The organist librarian

Great chatting to Ann and the family in Balmain before the fireworks. To Mass. Henry came and played very happily. To East Dulwich picturehouse to see the Berlin Philharmonie New Year concert. Barenboim playing and conducting Mozart Coronation concerto, Ravel and Bizet. Bolero was beautiful and Pavane very special. Nice to see Sue. Christmas University challenge was fun. Watched tribute to Dame June Whitfield and Raymond Briggs. Just back from Midnight Mass at Anerley and watching fireworks mince pies and wine

St John's day at Caterham. Played Campbell on Grafton as we sang "Word supreme" Rowley Christmas suite and John Cook Paean on Divinum mysterium. No drinks at vicarage as their son-in-law is dying. Bought art materials at The Works. Lunch at The Kerala delicious so avoiding the football match at home. Arrived at Selhurst at just the right time to avoid the worst of the football crowds and get parked at home. Enjoyed Merton college evensong. Well done Benjamin Nicholas and Tom Featherstonhaugh and Alex Little. Interested to note Christmas cards for Son and Son-in-law, Daughter and Daughter-in-law. Listening to Sunday worship - not my musical style at all but excellent contributions from Dominic Robinson and Sarah Teather. Have managed to read the Christmas Tablet online as the postman has again not delivered it but the crossword is impossible on screen. Prince Charles on Private Passions. Programme on  city wildlife and Antiques roadshow and animals in the snow. 

Quiet day at home. Astonishing programme on British chocolate factories. Long programme on Norway reindeer migration. 4 of us serving Mass. I found the Cross seemed to get heavier! Fr Andrew Gallagher celebrated. Programme on Emily Bronte. Posted on Facebook pictures from the year's sketchbook. Soup and Christmas pudding with brandy butter. 

Holy Innocents at South Norwood. Only 18 churches in UK have this dedication. Fr John and  5 others! Nice lunch and chat. Helped to clean the Lady Chapel with Mother Roxane. We really enjoyed Mary Poppins returns at the new West Norwood picturehouse. The library is nice but could do with more books and a bit of presentation of stock! For some odd reason the desk is on the back wall well away from the entrance! Christmas university challenges. Not a good idea to put mince pies in the microwave! I won The Tablet crossword Dec 8.

Just checked the tenor soloist in the Darke on TV from King's better than on radio I think. Bombshell from Lou re school. St John's Day celebrated splendidly in Upper Norwood and an excellent vicarage lunch after Mass. Adrian played. Had a long chat to Daniel - he has been choosing the hymns without the planner! He only got one week on conflict in his training! Surely clergy need more on dealing with people? Terence told me about Chile and China. I am still not keen to go to China.  Dennis and Henry came. Slept peacefully now listening to Leeds cathedral midnight broadcast. Long facebook messaging  Jackie Jones on Muslims taking part in Oldham Christmas day TV broadcast and Andrew Pritchard on Catenian recruitment. Christmas at St Paul's lovely programme. Christmas University challenge. 

Lie-in and listened to the rest of King's carol service. Brought car home as there was a match. Bus to Dennis and we had Yorkshires and Christmas pudding with brandy butter and cream. Home to watch Buckfast Abbey midnight. Loved Morecambe and Wise xs 3. The programme with Torvill and Dean was really interesting.

All went well this morning at 10 despite no choir! At 2 a.m. we Skyped Oz and had a lovely chat. An unforgettable Christmas! I played Paean on the morning of Christ's nativity Andrew Gant and Buxtehude In dulci. Gordon Phillips on O little town at communion and Noel Suisse. That great chord on the final verse of O come all ye faithful. On the way home enjoyed our 2005 CD Christmas in Coulsdon - lovely fresh sound. And here's a toast to the bus and train drivers enjoying a day off. I was startled to see 2 207s when I drove home at 1 a.m. The Queen was great as always and a great honour for King's a Royal foundation. Lunch at Dennis's fnally appeared at 4.15 fell asleep and then enjoyed Call the midwife. Walked home and watched Torvill and Dean.

Oh bliss Oklahoma on TV remembering our canyons trip and the John Wilson Prom. Yesterday I was playing The King and I on the piano - great songs! Liz went to get her hair done. What I heard of Kings sounded lovely. At vespers at the cathedral we had Buxtehude Magnificat and Victoria O magnum mysterium. At 6 p.m. We had blessing of the crib and exchoristers singing Reger. Just spoke to the family in Oz on Facetime. Santa arrived! Carols from King's on TV. Superb tenor solo in the Darke and a Muslim woman reading the Annunciation - Yes! Love the new carol Judith Weir - it really is a carol. What I love about Christmas is how music brings back so many lovely memories especially Mum and Dad and so many wonderful Christmas celebrations in Joburg, Cornhiil, the cathedral, Addiscombe, Coulsdon, Beckenham and now Caterham not to mention Oz and India. And not to forget visiting Bethlehem 3 times! Delivered the circle records to Derrick so he can continue the history. Midnight Mass at Cater

