The organist librarian

Listened to Ripon cathedral broadcast (well done Tim Harper) and watched History quiz on the Tudors and Mrs Brown's Boys. Nice chat to Ann in Tasmania. We walked up to Grangewood park - railings need painting. C atching up on recorded TV - Dickensian, Carlos Acosta in Carmen, Darcey's ballet heroes. Dennis came for dinner and I played the piano and we watched Christmas lecture and Michael Palin on Artemesia Gentileschi. Brentwood cathedral Midnight Mass was splendid.

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

Saturday Dennis set off early for Ireland and Louise brought the boys down for breakfast. We went for a walk round the lake and met the couple for across the road and a guy setting off for Townsville in the autumn! Had cappuccino - it was more overcast and cooler. Ann cooked chicken for lunch - delicious!  Louise took Bruce back with her. Went to look at buying a box for his screen but it was far too big. Practised on piano for tomorrow. To Vespers and Mass and Fr John with the choir of OLEM Cambridge who were very good - not so keen on the descants. They sang My Beloved spake by Andrew Wright and Laloux. Mozart Coronation Mass Gloria. Bruce got box from Glyn Close and brought bedding home. Had a nice evening playing and singing songs from the shows. Sunday took Ann and Paul to St Michael's and they liked Fr Paul who gave a fine sermon. I played 2 of Dad's pieces and Dubois Toccata - lost one page near the end! Took them to East Croydon so they would be early at Gatwick to go