The organist librarian

Lovely long chat to Ann. Heard the first part of King's. The Walford Davies was superb. Served at Vespers at the cathedral - Buxtehude Magnificat and Victoria O magnum mysterium. Met Adrian. At Mass ex choristers sang Reger. Arrived early for choir practice for Midnight. The new keyboard has a much better organ sound. Shona came so she played for Darke In the bleak midwinter. Elaine and I sang the solos. We also sang Rocking. I had set up my hymnbooks as normal but when we got to the descant verse of Once in royal my book was on the descant for Hark the herald. Right hand trying to remember the right notes, left hand turning the hymn book page to get to the descant, pedals ?? Somehow survived - luckily everything was in F. The problem with A and M is it is a thick book and the book easily shuts especially with hymns near the front. Spiral binding would be the answer! At the end I played Pachelbel Von himmel hoch. I was interested to hear a Swedish choir sing an arrangement on radi...

All went well this morning at 10 despite no choir! At 2 a.m. we Skyped Oz and had a lovely chat. An unforgettable Christmas! I played Paean on the morning of Christ's nativity Andrew Gant and Buxtehude In dulci. Gordon Phillips on O little town at communion and Noel Suisse. That great chord on the final verse of O come all ye faithful. On the way home enjoyed our 2005 CD Christmas in Coulsdon - lovely fresh sound. And here's a toast to the bus and train drivers enjoying a day off. I was startled to see 2 207s when I drove home at 1 a.m. The Queen was great as always and a great honour for King's a Royal foundation. Lunch at Dennis's fnally appeared at 4.15 fell asleep and then enjoyed Call the midwife. Walked home and watched Torvill and Dean.

Sang carols at Mass at Lakeside home. Why are these places so stuffy and hot? And nothing to drink. Vespers with the Cardinal rterrific Buxtehude Magnificat and mass with Fr  Brian O'Mahony  terrific homily. Good to have ex-choristers singing. King's carols on radio as we drove up - lovely. Midnight Mass went well. We sang Away in a manger Normandy tune and Sing lullaby. Good descants played Bach In dulci jubilo Fantasia. Home just after 1. Today no choir played Andrew Gant's Paean, Noel Suisse and Jordan on Away on a manger. Buxtehude In dulci.  A lovely Christmas Day - superb lunch with all the family, the Queen excellent, musical crackers contained bells so we played carols, sang our favourites round the piano, loved Call the midwife.

Delicious salmon and homemade chocolate profiteroles for Christmas Eve dinner. Carols from King's on TV was lovely and O magnum mysterium by Ola Gijola with cello is a real discovery!  Played for Mass at 11 pm. Noels and Bach In dulci. 41 there mostly strangers! 3 in choir sang On Christmas night, Salazar Gloria. Some discussion about last verse of O come all ye faithful - played it! Now listening to Brentwood cathedral on radio 4 while waiting for Bruce and Liz to emerge from St John's!  21 at 10 am Mass at St Michael's. More Noels and Andrew Gant's Paean on the morning of Christ's nativity. Went to 11.15 mass at Anerley. Good to see Fr Sunith and Fr Stuart - the latter celebrated and played the organ for 4 hymns (3 of them the same as at St Michael's!). Presents opened - very nice! Fr Leon gave me chocs and rioja!  Very impressed by singing from Brentwood, Southwark, Ripon and Bath Abbey broadcasts. Well done all!  Enormous dinner at Croydon Park hotel and st...

Liz dropped me at Anerley and I checked in the Catholic church for the key but no luck and walked to St Michael's. 35 there and played Gordon Phillips, Andrew Gant, Noels. We sang Christians awake - a first for me! Also A great  and mighty wonder. There were some nice comments about Liz and Louise's singing at the carol service. Stephen kindly brought me home. Liz came back from the cathedral later while I was looking after Seán and the cooks were hard at work. Lunch was superb. Turkey, ham, sausages in bacon, carrot with star anise, brussels, potatoes. Christmas pudding, chocolate log and trifle with Jersey brandy butter and other delights. Stilton and Taylors port. Montepulciano and champagne and Baileys. The Queen was excellent and we saw Prince George's christening photo session. All other TV programmes were recorded. We sang all our favourite carols round the piano and EJ enjoyed it. We tried to play Cerebrum but it was hard. It was a lovely Christmas.