The organist librarian

At the pool the lights went off so got out after 12 lengths. By the time I came out of the shower all back to normal! Mass, mosaic. To National Gallery for illustrated talk by  Andrew Carwood  (without crutch) which was well attended. Monochrome not very big so a bit unimpressed. Saw Margaret at the surgery and she called in Dr Ojo. Infection on right big toe been bothering me for a week. Cream and antibiotics, bathe with salt water 3 times a day. Go back for flu jab and shingles vaccine for over 70s. To Beckenham Catenians and won white wine on raffle, Discussion against admitting women and husbands of Catholic wives. Voted in favour of all attending pc being able to vote. Knocked mirror on car of Tina's daughter but fixed ir. Side light not working. 

Swam 20 and to mosaic started on Madonna and child. Liz did not make it to Cadogan Hall. 2 good Proms Tallis with Cardinall's music and Andrew Carwood and a fine new work by Cheryl Frances-Hoad.  I did not take the Spem in alium score - too big! BBC Phil and Storgards Haydn (hurrah) Gruber concerto with Colin Currie and Petrushka. I went to the hall to get seat tickets (a waste of time as not many there) and to Royal Academy to see John Cornell Wanderlust  -only of interest to Magritte and Duchamp fans! Saye dunable to speak on Friday but a flurry of emails and we got Tv imam Ajmal Masroor! 

National Portrait gallery to see special exhibitions then to St Paul's for Music and Faith. Andrew Carwood talking to Timothy Radcliffe who has a clever way of not answering the question by telling a      joke! Some excellent quotes about music notably Roger Scruton.  John Ainslie, Allen Morris, Martin Foster, Frances Novillo and             .William Rhind 

Friday to St Matthew's with my dinner suit in leather case. Jeremy Marks on sexuality and I found it easier than expected to discuss how my position has changed e.g. on same-sex marriage. Prayer time was Godly play which I rather liked. Met Liz at East Croydon and we got trains to Elstree. Taxi to Quality Inn and the room comfortable. Changed and walked to Holiday Inn. 75 at London North West's 1000th meeting including the Grand President and Peter and Marcela Stevens. I had a lovely chat to Mary Shiell who works with the Bishop of Northampton who sounds really good. The dinner was very good - soup, salmon and cheesecake. I stuck to orange juice! 11 p.m. back to the hotel. Liz did not sleep well and was unwell with runny tummy. I had breakfast and we got a taxi back to the station. Liz decided to go to the Zoo and I'm glad she felt better as she was meeting Louise for her surprise trip up the Shard for lunch with Dennis! I went to St Katharine's at Limehouse for an exc...

Saw a mouse in the lounge last night - very small but still yuk! 3 traps set. Watched Come dine with me and did some work for next Wednesday's spirituality day. The hymns at the family Eucharist were a bit naff including Colours of day. I played Handel, Guest and Ridout on Vreuchten and Willan on Vulpius. Only 16 there and the 3 kids all very young. Straight to Tulse Hill and to Blackfriars for Andrew Carwood at St Paul's cathedral on Easter music. He played Lotti, Byrd, Bach, Mahler and Elgar - interesting comments on the music. I was particularly taken by the alto aria with oboe d'amore form the Easter oratorio of Bach. Energy, rising intervals, quicker music. To St John's for 3 p.m. and Julie and David took Mary and I to Botley via the A3 and some lovely wooded countryside roads for choral evensong with their choir in memory of Trevor's parents Eric and Bronwen Wheble. A very pleasant occasion in "the most charming village in England" according to Cobb...

Tuesday to Whitechapel Idea store for Christian/Muslim forum Conversations. Muslims heavily outnumbered so paired with Jackie and we discussed violence and suffering. She taught Muslim students. It was interesting and good that it was held there although the library was not publicising it. To Whitechapel gallery - Kader Attia's take on a library - the light of Jacob's ladder, Elizabeth Price's film At the house of Mr X was intriguing. The Damn braces: Bless relaxes display seemed very muddled. To Somerset House to see Quietus which is underground and consists of funerary urns and coffins. Stanley Spencer's murals from the Sandham chapel are most interesting. Met one of my class there. To Pret and then to Vespers and Mass. The boys sang Jeremy de Satge's Westminster Mass which used the chimes but it didn't really work very well. Hurford's Litany was beautifully sung. I dashed to St Paul's Knightsbridge for free BBC singers live concert of early music con...

Seán has chicken pox and Ciarán, who has had it, was pointing out a spot thinking he might have it as everybody else seems to have done! Swam 22. Thinking about last night. It'a so important as Andrew Carwood said to put support into training church musicians especially young ones and pass on the tradition. I spoke against using CDs to replace live music. Andrew said hymn singing is in decline and looking at recent braodcasts one sees many people not singing the hymns which is sad. The decline of the Methodist church and churchgoing plus the move away from teaching children to sing has had an effect. RSCM is reviewing its education programme and there are gaps in that too. We need to get back the workshops where young people are encouraged to sing more. Michael Berkeley's new anthem for Canterbury was excellent and let's hope it gets taken up by Benedictine foundations. It started like Taverner's The Lamb - maybe that was deliberate? It is encouraging that cathedral ch...

Louise arrived with Seán and we went to St Gertrude's South Croydon for the funeral of Clare's Dad John Taylor who was only 53 when he died. Fr Martin MacCarthy as vague as ever but all went OK. The organ a Viscount very dusty! Louise sang Ave Maria and Panis. Louise dropped me at East Croydon and I had a baked potato in the cathedral cafe. Joan and Rita came to Lent group and we had a lively discussion. To Tate Britain to see the Schwitters exhibition - I liked the portraits very much. Also an interesting film of past exhibitions in the Duveen galleries. To M & S for tea and then to Andrew Carwood's excellent talk with illustrations by the Heythrop Schola who were much better. I commented on parish repertoire and condemned CDs replacing live music. Watched the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Cannot believe we are nearly halfway through the season! Last night the pre Prom talk about religion and music with James MacMillan and Andrew Carwood was fascinating. I asked a question about "from the heart to the heart" and both gave good answers. Andrew said St Paul's does everything from the heart and if the boys don't like a setting it is not repeated! Tristan prelude and Bruckner 6 well played by BBC Phil conducted by Juanjo Mena who is proving to be excellent after his dull debut last year. The premiere of MacMillan's Credo which has not set before - an effective work delivering the text clearly. Liz came home as she had a spot removed from her back today. I got to Acton at 10.30. Woke with a sore right shoulder. Ciarán wanted track made! Went with Louise to Westfield library which is lovely and lunch at M & S. Watched more Olympics. Pre Prom talk with Edward Gardner about his reading. Prom tonight BBC SO played really well for Semyon Bychkov Schubert ...

Had a lie-in and chatted about retirement in September 2011. Did some emails from last night's provincial council and found items on "Blessed are the gentle" on internet, also checked CDs for music. To Town Hall for JCC on Health and Safety. Met Meryl in foyer - she remarked on my magic touch to tidy up Balham! Directors never mentioned the appointment but it was cordial. Still not budging much on PRP for full-time LAs on lowest grades. Flagged up closing up time. To Victoria and popped into St Paul's bookshop before evensong at 5 sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Stainer in B flat, Achieved is the glorious work, Bernard Rose introit and responses. At the reception afterwards met Andrew Carwood, Tim Harper and Simon Johnson and one of the Westminster cathedral basses. Good white wine and sandwiches. Train to East Croydon for President's Wednesday at Croydon Park hotel - excellent buffet. Sat with Austin, Mike, Carol and Brendan and took photos. Colin and Mary...