The organist librarian

Call the midwife was brilliant as usual. To mosaic, tai chi and tai chi lunch at Jacks. I had eggs Benedict - delicious. To Acton and collected Sean and Ciaran from Cardinal Vaughan. University challenge. 

Swim, Mass with Liz, mosaic they enjoyed Ravenna and liked the cakes and 181 evensong booklet, tai chi 2 newcomers. Some good reactions from Shona and Jerry about the carols. Numerous Catenian emails! To Beckenham meeting and Danny PP's official visit. Change is in the air.

Swam 20 and Liz came. To mosaic and tai chi - only 4 there. Grouting postponed. Somehow tiles got knocked off one of mine in the cupboard - why was it moved? Liz was at Hyacinth's when I got home. Dave form the council rang about the gate scheme for alleyways. By the evening Liz had delivered letters to all the households. The problem is that everyone must agree. Watched more singers competing. To Ask Beckenham who pulled out all the stops and gave us an excellent free meal to make up for the Valentine's Day disaster. To Beckenham Catenians for Provincial visit and wore my red collar for the first time. Fergus spoke really well. Brendan gave me a lift home. Finally got the emails to work!

20 lengths so back to normal. At mosaic completed Bruce's mosaic and did infill on picture frame so both now need grouting. My diamond stone was found in the cupboard. New lady at tai chi and we all went to Jack's where I had delicious panini, side salad (smothered in pepper) and cappuccino for under £10. Chatted to Tony's wife. I missed the commissioning at 2 p.m. of Guild of St John Southworth - not many there. Francis was briefly at Jean's funeral! Watched Antiques roadshow from Walthamstow and University challenge.

Lie-in and went to tai chi. One of the class thought I was not coming back! Only 4 there. Glad they have moved the crossing at Clapham Junction - much safer. Felt tired and looked at guide books. Come dine with me. To Catenians at Beckenham. 

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 and set off early as I was taking back glue and bringing milk and biscuits for the mosaic class. Of course Nicky had to comment on the date on the milk bottle but I said it has been filled from a fresh one! The new place is well done if a little smaller. For tai chi the ceiling seems low but there is plenty of light. I asked Tony if we could face the other way as I did not fancy people coming out of Clapham Junction station seeing us through the open door! To Balham library and chatted to Jeremy. Got 2 South Africna guide books. Met Alison on the train - she still works at Putney library. Nice lunch and Liz went off to confirmation class. I worked on the 2 mosaics. To Catenians and Jim Mann and Terry Brain were there. Not many coming to the quiz but 9 for the games night on Friday!

Decided to go via East Croydon. Announcement "we are sorry for the delay" became "we are very sorry" then "we are extremely sorry". No Mr Announcer you are not sorry at all! Got to mosaic at 10.30 and everyone asked about India. We are doing a course on Roman mosaic styles using new glass cutters which I bought. Pity wanted to work on the 2 mosaics as the one for Alan and Ivor fell out of the frame and needs attention badly and regrouting. Linda is in Amsterdam next week. 4 at tai chi and chatted to Tony about Giresh and Kerala. To Balham library to get reserved book and took some photos of the melting snow in the sunshine. To Sainsburys to get kettle descaler and cookies! Cleared 4 inches of snow off the car. To Covent Garden on train and got there early so bought a programme. Rosemary arrived around 7 p.m. A very dramatic performance with some brilliant singing especially Sir John Tomlinson. Birtwistle's music is often affecting. I thought the blood...

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.

Monday swam 28 and to mosaic and made good progress. At tai chi Tony said my posture was improved and I showed him the new moves I had learnt from Tiemen. To Balham library to find scores for the Proms and reserved a lot. Jeremy told me there are now 3 bids in for the management of libraries. We have been infested with ants so got ant stations and later Liz put cinnamon and talc down which worked! Unpacking finished - have 3 Tablets to read! Tuesday swam 32 and went to St Alban's South Norwood to practise for Sunday. Organ is old and in poor state. Fr Russell very helpful. To Bromley library to get some more scores. To Acton and delighted to see Ciarán again. His hair seems even more curly. Wednesday to London Transport museum and Ciarán loved the model trains and the play table. Now have an annual membership so can go again. Had nice chicken risotto in cafe after Pizza Hut unable to accommodate Ciarán in buggy. Had tea and took C to station - he was asleep. Bought tickets for M...

To mosaic and made clay flowers and started painting them, tai chi, then library to pick up reservations. Cleaned brass at Peace Pagoda and interesting chat to Bill and Anna. Bill goes to secularist meetings on Sundays at Conway Hall where they have an ethical sermon and sing "hymns"! To Kirkham Cup hosted by Bromley and won by Canterbury. Generally agreed speeches should have been funnier, starter and pie, no pudding for £25. Brendan gave me a lift.

