The organist librarian

Sunday played 2 of the Willan Fugal trilogy (seems good to take Wyton and Willan to New York and Canada!) and Thalben-Ball and Stanley Vann on Gopsal. 16 present. Bill announced he was going dancing rather than attend St Michael's on Monday when Ian is playing. I cannot do Nov 3 so suggested asking Ian. Nothing has been said about carols or crib service! Did Sept invoice and John rpelied saying he had not had Aug invoice so sent that again.  Just a minute on way home. Watched Bake off while I backed up this computer. To evensong and we sang Brewer in D and O quam gloriosum. So much better without Cathy! The vestry has been redecorated and cleared so robes are now in the chantry. Downton and Antiques roadshow. 

Up early to get to St John's Wood for SSG trustees meeting at 9 a.m. result was I kept waking in the night! Minutes went OK - sad that Caroline is giving up as chair but Kevin McGinnell has agreed so looks as though future meetings will be in Luton! To St Mary's Beddington for organists visit - lovely Lewis organ and amazing windows and decorations. Mass was long because of long intercessions about the family synod and an appeal for SVP. Watched Junior bakeoff.

Liz was at Acton for a funeral and mass at school. I set up the blogs about Herbert Harold Worley and Frank Woodhouse. Watched some TV including two fascinating programmes on South Africa with Reggie Yates - poor whites and a millionaire preacher. Come dine with me, Educating the East End, still life. Checked guide books. To Newman meeting at Addiscombe on Evangelium Gaudii. Canon Frank was good. Fr David was there. Fr Joe said Hello. 

Swam 20 and the gas boiler was serviced. To art and started on a new flowers painting after doing charcoal outlines. To interfaith lunch and Jon dal Din was there. Discussion on peace and ISIS. Air strikes look inevitable. Set up Harold Worley and Frank Woodhouse websites and photographed all the material.

To Croydon circle- Bernard and I were the only visitors. Had a good chat to Jim Mann and Bill O'Doherty. To Acton and got there at 11.15. Liz was at school all day and a meeting after school. Simon was working on bathroom. To later music with Tamar and Sean enjoyed most of it. Had lunch and kept him on a tight rein! To Gunnersbury park and we went to see the ducks - looked up from the lunch bag to find Canada geese rather close! To the cathedral for Gerald Gillen recital -  a reasonable audience. It was all rather loud but very well played. Home to watch Our Zoo and Bake off and Question of sport.

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. 

Played preludes on Richmond by Willan, Vernon Griffiths and Peeters and Thiman's Postulde on Harwood's Thornbury. Only 16 in church for St Matthew's day and no server. To St Cuthbert's Philbeach Gardens on the way to Acton - open day, High and wide and 4 manual Hunter organ. Lovely party for Sean and he loved the presents especially the dumper truck. I also presented the pictures and letter mosaics. They liked Thomas. Home to watch Downton!

Liz went to Barnet for catechists session. To Whitehorse Manor school in Thornton Heath. The head welcomed the first tour of the day which included a former pupil from the 40s! One of the architects took us round and explained how they got 7 more classrooms in limited space, The copper front is to instil pride in pupils and be distinctive. On to Priory school which is also very impressive and Nick took us round. They have lovely woodlands and an aerial walkway, Coffee and cake and then on to 33 Elmwood Road lovely house with lots of kids things - gorgeous master bedroom. Buses to Artslav which is just a Victorian gents under the pavement needing painting! To Ballet Rambert and put my name on 3.30 tour so went for tea and cake at National theatre. The chief executive showed us round -lovely studios and linked offices . The floors and the showers are great. The building opened November last year. Bishop Nicholas celebrated Mass. Fr Brian and new intern Michael at vespers. Antony was the

Another lie-in after a disturbed night. Thank God Scotland said No! To Balham library to return all scores and get guidebooks. Spent the afternoon finishing the picture framing and 3 are now up on the wall! To ENO for Otello which must be the greatest of all operas. Stuart Skelton was stunning and so was Leah Crocetto. Jonathan Summers as Iago chilling and powerful. Chorus fabulous and brilliant conducting by Edward Gardner.

