The organist librarian

Mass at Anerley. Very fine letter from Archbishop John Wilson. . Much as I love Colossians Paul knew little about wives. Watched The Two Popes on Netflix and loved it! Antiques roadshow and The trial of Christine Keeler were good. Mass and we both went to see Cats which was pretty amazing. Makeup and production can't be faulted. Spent the afternoon editing the catalogue. Programme on lynxes.

Patronal festival and Baptism. Played Sidney Campbell on Grafton as we sang Word supreme, Phillips on Holly and the ivy and Cook Paean on Divinum mysterium. Elaine sang second verse of O Holy night as I don't really think you can sing the first verse in the morning. It was lovely! Watched Who do you think you are Paul Hollywood and Derek Jacobi.

Holy Innocents Day. Set the table and then to St John's to sing View me Lord at funeral of Andrew Piercy-McAlpine who was an amazing person. I have informed the family that the tributes are not to be so long at my funeral! All the family except Bruce were with us for lunch - delicious starter, a magnificent turkey wth all the trmmings, Christmas pudding and pavlova. The boys had a great time and we enjoyed carol singing and presents. Ciaran was singing beautifully. Watched The last igloo from BBC4. One of my favourite programmes is The Repair Shop. I am so fortunate to have Dad's organ music with all his markings - a tangible link wth him! Enjoyed Gareth Malone's Who do you think you are.

Enjoyed the Mass for St John's Day and we sang Rawsthorne and Eyre.Excellent sermon from the vicar of Balham. Berni Excell is doing fine. At the vicarage lunch chatted to Mother Roxanne and Nicholas Bucknall whose family owned Eyre's house in Fox Hill. Dennis and Henry came. Programme on the Royal Ballet Nutcracker. Radio 2 Young chorister of the year - the standard was high but William and Anna are worthy winners. I liked Charlie Truman. Beautiful singing and playing Glyndebourne's Magic Flute and a brilliant production.

Christmas Day radio 4 broadcast from Wintershall with the Bishop of Dorking was very evocative. Do go to Wintershall - it is worth the trip! Liz baked panettone - delicious! Enjoyed Christmas University challenge and Christmas bake off. To Dennis and had dinner there. Henry on form! Programme on Michael Bond creator of Paddington bear. Christmas carol part 3 was very well done. I could have done without the swear words. Gareth Malone does it again in Watford. 

Lots of lovely goodies from Bruce Woodhouse including operas and scarf and arty socks. Splendid singing from Croydon Minster at Midnight Mass. Well done all especially Ronnie Krippner and Tom Little! So good to see young people singing so well at Bradford and Croydon. The tradition will continue! How appropriate to have Fr Angel and David Pipe playing the organ. Check out St Joseph's Bradford on BBC I player Christmas Day Mass for some great singing. The Mozart and Rutter are terrific and stunning descant. We'll done everyone! If Leeds diocese can run so many youth choirs why not others? Bravo St George's cathedral Southwark! Bethlehem down very good. Did not like descant for Hark the herald! Lovely to hear John Wilson. I have got 3 operas from Glyndebourne from Bruce to watch!! Also art work socks to wear at the art show! I have got new CD of Magnificat and Nunc dimittis from St John's Cambridge and 3 CDs of musicals from Liz to enjoy! Glad I moved the car from next t

Lovely long chat to Ann. Heard the first part of King's. The Walford Davies was superb. Served at Vespers at the cathedral - Buxtehude Magnificat and Victoria O magnum mysterium. Met Adrian. At Mass ex choristers sang Reger. Arrived early for choir practice for Midnight. The new keyboard has a much better organ sound. Shona came so she played for Darke In the bleak midwinter. Elaine and I sang the solos. We also sang Rocking. I had set up my hymnbooks as normal but when we got to the descant verse of Once in royal my book was on the descant for Hark the herald. Right hand trying to remember the right notes, left hand turning the hymn book page to get to the descant, pedals ?? Somehow survived - luckily everything was in F. The problem with A and M is it is a thick book and the book easily shuts especially with hymns near the front. Spiral binding would be the answer! At the end I played Pachelbel Von himmel hoch. I was interested to hear a Swedish choir sing an arrangement on radi

Delayed bus meant I lost practice time. We sang Veiled in darkness by Glenn Rudolph and I played Statham on Veni Emmanuel and Lloyd Webber on Helmsley. The carol service at St John Upper Norwood went really well with Norman Harper on the organ. The Bob Chilcott Midwinter came together well. Lots of people came.

