symphony orchestra conducted by the splendid Fabio Luisi .

Car was serviced by Nick - 4000 miles a year and coming up to 10 years old. To mosaic and it looks as though I will take a break. Tai chi with Hendrika. Liz picked me up and we had lunch. Watched Wolf Hall and sorted out Catenian email account. Also ordered more Uhu glue. To Henry VII chapel at the Abbey for Stand up and be counted series - talks by police commissioner and 3 police on their work and how it is changing. To Beckenham circle and the vistors outnumbered them 12 to 10. Brendan gave me a lift home. 

Woke too late to swim and to mosaic and tai chi. Tony was interested in the De Mello book on meditation.Got the decorations and tree out.  Liz went to see Made in Dagenham with Louise and I worked on 2 small mosaics using fridge magnets. Posted cards - very cold and clear moon. To Beckenham Catenians - trouble parking, big do at St George's. Freddie was there. They were pleased I had written to Catena about Fr Beck. Liz fell asleep on train so late home. 

Swam 16 as we got there late. Mosaic and did quite a bit. Linda is 60 next week and will celebrate in Barcelona so she got champagne abd brought cupcakes. 6 at tai chi. Returned books to Battersea library. 

Alarm woke me up but dropped off so no swim and late to mosaic. Everyone pleased to see me back and have planned out Bruce's request. Only 3 at tai chi. Took ring back - there is a nick and kink in it. Got 2 books on India from Battersea library. Josie's funeral will be on Thursday week at Thornton Heath. Have been thinking about Nelson's comments on art and pretty things. I certainly think most of what I have done so far has been just pretty and more needs to be done. 

Both to swim then mosaic and grouted 7 items. Barbara kindly helped with the 2 small ones. 4 at tai chi with Hendrika. It looks as though mosaic may move to Kew at 1.30 on Mondays which would not work regarding tai chi. I will miss tai chi until September and mosaic until October. Maybe I will join an art class then? To Balham and got photos for Indian visa and scores at the library - saw Jeremy. Hot day and sunny. To Purley Way to see film of 2013 Globe Macbeth which was excellent. Interesting how Shakespeare gets away with the murder of children and the blinding of Gloucester on stage - very modern.

Swam 20. Took Liz to St John's for the pilgrimage to Walsingham. Decided not to go to British Museum as the talk was on Lamma a Sumerian goddess and the National Portrait Gallery piano recital was of Ravel so stayed home and did mosaic. The letter C one is now finished and I have sorted out what needs to be done. Have repaired Philip's mosaic as well. Watched Come dine with me from Australia, Flog it and listened to Temple church Tavener concert on ClassicFM. Saw mouse so moved trap in front of cupboard door.

The mosaic class went to Ole for lunch - only £9 for omelette and lemon cake. You can take own wine.    Went to Catenian triple meeting Bromley, Beckenham and Dulwich, John Rayer signed the 3 scrolls for India. The meeting was pretty dull and there were 72 present and only room for 80 at the dinner so I came home - very wet.