The organist librarian

The spirituality day on Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit - confused? went well. Mass at 1.05 with Fr Daniel. Liz served at the 3 p.m. police requiem mass. Watched Apprentice and programme  on Bodleian Botoni painting. woke at 9! Got out all my paintings for touches before varnishing tomorrow. To West Norwood picturehouse to see Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet. He has interpreted the violence and tenderness of the Prokofiev brilliantly. The passion and grief were deeply moving. Home to look at water leaking I think from bathroom drainpipe into kitchen extension. 

Swam 20, to Balham library to get scores, led Spirituality day at the cathedral on "Put your lamp on a lampstand" played Harris, Rachmaninov and Brewer. Holy is the true light, Serene light, Nunc Dimittis.  Interesting discussion of Walton 2 and a satisfying Prom from BBC Welsh. RVW, Grace Williams, Elgar. Watched University challenge.

Tuesday woke early but fell asleep again so no swim. Beavers put in the carpets at Glyn Close and rang for help to unload the van so John and Darren went up there. It looks great. To 3.30 mass for retiring deputy director of education in Westminster. Should have been Archbishop Stack but he couldn't come so Archbishop Vincent instead and he was as nice as ever. We were mitre and crozier. Chatted to Richard Nesbit about Alexander's homily on Sunday and Abbot Christopher Jamieson - he said Worth Abbey had been refurbished. The music was dire including horrid Eucharistic acclamations and the head teachers did not sing much. To tea and cake in Acton and Ciarán on great form - he loves Thomas the tank engine and loved the little books Dennis sent. Liz bought him a new bath duck. Tom cooked a delicious meal and we enjoyed 2 bottles of good red wine. Watched Perfume. Wednesday to music and Ciarán was much livelier and involved and he sat on the bus quite happily. I went to spirituali...

I did 2 talks on Gifts of the spirit Love using Colossians 3 and 1 John. It went well - 15 came. Went to Buckingham Palace shop but no diaries for Liz. I used Dom Brendan's quotes and Archbishop Peter Smith's pastoral letter. To chorus party at the Warehouse - quizzes and lovely food - Liz was late she had been babysitting on her own all day. Cut up carpets and took them to the tip ready for new carpet on Monday. Decisions made about trip - very exciting. To choir practice and went well - did some new exercises.

2 crowns at dentist instead of the expensive bridge and nothing more to pay! To 3 Glyn Close which is looking empty. To spirituality day on "Blessed are those who mourn" with Mary Lean who has African connections. She is excellent on a difficult subject and gave us some fine poems and passages. Maureen was there in the morning but the tube strike affected attendance. To Tate Britain to see Eadweard Muybridge (much of it pretty dull) and the Turner Prize - only liked the singing but is it art? Love the 2 fighter planes in the Duveen gallery. Decided not enough time to get to Ciarán's. To Regent Hall with Liz and Maureen. Fr Allen there. Inspiring presentation about More than Gold. Christan volunteers at the Olympics. Met James Parker the RC rep. Watched The Apprentice.

To dentist for check up - filled up 2 holes which is good. She revealed she married a Naidoo and had been in Joburg at Christmas! To Hinsley Room early to prepare to lead spirituality day. It went really well. i played 4 different versions of the Nunc Dimittis and gave everyone Luke 2 and Matthew 5 plus some hymnody "O brother man" "Once in royal David's city" "When candles are lighted". I also showed examples of poor sentimental religious cards and art as opposed to some lovely icons and pictures. Barry Mellish came and there were new faces - 25 in all over the day. To Mahler 2 rehearsal with Stefan - the sopranos had a hard time this week - so many top Bs! On the train home a lady asked if I was John Woodhouse and she said she had been a Saturday assistant at York library. After uni she went into banking - had a good chat. Samina. Feb 3 Spirituality day Calming moment Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth. This is the start of our s...

Wednesday spoke to Ann and showed her the snow on the web cam. To spirituality day in the Hinsley room. At one point there were 20 there. Sarah did a lovely day on "He has called you by your name". It was be interesting to consider the occasions when Jesus used a person's name - Mary, Peter, Judas, Saul but not John I think. I have really enjoyed Niall Williams' novel "John". To chorus Wed and Thur with Edward preparing "Fidelio". Still a bit of snow in the garden by Sunday. I picked up the car Friday night and to practice. Some of the choir seemed reluctant to do exercises but the kids are keen. Saturday planned library move round and more weeding for the big half term sale. Vespers and Mass Chorister for a day - 48 small boys in cassocks too big for them in some cases. Paul and George helped serve. Lovely to hear the boys sing Panis angelicus and Elgar Ave verum and the plainchant Mass. Sunday choir did well - we sang "O lord increase my fai...

Wednesday Sarah gave us an excellent day on Sacred Space and Tamara added another dimension with copies of labyrinths and her puppets. I spoke about going across the swinging suspension bridge at Capilano, Vancouver and how the first step in anything is always the hardest. You also know you have to come back over the same bridge and the treewalk had similar suspension bridges - all perfectly safe but still scarey! Sarah played the Faure Pie Jesu and Haydn's "Achieved is the glorious work". It is good that I can hear the Faure now which was sung at our family funerals and feel the peace and hope in the music. I went into St Paul's bookshop and got some free literature about the Year of Paul. Saw Paul Moynihan who asked about the chamber organ in the cathedral. It is from St John's Upper Norwood for the recording next week. To National gallery and spent some time looking at the exquisite Wilton Diptych. It had been Canada Day in Trafalgar Square on July 1. To Nation...

It does seem to me that priests are actually managing volunteers and we could learn a lot from the volunteer bureaux who organise excellent training on this. I know in my job as a librarian how important it is for me to speak to and appreciate the volunteers who help us. Also vital is when someone volunteers I must say "Yes that's great" first and then discuss later what is required by the library. People are so easily put off! Fr Michael mentioned the move to other places like monasteries for spirituality and we need to bring this into parish life. Suggestions - Christians spend far too much time in meetings so a good idea is to start the meeting with the gospel for the Sunday or the day with a short lectio divina. It's amazing how one's one agenda items fade into unimportance! If a meeting is not advancing the mission of the church why hold it? Send emails or phone! Encourage weeks of guided prayer and half-days of reflection in parishes. Our priests need to nu...

What a blessed day! I spoke to Ann on Skype and went to Homebase to get paint for Liz as she is redecorating Grandma's house while she is in hospital. She did not have the procedure today but Louise and Bruce visited her. Liz was on sacristy duty at the cathedral. Fr Paul Fox from Chelmsford led the spirituality day. It was lovely to see everyone again as I missed last month as a result of the fall. There were also some new faces and I sold some CDs! Paul spoke about Kairos time and ordinary time and the need to wait patiently. I went to confession with him and he was wonderful. It is such a joy to lay the burden down and start again. Paul works in prisons so has a wealth of experience. The final Sharing in his life session was attended by 7 and they enjoyed it. 3 of the group had been to the Holy Land and spoke of the moving experiences in the desert and in Galilee. Hannah gave me a wooden rosary from Bethlehem. I've never been given a rosary before and I am so happy to know t...