The organist librarian

Great chatting to Ann and the family in Balmain before the fireworks. To Mass. Henry came and played very happily. To East Dulwich picturehouse to see the Berlin Philharmonie New Year concert. Barenboim playing and conducting Mozart Coronation concerto, Ravel and Bizet. Bolero was beautiful and Pavane very special. Nice to see Sue. Christmas University challenge was fun. Watched tribute to Dame June Whitfield and Raymond Briggs. Just back from Midnight Mass at Anerley and watching fireworks mince pies and wine

Met Henry and family at the new playground at the lake - you can play music! I went off the Mass St Maximilain Kolbe. Greenwich picture House for 2007 Met Eugene Onegin conducted by Gergiev. Renee Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky (what a loss he was) fab acting and singing, loved the bare sets. And the tenor Ramon Vargas was moving and impressive. Had a good meal at Imperial College Union and the discussion on ecstasy was fascinating. Barenboim added Eugene Onegin polonaise and violin concerto changed to Tchaikovsky. I brought the Brahms score as that was in the prospectus. Very well played. East West divan orchestra.Hamilton too long and never heard a single word! Scriabin was impressively loud well done the brass.  12.30 Mass at Chiswick for the Assumption. Carluccios in Chiswick is shut so we had an excellent meal at Kitchen and Pantry. Sean enjoyed his icecream. Discovered we had managed to leave the keys inside the house so got a locksmith who eventually changed the loc...

Played Mendelssohn 6. Louise and her daughters sang in choir. Archdeacon of Reigate preached and gave us a seed. She is keen to get chaplains into schools and have after school services.  Haitink as wonderful as ever love the Schumann 2 slow movement theme and the Mendelssohn scherzo an inspired encore. Birtwhistle cannot be bothered with him. Elgar 2 enjoyed it. The end of an empire played by a German orchestra with an Israeli conductor how suitable for our troubled country. Great discontent that depsite being so early one cannot attend the preProm events without losing queue place.

John Webber played Elgar at St John Goose Green.  I was late as the sign at Peckham Rye is pointing the wrong way. Richard Pilliner there and met Peter Shore pupil of Marilyn's. I have been playing the Vesper voluntaries too fast.  An enjoyable Beckenham President's lunch  at 11 Village Way - Sandy and John O'Sullivan on good form.  he choir of St David's cathedral Cardiff sang Neville, Gibbons and Bainton beautifully at Mass. A long gospel meant I was late at RAH but I could not get in as gallery and arena were full. At least Liz heard it. John now on way home via Kent House. The weekend prom passes and BBC policies mean that this may well happen again. It is not an encouragement to spend £240 on a season if you are not guaranteed entry. Heard a lot of Elgar 1 on radio 3. 

Most interesting talk with Adrian Tinniswood on the Great Fire of London.  Barenboim did it again playing Mozart concerto and conducting Bruckner 6 superbly. Placing the double basses high at the back of the stage really worked. Prospectus said concerto 21 so brought that score but the little brochure had it changed to 27 - missed that! To Acton.  Liz went into St Vincent's school. I went to get petrol in the old car and set off for Kew but Sean was sick so we came home and he played track. He was very good and fine and I put the ice pack on my knee and rested! To cathedral Hinsley Room for the afternoon session with Fr Robin on Happy are the peacemakers. Excellent talk on the history of the Dresden Staatskapelle and Trifonov played Mozart 22 and Bruckner 3 with Thieleman. Saw Muriel. Watched a bit of opening of paralympics from Rio.

2 superb Proms. Carolyn Sampson and Iestyn Davies with Joseph Middlelton at the Cadogan hall singing Purcell arranged Britten, Mendelssohn and Quilter. Met the Rowntrees and Liz spoke to Petroc. Monday mornings have been expensive with fruit tart and cappuccino at Peter Jones. We celebrated with a delicious lunch at Cóte. Dresden staatskapelle with Barenboim playing Mozart 24 and Bruckner 3 - stunning. Fascinating talk on Capability Brown with Anna Pavord and the irrespressible Ian.  Very sad to hear of the passing of Heather Brokenshire. She had dementia and had to go in a home as Fred could not cope. 

Liz decided to stay home. Bychkov conducted BBC SO in Thomas Larchner (outstayed his welcome) Wagner Wesendonck lieder well sung by Elisabeth Kulman I  was greatly amused by the comment at the preProm talk that Richard Strauss was so middle-class he would shop at Waitrose. Where would composers get their food? Britten Aldeburgh stores and Fortnum and Mason. Elgar Worcester and delivered. Vaughan Williams Dorking and delivered - good English beef. Wagner - no shopping for him - everything paid for by somebody else! German composers - German shops Chopin and Szymanowski - Polish delicatessan n.  Alpine symphony with a terrific storm featuring the organ! An hour to get home.  Watched Prom with Barenboim and Argerich playing a 10 minute encore! 

