The organist librarian

Not a great start to the day. Woman swam into me and I knocked back of my head. The same person did this once before so I complained. The manager did NOT take my details and said he would speak to her and the attendant who seemed unaware of the incident! So much for health and safety records. I have emailed the pool. Will monitor headaches. She is a menace. Would you ask for her to come at special times or even ban her? Ryan the manager emailed twice and was concerned. I had a slight headache and felt tired.To Mass then Caterham to play for memorial service for Grayson Clarke.Had a chat to the homeless man opposite the hall  and suggested he try the Passage. Spoke to Daniel Clarke and his mother at Soper Hall about learning the organ. East Surrey museum to see display about WW1. I did not go to Southwark cathedral for Stephen Disley's recital. Watched Planet child, 2 Antiques roadshow, Dementia choir was very moving. Final of Only connect. Sent pool manager the October 2017 letter...

The Manager Thornton Heath Leisure centre Dear Sir/Madam, Yesterday 9/10/17 at about 8.40 a.m. I was finishing my swim. As you can see from the enclosed diagram I was swimming on my back next to the edge in the lane nearest to the attendant. I noticed an elderly woman who comes regularly to the pool. She wears a black cap, black costume and black “flippers”. She swam down the pool in the same lane as me and did exercises in the corner. When I started my length, she was still doing the exercises. She swam into me on her front and said “That was a bit of a surprise wasn’t it?” I replied that it certainly was and what was she doing? She refused to listen to me and spoke to the attendant who was right next to both of us. (I had not seen him before although I come on most days – a bearded young man). She apparently asked him to move the sign to swim in a circle from the second lane to the lane where we were swimming. To my surprise he went and moved the sign. I waited to speak to t...

We both went swimming. Only did 10 as when I went into the fast llane Max bumped into me. This led to a heated argument and I pointed out to the manager that swimmers must swim in circles. In effect by going in lanes others are excluded. It was all annoying and upsetting. To mosaic and tai chi and then returned books to Balham and met Mike Cornford. He did not know about Ian and David Parker. To Croydon Town Hall and hold a banner for presentation of petition to save the Fairfield. It was rejected. Watched Island parish and university challenge final won by Peterhouse. Peter Kay. 

Up at 6 to take EJ and Bruce to station to go to London City airport  -they really enjoyed their stay. I swam 16. It's odd how it was so warm in South Africa but the water was too cold to swim. Blabbermouth was there and proceeded to swim in my lane. Her explanation "Sorry darling I'm not awake yet". So how did she get to the pool? She then chatted in midlane to her friend. Hoovered and tidied bedroom. Did some emails re organists visits. 

Liz off to Manchester again for RCIA course and Dennis making good progress. To mosaic and tai chi and then to Bromyard Avemue gym to swim with the boys. Sean loved it and Ciarán has the start of some strokes Tea and scone and then home. To Catenians and Tom Tannion and Jim Connolly were there. A light-hearted meeting and some good jokes.

Up early and swam 20. Sent off final emails with instructions for this afternoon and made steward badges. Dennis on Skype. 

To pre Prom interview with 3 musicians from St Louis symphony orchestra who were making their Proms debut - 2 violinists and cor anglais who described their much loved concert hall and how they play with heart and do community outreach. They are well endowed. The concert was good Brahms, Beethoven played by Christian Tetzlaff, Schoenberg and Gershwin. To Acton. Wednesday all 3 of us went swimming at Fountains leisure centre, Brentford. Because it is run by Fusion we got in free. Ciarán loves the water and I did 12 lengths. To Carluccios for a nice lunch and shopping. Lovely deli in Turnham Green. To prom of "Nixon in China" conducted by John Adams himself - having some short bits of score from the workshop helped - some mistakes in the libretto in the programme. Fascinating rhythms and harmonies and stupendous singing from Gerald Finlay and Korean colouratura. Home at 11.30 and watched Married to the Moonies.

Back to swimming this morning and did 24. Also returned to tai chi and Hendrika took the class. Returned books to Battersea library which is looking great! Watched Olympic show jumping and Come dine with me.

Long chat to Ann yesterday - she had been to La Traviata on the harbour! Swam 30 today despite the fast lane being only 2 lanes. Shower in disabled change had been nicked!

Swam 30 or really 29 and a half as others too slow in slow lane! Another nice day. Home all day yesterday doing reading and finished the Goddard book which I now have to review for essay 1. Watched Who do you think you are American version. Liz catching up on TV she missed. To Patrick Hopper's recital at Beckenham. Dorio there. I parked at Arena to get the tram - much more convenient and no hold up on South Norwood Hill despite the works. He played Bach, Langlais, Andriessen and Mulet very well. Watched Larry Lamb's Who do you think you are. He has a Jewish uncle in L.A. and a granddad who was a showman and disappeared. Reading Tariq Ramadan's book. Important speech by Baroness Warsi at the Vatican reported in the Tablet. More reading and interesting article on Jesus and the temple by Tom Wright. Practice OK no Marie  or John and Jenny left early. Seem to be getting cold feet over the Somervell. Good TV programme on Purcell.

