The organist librarian

40 lengths yesterday and 31 today. Did some shopping in Tescos including flowers to welcome Liz home tomorrow - hurrah! To St Joseph's Bromley for the funeral - good Catenian turnout. Lovely booklet with lots of family photos. His sons spoke very well and so did Deacon Duncan Aitkins. Beforehand a CD of Canteloube Songs of the Auvergne was played and at the end the lovely flute solo from Carmen. 3 great hymns "Dear Lord and Father" "Holy, holy, holy" and "It came upon the midnight clear". I played the Kyrie from the Hummel Mass in D minor at communion. The Conacher is a small organ and the pedal stop ciphered in the first hymn. It was a lovely service and very moving - it reminded me of Mum and Dad's funeral. I actually followed the hearse as I drove back to get the train and I was at work by 2 p.m.

Thursday did some more weeding of the shelves in preparation for the West Hill stock which should arrive soon. Liz got fish and chips from McDermotts and we ate it at Grandma's. She had had her hair done and was looking forward to Gordon's visit today. I watched most of "Carmen" from Covent Garden on HDD. The tenor Jonas Kaufman was outstanding both singing and dramatically. Liz spotted a boy she knows from St Helen's school in the cast. The production was excellent. Also saw start of programme on Pavarotti in 7 arias. Jay Cormier's meditation today in "Daily reflections for Advent & Christmas 2007-8" is about moments of revelation like the moment the disciples first met Jesus. Such a moment for me was when singing Don Basilio in Figaro and the audience laughed in the first act trio when I sang "Ah how delightful". After months of preparation and rehearsal this was a wonderful moment and life was never the same again! Yesterday I was ba...

After the rain of yesterday, Boxing Day is clear. We remember St Stephen first martyr, deacon and patron saint of servers. Watched 2 episodes of Monarchy on the computer. To Grandma's to put all her china and glasses away now the decorating is done and new carpet is down. Bruce fixed the downstairs phone up. I walked home and saw the end of Carmen from Covent Garden which I recorded. Also listened to the rest of King's Carols and midnight mass from the cathedral and watched Derek Jacobi in "The old curiosity shop". We enjoyed bubble and squeak. Bruce watched "The Terminal" after buying an enormous clock at IKEA.

I was greeted on arrival at the church today with the remark "I have left Carmen on the organ stool for you". To which I replied "Oh, does she play?" Of course this was no Spanish senorita but a fine vocal score which was kindly given to me!