The organist librarian

To * am Mass at St Mary's. Fr Celestine's homily hard to follow and screaming kids. Rather interesting to sit in the congregation at St John Caterham and get a better idea of the volume between organ and the small choir. The congregation do not sing Lamb of God at all and only a few try to join in the Sanctus. The most rousing singing was the last hymn "And can it be". We heard from Wendy Rogers about TRIO the responsibility is ours - giving needs to increase to meet their weekly shortfall! Nice cake and coffee in the hall afterwards. About 50 in church including some youngsters. I do not think the tuba tune is at all suitable for the 5th Sunday of Lent and Robert's style is rather lumpy and often too loud! Not many listen to the final voluntary and the bells keep going until 5 minutes before the service! 4 in the choir and I did not get any words in the Lole anthem. The organ was too loud in places.  Really enjoyed Spartacus from the Bolshoi at Clapham pictureho...

It is weeks since I went swimming. As I have had a chesty cough and cold it is not a good idea and I have been waking in the early morning. I do seem to have lost some weight since Christmas 10:2 at the moment. Monday 30th took Bruce and EJ to IKEA and Boots in pouring rain and they went to the National Portrait Gallery. Liz and I went to Clapham Picturehouse to see Saving Mr Banks which was excellent. Fascinating the clash over what should be done to Mary Poppins - do children want a softer version? Excellent songs and the flashbacks to Australia were very well done. Home to see Sacred Wonders of Britain. 31st grouted the mosaics I made yesterday - Bruce kindly cut the MDF for me. I have now made 3 of the Walsingham ones and 2 Keep calm and pray. Bruce and EJ went over to Louise and Tom's as they had a baby sitter. We went to the Clapham Picturehouse for 4.30 to see the Berlin Philharmonic New Year concert live conducted by Sir Simon Rattle OM with Lang Lang playing Prokofiev 3. ...

34 lengths and Dan was back! His daughter has been ill. 2 staff on leave but managed to get to tai chi - the ladies liked their photos! Nudrat started (at last - Doris left last September and post has been covered by Angela a casual). Home to watch University challenge, the background to the Coronation and delightful first programme on the Queen's 1953 tour. Prom featured The fairy's kiss. Tchaikovsky violin concerto and Khachaturian Spartacus excerpts - Bournemouth Symphony orchestra. Must be lovely to conduct "The Onedin line" theme! Chatted to Paul Clubb on facebook - he got a 2:1 degree which is great.

Disaster! Jeff has been given the boot for tai chi classes so much upset and we hope we can continue. He has been doing it for 8 years and not making any money out of it. To Blackheath to rehearse Carmina Burana with Fruhbeck who is now 74. Lots of lugging chairs onto the stage and back off again and the result was many could not see him. Mark worked hard to pull things into shape.Orff does not thrill me but people like it. It's very wearing on the voice. Tuesday afternoon to the Festival Hall and things were much better and the concert went well apart from some wayward altos and basses! Khachaturian piano concerto was stunning - what technique! French pianist rather camp but brilliant! We enjoyed going to Giraffe for a meal with smoothies, burritos and cuscus - very healthy. The Hall river frontage is so much better.