The organist librarian

Liz went to hospital for preop assessment. The Prom was gorgeous. Elgar violin concerto with score played by Tasmin Little. There is sweet music. Percy Grainger and Strauss Till Eulenspiegel. Andrew Davis conducting BBC. Stayed on for late prom which was Grainger and folk music from Northumbria and was great fun, including smallpipes. Grainger's arrangements are quite extraordinary! Just missed a 70 and got to Acton at 12.30. Wednesday our 37th wedding anniversary - to Mass at Acton. Met Louise and Ciarán in park and he enjoyed waterplay. She took us for a lovely lunch at the Station House sea bream and she had lobster with Marlborough white wine. Delicious and a very hot day. Ciarán loved the paddling pool and playing being showered. To Prom BBC Scottish conducted by Donald Runnicles. Ravel and Debussy. The Dutilleux cello conerto a bit too dreamy and soft for the Proms? Lynn Harrell played a lovely Bach encore. Score for Prelude a l'apres, Bolero and part of Daphnis and Chlo...

It being our 36th wedding anniversary on August 3rd I had gone to some trouble to get some red roses delivered on the night before. Had to change time of delivery as we were leaving earlier - our excellent driver Jorg had again made an excellent suggestion of going on the Romantic road which eventually goes to Wurzburg. Long drive to Rottingen - ate salad outside and lovely dark beer, visited churches and amazing Christmas shop, bought Schneeballs. Liz very unimpressed that the cathedral expected us to pay! Nice little town, saw the drinkers at windows - automated models on the hour. To Heidelburg - rain. Good meal and crazy waiter - eventually got the wheat beer "Wildbier". Hotel lent a vase for flowers - hotel right on the river.

35 years of happy marriage. Today is the spirituality day I am leading on "To be a pilgrim". A lot of preparation has gone into this and I am now checking CDs including the end of "Gerontius" with Janet Baker singing the Angel conducted by Barbirolli and now some splendid hymns from Westminster Abbey Guide me O thou great redeemer and Who would true valour see.

Monday to Catenian circle meeting and Dr Austin Okonmah was enrolled. There were only 9 of us and 22 brothers as the Provincial President John MacMahon came on his official visit. I raised a laugh by saying that Harry Mellor's comments about the late Julian de Ruyter could never be put in Catena. Eric Tope was acting president gave me a lift home as it was our 35th wedding anniversary. The red gladioli have come out beautifully. Watched Cockaigne overture from the Prom conducted by Mackerras. To St Cyprian's to rehearse with composer Rob Lane for tomorrow's recording. He is good. Took as an hour and 20 minutes to get home.

Thursday August 2 to the Town Hall for a useful course on saving energy. Friday 3rd was our 33rd wedding anniversary and Liz cooked a delicious meal which we enjoyed with champagne on the patio on a fine evening. Sat 4th to Mass after work and the Challoner choir sang - they were not very good again! Why don't they stick to simpler anthems and settings? The Prom included Shostakovich 7th symphony and was on TV. The National youth orchestra were conducted by Mark Elder and they were brilliant!