The organist librarian

 Lovely day. Played Harold Darke's Meditation on Brother James's Air which we sang and Worthy is the Lamb and Amen from Messiah. Coronation anthem rehearsal went well. Kevin Scully on form. 3 candidates for the vacant post. To St Lawrence's church to see icons by Hannah. Beautiful. She knows Ian. Picked up Liz and got her to the train to go to Aylesford in time. Programme on Peter Sellers. Death cafe. Made in Japan silk and ceramics. Dance in Liverpool. Bank Holiday Monday.  Bromley Parish Church excellent recital by Olivia Amar. Moffat, Buxtehude, JSB BWV 548 very Musical playing, Litaize, Alain Litanies very fast, Lebrun and Tournemire. Enjoying updated version of Tartuffe from BBC4. Birmingham.  Muslims.  Blues for an Alabama sky NT at home brilliant production. Isle of Wight. Liz got back safely. Ant Gear phoned. He and Rosemary are here for a wedding and the Coronation. So nice to talk to him.  Tuesday swim. To Guys and Giovana set up new hearing aids which...

 Wed April 19 swam. I think my watch recorded too many lengths?  To Wallace collection to see paintings of dogs. After the delights of Landseer Hockney's efforts are disappointing considering he is a brilliant draughtsman! Lovely photos of the Queen with her corgis and dorgis. Interfaith group really was interfaith as Amir came and Fr Hugh from the cathedral clergy joined us which is great! Fr Swavek had asked him to come. Alan was on his usual subject! Watched last of Wild Isles series. To Balham circle delicious lamb and apricot tart. Asked about showing the film. Nick came for first time.  Thursday slept late so no swim. Art and nearly finished Crucifixion painting. Took shoes to Salvation Army and got petrol. Churches trust talk - they are moving to Mondays at 6 which does not suit. To organ recital at St John's  Mark Brafield played an interesting programme Locklair Bach Franck Mushel Tailleferre Slogedal. Friday Liz to get baskets done for front garden. Train ...

 Saturday after salmon for lunch we set off to go to Standen NT. Had not been there for years. Arts and crafts house for the Beale family. Lovely Broadwood piano and cello, lots of paintings, art studio upstairs, lovely quilts. Tea and cake. To AirBNB very nice peopl Copthorne. Real Pizza company at the end of the road - delicious and doughballs. To Worth Abbey and lectio with Fr Paul on Matthew's gospel account which is full of violent action and running about! A super fire on the piazza and a hug candle. The choir did very well and we could join in. A good idea to have us singing This is the night 5 times in the Exultet. Oddly Psalm 118 was left out perhaps becaise the Abbot sang the triple Alleluia 3 times rising in pitch. One baptism and 2 confirmations one of them Edward the  choir director. The Walker Missa festiva Sanctus not easy to sing straight off. The Dean Gloria and Mawby Lamb of God were good. Langlais Incantantion pur un jour saint played bt Darcy Trinkwon at th...

  Palm Sunday went well with procession round the outside of the church and a dramatised Passion. I played Bach Prelude on Passion chorale and Tears of grief from St Matthew Passion. We sang My song is love unknown, There is a green hill, To mock your reign, Sing my tongue and When I survey. At St John Upper Norwood beautiful St John Passion by Bob Chilcott. Very moving. Julia playing the cello. Excellent soloists. Guys Hearing test. I have lost upper frequencies. Immediate improvement and new aids in May. Tate modern exhibitions by 3 women unimpressed. Southwark cathedral Eucharist and meditation with poems beautifully read by the Dean. James Gough played Bach, Messiaen, Dupre, Sowerby and ended with Widor version of Tears of grief which I found too loud! Nice chat to Martin. Home and put carpet washer in the shed. Beautiful Mass of healing and anointing in the Lady chapel and Bishop Peter Selby preached. Jigsaw. Fell asleep during University challenge. Woke up during compline o...

  A stimulating morning! Revd Kevin Scally preached about death. Why did nobody record what Lazarus said about what happened when he died? We all want answers about that. Mary was angry at first "Where were you? My brother would not have died. Why?" He told me at his Death cafe most people who came were under 30. A treasure trove of icons and booklets from the Gartons! I played Prelude on Caswall by Peter Hurford and preludes by Henry Coleman and we sang Ah holy Jesus. I played Herzliebster Jeu by Brahms. At the Lent group at Upper Norwood we concluded our discussions about Ah holy Jesus. It was said that we are Holy Saturday people waiting in hope. Sorry I am an Easter Sunday person living life to the full! I can no longer accept a theology of a vengeful God condemning his Son to death as an atonement. The Cross is a mystery but above all it is about Love. The last hymn today was "Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim". We also sang my favourite Passiont...

 Mothering Sunday - lovely flowers from Louise. Played Bach Descent from the cross and Fantasia in C minor, GTB Love divine and Griffiths Maria zu leben. Archdeacon Moira was singing along while giving out flowers. She spoke over the Kyries so I have marked the altar sheet. To coffee and then to Lent group. Soldiers in York mystery play and clay crosses with Rachel. Evensong I actually got to sing a solo Nunc dimittis Moore, Goss Goss so loved the world. Nice dinner pork, profiteroles. Bruce and Dennis rang. The Seagull NT at home - odd production.  Monday swim and aerobics. Liz missed bus. Optician postponed because of gas leak. Publicity for interfaith group. Nazareth community Angela on Joseph. Green party on inequality. Henry came later. Painting and he did well doing the outline himself. He slept well.  Tuesday up early and at school by 8.20. Swim. Ordered new cosyfeet slippers. Quiet time. To Balham station and Charles gave Patrick, Terry and I a lift to Weybridge. ...

 Woke early. Played Bach Erbarm dich and O mensch bewein. David did a good job. Katharine came to discuss Maundy Thursday. It was claimed that people did not know "We sing the praise". I pointed out that we sing it every year! To Lent group led by Fr Andrew which was better as I could hear. Henry's party at Spa recreation ground - bouncy castle. 10 kids there. Chat to Clare. Home for a rest. Gresham lectures on Viking pagan gods and Carbon cycle reaching net zero. Scanned music for Katharine. Best in show at Crufts. Pottery throw down won by Lois. David Attenborough Wild Isles.  Monday 100,000 have signed BBC singers petition and the internal letter shows unbelievable incompetence of senior staff. Chat to Ann. No swim. To New Addington to see Libby. All clear 61mm retained, try taking Laxido in the evening. No need to go back unless there is a problem. Tram and 130 and 196 buses. Colette's meeting was good but there was an incomprehensible video from Africa! She did n...