The organist librarian

To mosaic. Once again I have paid for 4 sessions 2 of which I will miss. Progress on Madonna's face very good.  Liz took Ciaran to Kidscape at Purley which he enjoyed. Very heavy rain. The Cadogan Hall prom was Jeremy Denk playing Scriabin, Bartok and the last Beethoven sonata. His introduction was excellent and his playing brilliant. Got very wet walking from bus stop. Ciaran went to see Molly.Li stened to the Philharmonia's Prom at home - Bartok, lovely Mozart and Shostakovich. Enjoyed Haydn Symphony no.90 (the audience fell into the trap!) and Barber from the Boston Symphony orchestra on Iplayer with scores. V ery impressed by TV broadcast of Nielsen with the Danish National Symphony orchestra conducted by the splendid Fabio Luisi .

We both went swimming and Nick came to sort out Liz's laptop. He was here most of the day! There were Trojans. I got 2 buses to Tavistock square and read Bonhoeffer letters from prison. Tube strike made traffic slow. This was the first time I had been to the commemoration of Hiroshima and I was 15 minutes late. Bruce Kent was compering and we heard the peace choir and some songs and poetry, also Jeremy Corbyn the local MP (impressive) Revd Nagase and Baroness Jones who is green, Had picnic and met Zenobia and we walked to Friends House for the impressive interfaith service and saw lots of friends including the Niechials! Judith is a Quaker. Asked Diana about the Greek Cypriot and Israel question. Hazel Morgan sang a song well. I dropped off and missed the lighting of the Hiroshima candle! I told William I would not make a good Quaker! No 10 bus to the hall - very hot and crowded and slow but got to Scriabin discussion - he was clearly mad!  Interesting prom conducted by Oliver Knu...

A good breakfast and the hotel was busy. We left our bags and walked through the town to Priory Street. Saw ruins of St Botolph's priory the first Augustinian priory in Britain and 10.30 for Angela's funeral. Interesting to learn more about her - she sang in 16 choirs! The organist did well - the church is carpeted and the Mander is baroque and works quite well. 3 hymns. The priest knew Angela for many years. We met Lindy and Denys (did not recognise them) and we walked with them to the George in the High Street for nice reception where we met Angela's niece and enjoyed reminiscing. We then visited Colchester castle which is impressive (but no senior rate) - lovely Roman and mediaeval objects. Walked back to hotel and then on to the station to get 3.38. I went to Rachel Leach's family introduction to the Prom and Jurowski conducted LPO in Planets, Schoenberg and Scriabin Prometheus with lighting effects. It was brilliant but the audience insisted in clapping every move...

Clearing up upstairs. Put all photos from camera onto Facebook including Cyprus and Germany. So much quicker on the new lap top! Listened to prom Sydney Symphony conducted by Ashkenazy Strauss, Ravel Piano concerto, Scriabin Symphony No.3, Elgar Chanson de Matin as encore. Liz ordered in pizzas. Also caught up on some other Proms - Dvorak New World, Bartok Cantata profana (with the score).

Wed 18th a lie-in and to osteopath Imogen who treated my hamstring.I need to do tai chi and exercises before swimming! Then got trains to see Ciarán for an hour. He had a cold and sniffles and not too happy. On overground to Islington for the recording of the Merlin soundtrack. We were able to watch the film and worked well until 10 p.m. Rob Lane had composed some of the music at 3 p.m. that day! He kept the Destiny theme until last so when he said we might not do it we all agreed to do it! It was certainly the best bit! Home by 11 p.m. but tired. Liz had gone to Birmingham having got Dad's book copied and it will be bound there. Thursday Scherezade and Tchaikovsky's 2nd symphony from Proms. Friday staff meeting and started to sort out basement stuff. Philharmonia orchestra prom on BBC4 with Part, Ravel and Scriabin. Finished reading "A thousand splendid suns" a truly great book and started "Wolf Hall".

Thursday started weeding music scores - just like the old days! To Two brewers for farewell to Liz Sines who ran the childcare training centre at Battersea Park. So nice that her family came and nice food and white wine. Chatted to Meryl and Daphne. Always got on so well with "upstairs" and they were pleased that I went. Liz was baby sitting and helping with shopping on Friday. Home to watch prom Britten Sinfonia da requiem (on train with score but new radio Liz got me not so good) Prokofiev piano concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich 7 - stunning playing by BBC Welsh SO. Friday M was gone. Left at 2 and to Lambeth Palace exhibition. Told at 3 to come back at 4 and there might be tickets. Visited museum of garden history which was quite interesting. At 3.45 men in suits said no more tickets, closed so I protested. My only chance to go and I sent a furious email on my return home. You cannot treat public like this. To M & S for Earl Grey tea and a croissant. To Royal Albert Hall...