Watching The Bishop's wife with Cary Grant and David Niven (1947)

Dark and cheerless is the morn... Rain and first bus delayed but I caught the second one OK! Advent 4 Flor Peeters and Walther Wachet auf Lloyd Webber on Helmsley. We sang People look East and some Marian hymns. For Mary mother of our Lord such lovely words. The busy world had got no space or time for God on earth; a cattle manger was the place where Mary gave him birth. From For Mary mother of our Lord To St John's for the carol service. The Stopford I found rather dull and none of us warmed to the Whitacre - it needs a big choir. The Shephard Song of Mary works well and we also sang Sussex carol. Sad to find verses cut out of Once in royal. Good to see Adrian,Robert and the Wests. Mulled wine and cupcakes sent by Bishop Beverley. I met Edmund Max's brother who is a philosopher.  Watched The Bishop's wife. 

41 books read this year, 27 last year, 30 in 2016, 30 in 2015. Liz went to children's workshop at St John's and returned with a large white paper star. Ein Karem scene of the Visitation has a tragic past linking it to Yad Vashem and the destruction of Palestinian villages and the massacre at Deir Yassin. 254 children, women and men died in1948. We must never let these holocausts happen again. Tony Graham With sure fierce love towards Galilee1998. How time flies! 10 years since the Belmont Holy Land pilgrimage, I first went there in 1972 and have been fortunate to go 3 times in all. And still no peace! Catching up on Masterchef the Professionals and Laurence won! I had hoped all along he would. Reflecting on Christmas 1914 when carols brought a day of peace maybe music could bring enemies together in the Holy Land? Daniel Barenboim gave the lead on this. Just watching 100 years of King's carols. It must be molto scary to be a treble there and suddenly get to sing the solo! 

To Mass and the lovely reading of the Visitation. Delightful recital at St Stephen Wallbrook by Jonathan Dods and eats and chat to follow. Sebastian and Ray were there. The lady doing the teas gave me some nice foliage for our wreath. The turner over also played well - he is 13.Tate Britain if film makers must win the Turner prize please provide seating and make up a cinema. I liked the sculptures in the Duveen galleries but hated the enormous slugs on the front. They are just horrid! I avoided Burne-Jones as I do not like the pre-Raphaelites. To choir practice at St John's for the carol service. The Whitacre is tricky.

Took Liz to station and parked outside the pool only to find the showers not working so abandoned it. After Mass delicious chocolate cupcakes and coffee. To St Bartholomew the Less for a sheer delight A4 brass quartet mince pie and wine. The Harold Darke sent shivers down my spine and the Poulenc! Amazing virtuosity in the Smetana and such talent. Amazing Assyrian exhibition at the British museum. Their Iraq project is unique. I am greatly enjoying reading An English Christmas edited by John Julius Norwich which Louise Maher and Tom Maher gave me last year.

To Mass and the crib is there only baby Jesus is missing. Please curtain this off until Christmas! We are in Advent. This happened last year as well. Henry came and I set up the Christmas train round the tree which he loved. He was due to come again later but they were delayed at St George's. I went to quiet time and I commented on the image of God which Graeme Watson mentioned in the talk. Liz went to school carols at Acton. Watched Babies, Only connect, shoemaking, Cliveden, masterchef. Put up hanging decorations. My right heel has begun to heal - I have had to keep it dry. Boys having a great time in Sydney. 

To mosaic and an enjoyable Christmas party for the group at St Luke's Kew where we were treated to songs from the ukelele group. I was interested that a lot of the songs had no intro and were set very low probably in C or D. To Caterham for practice for the carols. Why am I awake at 4 a.m.? The subconscious fretting over the carols. Watched Only connect and University challenge last night both enjoyable. Liz went to Bromley circle's Christmas meeting. No doubt all will go well on Thursday! I was furious that only Shona the conductor from Sacred Heart turned up at the rehearsal. It seems her choir are rehearsing tonight for a nativity and 3 Christmas Masses. Last year we had 2 singers at the carols who did not attend a rehearsal at all. All very unprofessional and a lot of the time I could not hear what she was saying! The Victoria is accompanied which helps. 

Advent 3. Bairstow and Statham on Veni emmanuel and we sang Veiled in darkness by Rudolph. Dyson in C minor and Ord Adam lay ybounden at evensong. Sports personality and The apprentice won by Sean. 

A wet Saturday with a match. Listened to Choir and organ episodes and read The Tablet. Fr Quaqoe at Mass. DBS checks all completed before and after Mass. Lots of servers there but many will be away next week. Family having a great time in Sydney. 

Woke at 5 so lie-in. Mass. Cards and emails finished posted or delivered. Boxes back into shed. Watched Legomasters, hotel at Christmas, 4 year old Christmas and babies. Liz made a delicious salmon laksa with Indonesian flavours for lunch. To Langley Park golf club for Beckenham Christmas meal. 3 courses for £29 it was very nice. Some of their carol singing was pretty awful starting with the wrong tune for O little town and then too low with the right tune. Good programme on Sir Cliff 60 years in show business. 

