Burton mausoleum again

 Wed June 10 ttok Liz to GP so no swim. To Mortlake RC 13 came and Tharik took us inside the tomb which is fascinating. Lady Isobelle sat in there with camel bells, incense and candles and had Mass and seances! Fr Adrian tour of the church and provided refreshments. Lovely to see him again. Decided not to go to Tate Britain. Only connect University challenge. Early to bed and sorted magazines. 

Thursday June 11 art and worked on dog and cat pictures. Poured with rain. Prayer from Cheltenham Sue Parfitt. Jeff on good form. C and W did not ring but Guys did about the missing moulds. Made 2 plastic plant holders - very flimsy. Al Mizan with Waseem LSI zoom fascinating. 

Friday set off for Radstock. Too most of the day. Coffee and cake at Guildford cathedral. To Mottisfont to see the roses which are past their best. Drove on A36 and arrived at 5. We were not late - we never got a start time. The Jsuit living thelogy course was great. Fr Sean Connollyon CSLewis - what do you really want? Language and heaven. Sr Carolyn Morrison on preRenaissance art especially of Annunciation and Assumption. Also Von Bathasar. Beautiful masses in the chapel, Lovely garden with labyrinth, comfortable room, delicious food and nice people. Gerald I now from Hurtado zooms, another lady is on Sisters of Sion zooms, Jane was at Heythrop with Michael Barnes! Weather was great. Sunday drove back 2 to 6 with stops for petrol and tea. 

Monday chat to Ann then to Southwark cathedral Gary Weston library for Spidir AGM. Seems I have been on committee since 2018! The Dean Mark Oakley gave an excellent lecture and remarked that the Abp of Canterbury was next door. He finished with Bassano's Good samaritan and George Herbert. Jeremy Weeks was after lunch and I dropped off but I like the case studies. Saw Rob on duty as day chaplain and exhibition about Afghan women. Liz had done some lovely flower arrangements at her class, Took her to UCM. Only connect, Univsity challenge, Outrageous abut the Mitfords. Early night.

Took car to Honda Orpington. Breakfast at Beril's cafe. Buses to Beck for practice. Car must have a new part so have to retunr next Thursday but it is covered by the guarantee. To Quiet time with Fr Tom. Clearing up garden and planting. Simon Schma on Winstons. Only connect, University challenge. Much warmer today. 

Wed only swam 10 too busy! To King's and saw Lizzie memory clinic nurse. New medicine to be tried. Otherwise going along well. Very hot on the bus. Surprised and disappointed that Fr Julian has decided not to change horses in midstream and William will play for Rene's funeral after all. I feel annoyed as I offered and Jill asked him initially that I should play! The clergy! Haircut. Paid for 2 trips from the cruise. Still on wiatlist for one but Liz has an alternative lined up in Stornaway. Cannot get spa pass for whole cruise! To Cats it was a bit boring all this talk of the World Cup. I had fish with lentils and left before they started to watch the match. Watched an hour of Pissarro exhibition film.

Thursday to Monday We had a wonderful time in Stratford upon Avon. RSC The Tempest with Kenneth Branagh stunning production and loved the ending. Caliban and Ariel left on the island. Tea with Keith and Pam. MND at the Other place brilliant use of projected captions and a cast of 8! Trip on the river and the big wheel. Saturday expensive visit to Compton Verney. Chinese horse. Mass at St Gregory Stratford and Fr Oliver Holt remembered us from last October. Potfest which does not interest me at all meat we paid much more than we would have done normally with Arr Fund cards. Fine drawings from Belgium and Naples and Barber institute paintings. Weird protesting women artists using reliigous symbols.

45 minutes wait at Haddenham. No assistance at Marylebone but a young lady pulled my case for me. 2 and 468 buses and met Jenny and Julia as we neared home! Journey took 5 hours from Stratford. Liz phoning banks re scam call last night. Sir Keir resigned - a good speech but what has he really done?

Monday very hot 33 degrees. Cancelled swim as though we were going to tiles shop. Liz on phone to banks.

