The organist librarian

Liz to Heythrop and I went to  Bromley Parish church to park. Returned a Stravinsky score to Bromley libray and French stalls in full swing. Fast train to Victoria and in good time. Ordination of 8 priests and well went well. Choir sang Palestrina, Gabrieli and Mozart Ave verum. Widor Marche pontificale at the end and very stirring improvisation beforehand. Dished out cards and very nice lunch in the hall provided by the Neocats for Oscar. Liz eventually arrived and he gave us a lovely blessing. I set off to try and get to Bloomsbury Baptist to here Robert Munns but abandoned it as traffic jammed and buses on diversion. Tea at M & S. Vespers and Mass for SS Peter and Paul with Fr Paolo giving a great sermon. Train to Bromley and taxi and arrived for the organists dinner in good time. Unfortunately we were at the end of the table and Michael Bailey proved to be a bore going on about golf in South Africa and talking to Martin How. Ronnie Krippner was there and I took some photos. Pa

Swam 20 and chat to Dennis, Liz and Ann on Skype.  Eventually booked for 2 Proms story times. To Senate House library and joined up and found 3 useful books. Fantastic scores! Wish I had joined before! To British Library but too late to reregister so enjoyed the Britten scores and recordings display. To Edgware Road and enjoyed chocolate eclair and Earl Grey at patisserie as I was early, The City circle at Abrar centre started late as Fiyaz Mughal was late but it was an interesting talk on Islamophobia post Woolwich and I gave him Jon's regards. To Euston to meet Liz off train from Manchester. 

Swam 20 and to Balham library to collect scores. Saw Ferelith she has officially retired. I missed her farewell. Came back to Selhurst and drove to Kent House. To interfaith lunch and a nice vegetarian meal as alaways. Left early and got to Odeon Beckenham early-  got a refund of Liz's ticket.The play was excellent and Helen Mirren and Edward Fox outstanding. Really enjoyed it. To Cathedral and heard end of mass with lovely Stanford and Dering motets. Rehearsal started late - this time i am on furniture duty moving chair and cushion and stool as well as Consecration torch and one of the 7 candles. Home to watch Apprentice and a long chat to Anne Nicholls about the funeral.

Spoke to Dennis and Liz on Skype and later in the day they chatted to the boys. To the pool but not open until 8.30 a.m. due to lack of lifeguards so came home. To Watermans for music and Sean really enjoyed it. To cinema with babies to see "Behind the candelabra" about Liberace. Michael Douglas was brilliant - was he kind and caring or a monster? Saw Mia and the gang outside then buses home as car in service. looked after Sean while Lu went to read a story at Maples and took the recycled yoghurt pots. Watched some Wimbledon tennis. To Tapas at Purley for meal with Bill, Christine, Brendan, Carol, Gerry and Eileen -  £22 for lovely food monkfish and prawn skewer, green salad, meringues with orange liqueur.Very nice but there was a long wait to order dessert! 

Worked on dissertation - now at 6700 words including bibliography. Delighted that George Wilson is reading it. Watched a bit of Wimbledon, Come dine with me and Cardiff singer earlier rounds, also Antiques roadshow. To Croydon Catenians - good to see Bill O'Doherty and Jim Mann  again and enjoyed chatting. Everyone commented on the 4 photos of me in Catena! 

Swam 20. Spoke to Dennis, Ann and Bruce. Liz going to the flat - she stayed with the Hewitts last night.

Liz set off for Salford at 8 a.m. Dennis left hospital in the evening and Liz stayed with the Hewitts. Swam 20. To mosaic and completed 2 small ones. Asked the flower ladies very politely @I am sorry ladies I can't hear what Linda is saying' she was explaining cutting glass. They complained! They are so inconsiderate every week laughing loudly and never sweeping up so I end up not putting my hearing aids in and miss instructions! Left tai chi early (lots in class) to get to Denmark Hill. The tests were most interesting and I think I fell asleep int he brain scan despite the noises! Home to eat and ring liz and to Odeon Beckenham. Got a refund on Liz's ticker and really enjoyed Gloriana from ROH live. Sarah Bullock and Toby Spence and excellent chorus  -loved the 50s touches in the production - the choir master in gown and hood and the cubs! Adrian, Terence and Graham were there. 

