The organist librarian

When we got home Ciaran got the idea!

Played for the service on Sunday morning the First Sunday of Lent. 2 in the choir and we did go through the gospel acclamation but not the psalm which was not well sung. Debbie cannot reach the top Ds in the Murray setting. Practised next week's psalm and pointed out the need to stay on the reciting note. It seems they practise unaccompanied on Thursdays - one must ask why? Talked about recitals and the Bishop coming to bless the organ and the plaque. No problem about the October South African trip. To Acton for lunch and brought Ciarán home. Liz was at rite of election at the cathedral. Did 3 jigsaws, played monster bingo and set up the track! Monday he woke at 5 a.m.! Took him swimming and he loved jumping in! To the lake and scooter and Liz picked us up at the playground. Baked some nice chocolate biscuits. Spoke to Bruce on skype and of course Louise and Tom. Went to bed O,K, but woke in the night. Tuesday to Crystal Palace to meet Calix and Boyan who had his bike. Bothered a

Woke at 6 and Ciarán up at 6.45 - he went to bed late last night with lots of stories about trains. Met Calix and Boyan at the Horniman museum and visited the aquarium then to musical instruments in the gardens and an excellent under5s session with Paul - 3 little pigs and Magic porridge pot. Ciarán joining in and singing away. Had a nice Mediterranean platter. After lunch Ciarán ran out of the doors to the restaurant into a glass wall - really stupid design. He bumped his forehead but was O.K. We took him home and he slept in the car. Listened to Barbirolli conducting Mahler 2 in Berlin with Dame Janet Baker. Ciarán said he wanted to go home i.e. to our house! Still no baby and due today! Excellent pianists at Leeds competition and watched part of Last night of the proms programme. Parade's End excellent.

Monday morning another excellent breakfast and confirmed we had worked out that Edward was in the pictures in the dining room. To Gloucester docks and enjoyed the waterways museum and the mariners chapel. Nice sunny trip on the Queen Boudicea II which went to Dunkirk down the Gloucester and Sheerness canal. Train back with no problem and did lots of reading. Tea and then to Battersea library for talk on Dickens by Calix Eden. Penny and Paul were there.  Chris gave us a lift to West Norwood and Calix will met in the park on Thursday. Watched Question of Sport.

Lie-in and a glorious day. To Lawrie Park Road for a lovely lunch with Calix and Katya and their delightful little boy. Bulgarian delicacy with eggs - delicious. Liz has been busy in the garden. To Gandhi hall for my reaudition and Stefan was very complimentary - liked Kashmiri love song and got Stephen to play it in E major. Perhaps I should have sun "I hear you calling me" after all as the Amy Woodforde-Finden is a little low for a tenor. E major takes it to top G sharp. Amy way he said my intonation was perfect and all I need to do is open jaw a bit more. He was surprised I did not have singing lessons. Missa rehearsal going well. All we need now is to get Liz through her audition. Travel much better than last night when we were on Northern line as Victoria line delayed and then our tube train was delayed and train delayed as well. Watched The Apprentice episode and 2 fired!

7 services played for or attended over the 3 days! 2 Masses at Purley where Canon Jim was on great form. He spoke about the Bethlehem wall and banning "O little town"! Bill's girls sang In dulci jubilo beautifully and the music group did well on the Sunday including Bernadette Farrell's "Bread of life". The 2 crib services were better attended and Midnight went really well. I was particularly pleased that Walton's "All this time" came off well and we did some unusual ones like "Once as I remember". Why Molly gets given a mike for "Once in royal" is beyond me as she does not need one! Stopped after verse 4 and Tony came to the organ to say technical hitch We have forgotten the baby for the crib so much scurrying about in the dark! I was first home followed by Louise and Bruce from St John's and Liz much later in the hired car from the cathedral. Christmas Day such excitement never got any breakfast as we opened presents w

Thursday and Friday course at Putney for health and safety reps. Quite interesting although one of the rooms was noisy and hot. I tried my hearing aids for one morning but they make my ears feel tired. Thursday to lunch at Wetherspoons pub The Railway in Putney - lamb mint burger and non-alcoholic lager for under £5. Pub has a small model railway at ceiling height. I found the jokey atmosphere of the dustmen, stonemason a bit trying. Health and safety is a serious matter and we were there to learn. The role play was interesting. To exhibition at the wellcome collection "From atoms to patterns; crystal structure designs from the 1951 Festival of Britian. To chorus and Edward Caswell rehearsing "Elijah". Terry Edwards was there - he is advising on new chorus master. Friday had a picnic at lunch time and read Arthur Wills's autobiography (which needs an editor). I met him once when I visited Ely cathedral in 1973. Friday to Lighthouse pub for farewell to Calix. Doris di

I overslept which is not surprising as I have been up late blogging! Liz took Grandma to King's for small op and is staying at Glyn Close tonight. Bruce came over to babysit. Calix announced he was resigning as he is to be manager of the Fabian Society's offices. Staff meetings discussed security in some depth. Served at Mass in the Lady chapel with the full choir singing Lobo directed very well by Thomas. 2very small new boys were there too. Fr Michael Durand celebrated. William Hague Shadow Foreign secretary gave a brilliant lecture about Wilberforce and William Pitt and the dangers of drugs, arms trade and trafficking in people. He answered the questions with humour. Baroness Shirley Williams in charge. Saw Hanna, Claire, Kate and Celia. Booked for Barbican on Sunday - could not get password last night so missed out on cheap ticket - still I am sure the new MacMillan work will be worth it. Read "Music and liturgy".

Only 135 emails to read! Calix had coped well in my absence. To Dulwich Catenians meeting - Provincial President's visit and lots to eat as usual and plenty of Guinness! Friday we had senior staff meeting, visited Grandma after work and to choir practice - not many there so changed plans for evensong. Can't believe the Proms finish tomorrow! Pavarotti passed to the great choir in heaven. We were away when the Chorus sang with him in Hyde Park but we did watch it in TV. An amazing voice!

Here I am with Ann outside the library and with Zia in the adult. Calix is doing a great job leading rhyme time!

Tuesday last day at work before holidays so did lots of clearing up and preparations to make Calix's life as easy as possible. Arrived early at Chiswick for the wedding rehearsal. Lyn and Rosemary came too. Nice to meet Mark the best man. Fr Jim very friendly. I acted as the celebrant and took them through the vows and we worked out where everyone will stand. The church is lovely and it was very touching listening to them. They clearly love each other very much! We went to the local pub for a Guinness and I had steak and Guinness pie. Louise has everything organised. We dropped them off and stayed at the Travelodge on the M4. This was fine but on the wrong side of the road so we had to return to the Chiswick roundabout in the morning to get to Heathrow! We rose at 5.45 but in fact Ann's flight was early so she was waiting for us! Lovely to see her again and we drove home via Josie's! Skyped Paul. Listened and recorded Mum's tapes about her life. Watched the Salonen prom