The organist librarian

John Wilson at St George's forgot words of Regina Coeli! Bishop John Arnold great homily at Salford cathedral with virtual music. Catechism and Upper Norwood. Zoom Slifg prayers and chat. Recorded Victimae Pascali as most liturgies omitted it! Did hear it sing at St Peter's Blackfriars Oxford and Salford. Gloriana from Tom kept stopping. Twelfth night from National theatre with Tamsin Greig as Malvolia and interesting interview. Renee Fleming in Rosenkavalier and Merry widow from Met. Painting most days. Romeo and Juliet from Globe. Race across the world.

Repair shop 26 features Escalado a horse racing game just like Grandma and Grandad had in York when I was 5. Poor Grandad had sore fingers from turning the handle so much!  To Liverpool for Catenian conference. 3 circle meeting started with Mass with retired bishop and guitar. Go the Mass is ended is a kids song. Air bnb very pleasant. 2 of Province 7 motions passed on marketing and proxy voting. Great speeches from Lord Alton and Bishop John Arnold. Thursday 3 circles Mass and dinner. Excellent appeal by Across Trust and went on a jumbulance. Walker gallery superb exhibition of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Had a lovely day at Chester Zoo. The Mayor was very welcoming. Went to Maryton to see Sr Mary Pia in the new monastery, She knew John East - later we learnt that he had passed away. The banquet at Aintree was OK with a lovely view. Sunday served at Mass boat and acolyte. Choir were excellent Roxanna Panufnik setting of Missa de angelis. 2 Purcell anthems.  Lunch at cathedral...

The conference - spoke twice proposing both motions. Danny and Tony spoke as did John Rayer. The debate was of a high standard. All  4 motions failed but we got our message over. Bishop John was excellent and very friendly. In fact greeted by loads of brothers and directors. Not disappointed - the debate has started. Took Vincent Spink to Ironbridge but disappointed to find it all covered up. Had a pasty. Museum of the gorge - not a lot to see , nice film. Cream tea was good. After swim in the evening to the carnival - good meal and excellent Glenn Miller type band Strings of Pearl from Sussex. Watched semi of young musician.

Acolyte at Mass with the Cardinal for the start of the Year of the consecrated life followed by Mass for CAFOD with Bishop John Arnold, his last Mass before going to Salford. I told him about Ashley Beck giving Evangelii gaudium out at Monday's circle meeting - he was pleased. Saw Muriel in the hall. Fr Michael very nice at 6 p.m. Mass and Advent has begun. Ben played a subtle improvisation on "this is my body" Nun danket and Wachet auf.

Liz set off for college but gave up because of traffic. I went to meditatio for planning for the interfaith seminar. Quite clear that £80 a day is too much and a cheaper venue is needed and we gave several suggestions. Laurence Freeman was not present. I skipped the meditation and came home to decorate the tree which takes for ever. We have new South African decorations this year. To cathedral crypt for Mass with Bishop John Arnold who spoke really well on Advent. The meeting went smoothly and the turkey dinner was excellent. We came away with Harry Mellor. Booked for Upminster meeting in January. Taxi from Thornton Heath only £5.

To Allen Morris's lovely presbytery in St John's Wood to take minutes of SSG trustees meeting. Lots of nice eats. 11 to 3.30 of concentration! Tea at Pret and bought birthday cards. Served vespers for Christ the King and Bishop John confirmed adults at Mass. As always he spoke well. QI and film about Lawrence followed by one about Keats.

Swam 20. Wrote speech and watched Dan Cruickshank on Ludwig's castles and London, also Universiy challenge. Liz went to serve at the Red Mass. To Selsdon medical centre (the map supplied was useless) and new hearing aids which are much better and 5 settings ordinary, crowds, TV, music and phone/loop. An immediate improvement! Picked up Bishop John Arnold at East Croydon and all went well. Speeches went smoothly and he told us about his CAFOD trip to South America. All done by 10.30 and won chocs on raffle which raised over £300 for the 3 charities including Tommys.. Canon Jack Madden is celebrating his golden jubilee and 25 years at St Edmund's Beckenham.

Saturday May 11th up at 5 a.m. and took Liz to Proms queue where she was 48th. Got seasons OK and then went to college. The conference itself was interesting - long debate on practising Catholic issue which was defeated. We all had green, yellow and red cards to comment on changes which were approved. Australian was very funny about white ties being unknown in Perth and some Ozzies do not own a suit! Let's hope we see some changes! To cathedral on bus and servers all arrived except Emmanuel who had indicated he did not need to rehearse at 2 p.m. The choirs did well, Fr Tom cannot see well and animating was a problem for him. The booklet was a disaster despite the hours I had spent on it - an early version got printed so wrong collect, epistle and gospel, line out of Gloria, choirs wrongly attributed, most annoying. All went off OK and the people certainly sang. Group photos afterwards. We served at vespers and then changed into black tie for the reception and gala. Food was accept...