To Meopham for the funeral of Peter Stevens . There was an excellent turnout from Province and further afield including National Council. The parish priest is also chair of KCSP and was not friendly at Ashford sports day. He is autocratic and very much a one man band so no servers! The organist is old and seems to only use one lot of stops. She murdered Mozart, Purcell and Bach! Soloist also elderly. We did not go to the crem but straight to the country club where the company and food were good. Long chat to Charles Nicholls and some networking with directors. Watched Masterchef and Apprentice and programme on Bentleys. 

Liz to school, swam and Mass. No coffee as I think they had the Christmas lunch today. Watched tigers, Cliveden House and Michael Portillo on Brighton. 

Woke at 6 Liz was dreaming about a phonecall about ladies in the Catenians and I was dreaming about Panis angelicus at chorus and not being allowed to sing the second line by some soprano! Mass.  Dennis cried off the Beckenham Toby carvery lunch so I went alone as Liz had the servers council dinner in the evening. £15 it has been refurbished. Service was a bit slow. Straight to St John's for quiet time. Watched Apprentice and School. Finished the main tree. 

Mosaic then to Balham station to get organ shoe heeled and then to the Horniman museum where I sketched 3 animals and  then to see Ros, More decorations on the tree. Beckenham circle where I was the only visitor.

Sang "Creator of the stars of night" arranged John Scott and played Rowley and Peeters on Conditor alme finishing with Reger Wachet auf. Good Carol practice. Started clearing out old choir robes. 3 p.m. Mass at St Mary's West Croydon. 2nd reading today from Philippians not the epistle to the Phillipines! And it is the winding of the ways (as in winding from side to side) not winding (as in a wind blowing) in the Gospel! Fr Celestine strikes again. He introduced the new p.p. Fr Patrick. Tom Tannion kindly drove us to Aylesford for Maidstone's Christmas dinner with carols with the Maidstone Salvation Army band. Most enjoyable. 

Lie-in. Lights on the lounge tree once I had untangled them. To Louise's for a very nice family meal. Liz went to help at the school fair. 

Thursday swam, mass, art and lots to eat- drew migrants picture, Mind, body, soul was good. Straight to see Clare and a lovely chat. Tree up in lounge. Friday Liz turned alarm off so only 8 lengths and short sauna, Mass for St Ambrose. Haircut. To Turnham Green and Jonathan played an entertaining programme with a class of kids enjoying it. Welcoming at cathedral and choir came to rehearse for St Lucia. Tree up in front garden. Feeling tired and caught my right heel with Ecco shoe. Chester Zoo and Wensleydale cheese. Corinthia hotel programme. Fascinating programme on the princess who disappeared from Dubai.

Liz to school, swam. Dashed to St Andrew's only to find Mass is now at 10 a.m.and not 9.30 so waited in the car for my healthcheck at Brigstock Road practice. Very nice lady says I am fit. Cholestorol is a little bit up, blood pressure good. To quiet day with Roger - 11 there on the Magnificat - great music. Being and doing, bringing Jesus to birth Saw Sean and Louise arriving for nativity play with donkey and sheep in the cathedral and saw last bit. The Dignity Carol service went well with choir of 6. Played Christmas pieces and Vierne Berceuse. Watched The Apprentice. 

Swam, Mass. Emma has knee problems. Delivered some St John's leaflets in Canham Road - some gardens had dodgy steps. Facebook comments on the Catena letter. To Westminster Abbey for a service about Christians in the Middle East. Reflections including Prince Charles, Sayed Ali Razawi, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Excellent sermon from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Great to have the Coptic and Syrian orthodox choirs.

Mosaic and some progress despite a late start. To St Martin within Ludgate for a lunchtime programme of baroque music with Jim Wills (baritone). One marvels at the inventiveness of Bach, Telemann and Handel. Liz has gone to the Jesuit Refugee Service UK advent carols at Farm Street Church. To circle 7 plus 6 visitors. £4.50 for a pint! I wrote to Catena about the anonymous article attacking change. 

Played Bach Nun komm and Wachet auf and we sang Advent prose. Horrid hymns Mine eyes and Colours of day. St John's Cambridge missed first bit as I fell asleep. Liz went to lunch at vicarage. Bravo Cecilia McDowall and Gabriel Jackson. The Telemann was amazing. But the lessons were almost inaudible. Same thing at St John's- no Wests. Fr John played loudly, Wood, Mendelssohn, Guest arrangement. Longing for light and Hark what a sound, People look East from A and M. Boys had one barney and they had gone by the time I got back. It was very wordy. Dynasties on painted wolves. Inside the Foreign office was fascinating. 

Grandsons happily settled in and doing drawing. I enjoyed the London Mozart Players 4 cellos coffee concert very much and did some sketching. Advent 1 and the youngest server lit the first candle on the wreath. McDonalds before Mass and the boys sat with Lourdes. Michael was cantor.