Watched the Cardiff Singer final and thrilled that Jamie won but also liked Marco from Croatia. More work on dissertation. Watched programme on Andy Murray.

Had a good practice after service and we started singing Kyries again (Murray setting). Nigel came to rehearse at 2.15 with his new wife Susanna. An interesting programme including Willan (who grew up in Beckenham) Fiocco, Purcell and Simper. 21 there and met Joyce Perry 87 who lived through the war in Beckenham. Her relation is 94 and still playing! Britten on The Choir.

I make no less than 4 appearances in Catena July 2013 the same as in the Provincial newsletter! Liz going to Manchester Monday to Friday to see Dennis and AnnMarie going today. She is back in Manchester the following week as well. 

Phone rang at 4 a.m. Dennis in Salford hospital with abdominal pain and later in the day had appendix removed. To Heythrop for 10 a.m. rehearsal which not all servers attended. Any way worked it all out and it went well - Bishop John on good form and a nice lunch. Chatted to PPs from Wanstead and New Barnet and Fr Tony and John Dal Din. To Battersea Park peace pagoda for the 28th anniversary celebrations. Bruce Kent not there but Pat Gaffney spoke. Nice Indian dance, violin solo of Vivaldi and interesting Harmonise sign language choir.Rain held off for most of it. On bus with John and Tina. Vespers and Mass with Fr John. Spoke to Ann. Cardiff singer of the world song prize won by the fabulous Jamie Barton.

Have recorded the programmes but the most impressive so far is the mezzo Jamie Barton from America who sang Sea Pictures!

Swam 20. To Beckenham parish church and gave out fliers and it was up at Beckenham Bookshop. David Phillips played A minor Bach, Mozart and Germani very well. Saw Nigel and Ken Baker. Studied Death in Venice score. After a quick bite to National Portrait Gallery for BP portrait award and free concert by ENO young singers. Excellent sopranos and baritone Ian Beadle with a very expressive face! Mozart, Britten and Bizet. Straight across to ENO for beautiful production of Death in Venice -sat next to a nice couple from Hanover. Home by 11.15 quite tired. 

Swam 20. To Camden Town early for LBFN Open University forum on last 10 years and future prospects with Haider Ali. I was paired with Jackie Gilmour of Women;s Interfaith network. An interesting day and nice food. To Regents Park for a while then to the Angel for Illustrated talk on St Benedict by Stefan Reynolds - interesting, Half the class were not there! Came on train with Katrina who is at Salvation Army college.

Swam 20. Saw Dr Attard about bruise on upper leg - cortisone cream - he asked if I had had shorts on - fat chance the weather we have been having!  To Acton for when Ciarán came out of nursery - met the nanny for the autumn - very nice. To Carluccios for a lovely lunch - had asparagus risotto and lemon sorbet and white wine - starter with gorgonzola. Ciaran had made a card for me and presented with a lovely hat - very smart. To Interfaith group after tea at M & S. Got ticket for Venice concert. Only 3 there to hear an excellent Power Point by Morten Thuysen from the World Development movement. Shocking to hear how government are linked to finance and fossil fuel companies even Vince Cable! Their campaign is Carbon Capital. To Foyles bookshop and impressed by their religion section - in fact found some Eckhart references! To Soho Square but by then the sun had gone. Earlier had met Fr John O'Leary and Fr Michael Archer and commented that I wished I had my shorts on. To St Patri

Swam 20. Did some looking up on Meister Eckhart. To Bromley library to get scores - 3 of them could not be found in stacks. Sandwich and coffee chatting to couple and gave out fliers for the Sunday series -  a couple of people asked for directions. Chris Town was there. A stunning recital by Tak who is 22 and has just graduated at the Royal College. Vierne, Muffat, Buxtehude , dancing Bach, Howells and Mulet - the last my Dad would have said "The crossing gates are open!" She is clearly a name to watch! Had very nice dinner on return home and Liz went to Chiswick. Cardiff singer of the world and a programme on Ian Banks and Father Brown. 