Tuesday to Heythrop for the forum which was on "What is yoga?" Good presentations on history and development and modern yoga and its commercial aspects. Nice lunch and good networking. Next time issues need to be addressed like the Catholic document on yoga. It was worth going. Martin Ganeri hardly spoke to me - has he been told about my moans? To Acton and played with Ciarán. Liz was at servers council. Watched Masterchef. Wednesday took Ciaran to Maples nursery and Seán to music. Picked up Ciarán and enjoyed walk in Acton park and tea in the cafe then I went to Heythrop for dinner and lecture. Thursday met Louise at Tate Modern and enjoyed Roy Lichtenstein retrospective and had coffee in the members room. To Heythrop for Mass and Richard Price gave an excellent homily on the new Pope Francis I who was announced last night. Liz was interviewed by BBC London but was  not on TV. Heythrop Feastival featured football between philosophers and theologians, a fashion show, short t...

There was a noisy party in Whitehorse Lane up to 5 a.m. I could only hear it when the window was open. Liz went on the bus  to first communion class at the cathedral. I played for service and the psalm was better although Debbie is still not always on the note but we did have a look at the Vigil psalms. Then I was off to St Paul's cathedral for the talk on his book "The collage of God" by Canon Mark Oakley. The lady next to me had been at the Abbey yesterday. He basically told us his story. He spoke of the need for clergy to be honest about their beliefs and doubts. Liturgy is "poetry in motion" and the literal minded worshipper needs to be engaged with fresh language. Google has influenced our minds to think in terms of facts he said in answer to my question. I liked his story of the farmer who said his shepherd's crook was not to catch the naughty ones but to stick into the ground and hold so that he was so still the sheep will trust him. I sent this to B...

Swam 20. Emails about St Michael's organ recital series. Cambridge pretty well fixed up - 7 organs are possible! Read article on scriptural reasoning. To Methodist central hall for Boroughs interfaith forum - the room was noisy and my right hand hearing aid is not working. It was interesting to reflect on 10 years of the forum but I had to leave to go to Hinsley room for Lent group - 5 came and it was a good session. Crozier bearer for Bishop John at Mass and choir sang Berkeley. Bishop John reflected on Pope Benedict's last day. Faith matters with Archbishop Stack on art - it was a bitty talk with some good bits especially on the Crucifixion. There should have been more pictures and more on art in churches rather than in galleries.

Took Liz to West Norwood in order to get to college. Train to Dalston Junction then bus to Stamford Hill. Magnificent St Ignatius church and I was early so saw Fr Swavek who was MC for Bishop John. 7 deacons ordained for Jesuits from different provinces -Peru. Germany, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam. Bishop John spoke really well. David Gammie played. Walked to reception in school hall and met Peter Redemptorist and Sr Eileen - had  a good chat. Bus and tubes to Edgware Road and arrived early. South London circle centenary Mass - the booklet was rubbish, lots of mistakes despite my emails. Rehearsed with singer Katie and string quartet and all went OK although she did not sing the Sanctus at the service! Archbishop Peter Smith and Fr Philip very friendly. Liz served and we then walked to the Landmark hotel expecting to just go to the reception, Turned out we were guests at the lavish banquet and we sat with Harry Mellor and Peter Higgs. Finished at 11.30 taxis and train quite quickly h...

Tuesday evening to Religions for Peace meeting in the cathedral hall. Rabbi Professor Dan spoke on the 2 state solution for Israel based on the Jewish ethical tradition using Exodus and the Kingdom of God. The questions were tricky and he answered them well. Pity some people made speeches and Bishop John cut them short. Jon Dal Din, Siriol and Alfred Agius were there and Hannah and Margaret. Good turnout. To Acton. Played track with Ciarán and took him to nursery - straight into the garden and the sandpit! To music and Seán is taking more interest and very strong. Louise took a back seat. "Les Miserables" a good film but obviously a stage show. Russell Crowe can't sing but the others certainly can. An od subject for a musical and somewhat sentimental. Spotted Greenwich, Bath and Oxford as the settings. To Hendon for my first Westminster Interfaith meeting with Jon, Margaret and Sr Elizabeth. Offered to do emails and updating website entries. To Heythrop for dinner and le...

Excellent evensong from Winchester with Wood Coll Reg and Mendelssohn. Set off at 5.30 on buses and underground to the Oval wearing suit, waistocat, coat, hat, scarf, gloves and Wellington boots. Reached the Oval (snow still lying) at 6.30 and about 85 made it to Dulwich 500th. Lovely venue with view over the snow-covered ground. Bishop John Arnold stood in for Pat Lynch and did a great job. The Grand President didn't make it so Duncan stood in and did well presenting scrolls to John Almeida and Peter Walsh for 40 years and one to John Carton. Also a glass and whisky to Malachy and had a taste of it. I also had a small white wine so hope it does not react with the malaria tablets which we have nearly finished. A very nice meal of soup, salmon and lemon tart. £680 collected for CAFOD. I was home on underground and buses by 11.45. Cold.

