The organist librarian

Took Henry to Crystal Palace park - the new cafe is very good and he enjoyed the dinosaurs and farm especially the meerkats and tortoises. To quiet time in hall as Adrian and Daniel were tuning organ. Superb Figaro from the Royal Opera House. What wonderful music and singing!

Monday mosaic, Peter Wright's last recital as director of music at Southwark including Messiaen, Bach, Vierne and Peeters Aria. Spidir committee. Both to Maidstone 800th meeting black tie dinner. Lots of dithering after the meal, Flame is not a charity and Barbara Stevens the guest speaker was not great. Took Henry to Crystal Palace park - the new cafe is very good and he enjoyed the dinosaurs and farm especially the meerkats and tortoises.

Took Henry to music gems at the Salvation Army and he loved it. Then to Crystal Palace park playground, bacon butties and the dinosaurs. To quiet hour and Liz went to Lourdes Mass in the cathedral crypt. Caught up on Antiques roadshow, Only connect, University challenge and Couples come dine with me. Sewing bee. We had American fluffy pancakes. 

Up at 6.30.10 a.m. breakfast at Joanna's then walk round Crystal Palace park ending at Westow House which was the White Swan hotel where the circle first met 9 July 1925. Lovely day and enjoyed the walk. Nice to see Tom and Barbara Tannion there and Mike and Denise Belfourd from Beckenham.I went in my study and found the first book of minutes from 1925!  t was all happening at Mass this evening - confirmation wirh retired bishop Mark Jabale and the visiting choir was excellent. They were from St Agnes cathedral Rockville NY and sang Mozart, Rutter and Handel. The men had a fine round sound! It would have neen nice to be warned about the confirmation! 

Took the boys to Crystal palace to see the dinosaurs. Once we reached the sandpit I left to get the train from the station  - quite  a walk to get there. I collected Liz's camera from Peter Jones - 10 minute wait! Popped into Holy Trinity and saw Tak Man Chow and Peter practising with Margaret Phillips for recital today. The Prom at Cadogan hall was Ben Grosvenor playing Chopin, Mompou, Ravel, Judith Weir and Liszt. He is excellent. The man next to me told me about drawing sessions at the National Gallery at 1 p.m. on Fridays - his name is Roger. Saw John East and Colin Hartley and his wife. Listened to Walton symphony No. 1 from the Proms and Peter Maxwell Davies Prom. To Catenians and one visiting gentleman Anthony Sorrell was there. Nice to see Gerry Haines again and Derrick spoke about family history. Picked up Liz who had driven the boys home and went to the RPO's Prom.

To St John's for Sung Eucharist Eyre setting and O fragrant the lilies."Word supreme" to  Grafton. The preacher was the vicar from the Annunciation Bourne Street so I asked him about the mystery reliquary which contains part of St Charles Borromeo! We talked about interfaith and Thomas Merton as well! I did not go the vicarage lunch as Liz was not 100% again. Sean asleep and Louise took Ciaran to Godstone. Took recycling up to Glyn Close and brought Dennis down. Bruce and EJ went to Greenwich. We went for a walk at Crystal Palace park and Bruce rode his bicycle and enjoyed the dinosaurs and they went home around 7. Watched Don Quixote on TV. 

When we got home Ciaran got the idea!

Recently on Songs of Praise we had "Hark my soul it is the Lord" to that dreary tune St Bees - actually it isn;t a tune at all, Stuck on the brain of course. The memorable "Lors it is my chief complaint that my love is far too faint" always makes me think of moaners in shops! Loaded photos and tagged and labelled them better. Here is Ciaran and Boyan playing at Crystal Palace.

Lots of nice cards and a lovely book from Liz of icons of Jesus introduced by Wendy Beckett. To Crystal Palace park to meet Calix and Boyan. Ciarán enjoyed the scooter and the helter skelter slide in glorious sunshine. Had coffee and cake and then back up to the zoo (it was not open earlier). Not much to see but saw ponies, alpacas, goats, rabbits and guinea pig. Had an ice cream. Home for a short rest. New nursery rhyme book came and I was playing them when Bruce arrived which was a lovely surprise. Ciarán unusually not keen to keen to be bathed after water play. He watched Night garden and eventually went off to sleep. Bruce took me to choir and got chocolate cake and Ferrero rocher. 14 came to White Hart Chipstead and it was delightful. More funny cards incuding hilarious one from Vickie. Bob and Jenny brought Liz. Home at 11.30 and David babysat. A great birthday!