At Coulsdon we sang "Rejoice in the Lord alway" really well. Tony Trent sang alto which helped. I had lunch and practised with Sean and on the organ. 2 p.m. rehearsal for 3  p.m. carols - Adrian played and all went really well - all the practising paid off! Mulled wine and mince pies. Nice to have Francis singing and gave him a lift to East Croydon. Trees up and started decorating. Monday woke 5 a.m. and 7.15 and then at 8.10 having dreamt about Malcolm and the kids. To mosaic and completed the project for Christmas - just some sticking and grouting to do at home. Tai chi - Tony was late so we were larking about a bit. Council guys came and assured us class would continue. To the Plough restaurant which was a disaster -  90 minutes wait for food which was overpriced. 2 ladies turned down their meagre egg and chips for £4.50 so I gave them some of my chips. To Heythrop for Sr Hilda coming into the chapel Vespers. Jon Dal Din and 2 Sisters of Sion were there. Home to more tree...

Woke late and so late at mosaic - managed to do another arm of the cross. New student at tai chi and balancing much better. Found a quote from Jane Eyre about austere so posted it and messaged Damian. Have started noting items in reading including Tablet.

Swam 30. Sent photo to Heythrop for student card and spoke to Ann. Cleared up magazines. To tai chi and Tony said I was standing more upright! 30 minutes wasted at T mobile shop as Liz has to go in! My mobile lost somewhere between home and Albert Hall.

Swam 27 - odd number because of slow swimmer in slow lane and fast swimmers as well leading to overcrowding. Melissa is leaving this week - will miss her sunny smile on reception! To Courtauld Institute to see the Toulouse-Lautrec and Jane Avril exhibition. It is free on Mondays before 2 p.m. so crowded but lovely pictures and enjoyed the Impressionists and Botticelli. Also a fine small exhibition about gravity based around a Rubens. To South Bank centre to find it much transformed with a lovely roof garden on the Queen Elizabeth Hall and water feature, beach and funfair! To tai chi. As usual my route to OSmerest House was much better than tfl! Another lovely day. Clearing up garden and some pots already collected through freeCroydon emails. Coooked courgette souffle for the first time - very nice. Watched Antique master and Lif of Muhammad part 1. Liz picked up part of the house for the garden for Ciarán bought on ebay.

Liz to Glyn Close as heating being redone by British Gas. To tai chi - only Chris and myself came so did some exercises for bad back. To Bromley Catenians and long chat to Barry.

Swam 14 as I was late up - back bad but hot cushion and swimming helped a lot. Mosaic - the grey tiles I bought split in circular way which is not helpful! Tai chi - Tony back from holiday and 7 there. Tassos is good! To library to get reserved books - 2 McCall Smiths - hurrah! Home to change and then bus to Tulse Hill and to St Paul's cathedral for service of peace for St Ethelburga's. Lots there and met people from Greenbelt festival. 2 Muslims played the kora from Senegal and sang. Welcome by Giles Fraser. Story from Roi Gal-Or - unfortunately the echo was very bad on the sound system. Lovely singing by Amira Medunjanin from Sarajevo accompanied on the duduk from Armenia. Excellent address by the Bishop of London. I liked the prayers - Help me play my part in breaking the cycle of violence by realising that peace begins in me. Most amazingly the 8 part canon of Praetorius Jubilate Deo worked very well. Guy Bovet Salamanca made a suitable end. To Catenians - very good turnout...

Had a lie-in - still tired from Saturday and back playing up a bit. At mosaic class I carried on with the beackground and made the stars out of clay and painted them - Linda will do 2 more coats and fire them. Tai chi was with Paul, Tony's teacher and he used the ideas Tony and Geoff used to use which helped - some new comers. To Battersea Park using the new entrance at Clapham Junction to collect reserved books. Lovely day but windy. Read Tablet and Ian Bostridge on radio 3. Chelsea flower show on TV. My comment on youtube about Cardinal Arinze has provoked a response informing me that only Catholics have the true faith and all other liturgies are wrong. How blinkered can you be? What of Vatican II and ecumenism? The cardinal told a mother that her daughter should not take part in other church's liturgies even though it was clear that the daughter would attend Mass as normal. I was appalled at his response. With people like him at the top what hope is there of a united Church...

Another sleepless night and chat to Liz in morning. To mosaic and started new project. Tai chi 10 there! To Post Office for CRB RSCM check. To Catenians - poor turnout. Gave Luke Tope a lift home.

Monday to tai chi and great to be back. There were 6 in the class and we did Chinese breathing exercises and are at step 4. Missed mosaic so start next week for 5 more sessions. Catenians AGM and meeting - Brendan is now President with no Vice President. Sad to hear Tony Charlier passed away early March - he was a fine musician. Eric told hilarious story about shooting ducks in New Zealand and had a good chat to Eddie about Australia.