Lie-in again so no swim. Man came to look at oven but could find nothing wrong. To art and worked on Badge and lilies. On coming home finished them in the garden as it was very warm. Scotland votes today! Hope they vote No! Returned scores to CML and Liz went to Yat's recital at Handel House. Mass in the crypt with Fr Gary Walsh and to South London catenians. The chicken was very dry and salty and sticky toffee pudding. On corner of circle of tables and South London brother near me made no effort to pass wine and water - I helped myself! £24. Liz picked me up at West Norwood. Watched an episode of Our zoo.

To Brixton for the session and 7 came including a Muslim lady - went well and nice eats. To Acton. Took Sean to Tamar's and he enjoyed it and lots of words. We went to the park and back to Watermans for lunch. He threw a wobbly at being put in the high chair so I could eat my lunch. The waiter gave him some chocolates! Picked up Liz from school (building work going on) and I went to Hinsley room. Found out this morning Raheed did not have it in his dairy and could not come so we did conversations -  5 there. Then to ENO for event about Otello with Edward Gardner, Stuart Skelton and the soprano. Sat next to a nice lady from Sanderstead. Saw a bit of Rigoletto on the big screen in Trafalgar Square. Watched an awful programme on Irish church complicity in adopting children in the USA.

Monday Catenian council 4 there at Bill's, He told the story of losing a grandchild in Majorca found by the police within 10 minutes. Tuesday swam 20 - have not been for weeks and pleased to say my new ring stayed on! To hearing aid clinic - right one's tube was blocked with wax so I need to go more often for checks. Saria the Muslim lady has left as she is an audiologist not a technician. To Bromley and returned 19 scores and went back to the library to check all had been discharged - I do not like the impersonality of the machine declaring Unknown item. To Lakeland to change the vegetable peelers for small boxes. Bromley parish church (eventually found a parking place after 2 lots of reversing), Soprano, flute and piano - he plays piccolo at Covent Garden and used to sing tenor there. She has an operatic voice quite unsuited to a choir although the vicar in green shirt poured praise on them. Ernest told me about Celia who is ill and he has full time care. The Strauss last si

To St Ethelburga's for Peace conference which was well attended with good speakers and interesting workshops. Lots of people I know were there including Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi. An Egyptian urged us to support peace groups in the Middle East and to engage with media, politicians and corporations.

I played pieces on Rockingham it being Holy Cross day and Land of hope and glory went down well. Stephen deaconed and did well. To Stephen and Judith's lovely home for a delicious buffet and sat in the garden. I was amused at Paul saying one of the Southwark babes would get the Coulsdon job which has finally been advertised! Liz came. I went to Corpus Christi hall Brixton and saw Fr Adrian - he is overworking and not eating properly. Sayed was late but answered all the questions very well on extremism and what we can do about it. He said Muslim young men were not marginalised. Met a lady who works for Prevent and chatted to David who thinks the West should not intervene. To 5.30 Mass at the cathedral and Fr Michael D did his first sung Mass guided by George. Mark, Lerone and Marcus and Larry. To Hinsley room for basic Guild of St John Southworth training on being a cathedral welcomer and guide - not sure it has been thought through properly. Got to Selhurst and car would not start

Got up early and prepared hats for Last night. 9 a.m. minibus to Rochester and there in an hour - 11 of us and nice chat to Ann and went for coffee with them  We sat together in centre nave so had a good view. 12 ordained deacon and did see Stephen briefly at the start and the peace and during communion which went on for ever. 2 hours service and the voluntary choir did well with Kelly and Sumsion. There was one naff worship song where the key changed mid verse and it just sounded wrong! Glad I went and met Father Christopher Paul's predecessor who is now at St Alban's Holborn. Visited the castle and Eastgate house - just missed a train but got to the hall around 3.30. Liz was at Malta Mass. Clearly no need to queue all day as we got our seats and were on the rail for the second half. Sakari did very well although he did not mention the gallery prommers in his speech! The Strauss Taillefer was interesting and lovely playing from Janine Jansen and Roderick Williams was great!