A hot day with lie-in.  Stunning Mahler 9 from the National Youth orchestra Prom on TV conducted by Sir Mark Elder.Watched University challenge and Barenboim's encores at the Prom -  he certainly dominated the triple concerto.  Stunning Mahler 9 from the National Youth orchestra Prom on TV conducted by Sir Mark Elder (with score).  Served at Mass and had an excellent dinner at Il Posto so we missed Mahler 6 at the Proms but we went to hear Andras Schiff play the Goldberg variations - a rapt audience. 

Swam 20 and Liz came as well. Looked up Harry Mellor's details for his 50 year scroll. Hearing aid at AgeUK - lady 30 minutes late, new tubes and she agrees I need new moulds to stop the whistling. Went for yellow fever injection but informed that risk was greatly increased for over 60s so need to discuss with nurse. To Boots Whitgift after lunch for eye test. Small cataract in right eye but no need for new glasses and come back in 2 years. Liz met me at Selhurst. The intro to the Prom as rather too high brow and the young instrumentalists did not get to play much. West-Eastern Divan orchestra under Barenboim played uninspiring Schoenberg, Beethoven Triple concerto and Tchaik 4. To Acton. Wed to Whipsnade and had good journeys with no holdups. We all loved it and Ciaran became a young zoo explorer for a year. Saw red panda, sea lions under water, rhinos, elephants, lions, tiger, lynx, chimps, camels, deer, yaks, hippos, giraffes, zebras, waterbuck. Went on steam train ride. Had no...

Boys quite happy. I was nice to have Louise and Dennis here and recorded the 2 proms and talk. Watched Come dine with me and Daniel Barenboim's Prom.

Swam 20. Liz went to Westfield about new glasses from Boots and got new Ecco shoes for me. I went to Bromley library and got everything except the Vaughan Williams - I suspect it was filed under Williams! I was asked to email my list in advance which did not work at Wandsworth! To Lakeland for peelers. To excellent discussion on Melbourne which made it sound a lot nicer than Sydney! Carmen Callil was rude about Australia's future because of the boat people situation and Paul Abbott's comments on Scotland. Melbourne like Glasgow to the beautiful Edinburgh and Sydney. Sydney is modern but it does have the harbour walks and ferries. The Melbourne SO is the oldest in Australia and Sir Andrew Davis conducted Strauss Don Juan, Elgar cello concerto with Truls Mórk (encore Britten) and Symphonie fantastique (encore Grainger). Liz did not make it. New sofas and comfortable sofa bed at Lou's and new fireplace has arrived and bathroom tiles. Wednesday decided to have a quiet day as S...

Woke at 6 still coughing and cold in head. Liz went to Mass at Anerley. A small piece of tooth came out of the socket yesterday so I did the warm water salt treatment. Still using Bruce's cough rememdy and cough mixture. Dennis rang. The fireworks last night were fantastic. Watched Vienna philharmonic concert conducted by Barenboim. I have now listed all the spare organ music (at long last!) It strikes me how some tunes like St Hugh and St Bride have gone right out of favour. Nice meal with Bruce and EJ - they have enjoyed their stay. Watched second part of Ben Fogle and James Cracknell in the Arabian desert. Delicious Christmas cake made by Liz and roulade.

Wednesday Louise arrived with the boys and I looked after Seán while they went to get a grown up car seat for Ciarán. At first he was a bit unhappy but had his milk and rice cake and settled down to playing quite happily. He will be walking before he is one at this rate! Ciarán enjoyed being in the garden and announced the little house is No.24 and Grandad lives in a shop! We went to the prom. The talk featured Timothy West about playing Falstaff so I asked a question about Verdi's version and how Falstaff treated his followers. It was most interesting. At the prom we had Elgar and Walton's Falstaff plus lovely works by Bantock for cello and orchestra and Tchaik 4 well played by BBC National of Wales under Jan van Steen. Thursday more games including monster bingo then they went to Angela's. We will not see them for 2 weeks as they are going to Ireland and not coming to Provincial President's Sunday after all as they go to Stansted early on the Monday. Worked on Liz...

To Pret a manger to meet Steve a Buddhist on his way back form Amaravati to Chichester. He was very helpful and really insightful. Then met Raheed about his post-Woolwich idea for September, To the hall on a blazing hot day and excellent pre-Prom discussion. The performance was FABULOUS but it got very hot - I treated myself to an ice cream! Bryn Terfel, Anya Kampe, Simon O'Neill all outstanding. Brilliant playing from the Dresden Staatskapelle directed by Barenboim. Home just after 11.

