The organist librarian

To Mass Liz in Acton. Bravo  Alexander Pott  for great playing at St Stephen Walbrook. Especially the Dorian my favourite Bach and Mendelssohn. Guiding and saw Francis who is going to seminary, Kate and Muriel who had a heart attack in Limerick. Lots of French people. Keys for upstairs still not found after a month! To Tate Britain to see Queer British art (amazing what we can show now!) and Cerith  Wyn Evans. Himlayan wildlife programme.

Tuesday swam 20. Brilliant playing by  Alexander Pott  at Grosvenor chapel - Tomkins, Byrd and Bach. He makes the difficult sound easy. Spoke to his mother and a family from West Midlands.  To Tate Britain to see conceptual art - preferred Mark Wallinger and Sophie Michael's films and the Duveen dancers!  Fascinated by summer houses near Serpentine. Unimpressed by paintings at Serpentine gallery.  Excellent preProm discussion of Elgar 1 and BBC Philharmonic did not disappoint! A triumphant end. Dutilleux score hard to follow! Cannot imagine Rostropovich playing it! Simpson and Davies not really impressed. Empty hall put off my unknown works?  Lovely day at Whipsnade with the boys and Louise driving the new car! Saw baby giraffe, lemurs, sea lions, train ride, tiger, cheetahs, lions, zebras, elephants, rhino, moose, meerkats, etc.  The discussion of Henri Dutilleux is very helpful and I asked a question as I find his music bewildering and got lost in t...

Did a lot of work on the family tree and added photos. By putting them on Face Book 3 people related to Frank Woodhouse responded.  Back to the pool today. Did Catenian minutes and returns. To St George Hanover Square for  Alexander Pott 's excellent recital then Tate Britain for Artist and Empire which is fascinating.Watched Great Barrier Reef and Windsor Castle again and enjoyed Victorian Bakers. Took Sean to Snakes and Ladders for 3 hours and he enjoyed it. Singing and chatting a lot. Liz took Ciarán to swimming and I went to Croydon commissioning group meeting at St Michael's on urgent care. Very interesting and raised library cuts with Elizabeth Ash and Jane Avis our local councillor.  Read Walking backwards to Christmas by Stephen Cottrell. Refreshing view of the Christmas stories!

Fascinating film on Rachmaninov on BBC4 by Tom Service. Saw the rest of Gypsy. We  sang at Anthony and Consola's wedding at St John the Evangelist Upper Norwood - Zadok the Priest, carols and hymns - a very happy occasion. Alexander Pott played superbly. To 6.30 Mass at St Matthew West Norwood - pews are better arranged but the new parish priest Fr Cassidy is very Scottish and used a small table in front of the altar which made it feel cramped and candlelight. Guitar not in tune flute OK. Endured Silent night and all of First Nowell. Sanctus and psalm said. Jennie Mitchener was there. W atching fascinating BBC programme on Shostakovich's Leningrad symphony.

Saturday another lie-in. Liz resting. To the cathedral and 10 servers at Mass! Met the new intern Francis and new organ scholar Alexander Pott who played Bach at the end. Fr John celebrated. Victoria looked very gray and wet after the vibrant South American colours. Caught up on Downton. Sunday took Blackberry to send off to Manchester - it will not start. Played Adagio from Elgar cello concerto and Andrew Moore's tribute to Dom Gregory Murray and Nobilmente. Fr Herbert was there and 20 there. Chatted to council members and Christmas will be on the 20th a pageant - cannot see they have the people to mount that! Midnight and Christmas day 10 a.m.  and no crib service so that's a relief. Watched Leeds piano competition won by Anna the Russian and Beethoven with Leif Ove Andsnes. Songs of praise with a ghastly fat tenor. Sent email to APT group and Marissa sent group photos. Ben Bloor has been appointed to the Oratory. Liz went to Mass at St Mary's.