Woke too early and took Liz to station for daytrip to Leicester to visit parish with good parish plan. To mosaic - did 2 small ones and cut my forefinger. Tai chi and to Balham library. Met Mike Cornford in the street - he looks well (he had serious asthma from building works at Northcote library) and swms at Cheam where he met Liz one day.  Went downstairs and the store is a mess - found a lot of scores for Proms and weighed down with Wagner. Ordered books for dissertation. To Bromley circle of Catenians - Bill there. Dull meeting in too large a room where things cannot be heard! What was unusual was that Bill bought me a drink and I bought him one. Normally drinks are paid for by the host circle. Add to that £2 for raffle and £1 to park! Watched Father Brown episode before I went out. Fell asleep reading and woke in the night - found my glasses and the missing pyjama shorts under the bed! Dream about interfaith contacts!

At service played Purcell, Oldroyd and Sumsion Pastoral. Lovely to have the organ in tune. Bill sang the psalm really well - the chant by Harry Bramma. Debbie away - what a treat! Excellent sermon from Fr Paul on the woman washing Jesus's feet with her hair. Practised Buxtehude. Home for lunch and then back for 2 and picked up Liz. She had been at Mass at Acton. Composite recital worked really well and 35 there especially United Reformed folk. Ian Verran very musical Rutter, Borodin and Sousa Liberty Bell. Michael Toplis Handel and Festing. Ken Baker played Croft, Greene, Burney and Bennett all ideal for this organ. Widor Toccata from Gloria Toplis worked well. Had some wine. I went to evensong which celebrated Sumsion. Bruce rang for Father's Day and I told him we were doing "Stagger like a drunken man". "Oh I like that one Dad". Spoke to Ann in Nuremberg. Dennis and Louise rang. Watched The White Queen about Edward IV and Review show, also Antiques roadsh

Woke at 7. Father's Day. My lunch will be on Wednesday at Carluccios as I have to be here for the composite recital.  Chatted to Ann on phone. My Blackberry is playing up. Ann and Paul arrived in Nuremberg via Dubai where they went up the world's highest building. They want to go on the Eye and see The Audience. Also the Shard. I suggested Billy Elliot and Buckingham Palace. Paul is now a senior! 

To the cathedral early for 10.30 a.m. Nice to see seminarians and I spoke to the priest from Watford. Deacon Geoffrey was very enthusiastic about the interfaith events. The ordination by Bishop John Sheringham was great - he sang some of the prayers. Brian looked so happy and the music was lovely. Mozart, Howells, Haydn, Thine hand O God which the Bishop used in his homily. Had tea downstairs and saw the flypast after the Trooping as we came out. Attempts to photograph it on my Blackberry not good. On No. 11 bus with Andrew and his family from Poland and Denmark. Nice reception somewhat disrupted by rain and ate lunch in library having a great chat to 2 ladies. Saw Stephen Wang. Nice speeches. A happy day. Liz went off to babysit and I returned to the cathedral for vespers and Mass with Fr Michael Quaqo - 5 servers and all went well. Byron choir from Harrow school sang Rheinberger, Guerroro and Harris Faire is the heaven very well. Harry Mellor gave me a lift as Catenians were appeali

The visit of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran has undoubtedly been a great success and very timely in view of recent events. Like Archbishop Kevin McDonald (8 June) I too was at the interfaith meeting at Woolwich mosque. The BBC produced a balanced report on the 6 o’clock News on May 31 but by 10 o’clock the positive report had disappeared. The reporter did not mention that every week the youth from the Greenwich Islamic centre play football with the soldiers from Woolwich barracks. This is exactly the sort of positive news which is needed. The meeting itself was short because the media requested photographs but it was very clear that there is a history of strong interfaith co-operation in the Greenwich area. I was at a meeting in Balham yesterday where Sunni, Shia and Ahmadiyya representatives all spoke. This is the sort of co-operation which is needed. Mosques report overwhelming practical support at this time from people of faith and no faith. We must all work together for peace and

Woke at 3 and 5 a.m. thinking about a letter from the Jains to the Hindus and how to get it to them! I wasn't invited to either of those visits by the Cardinal!. 

Marcin's excellent photos from the prayer event and the visit to Neasden Hindu temple.

