The organist librarian

Very good breakfast at IKEA and we found a dining room table. Now we need to dispose of our large one. To St John's for delightful Ensemble 26 concert Leclair, Schubert and Beethoven violin sonata. Nice chat to Ellie Fagg the violinist. Eleanor Meynell the pianist and Laurence her husband who sing in the Monteverdi choir. Brexit and USA making travel for musicians very difficult.  To Brook Green for the annual dinner of the Arch confraternity of St Stephen a good meal and excellent speech from Archbishop Bernard Longley who has to be my favourite bishop!  Enjoyed my swim this morning. Another builder came to look at our damp problems and garden wall. THis one actually went on the extension roof and reported water lying up there. 

Thursday to Mass and art. Sketched gardening implements. To St Joseph's hospice Hackney which is impressive to hear Archbishop Bernard on Lazarus and the option for the poor - as friendly as ever. To Museum of London Docklands - very impressed Crossrail excavations and slavery.  Excellent meal at Doubletree Hilton with Cava - had steak. Rotherhithe. Friday to Sharon Jennings funeral at cathedral - Faure, Anerio, impressed by number of clergy including Mark Langham. Do not like so much black! Chat to Francis Clark and Patrick Neal. To St Bride Fleet street for excellent recital by James Orford. Ritter, Bach, Howells, Vivaldi. Did not like Francis Bacon crucifixion drawings at Wallbrook. Home to change and then to Balham library for Bill Godfrey retirement after 50 years! Meryl, Chris, Lawrence, Neville, carol, Margaret all there and lots of memories - alas I cannot remember names. Loved Decline and Fall on TV.  Saturday lie-in and to Greek Orthodox Battersea - icon paianting ...

Set off early to get train to Wembley Central then bus. I got off too early and ended up walking round Wembley stadium which was the wrong place. It was Wembley Arena, Met William outside but when we went in Bill said Oh you must be with the other Catenians. I was not on the list. Any way ended up giving out 1000s of bursary fund cards. The kids tended to come in vast droves so it wasn't easy. 10 coachloads from Newcastle. Others got T shirts to wear. I do not think I will dot his again as I got tired standing. Met several bishops including Bernard Longley, Paul Hendricks, Nicolas Hudson and Richard Moth. Matt Redman sang - not bad but loud. CAFOD and Sarah Teather excellent. Left before final liturgy with the Cardinal. Hold up on Bakerloo so train to Euston. Got to Mass in time. Michael Quaqoe. Watched Real Marigold hotel. Tired out bed early and got up an hour too early! 

Monday a.m. trains to Strawberry Hill and installed in comfortable room (although the bed was a bit narrow and I woke early every time). Unfortunately I managed to leave my conference file with my notebook and sketchbook behind so have to work from memory. The speakers were outstanding with contributions from Jerusalem, Rome, USA, Rome, Bangalore, Prague and Malta and from all over the country. I have made some new friends and contacts not least interfaith folk from Birmingham and Newcastle. We began with Norman Tanner on the history. It seems Paul VI in this encyclical influenced the Council and began the dialogue emphasis. Gavin d'Costa and Damian Howard and David McLoughlin were prominent. Mark Langham and Robin Gibbons came for 2 sessions and  Kallistos Ware. Abbot Timothy Wright introduced Of Gods and men and it was wonderful to see the film again and learn more of its context. On the Tuesday Archbishop Bernard Longley celebrated Mass and attended the reception and dinner. Th...

Lie-in reading Dickens including the Bloomsbury christening with a reluctant godfather who adored Herod as he hated children and he manages to ruin the christening party. Bruce and EJ enjoyed Greenwich yesterday and go to the ballet this evening. Took Bruce up to Dennis's to fit the wardrobe together. Listened to the rest of King's carols and part of Midnight Mass from Birmingham cathedral featuring Britten and Archbishop Bernard Longley.