The organist librarian

A quiet day with no Prom (Charlie Mingus). To art and finished the leopards. David was impressed. Watched Sweet makers, TV Proms and some Songs of Praise. Liz went to Wizard of Oz at Bromley conducted by Daniel Beach. I went to Wandsworth LBGT showing of God's own country at Clapham Picturehouse. A lovely film. I felt a bit out of place in a cinema full of gays!  Sent photos to Rob and Wildfowl trust. 

Ciaran came in around 7.15 and Sean woke a bit later. Nice cards. To church and played Harper, Bach and Willan and Wyton. Good hymns including Holy, holy, holy and Alleluia sing to Jesus. Home for lunch and kids had gone. Back to church for 2 for final things with Daniel then back to pick up Liz. Only 12 came but they enjoyed it. I don't think I relaxed enough - not sure it was good to have Daniel there to turn over. To St John's and we sang Stainer in B flat and I saw the Lord - always a good sing. Watched programmes on Hay-on-Wye, Dylan Thomas and QI. Dennis rang.

Got to the hall at 9.30 a.m. Very hot day but in the shade. Had a good time chatting and eating -Liz went and got food. Annoying number of spot checks and roll calls - complete waste of time! Got the car from Battersea Park at 1 p.m. and parked in Queensgate Mews. Went in at 6 p.m. and got the spot we wanted next to Carole on the rail. Enjoyed it - Benedetti and tenor Calleja on great form. Much flag waving and Jiri gave a good speech putting on his CBE. Calleja in tracksuit and then Olympians came on -  a nice surprise! Home at midnight. To St Mary's for 8 a.m. - hold up to get into car park reversing in. To St Mary the Virgin, Hayes at Daniel's request for Bishop's visit for the patronal festival. Uneasy tension between Mary and Mission Praise hymns. We sang "With a voice of singing" and bishop sang with us! Choir friendly and Mrs Burroughs recognised me. Bruce and Dennis came for lunch. Interesting that William Pitt the younger lived in Hayes.

Vicky and Audra not there and practised organ and went through everything up to end of May. John announced he is not there on May 13 so Locus iste is replaced by Barry Stronge's piece. It was announced last week that Jo Richards is coming subject to CRB check. So why is the changeover not held over to June with a sendoff to me on a Sunday morning. It seems people are not coming to the at home on Sunday at Vicky's. Liz will not go to it. The advert went in the Catholic Herald today.Daniel Beach rang about the Bishop's visit in September and Jonathan asked us to sign the petition against police cuts.Choir helped to load files into the car.

Liz to Acton and working with Louise on her PowerPoint. Big match at Crystal Palace against Cardiff. To Moira Budds's home for recordings by Chris. Enormous variety and a very high standard. Bromley Youth. Ian Grendel tribute conducted by Daniel and him accompanying West Side story at Fairfield Halls. Some nice Sibelius and Shostakovich. Not keen on the harpsichord including Murrill French suite played by Gary Sieling who was there. Whitlock and Langlais. Wednesday met Liz and Ciarán at Gunnersbury after finding I had left freedom pass at home when I got to Selhurst! He has moved up to the higher music group and enjoyed the new songs. Had a nice tandoori lunch and Henry's birthday cake. A quiet afternoon playing with trains and finger painting. Home by 8 p.m. and watching bake off.

Swam 38. Dennis and AnnMarie spent their first night in their new home and not changing curtains! Spoke to Rosemary and Lyn on Skype. To Bromley Parish church train to Penge West and 227 bus to turn pages for Daniel Beach - excellent playing and Daniel Burrowes cellist very good. Saint-Saens, Schumann, Vivaldi, Faure. Good audience. Got an apron at Early learning centre for Ciarán. To Royal Academy to see Hungarian photography. To Royal College of Music for session with Matthew Hope on the programme for the evening with violinist, oboe and trumpet very Gallic. He had us doing polyrhythms and instrumentalists improvising spring. 2nd in queue and Myung Wun Chung conducting Webern, Brahms double concerto and Rite of Spring. Saw Roy Parker from Bromley Catenians. Bizet Carmen encore and soloists played an elaborate duet encore too. Great concert. Did not stay for Schubert quintet - too tired!

Family + Clare, Rosemary, Lyn, Josie and Daniel

Friday to practice - only 4 there and Karen was delayed by an accident she witnessed. Changed the anthem for Easter day at John's request. Saturday got Ciarán up - the family came on Friday but had to go to West London to see Tom's cousin on Saturday night. To Southwark cathedral to examine for Dean's award with Ginette. I accompanied and did the sight reading and aural tests. A mixed bag! To library to pick up reserved book and tea at Tate Britain friends room. Walked to cathedral for vespers and Mass - new cantor Marie sang well. Diocesan children's choir not that good in Elgar Ave verum especially the difficult ending. Fish and chips with Dennis who was staying at Lyn and Rosemary's as he was on a course and missed the family lunch. At Coulsdon we sang Batten's O sing joyfully and I played the Buxtehude Passacaglia and Bach Toccata and fugue in D minor which was appreciated by Jill and Teresa. Had a lovely lunch with champagne. Rosemary and Lyn were late. G...

Saturday started out fine but turned very wet so last day of book sale pretty quiet despite half-price bargains! Ended up doing newspaper cuttings as have done all preparations for going away. Liz rang to say Ford Escot had been attacked and passenger door jemmied but unable to remove radio. As it is old it's probably not worth repairing but it's a nuisance as it's useful to have as a run around. To Vespers (smoke) and Mass - new server started and Philip and Victoria were there. Fr Tim preached well. To Pitcher and Piano Kingsway for Daniel Beach's 30th birthday. Louise and Bruce did not show. Lots of singers there so "Happy birthday" was very impressive! Jonathan and Lisa and Gill. Lisa very nice - has been to South Africa and Jon is getting a Birmingham accent! Had Lincolnshire sausages. The noise got to me so we left around 10 and I drove home. Reread my 1972 diary about Holy Land and marked up our schedule - have been to about half the places!

Tuesday we set off picking up Josie and Grandma and parking at APH parking and getting the coach to Gatwick. Liz had requested full assistance for both ladies. Bruce met us there and we started out with 2 wheelchairs one of which Bruce pushed. However once through security we were in a holding area where we ate our lunch and the ladies had to climb onto the buggy. At the plane we could walk on but no wheelchairs! One lady went down the stairs as the doors to the corridor to the plane were shut! Ryanair are pretty hopeless - it's basically a cattle truck. The steward was apologetic and assured us of full assistance at Dublin. There we waited on the plane and in fact the bus took us to near passport control. Picked up the Toyota car without a problem - comfortable and a big boot. To the Ardmore hotel in Finglas where people started gathering. Dennis very anxious about suits so Bruce and I went straight with him to Black Tie. Mine fine. Had a nice meal in the bar. Dennis was summoned ...