Byzantium, Hilary Lystan Jones and Peterborough cathedral choir

Friday's practice went well. Bob and Monica swelled our numbers as Karen and Janet were both off sick and we worked on "The Cross of Christ". Molly arrived in an outlandish outfit for Red Nose Day! Dennis arrived safely from Ireland with lovely linen napkins and a hilarious tea towel about tourists. Saturday was a delightful day. Dennis and I met Bruce at the Royal Academy and we went round the Byzantium exhibition using the excellent audio guide -saw several things I had missed before despite the crowds. Spotted the Bishop of London arriving with black hat! Had tea in the members room - much less crowded than last time. Dennis bought us the lovely catalogue and I got some postcards. Bruce is off to Birmingham to the new job and had been complimented by the managing director of Evans! Dennis went off the bank, cycle shop and hairdressers. I got the tube to Guys Hospital chapel for the RSCM event with Hilary Lystan Jones. She was excellent on the physiology of singing which is an unnatural act! The boys and girls from Croydon Parish church with Andrew Cantrill were excellent guineapigs. I was sorry to miss the tongue twisters but got to Vespers in time. Peterborough Cathedral girls and boys sang at Mass - superb sound in Langlais Missa Simplicitate, Ireland Ex ore innocentium and Britten's Corpus Christi carol. Canon David Painter was on the sanctuary and warmly welcomed by Fr Dennis and Canon Christopher. He used to be at Southwark cathedral and knows Coulsdon and Upper Norwood and Michael Fleming. Home for dinner with Dennis and saw the end of "About a boy" and a programme about life under communism.