The organist librarian

Monday woke to snow so waited 30 minutes for a 468 and eventually got one northbound. I saw the first southbound one at Hermitage Road and it was full. 2 empty ones went by! To West Norwood and at mosaic by 10.35. Nicky was unpleasant about tea so told Linda we needed a rota. Unimpressed to have to pay £4 for wooden blocks and on the day when everything had to be taken home too! Hendrika took tai chi - she is much lower to the ground than Tony! Liz picked me up. Finished the Dubois articles. Watched programme on art in Rome, University challenge, Food and drink and Dancing on the edge. Pope shocked the world by resigning although he had hinted at it before. A brave and sensible decision. We watched the BAFTA awards last night and it was quite interesting! Tuesday woke early and no snow!

Excellent evensong from Winchester with Wood Coll Reg and Mendelssohn. Set off at 5.30 on buses and underground to the Oval wearing suit, waistocat, coat, hat, scarf, gloves and Wellington boots. Reached the Oval (snow still lying) at 6.30 and about 85 made it to Dulwich 500th. Lovely venue with view over the snow-covered ground. Bishop John Arnold stood in for Pat Lynch and did a great job. The Grand President didn't make it so Duncan stood in and did well presenting scrolls to John Almeida and Peter Walsh for 40 years and one to John Carton. Also a glass and whisky to Malachy and had a taste of it. I also had a small white wine so hope it does not react with the malaria tablets which we have nearly finished. A very nice meal of soup, salmon and lemon tart. £680 collected for CAFOD. I was home on underground and buses by 11.45. Cold.

Went swimming with Liz and swam only 18 as we were late. Came out to find it was snowing and it continued all day. Car in Whitworth Road. Cleaned my shaver and the muck! Working much better. Did some reading. Phoned Wandsworth Unison and I am getting a refund of £392 - I should not have been paying every month by direct debit!

More reading and a bit daunted by the seminar article for next week! To Brook Green for the annual dinner of the Archconfraternity of Saint Stephen with Archbishop Vincent as principal guest. He made sure he greeted everyone personally. Fish pie and a good white Chardonnay. We sat with Canon Danny Cronin who proved to be excellent company and Catenians from Ware. In fact a lot of Catenians were present! The Archbishop gave an excellent speech. We got a cab to Acton which was great and quick as it was cold. Saturday Liz off to Heythrop for Mass celebrated by the new Principal. The heating went down but was fixed after lunch. We went to Acton library and had lunch at a nice cafe and did some shopping. Louise and Ciarán came on the train to Gunnersbury. I was able to do a lot of reading of the Goddard book for essay 1. To St Paul's bookshop and served by one of my class who gave me a Heythrop discount! Fr Alexander at Mass and the Byron consort of Harrow School sang MacMillan, Palestr...

Sent Chris a list of attendees and apologies for the party. Still eating baguette and pate! Watched Michael Wood's History of England and Zoo. Liz cut up carpet at Glyn Close. Choir practice and Catenians next week cancelled because of snow.

Phone the Tate - snowdoors sculpture This retirement lark is great! Wake early and get breakfast and read prayers and meditations. Back to bed for warm lie-in. Snow everywhere - 6 inches on top of 5 inches Wed. Managed to dig out path but that got covered twice! Got to car and rescued food and cards and cake. No sign of the cheque with the cards so another will have to be issued - Andrew funny about that on email. Must have gone in the bin. Wed. watched the Apprentice - Laura got chucked out. No way I could get to spirituality day on Wed - no trains, buses not coming down hill. Thursday drew up list of jobs and cleared top rooms into the garden to make snowdoors art display with dustbins! Another trip to the car in Whitworth Road - some idiots still trying to drive up our road! Got 468, 196 and tube from Brixton to get to chorus. Stefan said Vivaldi was very good and then after carols did 3 movements again. I got home OK by same route. It was cold! Watched Art of Cornwall and The Divin...

