The organist librarian

Mass. Henry came and played with the track and the ducks. He is chatting a lot more and I am now Grandad John! Only connect 300th edition was fun! Jan who used to be in charge of Wandsworth prison library and moved to Berlin came to quiet time. Brought back lots of memories some not so good! Fabulous Forza del destino from ROH at a full Ritzy cinema Brixton. I was lucky the seat next to me was free as the man in front was tall but I could see the subtitles well by moving. Kaufmann, Netrebko, Teziér, all the cast, brilliant chorus and production and the intense conducting of Pappano. Wow! Home at 11.20. It cost us £31 worth every penny! 

To Mass after being awake at 2. Fabulous Adriana Lecouvreur from the Met. What a production and the singing and acting from all the cast especially Netrebko! Now waiting to see Stan and Ollie somewhat different. Stan and Ollie highly recommended. It has the feelgood factor. Reminded me of the Morecambe and Wise story. Very nice meal at Cafe El Posso in East Dulwich. Liz had shrimps Mexican style and I had sea bass. My 3 prize books from the Tablet crossword have come! Could have done with a short guide to Aquinas when I started at Heythrop! Chester Zoo. May defeated in parliament. BBC Icons entertainers who to choose? Has to be Chaplin!

Ciaran said he wanted to go home so rang Louise. He cheered up and we set off for Lullingstone Roman villa. However near Bromley was sick so headed for home and Sean did the same when we arrived! So had a quiet day watching Michael Portillo in India, repair shop, Pointless, Attenborough on eggs. Dennis came and we went to East Dulwich picturehouse to see Macbeth live from ROH. Fantastic singing and the production better than the Met. Chorus and Netrebko and Pappano brilliant. Home at 11 

Back at the Gate. Yesterday Met Eugene Onegin with Netrebko and Ticciati conducting superb. Today RSC Julius Caesar I am particularly impressed by Cassius played by Martin Hutson. The killing of the boy Lucius is not in the play - the innocent suffer in a revolution. Had a quiet day at Acton and time to read the play. Swam on Tuesday and Mass Tuesday and Thursday. Saw Fr Sunith. Painted a baby elephant at art and Liz was at interfaith lunch. 4 spoke on forgiveness. Fr Adrian was there. Watched Tuscany, Masterchef and Mind over marathon.Victoria Wood tribute. 

Monday slept in . Nearly finished mosaic of Bruce and 6 at qigong. Home so Liz could go to Sutton chiropodist. Couples come dine with me , heard Norwich cathedral Easter Day broadcast and Lucy Winkett's Good Friday meditiation. To Beckenham Catenians - my last PP visit. Tuesday 19 coming to sing from school on May 21! To Gate Eugene Onegin from the Met with superb Netrebko and Ticciati conducting. Steven Rose asked about Jean and Ron. I got there during overture thanks to trains and stuck behind tall man for Act 1 so moved. To Provincial council and handover to Danny. My initiatives are to continue but he talks too much and time wasted moaning about national council. Home at 11. Micj had engraved badges and I got miniature. Clive liked the scroll. 

Louise rose early and drove us to Heathrow. Very good of her as the family would be at Beanie'zs for the New Year. We had breakfast and the wheelchair service was OK although it was quite a walk to the desk and also no Wheelchair while in shopping area .i was able to get an eyeshade and water. The flight was excellent. Singapore Airlines staff and food excellence. We were in a 2 on top deck. I was able to do my exercises and watched Bioto Mefistofele from Munich brilliant chorus, Pape, Calleja. Lohengrin which I have not seen before from Dresden again great singing and acting Netrebko. Lan Shui conducting Singapore SO. In Berlin Schumann cello concerto with Jan Vogler, Strauss, Ravel, Hindemith. Did not sleep much 12 hours. taxi to Park Royal on Kitchener unimpressed by staff. Arrived 8 am no room until 3! Trailfinders will hear of this. Shower at pool Liz very cross. Taxi to Good Shepherd cathedral for packed mass got a seat Liz outside. Homily rambling, overheads, odd choir lots...

Tuesday swam 24. To AgeUK for hearing aid clinic. The lady was late and there was one lady before me who had a mould problem so I thought I would miss the start of the opera. She gave me keep dry tubes but I have to ask the hospital for thicker ones. I parked at Selhurst and by train and tube got to Hackney picturehouse just in time. Gergiev conducted Iolanta by Tchaikovsky and Duke Bluebeard's castle in extraordinary productions by a Polish film director. The opening of the fourth door was extrordinary. Anna Netrebko was great as were all the singers. This is definitely the best cinema for opera as it is smaller although I could not see at all when I came in! To Acton and we had pancakes. Watched Inside the House of Commons. 

After breakfast straight to Empire State building. There is an interesting exhibition on the 80th floor and we had audio guides. From the 86th the views are stunning - it was  bit overcast but sun did come through. We had coffee at Europa bar where you choose your salad according to calories and they shred it! To American Museum of Natural history which has the most amazing dinosaur collection and early mammals and lovely birds and African animals in displays. Also looked at African peoples section - there was much more to see but we went over to Central park and had our salad and then walked to Columbus circle where we visited the museum of arts and design which had some lovely things. Back to Leo House to change and a quick bite at local bakery and to the Met. Raining but Lincoln centre looked wonderful. Macbeth was amazing with fabulous singing from Netrebko, Pape and Calleja. The chorus and orchestra were superb and the sound is very good. We sat in the balcony. Surprised that...

A fairly quiet day at the library and Oliver Brett played at Mass. We enjoyed the Last Night on TV - we have been to it several times when Liz's Dad was a steward at the Royal Albert Hall. It was an interesting programme with Joshua Bell playing the violin and Anna Netrebko singing splendidly. Alan Titchmarsh gets on one's nerves - he says very little about the music! Jiri Belohlavek is such a nice man and he coped well with conducting and giving the speech. It's annoying that the choirs in Glasgow, Carrickfergus and Wales were again not named.