The organist librarian

Magnolias now in bloom in Wurzburg from Ann. Another busy day but did have chance to catch up a bit! To Grandma's with fish and chips from the Thornton Heath restaurant and they were good. Plumber still not finished. Much concern about Tom who had stitches after unprovoked attack on him and his boss at Liverpool Street last night. One of the alleged attackers has been arrested. He was due to go to Singapore Monday. To practice and the Bob Chilcott Psalm 23 is going really well. Byrd 4 part Sanctus less so but we will not do it in public until we are confident. John surprised at no sung service on Ascension day. I am going to the lecture and Vickie said not enough people turn out for it any way. Watched Sacred Music part 4 about Luther and Bach - very well done.

Liz was at the 6 p.m. Mass at the cathedral and she broke up from school. I worked until 4.30 p.m. and got the train to Smitham so as to rehearse for an hour. We sang Darke in F and Byrd's Ave verum which went very well. During the stripping of the altar we sang Psalm 22 to plainchant and started the watch with Taize "Stay with me". I played part of Bairstow's Toccata-prelude on "Pange lingua" before the service. This is a tricky piece to bring off with many stop changes and in the event, there wasn't time to play it all. Hymns included "Soul of my Saviour", "An upper room" and Pange lingua (in English). Caroline drove me to the station where I missed the trian by seconds as it left early so I got buses home. Maybe I should have stayed at the altar of repose after all! I was home by 10.30 p.m.