To Croydon post office to post photo to Ann and Paul. The machine giving numbers and I was sent from one person to another much to my annoyance. It cost £5.50. St Matthew's - only 9 there and 2 more came at lunch time. Annoying as we have changed our plans for India so I can attend in January. The session on Ignatian spirituality recapped the retreat day. Had a good chat to Lesley at lunchtime and the session in the afternoon went well. I liked the liturgy with the stones. Discussed the cruise outings. To St Andrew Thornton Heath for golden anniversary of profession of Sr Sheila. 3 bishops and lots of priests and it was nice to chat for a while. Lots of Addiscombe folk. 

Another lie-in - interestingly my weight has not gone up. I little ache under left arm may be from the fall the other night. To art and good work on lilies and school badge.To Senate House library and 10 scores returned and my ticket no longer needed. Was £55 worth it? Probably not and in future I will rely on Westminster central music library. To preProm discussion about the season. It seemed more relaxed this year perhaps because Edward Blakeman is only standing in. Most of my twitter points were raised - coughing, applause between movements, poor light in the gallery, the stupid new seating system, even the threatened new air conditioning. 3 people asked about Haydn. My request for Dvorak Requiem and Stabat Mater was not put. There were some interesting points about the changes of singers and the poor turnout for the Cleveland and modern items on BBC4. The Mahler 3 was excellent - the Leipzig Gewandhaus forces and superb posthorn solo conducted by Alan Gilbert.

Lie-in and finished reading"The Rabbi's daughter" by Reva Mann - rather a touching tale. To St Michael's West Croydon where Fr John was celebrating for a server and 2 people in wheelchairs. Gianfranco Nicoletti from Sicily played well - Bonnet, Bossi, Vierne, Hollins, Gray, Petrali and Quirici. Watched James Rhodes "Don't stop the music" and the lack of instrumental teaching in schools. Evensong from Hereford. Did not go to preProm Birtwistle session as he was included in Litton's BBCSO programme of Vaughan Williams and the Walton viola concerto. 

Lie-in reading the Rabbi's daughter. I fell on my knees one entering the gallery last night - just got knocked in the rush and I'm OK but found I was dropping things today including tea on my trousers. Had a horrid dream about being in a hired car with Ann in the front and Liz in the back and we somehow ended up on a river beach and had to get out quick as the car sank. Paul was in a small digger spinning round and round! To St Stephen Wallbrook for Richard Hall and Midori Jaeger playing Brahms, Martinu and Part on cello and piano - quite mesmerising - my drawing not very good. To Whitechapel gallery but unimpressed by Paolini. To the Tower to see the amazing poppies. To Morley college for the open day. I was early but there seemed to be no proper system in place and art students had to go across the road any way. Met Stephen Wright the drawing tutor who is very nice but they seem to want you to do 2 terms which is expensive - £18 a session! To Rachel Leach's intro to the

No swim again. Listened to Walton Sinfonia concertante from the Prom with a lovely full score from CML. The HDD version lost the last 3 pages which I found on Iplayer! To Cadogan Hall for a super Prom of Shostakovich waltzes which were fun and Facade conducted by John Wilson and the Nash ensemble with the superb Dame Felicity Palmer and Ian Bostridge perfect as narrators. To Science museum basement to meet Lou, Ciarán and James. Had coffee and salad. I went to the V and A for the lovely wedding dresses display which was pricey but worth it. The Duchess of Argyl had a huge train carried by footmen through crowds at the Oratory. Some fine modern dresses too especially the Indian and Chinese style ones. The Duchess of Cornwall and Sarah Chatto dresses very fine. Some were too revealing for a church wedding! The talk was about Robert Frost and Edward Thomas and was excellent. Great to hear Frost read by an American. The Cleveland played Brahms Tragic overture and No. 2 beautifully. The Jo