A lovely celebration Mass for Cardinal Vincent's Golden Jubilee. As multos annos was sung by the priests in the sacristy. Lunch in the cathedral cafe with Michael and Trevor. To Imperial War Museum to see Culture under attack - not sure the music part fitted the theme very well but it is interesting and well presented. It's free and finishes Jan 5. After tea Fr Andrew at Mass and lots of servers. They liked their chocs!

Excellent planning meeting for the exhibition. Dennis helped bring the pictures. The taxi driver was amused at our short ride but it was raining and we both had bags to carry! To Mass at the cathedral with Fr Michael. Long rehearsal for Sunday's carols.

Long wait at hearing aid clinic. Liz took Mike's picture to Pauline. To Safe Passage at Whitechapel to collect leaflets and posters. Last angels and cards up and new shade in study. Cooker gas switches are broken so we will need a new one.   An excellent carol service and it's very encouraging that some of the singers are joining us at Christmas! It all went so well. Julie on flute made all the difference and the Berlioz Shepherds' farewell was lovely with soft singing. Mulled wine and mice pies afterwards and a chance to chat. Nice that Liz came to sing.

To St Edmund Beckenham for the funeral of Fr Tom Creagh-Fuller. It was a fitting tribute with some humour too. Good to see old friends. Tea at Kent House until Alina had finished! Apprentice won by Carina. Dennis took me to Mayday for MRI scan of lower back - very noisy. 

Picked up sample tube from GP surgery. Henry played happily with train, put up cards, drawing round stencil and stories. Liz went shopping and to quiet time. Saw mouse in lounge so set 4 traps. Watched Mary Berry with Duke and Duchess of Cambridge including  the Passage.  Only connect was good. To St Edmund's Beckenham for the choir rehearsal for Fr Tom's funeral. Good selection of music. Good to see Andrew and Miriam again. Richard Warren conducted. 

St Dunstan Woking Advent reflection for musicians with Bishop Richard Moth. I madethe mistake of coming out of the wrong exit at Woking station and it was quite a long walk to the church. Paul Inwood and Catharine Christmas did a great job and some nice music apart from the Oosterhuis which was too low. I did an Isaiah reading. Lovely church and Liz Brereton gave me a lift to the station. I was at the cathedral in good time but in a lot of discomfort. Thibault did well as thurifer and Gregoire lit the pink candle. We left before the end and got a taxi to Thomas's A and E. 3 and a half hours wait and got antibiotics. Home by 11 despite rain and a wait at Balham. Stayed in bed on Sunday and got Shona to cover. Listened to Radio 3 Christmas around Europe in its 25th year and Rugby school evensong. Monday to mosaic and pleasant party at Kew. Organ was tuned despite the school turning up - complete muddleup. To Bromley Christmas meeting and Liz went to UCM meal. It was fairly dull with

Mass, art at St Stephen Norbury (nice that Julie came) and voted. It is a right pain that we have to go over the hill to do so. Excellent Christmas meal at Langley Park golf club Beckenham circle most enjoyable. What a depressing prospect. Brexit and Boris. Climate change not addressed. We need proportional representation. One Green MP is not enough and so few Lib Dems. Scotland demanding to break away. The editors of newspapers who advocated Brexit have done this to our country. Who will do the jobs when so many leave? The Tories care only about money. At least Corbyn stuck to his principles even if some of them were wrong. Mass, a delightful lunch at Rosemary's and the house is transformed. Sang with Welcome choir at Lmp concert at St John's. It was fun!  A varied programme with good soloists. 