My last day and it snows! Walked to station and train OK. Liz drove with rest of stuff - she brought a lot last night. We went for coffee and cake at Bertie and Boo. Did a list of useful numbers and cleared up desk (nearly left my favourite paperweight which is a glass book inscribed John Woodhouse librarian!) and Valiant for truth Dad's article! At 5 offically closed emails. About 25 cried off because of the snow but plenty of folk came and it was a great party. Bertie and Boo were filming in the hall at 5.10 but we got set up in time. Bruce came from Birmingham. Ciarán behaved impeccably. Liz official council photographer took lots of photos and group ones. Balham staff gave me a voucher and cards. Andrew, Chris, Fiona and Cindy walked from Clapham Junction! Speeches went well and I sang "A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square". David came from Leicester and gave me a Schaeffer pen. Dom Perignon champagne from the children. Champagne from Jane. I gave roses to Liz, flowe...

To Balham for SDF and Marijana's farewell lunch. Sam is to come to BTP which is great and Ros replaces Fiona. DS came to tell staff and see RA. Liz had to take Grandma into King's for kidney infection so she had the car. I nipped in home and had a quick bite and then buses to Coulsdon. Practised in church for a bit but it was cold so we went downstairs. The acoustic in the empty building is excellent. Our final attempt at the Byrd Senex puerum was the best! Gibbons going well too. Long wait for 60 and 468 so I was frozen. Had hot toddy with whisky. Woke today to snow again!

Liz was at Grandma's when the snow began so the car got left up there! By Monday morning London had the heaviest snow fall for 18 years. I left home around 7 a.m. and walked to Thornton Heath station. It was clear there were no buses or trains so after several mobile phone calls I stayed home all day. Caroline did drive in but it was decided to shut for the day as only a few staff were available. I read and finished the excellent Laura Marney book and watched recorded programmes notable The Quran and Turin Shroud, Britain from the air and most of "The Minotaur". I still have programmes on Sophiatown, immigrants, Barking and the Christmas lectures to watch. Tuesday I waited an hour for a train at Norwood Junction. No bus either. The train driver announced at Clapham Junction that he was not stopping at Battersea park so I completed the journey on the bus arriving at 10 a.m. I took 90 minutes to get home on train and bus. The snow is melting but quite crisp. The sun on it t...

Monday a.m. it snowed but I still walked down for a swim having first changed into my rubber soled shoes. I did 22 and left early because I knew there would be horrendous queues for tickets and I was right. I got the early train and arrived at the library to sort out the break-in Sunday a.m. Checked the cctv once we got it working and 3 youths drove 2 mopeds at the front door and smashed the bottom panel. In 4 minutes they got the plasma screen off the wall leaving the plug behind and scattered stuff over the floor. They moved the cctv monitor. Police came twice but found no fingerprints. There is now talk of a pull-down metal grille in front of the door. To Earlsfield for training on gameplan and raised issue of casual staff who can give one week's notice but it takes 3 months to replace one! Of course it's cheaper to employ them. Angela and I interviewed 4 good candidates in the evening and she kindly gave me a lift so I arrived early at Catenians. There was a visiting doctor...

Wurzburg cathedral high altar Worked Saturday and a great deal to do - freedom passes being renewed and shelf checks. 5 servers at Mass with Bishop John who spoke really well about Emmaus and Eastertide. Liz was cantor at Vespers. Challoner choir ruined Terry Mass, Faure Cantique de Jean Racine and Franck Panis - men sing very flat.Oliver played Howells Saraband for the morning of Easter at the end which was a treat. He says Matthew does not like Howells! Watched "The Shipping News" starring Kevin Spacey and Judy Dench. Sunday thick snow everywhere. Small choir did well with Panis angelicus in 2 parts, Bread of the world in mercy broken - pity Vickie missed that as it is one of her favourites. I played Gordon Slater's Easter alleluya. We sang "Now let us from this table rise" at the end. Interesting that Common Praise changed "Father-God" in last verse so it became; Then grant us grace, Companion-God, to choose again the pilgrim way, and help us to ac...