Life

 A stimulating morning! Revd Kevin Scally preached about death. Why did nobody record what Lazarus said about what happened when he died? We all want answers about that. Mary was angry at first "Where were you? My brother would not have died. Why?" He told me at his Death cafe most people who came were under 30. A treasure trove of icons and booklets from the Gartons! I played Prelude on Caswall by Peter Hurford and preludes by Henry Coleman and we sang Ah holy Jesus. I played Herzliebster Jeu by Brahms. At the Lent group at Upper Norwood we concluded our discussions about Ah holy Jesus. It was said that we are Holy Saturday people waiting in hope. Sorry I am an Easter Sunday person living life to the full! I can no longer accept a theology of a vengeful God condemning his Son to death as an atonement. The Cross is a mystery but above all it is about Love.

The last hymn today was "Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim". We also sang my favourite Passiontide hymn "It is a thing most wonderful". I dropped off three times - clocks went forward an hour. Sad to lean of Austin Baradell's passing and trying to get to the funeral on Wednesday. Why did nobody in Province 7 think to tell me? I found out on Facebook and Mike Belfourd sent the details. Emails re Holy Week services. We have tickets in a box for Mahler 2 on Thursday. Great Expectations part 1, Wild Isles.

Monday to Jubilee Coach repairs to hand in car with cash. Very impressed that the receptionist drove me home! Another email from Valentine - no servers required in Holy week! RCIA candidates will do it with guidance. To swim and aerobics on 468 and 130. ROH programme on Samson. Excellent discussion with Bishop Barron and Tom Holland Christianity, History, and the Modern Age. Sorting out how to get to funeral and Spidir tomorrow. Under the bumper of the car has to be repaired. An extra £400 but agreed to it. Darcey Bussell as Sylvia by Delibes from ROH. Frederick Ashton at his best - charming. 2005.

Tuesday email from Valentine - organ out of action so they will use recordings on keyboard. We will go to SJ and Worth Abbey for the Vigil stay overnight then to Caterham and out for lunch. Very disappointed. An excellent day at St Andrew Short Street. Played the pipe oragn at London Bridge station no music so impro on Picardy and Pange lingua. Excellent Spidir day with Revd Julia Mourant from Sarum College. I was tired as I walked to and from the station. Allan Chivers worked on the electrics in the house for 12 hours. He even found 3 cables going into one fuse! Mice had been under the fridge -yuck! Dishwasher back in action hurrah! Garden still to be sorted. He will return Thursday to finish off. For a time we were doing the jigsaw as no TV!

Brendan Foley kindly gave us a lift to Petts Wood for the funeral of Austin Baradell. A great turnout. Guitars not very effective and everything was terribly slow. Fr David did very well and a nice lunch. Good to see people again and I will start going to Beckenham events. Eddie will keep me informed as I found out about the funeral initially on Facebook then got an email on Monday. I did offer to play and serve. Then to Brit school to speak to year 10 about my faith and how it affects my life with Rabbi, Sikh and Hindu. Tour of the school. All very interesting, We needed more time and more notice of the questions. 3 of the black students thanked me! I spoke about prayer, sd and climate crisis. There is a shortage of people in musical theatre so it's a good thing to get into the school. I urged the musicians to share their gifts at weddings and funerals. Surinder gave me a lift home. Liz with Darren next door and ambulance called. Sent amended notice about LSi training and letter to Abp of Liverpool about divestment finally sent. SM Lent group was good.

Friday a stimulating Community partnership meeting at the Victory club about concentrating on violence and youth. Useful contacts with churches. Duncan on the public speaking contest. Webinar on IPCC. Collected car - looks great - such nice people. To ENO by train. Fantastic Dead City by Korngold. Huge orchestra and the singers came over well. The first half was long in a cramped upper circle seat. Nice to see Rita Day. It was riveting. Delay at London Bridge coming home. Very fine score.

Saturday SM Angela Victoria Embankment gardens. To 908 London Road and met Mark, Ian and sons Oscar and Isaac. Photo with Keep warm this winter campaign signs. Steve Reed MP replied to my tweet that is in Essex campaigning. Nice for him but annoyed with him. Back to SJ where Liz had delivered cakes for tomorrow. Brilliant pianist playing Messiaen, Jonathan Harvey and Schubert. The Harvey involved a prerecorded tape for harmonics. She could have been playing anything? Chat to Louise. Dennis and family in Ireland. Lou off to Turkey tomorrow. Played through Chilcott. SLN Tom on liturgy and the common good.