Swam 20. Liz set off to go to Asdas and then found she did not have her credit card so came to the pool and we shopped at Tescos. Decided to get booze for President's Sunday. I loathe shopping - everything has been moved! To St George's Beckenham and gave out posters regarding organ recitals and to Beckenham Bookshop - lady there was very off-hand. Some people refused to come - too busy on Sundays, too far to come?? Anna Johnstone was not singing after all. It was a rather weedy baritone instead called Trevor Robertson so I escaped and got trains to Balham. WCEN and Open University event at Balham Baptist on religious history of Wandsworth project. Very interesting presentation on slavery by Clifford Hill. Tim Powell from the National Archives was less interesting. The faith presentations were fascinating - Methodist, Baptist, Muslim, Hindu (worth visiting there) Anglican, Jewish. Shared stories of struggle when first arriving, youth work and community work and service. I offe

Did some more work on the Eckhart quotes. Set off early for the cathedral hall. I got a little peeved as it rapidly became clear that most of the team had not read the emails I had carefully prepared. I also had to insist that the welcome table could not go in front of the stairs! Katharina had allowed people into the hall long before the opening time but I insisted on briefing everybody at 4. Elizabeth O'Donohoe insisted on doing her own thing and Margaret Slynn was a liability.Jon Dal Din also tends to muddle through.  If asked to stay in one place why can't people do so? Any way it went off alright with lots of warm welcomes and gratifying how many people knew me and my emails! Nearly all the 100 guests came and I suppose there were around 220 there. The people filming arrived 5 minutes before kickoff! Marcin was doing photos. The actual prayers were done well and plenty of silences. Archbishop Kevn did well and I was particularly impressed by the Jewish and Muslim contribu

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

Swam 20 and even tried some front crawl and butterfly - water 3 degrees warmer! To Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe for the funeral of Iris Connolly - good turnout and a good sendoff. Church has been painted and looks good. Gill beach was there but made little effort to speak to Liz. Into the hall while the family went to the crem. Nice lunch and lo and behold Fr Joe sat at our table while we were getting lunch so I just chatted and he was OK! He has not spoken to me for 10 years and it really is time he did!  Long chat to Melvyn and Neva about India. To Heythrop and Liz had her interview about the essay - she sent the wrong one in so it is now sorted. I went to talk by bishop on Ukranian Catholic church - I dropped off. Bruce was there. To cathedral for rehearsal for ordination - waste of time as we are consecration torches. Brian was very enthusiastic about Holy Rood Watford. Watched The Apprentice and long chat to Ann on Skype - they fly to Dubai tonight 15 hour flight.

Only swam 18 as once again the pool was freezing cold! To Bethnal Green on Over ground and bus. Christian Muslim forum offices for conversations for the soul - there were 10 there. Met Omar who is a research fellow at Dialogue Society originally from Turkey. June Boyce-Tillman came late and she said she would ask at her interfaith planning meeting about getting the conversations going in Tooting which might be more convenient. Discussed personal God and God in the world. Finished talking about parenting and family relationships and teachers. To Museum of childhood and not impressed by the shop. Bought 2 more fridge magnets for mosaics in the Mission shop. To Acton on tube and bus. We went to music class with Henry. It seemed too old for the small children and Louise was shocked at £7 for half an hour compared to Tamar's £5 for 45 minutes. Quite wrong to talk about long and short instead of crotchet and quaver. Pitches shown on stave but everything sung on one note! Charging £12 fo

Asked Tommy about an anthem for our 40th wedding anniversary. £500 sounds reasonable enough and I suggested some texts from Tobit. 

Only swam 12 as water was cold and it was cold outside too. Liz came but did not swim. To Emertons to get Uhu glue for mosaic class and then to Glyn Close to pick up Bike Bruce wants to sell. To mosaic for an hour nd then to kitchen shoppe to get 2 fridge magnets. To Abrar House off Edgware Road fro United Muslim forum dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Catriona was there. Had lunch with Revd Cresswell from Oxshott and Julian Bond. Excellent speaker from Syria Chawkat Moucarry who gave me his book and later Sayed and Fr Nadim came. I spoke briefly about youth and invite for Thursday. It was mostly interesting. Invited to dinner at 8 so went home and changed. Train and Jubilee line to Willesden Green and walked to Imam Ali Foundation 65 Brondesbury Park a large house with superb Persian carpets. We sat on the floor and man next to me explained what was going on - he had a PhD from Wales in Maths. Speeches in Arabic no English at all - Professor then mullahs and a sheikh. Eventual