Back to swimming - have not been since before Christmas. Swam 30 - Blobby and the Whale in slow lane so stayed in fast lane. Having trouble with printer. Checked catalgoues and ordered books on secularism and Islam. To Heythrop and sung in choir for Mass - the celebrant was the new principal Fr Michael Holman who is charming. We sang "I come with joy" to the Slater tune unaccompamied at communion.         Fr Michael came to coffee and said he had seen me at the cathedral. Met Brother Ben, Brian and Fr Gerard. To library to get Nouwen books for Liz and books on Islam. Had lasagne and 4 came for a chat. Damain gave an excellent lecture - 17 in the group. I have to do a seminar Feb 2nd.

Swam 30 and Liz came. To Glyn Close to measure window and check heating. Garden looks very neat. On arrival home for breakfast message from Louise to say Ciarán had been sick at nursery so packed up car with table, cake, keyboard, etc and Liz went over.

Swam 30 on Tuesday and 30 today despite being late up after a good night's sleep. Liz battling to get printer to print from her laptop.

Ciarán woke around 6.45. To Hormiman musuem and had not been there for years and it is transformed. Loved the aquarium and a quick tour of the music gallery. Had coffee and then to the Spa Beckenham for swim. Ciarán loves the water and did not have his armbands so held on to me but he did do some swimming and jumping in! He hardly slept today. Water plat in the garden and slide and trampoline. Watched a lot of Thomas the tank engine DVD and he took the cover to bed. Liz went to buy new HDD recorder and I put him to bed - he was quite lively despite the lack of sleep. Watched Prom on BBC4 - Halle conducted by Elder - Sibelius, Bartok and Janacek.

Swam 38. Dennis and AnnMarie spent their first night in their new home and not changing curtains! Spoke to Rosemary and Lyn on Skype. To Bromley Parish church train to Penge West and 227 bus to turn pages for Daniel Beach - excellent playing and Daniel Burrowes cellist very good. Saint-Saens, Schumann, Vivaldi, Faure. Good audience. Got an apron at Early learning centre for Ciarán. To Royal Academy to see Hungarian photography. To Royal College of Music for session with Matthew Hope on the programme for the evening with violinist, oboe and trumpet very Gallic. He had us doing polyrhythms and instrumentalists improvising spring. 2nd in queue and Myung Wun Chung conducting Webern, Brahms double concerto and Rite of Spring. Saw Roy Parker from Bromley Catenians. Bizet Carmen encore and soloists played an elaborate duet encore too. Great concert. Did not stay for Schubert quintet - too tired!

Swam 30 - Melissa on reception only 2 more days there. Facebook chat to Steve in Canberra and Graeme in Glasgow. DVD/HDD player jammed with both buttons on. Right ear playing up - keep having to open it. Cleared out the shed and rearranged stuff and threw stuff out. Noticed on tfl that there had been a fatality at Clapham so got buses to the cathedral in time to be crozier bearer for Archbishop Vincent for vespers to mark end of cathedral choir school outreach day. Lead me Lord and O ineffabile. Good to hear the children sing the psalms and Salve. Spoke to Jeremy de Satge afterwards and gave David the PMM magazine. Tea at M & S. To National Gallery to see the lovely display of altarpieces. Missa rehearsal and spoke to Ann and Philip.

Swam 22 lengths - twinges in back again but carried on. More about family history from Peter Stanhope. My grandfather was adopted by his aunt and his brother Robert went to British Columbia. Looks as though should be able to go back further to my great grandfather. Richard came about the windows and amazed that the discount means not such a high price to replace front and bedroom and bathroom windows and guttering as well. Scaffolding can stay up so house can be painted!

Friday to Acton to collect Lou and Ciarán to go swimming at the Virgin health club. I did 22 lengths while he was at his lesson -he loves the small waterslide and we met Sam and Jonah in the cafe. He dropped off on the drive home and was good as gold. I put on the nursery rhyme CD when he woke up. I went to practice and we went through Oxford book of flexible anthems and 6 new ideas of ones we have not done before. Saturday he woke at 8 a.m. having slept very well. Liz went to confirmation walk to Tyburn and I looked after him. After lunch we went out in the buggy but he only slept on return home. Oliver is to be assistant at St Mary's cathedral Sydney.

A glorious day. Sat in garden and Grainne and family came and played on small trampoline on new mat and with stones and oranges! Come to sunny South Norwood forget Cyprus! Then we went swimming and Ciarán goes under water and loves it! I walked him in buggy to Josie so he slept and Louise and Liz went to sort clothes at Glyn Close. Great to chat to Malcolm and Ursula and Bernard quizzing us on geography! Liz to Acton with Lou and Ciarán. Enjoyed programme on Holst and Easter at King's.

42 lengths - the best effort yet. I was up early and saw some of my old acquaintances including Dan - they are expecting another baby and he has been to Kenya on business trip.