The organist librarian

To 10.30 a.m. ordination of 3 deacons. The music was indeed splendid. Howells, MacMillan, Byrd. Well done David Knight, Adam Dora and Axel. Lovely singing by the Frideswide girls choir from Oxford at St Matthew Westminster. Particularly liked the Robinson canticles and RVW The call. For once the judges of BP portrait award got it right although I liked Resting red headed girl with dog. Robert Seidel last year's travel award winner produced some fine work. The choir of St Matthew Westminster directed by Nigel Groome were excellent at cathedral Mass for Trinity Sunday - Caesar, Britten and Tchaikovsky.

Music Sunday and great to have Elaine back. Jerry pulled all the stops out and there was a retiring collection. Mentioned by name in the prayers! We sang When in our music God is glorified and Nardone setting. Played Slater on St Botolph and Lang Tuba tune. Oscar from Worth Abbey school will join us to sing bass! Pets service lots of barking dogs. Played All creatures great and small and The Swan and Handel Cuckoo and Nightingale. Surprised to see Dennis with Henry and Molly and he gave me a lift home. Hot. Ar evensong we sang Anthony Caesar's O love divine. Enjoyed counntryfile on royal estates and Poldark. Very impressive women's marches and Antiques roadshow on women.

 A dreadful night. Could not get comfortable left knee. In the end sat on edge of bed and rubbed knee for ages then slept on left side at 1 a.m. Liz booked assistance for the whole trip and checked in. Family took cases and Bruce to Acton. Ciaran lost a tooth. Ann's poles arrived minute later and new adapter for Oz. To St John's for big funeral of Riccardo who died in July. Sang Wood in Phrygian mode and Caesar Soul of my saviour. Also As the deer and Lord of the dance. Card to Ann Marie and booked physio for tomorrow at Mottingham. Saw photos of scan of the bump. Bit shivery. Huge amount of recycling paper and landfill, 2 food pails.Watched Christmas factory and a bit of West Side story. Fr John's homily was outstanding and from the heart. Listened to Westminster Abbey midnight mass = great sermon and singing. Watched The Ballroom boys, Life in the snow and drama about at the Brontes.

17 in church. Practising Dorian. Played Willan and Hurford on Song 34, Willan on Nicaea and Mozart Serenade. I told Bill the news. Fr Leon came up to check all was well about getting away at 12. There was a meeting to appoint an auditor at 12 anyway and I go to St Paul's cathedral in good time which was as well as the room was full.  Pádraig O Tuama spoke well at St Paul's cathedral. He is an Irish gay poet and theologian who directs the Corrymeela community and he told some great stories. Good to see Michael Redman there but  William Rhind  was turned away as it was full. Home by 3.30. At evensong we sang Stanford in B flat and Caesar Soul of my saviour. Benediction. End of War and Peace beautifully done. Call the midwife and watched programme on Confucius. Delighted that Liz found the missing hangings in the shed boxes. Brought some organ music home.

Up early on Saturday and Adrian picked me up at 6.15 and at airport by 7.10 a.m. Flybe flight to Douglas and waited at airport with Graham while Adrian collected the minibus from Douglas. To the vicarage and dropped case and into town for lunch at delicatessen on quayside - excellent Manx ham. Drove up to see the view of the town and back to Empress Hotel. Walked to the station. Rehearsal and sang evensong at 5 p.m. Gibbons short service, Wood O thou the central orb, Lloyd Webber Sing the life. They liked "Christ triumphant" - they use old English Hymnal. To Italian Job for a very nice meal. Taxi back to vicarage. Sunday rehearsed and sang at Mass at St Matthew's. Very old fashioned like the vicarage which is pretty cold although had an electric blanket! Ghastly hymn by Gladstone to a Barnby tune and horrid Lord' prayer! Caesar Missa Brevis capella regalis. Creed Folk mass Martin Shaw. 2 anthems by Nicholson. Light lunch laid on for us in the hal...

Friday swam 30. Liz busy on essays so I went to sing at funeral of Eva Parker at St John's. Small choir so recording of Faure and Handel used and Adrian played Elgar. Back to choir practice and picked up Marie recovered from her hip op. Had a look at Somervell Passion for Good Friday. Saturday Liz to Heythrop and I went to St George's Beckenham for launch of book about School of English Church music and Sir Sydney Nicholson. John Henderson and Trevor Jarvis spoke and played early recordings. Martin How and Harry Bramma also spoke. Nigel Groome played Harris and Willan. At evensong choir sang Nicholson in D flat, Knight Christ whose glory and Martin How conducted his lovely Ave verum. Stanford Postlude and Caesar chant for psalm. Hymn tune Chislehurst by Nicholson. Helen Murphy, Bob Prizeman and Alan organist from Dartford there. Bought the book and Henderson's dictionary of organ composers reduced which I always wanted to own! Train to Victoria and Fr Paolo at vespers and M...