Sunday and Liz at Acton where she went to Mass and to James's house. I played Purcell at Mass and photocopied the remainder of the recital programmes - Debbie has done a lot but not the tricky one for the 16th so it is all done. Came home to get my tie and drove to Park hill to deliver leaflets about Thursday to Les. Never been in that park before - it was an interfaith picnic but very few there and it was cold! Adrian arrived 2 p.m. to practise (his fourth session). Very pleased that 30 came as several people in the morning had said they were not coming. St john's folk supported it well and Fr Paul looked great in a grey suit.I turned pages and pulled out stops. People liked the arrangement with the blue chairs facing the organ and delighted that John Mander came. Gordon Jacob, Bach the Dorian! and Schubler chorales, Boyce, Stanley, Haydn, Mozart, Whitlock (worked very well) and Crown Imperial. The chance to hear the organ from down below confirmed the warmth of the sound in

An amazing day! Woke too early so got up and did some reading. Louise came with me on the trains 7.20 a.m. and got a train to Bushey with no problems. Long chat to Jean Taylor on phone and emailed Daphne Sherwood who picked me up at Bushey station and drove to Holy Rood church, Watford via Tescos, They move to Devon next week! Bishop John Sherrington welcomed all and the church is superb. Bentley's finest, one of the most beautiful in England. Representatives lit candles on the altar and then we were off in the coaches to the Mosque where the Imam gave a talk and we had refreshments. One question Do Muslims believe in Hell? Next to the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and what a beautiful place! Did a short meditation and met 2 nuns who produced free books and promised to contact Stephen about Eckhart for me! Picnic lunch provided as always by Sachkand Nanak Dham from Birmingham. Short sleep on coach and arrived at NT Ashridge Estate for Druid ceremony in Meadley's Meadow. Never

Swam 20. To M and S Croydon to meet Lindy Wilson who was a Buddhist and us now becoming an Anglican. 2 hours over tea and most of it was about being a Christian - she as brought up Catholic and is going to meet Rowan Williams. Also at meditatio events! She is worried by "renounce the Devil and all his works". Had a revelation in a cafe that God is in all things! Very nice. Bought flowers and biscuits and got shaver refills in Boots. No sing of Uhu glue for mosaic! By the time I came home it was raining. Big article By Archbishop Kevin about Cardinal Tauran's visit in Tablet. Sent off 2 essays with no changes. Only the dissertation by Sept 2 left to do and well on with it. Cooked beetroot  risotto with sea bass. Watched The Apprentice, also Mozart piano concerto 28 from the proms and repeat of Symphony on BBC4. 

Nigel posted his programme so typed it up using Hayley's format. My freedom pass replacement has come.

Swam 20. Do not like Liz's haircut much - too short. I loaded up the pots in the car and she took them to the tip - she fell over the old washing line. Set off early and went to Balham library - delay as only 3 staff on and not pleased when 3rd staff member came up to desk and did not ask who was next - result woman queue jumped - sent a message to Jeremy. Cannot remember her name - she used to work at York. Got to Heythrop around 12 noon which was OK. Schola out in force for Dominic's debut. The Purcell Hear my prayer actually was OK but little sense of ensemble singing. Everybody grimly holding on to lines - 8 part and the tuning is tricky. Gemma was OK if a little bossy - I found it hard to hear her. I played Purcell, Watson and Karg-Elert. Michael Holman gave a great tribute to Rocco who finishes his degree next term and is posted to Japan by his order! Went to coffee and told Sr Mary about Rocco concelebrating at the cathedral - I will miss it! To Acton on 452  - long det

To National Gallery and saw pictures from Barber institute and the Turners and Constables then to National Portrait gallery with fine new picture of the Duchess of Cambridge. Walked through Soho which is fascinating to St Patrick's for William Whitehead's recital on the restored 1793 organ. Rome to Home. That organ really sings.Samuel wbbe (was organist of the church) Maurice Greene, Haydn, de Grigny, Pepusch - a fine programme. Home and then to West Norwood to pick up Liz. She has had her hair cut very short. The Apprentice.