The Archdeacon Paul Wright led family eucharist - one child out of 18 present! He gave an excellent sermon on his job and resolving disputes in parishes. Hope John was listening! Bill raised the question of the Big lunch clash with first organ recital next June. I did raise this initially and did not get an answer. I played Darke on Brother James air, Andrew Moore and Karg-Elert Nun danket for our ruby wedding. We did sing The summons. Straight to St Paul's cathedral via Waterloo for Graham Usher's talk on Places of enchantment finding God in nature. He was vicar of Hexham and is now Bishop of Dudley. He spoke a lot about mountains. I commented that Peter would have whipped out his Blackberry at the Transfiguration as we live in a recording age. I also said the liturgy needs to convey something of the grandeur of God and he advocated more silence. It was most interesting.  Of all the wonderful places I have seen very seldom was I alone. The 3.30 prom featured the Qatar philhar

To St Joseph's for Mass celebrated for interfaith harmony and peace by a Philipino priest. We sang some unusual hymns/ After lunch I led a session on interfaith dialogue and prayer using Evangelium Gaudii and Ecclesiam suum. It went very well with lots of contributions and they liked the Conversations for the soul booklet. Finished around 3.30 with lectio and I used the Pax Christi prayer. To Marks for tea after 2 bus journeys and served Mass after vespers. All of the servers were there. I missed the 52 and decided to go home. Liz came home after the first half of the St Matthew dramatised version and I listened on the radio with the score. 

Lie-in so no swim. Listened to Salome from the Prom with the vocal score -  a splendid performance.  After lunch watered the garden and went to Central music library. I got to the hall at 3.45 and the talk was about Philip Larkin featuring Andrew Motion. Excellent. A very fine Prom conducted by Simon Rattle of Rachmaninov and the Firebird with full score. Liz was babysitting as Louise went to Budapest. Watched some University challenges.

Lie-in and no swim - still coughing and cold. Long chat to Ann. To art and worked on badge and lilies. To talk on saxophones with Tim McAllister who was soloist in the John Adams which was very disappointing. However Marin Alsop was given honorary membership of the Royal Philharmonic society and conducted Mahler 1 as in the score (had full score). Liz to Acton and I came home and watched part of the prom again. The Borusan Istanbul philharmonic conductor is great - he uses his cuffs! 

Had a lie-in. Liz went to get her new Boots glasses (2 pairs) and I listened to Walton symphony No. 1 with score from the Prom and the Maxwell Davies Prom which was heavy going! I went to Clapham Junction to get my resized ring and said hello to Isabel Losada in the window ar Waterstone's for the Battersea literature festival. The discussion was about Singapore and I asked a question about our experience of the attentive mixed age audience and made the point that I had waited 10 years for them to play at the Proms. Glinka very fast, the Zhou Long concerto was attractive and Haefliger played a Berio encore which was quite bearable! Rachmaninov 2 very well played and a Walton march for industry as an excellent encore. To Acton. Wednesday Louise was home working and the lovely fireplace was installed. We went to Bekonscot which the boys loved. On the way back we went through Burnham Beeches - very pretty. The interview with Sir Roger Norrington was amusing. He spoke a lot about vi

Took the boys to Crystal palace to see the dinosaurs. Once we reached the sandpit I left to get the train from the station  - quite  a walk to get there. I collected Liz's camera from Peter Jones - 10 minute wait! Popped into Holy Trinity and saw Tak Man Chow and Peter practising with Margaret Phillips for recital today. The Prom at Cadogan hall was Ben Grosvenor playing Chopin, Mompou, Ravel, Judith Weir and Liszt. He is excellent. The man next to me told me about drawing sessions at the National Gallery at 1 p.m. on Fridays - his name is Roger. Saw John East and Colin Hartley and his wife. Listened to Walton symphony No. 1 from the Proms and Peter Maxwell Davies Prom. To Catenians and one visiting gentleman Anthony Sorrell was there. Nice to see Gerry Haines again and Derrick spoke about family history. Picked up Liz who had driven the boys home and went to the RPO's Prom.