Sunday took Bruce to the station with his boxed up screen and clothes. It was good to see him. We went to the Prom and the pre-Prom talk with composer Sean Shepherd and a discussion on the Jewish influences on Shostakovich. Excellent playing from the National Youtb Orchestra of the United States of America who have been in Russia. Gergiev conducted Tchaikovsky violin concerto with Joshua Bell and a lovely Brahms encore and Shostakovich 10. Monday to mosaic and started on the St John's badge pair and tai chi. To dentist for a checkup and clean and straight to the hall. Excellent pre-Prom talk and Rheingold superby conducted by Barenboim. We had raffle tickets in the queue! Got my usual seat and the lady next to me had a weekly season for the prom costing £42. Trains delayed so came via Norwood Junction and bus. Rain!!! 

Having woken again in the middle of the night as a result of jetlag I was reading my dear Mum's diary from the 1967 European tour and realised it sounded just like my blog! So many of the incidents come back to me vividly and I was telling Souk and Craig about the transforming moment on Dad's birthday Aug 23rd in Salzburg when we tossed for the tickets (2 between 4) and I went with Dad to hear the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Karl Bohm with Barenboim at the piano. Never again could I accept the musical standards of Joburg - this was where I had to be! Watched Young Apprentice last night and managed to keep Liz awake. Ashleigh was a worthy winner. Am now up again and putting more videos on Facebook.

 Saturday we dashed from Mass (Fr Michael Durand) and arrived at 7.25 to find only one place in the gallery left so Liz went in and I went home. I think the steward could have stretched a point! It was Beethoven 3 and 4 and more Boulez. I watched King Henry V on TV which was excellent. Sunday we had had a letter from Fr Barry Angus about his 40th anniversary mass so I went over to St Catherine of Siena Chessington for it and Eric played. Nasty little Johannus organ. Kate got me to sit with the choir and at the top table. Long chat to Janet and her husband and she suggested a visit to the Saxon parish church where they had had a baptism so had a quick look. Then drove up A3 to Battersea Park and to talk on The Trojans. A super Prom with fantastic singing and playing. Liz came later having been to Colin's birthday at the pub the family having returned from Portugal. Ciarán asked after a while where I was!

I got one of the last seats at the Royal College of Music for the interview with Daniel Barenboim. It was interesting to hear his views on Klemperer and Furtwangler.   He certainly went for fluidity between tempi. The East/West Divan orchestra got a great reception which was well deserved and we enjoyed Beethoven 1 and 2. The Boulez I could take or leave! The biggest Prom so far. Great to see Rudolfo again and Jean Taylor who can hardly speak having been in hospital. Also saw Harry Bramma. Home to find Salvation Army youth band not available after all on Monday after great efforts to find them a venuw because of work commitments - still have 2 bands playing! Liz home safely from Devon.

Spoke to Dennis and Ann Marie and Ann on Skype. They had been to Taronga Zoo and on the ferry, also St John's Glebe and Christ Church St Laurence. Still no plaques for Mum and Dad after 3 years! Planning the weekend. Haircut. Took Josie and Grandma to Buckingham Palace. Once again the disabled facilities were excellent with a new lift and garden cafe. Liked the special exhibition about the Queen's tours and gifts - some wonderful dresses and her own orders. To Victoria to get battery for Liz's swatch and then to National gallery but it is now open late on Fridays instead of Wednesdays! To the cathedral for David Sanger's interesting recital and a bigger audience. Saint-Saens, Karg-Elert, Vierne, Martin Passacaille, Seth Bingham. On way home listened to Strauss Symphonia domestica with score but train very noisy and reception poor. Watched Tudors part 1 and Barenboim conducting East West divan orchestra at proms in Liszt Les Preludes and Wagner Tristan prelude and liebes...

Icon Church of the Nativity Bethlehem Helen Suzman was a relentless critic of South Africa's Nationalist government. For 13 years, as sole member of the Progressive Party in parliament, she was the only MP to speak out against racial segregation, at a time when only the white minority enjoyed the right to vote. Born in 1917 to Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, she married Dr Moses Suzman, who became one of South Africa's leading physicians. Five years after graduating from Witwatersrand University, she joined the staff as a lecturer in economic development. Helen Suzman's interest in disadvantaged urban Africans increased after she became a member of the South African Institute of Race Relations. She began to take an active role in politics after the 1948 election, when the mildly liberal United party was replaced by the National party, with its rigid policy of apartheid. Racial discrimination In 1952, standing for the United party, she was elected to the Hou...