Tuesday She went to St Thomas to see specialist privately. I went to quiet time - could not hear anything in the hall! Bruce in surgical ward at Jersey pain behind ribs. Phoned him. To the Olivier National Theatre to see the stunning “War horse”. Adrian Sutton’s music is brilliant. We sat in the front row of the circle thanks to Matthew. Had fish burger sitting outside NT . HOme at 11.30

Wed very hot 33 degrees. Swam 12 and felt hot again! Showerhead nicked in disabled change room and notice on door has gone so I complained. Refused to go to bathroom shops too hot, Postponed Tate Britain with Nelson and rearranged meetings. European animators meeting proved to have lots of UK input. Digging for Britain and Repair shop. Only connect.

Thursday 8.05 am car in and fixes in 3 hours. Quicker way to Beck Meth is train to Bromley South or Shortlands from St Mary Cray then bus. David got me a fan and practised. Home by 1.30 Cheltenham prayer about refugees - the stats are horrendous. Renewed Lambeth parking permit by logging on via Go0gle chrome.To GP and saw Dr Roberts examined me - can't understand why C and W did not ring me again and he will check.

Waseem Raza excellent second talk on Al-Mizan. Only connect, Repair shop, Would I lie to you? Our friends in the North.

Friday hotter still. 37 degrees in Suffolk. To doctor to take samples and started taking omniprazole. To Selsdon for the funeral of Rene Barrett aged 97. The organ itself is pathetic and 15 minute delay at the start. Philip Pond deacon told Liz he would do everything. I insisted that she robe and sit on the sanctuary as it had been agreed! Nice to see Brendan and Carol, Bill and others. Fr Julian spoke well but kept calling her Reen! To reception at Allwood house which is very nice. To Topptiles and they have the ones we chose. The birch tree was pruned by the tree surgeons. Spoke to Bruce who had the op this morning. The sacristan asked Liz is she is a Catholic!!

Saturday woke early. Hot in the night. Hurtado was good but I left to join SM on silence. Good conversation. Liz gave up. Leonie in touch about paintings - she will make a poster to display. Deacons ordained at Southwark cathedral. Bruce going home. Spoke to Dennis. Vienna Phil summer concert from Schonbrunn with Bryn Terfel. Lincoln SO playing in Lincoln Minster Saint-Saens 3. To Anerley Mass could not make out the homily or the prayers and why did we sing Love is his word for Peter and Paul? Weird. Very hot. I really enjoyed “The audience” for the second time so funny and Helen Mirren is fantastic. National theatre at home.

Sunday t was hot at Beckenham Methodist despite the fan (playing from loose sheets can be a problem as they get blown). Played Buxtehude Fugue in C and Fantasia and Fugue in F, Cantilena by Lloyd Webber and Adagio from Widor 5. I was complimented on improvising on Noel nouvelet but I said Michael Fleming wrote the arrangement! Met a lovely lady who has dementia and loves music and her cater husband. Sermon very good and told the preacher about Fratelli tutti. It was on the spirituality of hospitality. New curate at St John's is tall. I met him outside the icecream parlour at Southwark cathedral. Watched ordination of deacons incl Tom Stockwell at Norwich cathedral. Interesting music choices verging to Low church. A couple of the deacons held their arms out when being ordained! One punched the air at the end. SoP was annoying as ever. Free Nelson Mandela part 3. Antiques roadshow. Only connect. Evensong from Portsmouth was excellent.Heat wave is over but still feel warm! Queen James very well done.

Monday heat wave has abated. Chat to Ann. Swam 12. Liz taking medicine for tomorrow but had an accident in the bedroom. To Tate Britain to meet Nelson and see the lovely Whistler exhibition and tes. So good to see him. Wimbledon and Djokovic beat Wu in round 1.

Tuesday Liz up at 5 and went to Thomas's and delayed to Guys then nails. Not a good day for her. I swam 12 (it was busier) Supervision meeting at All Saints and farewell cakes and photos to Kirsten moving to Scotland. She brought a lot of fine books so picked out some. To quiet time Danny is back and he announced we would do analytical meditation. I suggested reflective would be better. Surely silence cannot be accompanied by him speaking? He really talks too much. I concentrated on God is love and breath and spirit and actually fell asleep. I skipped tea and went to Dulwich gallery to see Estonian Konrad Magi very decorative and good for the shop but not great art. curtain up has some fine portraits and a stunning Watteau. Wimbledon and the excellent gay drama Only connect The other side. Also Only connect. Journey to 2030 discussion of Magnifica humanitas and they actually mentioned the Salford gathering at last!