The organist librarian

Hot again. Played Sheep may safely graze (Liz's Mum's favourite) and Sortie Noel Rawsthorne. We sang Marry Haugen's Let us build a house, We have a gospel and David Ogden's Christ has no body now but yours. Next Sunday I will play Finlandia Liz's Dad loved that. Good thing Finland not in the World Cup! I am working on Easter hymn by Mascagni. I need a piano score without vocals so will have to arrange it myself I expect. To the first Death Cafe at Sylvan Road which was fascinating. At evensong we sang Coll Reg and O pray for the peace of Jerusalem - a feast of Howells. To Christ's chapel Dulwich for Andrew Benson-Wilson playing Couperin and Tournemire. How nice to know that Ellie Gauge whose mother I met today is still singing in church. She was in the choir at St Andrew Coulsdon. Poldark was good. 

Caught up with stunning Australian tenor Kang Wang at Cardiff Singer final. What top notes! Very hot, quiet time at St John moved into the hall as Adrian Gunning was practising for Thursday's recital. To the cathedral for mass with combined boys and Palestrina choir from Dublin. Beautiful singing Franck and love the end of the Langlais Mass almost Britten will it end in major but no it is modal. District line train did go on to Richmond in the end. Boys loved tshirts, cards, drinks bottles and books from Africa. Sean said he had missed me and Ciaran was telling us geography details about the Falls.  Retired librarian postpones taking grandson to library. It must be hot besides I can only find 3 books.  Marius Twomey  postponed coffee meeting re getting Poles to join Catenians in South London and reading out to university students in London. Happy to relax at home and pulled some ivy off! Sean saw ants in front of fireplace.  State opening of Parliament. Must be...

Played for a funeral at Caterham. Considering he was 83 on PCC not a great turnout but the church warden said he enjoyed my playing. Met Anne-Marie at station - why did she not attend? He was an 8 oc'clocker. A great pleasure to have tea with  Michael Goldthorpe  in Acton Park.Wednesday o ut to lunch in The Mill house, Churchfields Road and then Acton library. Watched Simon on My great big Jewish conversion. Orthodox Jews against gay marriage despite Tel Aviv being the gay city of the Middle East!  Jonathan Holmes played well at Holy Trinity Sloane Street. Bach, Wagner, Heiller and an attractive Mandala by Hans-Andre Stamm. This cathedral of the arts and crafts is gloomy with dark stained glass and modern chairs. Brilliant playing by  Peter Stevens  at the Cathedral. Bach, Mozart, Tournemire and stunning Durufle. I am not surprised radio 3 gave him a miraculous performance award.

Swam 21. Peter Foggitt splendid playing at St Michael Bedford Park Bach, Howells, Tournemire, improvisation on Memories and 3 blind mice!  Guiding at the cathedral - very quiet, raining! To Church House bookshop to get calendars and Cathedral music magazine with features on Stephen Cleobury and Norman Harper. To Tate Britain the Turner prize a load of junk yet again!  A most enjoyable clergy supper at Addington Palace golf club with Fr John Pritchard as our guest.

To mosaic and tai chi. Then to dentist at 3 p.m. but Rebecca tried hard to put a filling on the tooth so is now taking a second opinion from King's so come back in July! Colin Walsh recital broadcast from Lincoln cathedral - a rare treat. Vierne, Franck, Langlais, Tournemire, Messiaen. Liz went to aquarium and confirmation. Ciaran ran into a bollard and ended up at Ealing hospital but is O.K. Watched Come dine with me and University challenge. Horrible bombing of Boston marathon.

Watched more Come dine with me and listened to part of evensong from Portsmouth cathedral. To St Michael's for the Vigil - have not played for this for 9 years! Coulsdon didn't have one. All went well and the soprano from St James joined us. Murray psalms, Water of life, Longing for light at start, Lord enthroned, A brighter dawn is breaking. Smashing Exultet and Litany of saints sung by Fr Paul. I played Bach at end then to Selhurst and arrived at cathedral as confirmations were taking place. Lovely Bassano, Vierne and Tournemire. Cold and frosty again.

Painting by Samuel Bak which in "Cross purposes" but resonated with the holocaust exhibition at the Jewish museum. Met Ros and Richard from Cantemus on train to London Bridge. To the new Jewish museum in Camden Town with interfaith group - 9 of us. We were joined by Robin who used to work at Ealing libraries and is very like me! Beautiful exhibition including items from the Vatican. The museum itself is fascinating with an excellent synagogue and customs section and friendly volunteers. Had lunch of humus and roasted peppers. Edwina Currie was also lunching with Mrs Sher from Nightingale House reading group in Balham so introduced myself. Took group into Our Lady of Hal in Camden Town and bus 31 to Ben Uri gallery to see excellent exhibition "Cross purposes" - modern interpretations of the crucifixion. Plenty of food for thought. Golden crucifixion had hope. Some were very pertinent to today's world. Tea at local restaurant and everyone enjoyed the day. Bus and...

To Emertons to get iron water and Addiscombe to take curtains to be dry cleaned. Tram and train to Victoria for interfaith group with Rabbi Mark on the afterlife and funerals. Fascinated by the Talmud idea of heaven as a dance around God. Many Jews do not believe in an afterflife! 11 there. Train and tram to St Michael's for recital by Peter King of Bath Abbey. Excellent JSBach, Pescetti sonata which I play, Graham Fitkin's Wedding, Alfred Hollins Maytime Gavotte and Mendelssohn. Home for lunch and Liz busy in the garden. She went to hospital and chorus. I cut up lounge carpet while listening to evensong from Westminster Abbey featuring Byrd. Ironing and emails. To Westminster cathedral for recital by Colin Walsh.Stanford, George Bennett, Franck, Tournemire, Langlais, Litaize and Vierne Toccata. Met Liz on train. Watched excellent play about John Lennon and his poor relationship with his father and his son. Hot today.

Tuesday finished at 2 p.m. Liz at Good shepherd Mass and hospital and then to Bedford Park for Rossini rehearsal. She made a delicious cake and Alan and Berna Foden arrived from Cambridge around 4.30. We sat in the garden and enjoyed Earl Grey tea and cake. Alan was in my schoolclass and has just retired. Berna is Catholic and we had such an interesting chat. She takes her housekeeper's daughter to the same school that her children went to. But the mothers will not take their children to the school where their servants children go because of sport and nothing to talk about! They went off to for a meal on the way back and I went to the hospital. Grandma making slow progress. Wednesday to Croydon to NHS centre and coffee afterwards. To Interfaith group meeting with Rabbi Mark on "Christ through Jewish eyes". Very interesting - 2 of the newcomers were out of order and had to be told politely not to try and convert the rabbi. Jon Dal Din very supportive and the rabbi was ver...

David came and held ladder and got 3rd coat of tar on roof. We had coffee adn enjoyed a chat - his old school sounds horrendous! To St Michael's for recital by Carl Jackson - a good programme Preston, Ireland, Pomp and circumstance No.4, Mathias Berceuse, Langlais. Then to cathedral to sort out dates for interfaith group - will be on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Sat in garden and read until 4 p.m. when 12 people came for the talk on Buddhism by Brian Appleyard. He spoke without notes. To St Mary le Bow on district line to hear Timothy Radcliffe on the Our Father and justice - excellent but could not hear every word. Back to cathedral for Martin Baker's recital and a good audience. Franck No. 1, Mendelssohn, Reger, Cochereau and Tournemire. Excellent. Home listening to prom celebrating 800 years of Cambridge including Stanford in A, Jonathan Harvey, Judith Weir, Saint-Saens 3 with Thomas Trotter.