Swam 20. To Hinsley room for spirituality day. Because it was Fr Robin there was a bumper turnout! He was excellent and spoke on John. We were left to consider Jesus third appearance after the resurrection - the Come and have breakfast one at the Sea of Tiberias. I wrote a long imaginative description imaging myself as St John. It seems almost surreal - real but strange with lack of recognition and sudden realisations. How did John feel? He had been tot he tomb and he believed, he was overjoyed to see the Lord and yet they all went home to fishing. And now it is dawn and they have caught nothing. It's like the morning after a great event - a birth or death and you begin to realise that nothing in your world will ever be the same again. What would I say to Jesus? I'm sorry, I love you, I missed you and he would hug me. Think of touching in the story - the kisses (Mary, Judas) John leaning on his breast as they lay round the table, Mary washing his feet with her hair, taking him

After lunch Liz drove me to Crown Point and I got a 417 to Clapham Common. Arrived at the picturehouse just in time for Ariadne auf Naxos of Strauss live from Glyndebourne. Fabulous singing especilly the sopranos and Thomas Allen. Interesting production which worked well! Jurowski conducted. Home by tube and train. Liz went to Chiswick for rehearsal and then to Acton.So pleased 2 essays are done - cna now concentrate better on the dissertation. Met elizabeth from tai chi and Fr Dave at underground station.

Both essays are done! Michael was very encouraging and I have improved the dialogue one a lot under his guidance. He remarked 'You don't want to spend (waste!) any more time on the Buddhist Christian one do you?' I think I will wait to submit until after meeting Lindy on Friday morning just in case an 'Anglican Buddhist' gives some useful insights! 

Monday swam 20. Back to mosaic and Linda back from Greece. Tai chi and 9 in class! To Heythrop and saw Michael for 30 minutes - says essays are good solid work. In library for an hour checking Vatican documents and references. Liz had been to see Kim, Ausra and Tony -seems she submitted wrong essay (hence the plagiarism hearing). Told her to keep calm and carry on! To Balham library to get scores. To Glyn close to get box of wires and lady came to recycle them. I rescued nice headphones and microphone for my laptop. To Catenians and Frank Savage Provincial President was there. He presented the circle with the book about Jimmy Mizen which I want to read! It was a happy evening with some great jokes. But only 8 of us and a lot of visitors! Tuesday swam 20. Liz got her laptop cleaned up - 114 items needed removing! Watched the Coronation 60 year commemoration from the Abbey. Terence was on duty. Stack and Hopes represented RCs and other faiths in prominent positions. The reformed rabbi

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22738649 I appear briefly wearing a green jacket at the meeting right at the end of the video. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22738649

Woke at 3 a.m. fretting over the Lamb of God business. Up early and did programmes for the organ recitals.Liz was at the premiere of MacMillan Mass for the cathedral. Corpus Christi Mass followed by procession and Benediction. I was amazed to see the congregation standing during the blessing! I played Crown imperial. Practised some Purcell and Stanley. The choir sat at the front so no sung psalm. The church was laid out for the Big lunch with a bouncy castle in the side aisle and people turned up in droves. Did get some lunch and then to meet Liz who came to Kent House instead of Selhurst. She got a lift to Mary's and contacted Louise. Neither of us had our phones so an hour was wasted! After stirfry Liz went to Fulham for a silver jubilee server and I went to evensong where we sang Brewer in D and The King shall rejoice. Adrian played Crown Imperial and Bridget did a subtle National anthem version as we came in. Broadcast evensong from St David's cathedral and watched Simon R

Saturday and Liz was at retreat at Nazareth House in Hammersmith - she ended up doing cross-stitch! I went to St Mary Moorfields for the monthly Carmelite session. I was early so went into Cardinal Hume garden next to the church. Also put out posters for the Cardinal Tauran event. Mass at 11.30 for St Justin the martyr. Isobel  had a couple of disasters on the organ - she says I make her nervous which I said is not good as playing with lots of organists present can make me anxious! Martin sang and Fr Nicholas King celebrated. he has a most engaging way of reading and preaching the Gospel. He is lecturer in New Testament studies at Oxford and grew up in Natal and Pretoria! He spotted my faint accent. He gave us an overview of Catholic Biblical activity up to Dei Verbum and then a marvellous liturgical explanation of the Emmaus story. After a break we did l ectio divina on the story. I'm not sure that they went so well as Nicholas had unpacked a lot of it already and the prayers at