To Terence's for a delightful lunch with cake and champagne to celebrate Adrian's 40 years at St John's. Anne Fleming was there. Louise brought Seán who fell asleep in my arms! To confirmation and Paul was in a good mood and asked what I'd like to do. I ended up doing book and various other jobs as Eugene and Eric did not make it. Tim was assistant MC. Bishop Alan Hopes and 26 candidates. Told Fr Alexander I had a dream about him dismissing me as assistant master of music! He laughed. Fr Michael had his photo taken in the black cope for All Souls vespers on Friday. Paolo has to sign in with the police each week! Watched Michael Wood on story of India and some useful material on Buddhism. Michael Palin in Brazil is fun. Sunday to Catenian Mass for 6 provinces. We took the car as trains up the creek and it was very wet. Bishop John and I was crozier. G minor mass and Mawby Ave verum stunning as always. Nice lunch at the Rubens of beef but we had to wait while each table ...

Swam 26. Did some reading and wrote first article for The Lion about Ingres painting of the month at National Gallery from their website. Also devised survey. Positive responses from Daniel and Faye. 2.15 requiem mass for Nigel Doughty businessman who supported Labour so Gordon Brown spoke (too long) Bishop John Arnold celebrated. Not impressed by soloist singing Schubert Ave Maria. I was cross and boat. To Tate Britain to see Turner Prize. Unimpressed - one artist expects you to sit for 93 minutes on benches watching his film, another has a triptych about Manchester Woolworths fire. Black and white large drawings and live art which looked like a mess? Earl grey and scones cheered me up in the Members room and had a look in the shop. Much is being changed. The rehang of the 20th century and the focus rooms work rather well especially the Victorian sentimentality in relation to the pre-Raphaelite exhibition. I feel an article coming on! Watched Come dine with me, Leeds piano Beethoven 5...

Thursday to London boroughs interfaith forum - not so many there. It was held at London Fire brigade HQ and we had a free tour of the musuem with some fine engines from the past. Liz to Douai abbey until Saturday for course retreat. She took the car so used buses. Served 5.30 mass with Bishop John Arnold for Catholic union - I was book. Watched Rev and Symphony. Friday to Ealing Abbey on X68 and tube. 25 mass settings and salmon lunch. Visited the abbey garden with Fr Alban. Sr Jean did a good job and sisters wanted to know Liz was. On tube with monk from Worth and home briefly before buses to choir practice. Saturday more reading and to Coulsdon to practise and 6 p.m. Songs of Praise which went well. Acting archdeacon Barry Davies dedicated the new furniture - the last time I saw him at interfaith forum he was going to lose his post! We sang the Greek chant Beatitudes and Barry's introit although he was not there. Fish and chips and a difficult quiz - I got 7 of the paintings r...

Both to cathedral and went to morning prayer. Met Jim on train. Liz has served at this mass several times but this was a first for me and I was consecration torch. 6 Catenian connection servers! Bishop John gave a terrific homily without notes. Choir sang Monteverdi Mass and Bruckner Os justi and Locus iste. Friends of cathedral music presented a cheque for £20,000. Coffee eventually in the hall. Lots there I knew. To lunch at the Rubens hotel and it was excellent - carvery took a while. Home for tea and a sit down - had drunk a lot of white wine! Gorecki on The Choir and end of repeat of Wednesday's Victoria requiem mass. Spoke to Graeme on skype.

Tidied up garden and tried some planting in the old water feature. To Glyn Close - ssems Maggie has used material for upstairs downstairs and vice versa. It looks lovely! Served at confirmation with Bishop John Arnold - I was mitre and Liz was smoke. Bit thrown when he took it off for the Gospel and then did not want it for the homily but no matter. Took shirts and clothes I do not wear to the Passage and found a nice pair of black leather shoes in the locker so throwing out 2 pairs I don't like wearing! Tea at Marks and bought slippers and umbrella. Served vespers and Mass and met the new organ scholar Matthew who was at Queens Oxford and Tonbridge school before that. He starts in September. Nick sang well. Home accompanied by Massenet's Cendrillon. Nice pepper steaks and Italian ice cream. Liz practising songs. I played numbers from Noel Coward's "Bittersweet". "I'll see you again" is such a beautiful melody and so well constructed as a duet. Also ...

Chori last night was shorter as we had done everything. Shostakovich 5 BBC Phil on Radio 3. Saturday to Haymarket hotel for champagne brunch with John Suchet and Gloria Hunniford who are both charming. 50 winners of Classic FM/Flora online competition. Celticana string quartet a delight for the ear and the eye! What a lovely morning. Stayed at hotel as online 4090 in queue for Proms tickets. After 2 and a half hours it was my turn and site would not connect so rang Albert Hall and eventually got through and ordered full season Prom tickets for the gallery for both of us by phone. Liz went to Kings Cross to get train tickets (we had lost our senior railcards again!) and to ENO for MND tickets for June 30th. I went to Streatham liberal synagogue for Faith and gender - interesting questions. Malik and Fr Tom from Corpus Christi there. Confirmation at Mass with Bishop John - felt redundant as George and Anthony were both there plus Michael who asked about the Holy Land pilgrimage.