Mosaic. 6 episodes of The Crown series 3 love it! Enjoyed the nativity at school and Sean was enjoying himself - he was one of the Year 2 narrators. Henry came for 2 hours and loved 2 trains in the lounge - Christmas one and the diesel. Loved ROH Coppelia at West Norwood picturehouse beautiful dancing and music, humour and charming.To local hearing aid clinic only to find the lady unable to get into the hall but I got batteries and tubes. Delivered local Christmas cards. Spent a lot of time sending material to Louise for the auction catalogue. Watched final 5 for Apprentice. I reckon Scarlet or Carina! A fascinating talk by Lady Antonia Fraser at London Jesuit Centre on Catholic emancipation.

Tradition dictates that I will spend ages unravelling the lights despite putting them away so carefully! Listening to Christmas in Coulsdon recorded in 2005! It comes up fresh every year. Also Adoration from Romsey Abbey conducted by George Richford. Superb! It is also traditional to put the lights on the tree accompanied by Glenn Miller In the Christmas mood as of course they get tangled again! It is also obligatory to announce "Next year we go minimal. No more 100s of lights just one branch!" Fr John at Mass and Carl lit the second candle on the wreath. Thibault did not show. We sang Creator of the stars of night arranged by John Scott and I played Rowley on Conditor alme and Walther Watchet auf. Odd that all the hymns this morning were in D major. In fact I played Crucifer in C. The posada has arrived from St John's. The idea is that Mary and Joseph stay overnight with us and then go to Nina and on round the parish. This is a first for us! More decorating! At evensong

To Bowley close and my new inner sole is good! Dennis came. Tried to go to Mass but the road was blocked by a fire engine! To art and more or less finished "Desperate to land". The hall was cold and I became shivery so moved near a heater then I was too hot. I wanted to move the picture flat in its case but somebody else picked it up. I was just about to go back and geet it. Next time I move the painting first if it's wet!! Skipped Mind body and spirit and came home and slept well. Produced new invitation for other faiths (and none) for the exhibition. To Dulwich curry night. The food was great but such a long wait! Slept right through I was exhausted! Friday to see Des at Balham. Did not go to cathedral to do welcoming - came home and rested. Started clearing front room for tree. Good practice for carols.

Swim, more work on the art auction. To quiet day at the cathedral with Margaret Lane. I loved the song Maranatha she played us and the poetry from Guite and beautiful prayers by George Appleton and Cardinal Hume. Lovely book by Jane Williams Art of Advent. Mass at 1 in the cathedral hall with Fr Michael. The Hinsley room was so cold most of us went home. I headed to Caterham early and sat in Costa. Also did some Christmas shopping in Waitrose. The carol service went really well with a choir of 6 and Julie Groves superb on flute in Rutter Sans day carol. Shona conducted. We sang Lo how a rose and Rocking during the candle lighting. Next time we need some more carols but I played Brahms Es ist ein ros - such a lovely piece. Cakes and mince pies in the hall. About a 100 there.

Swam 20, Mass, Henry came and enjoyed mixing cakes (he broke the second egg into the bowl - shell everywhere!) quiet time (I was sleepy) Left 5.30 traffic horrendous thanks to football match so got to Caterham 7.15. Carols practice went well. Home 9.25. University challenge.

Frost on the car so running late. Only 16 lengths of the pool. Mosaic, Gigout and associates at St Michael Cornhill played by Anthony Gritten, collected my 4 framed pictures - they look terrific! Today's candle Bible passage Genesis 18 the oak of Mamre. Norwood circle 5 of us 8 visitors. Only 3 more meetings and I will miss January. I finally got to speak to Safe Passage and email from Lord Dubs' secretary. 

First bus was earlier than expected so got a bus to Caterham. At Whyteleafe we were informed the controller was stopping the bus. This was well away from the station so I am now awaiting the train. Why did the bus not at least stop near the station? Played JSB Watchet auf and Martin How's Prelude Advent composed last month! We sang Come now O Prince of peace by Korean A and M 29. I was furious with Oscar who missed the practice and announced he was not coming Tues and Wed because of college choir concert - he must have known there was a clash. I did not play the Bach well. Afer the service he told him never to do that again. At communion I toppled to one side on the steps, I was OK. I am in effect wearing high heels! Oscar promised 4 singers for the carol service - we shall see! Excellent talk about angels by Peter Stanford at St Paul's. He was very interested in the exhibition and will pass the information to The Tablet. A good Advent service at St John's.