The organist librarian

Swam 20 and did Catenian stuff at home. Installed as Provincial President for Province 7 of the Catenians last night. David Barrett the last Norwood brother to be PP in 1995/6 often encouraged me to c onsider offering to do this and I reckon he is chuckling in Heaven! My themes are friendship and youth and my charity is the Bursary a Fund. Let the fun commence!  The meeting was rather long - some people talk too much but we did get some decisions and change is in the air. Positive feedback afterwards and lots signed up for the weekend. I got back to Selhurst in time to get the train so got to Acton around 11.30.  Sean and I had a great time at ZSL London Zoo. Saw 2 lions, 1 tiger, 1 gorilla, aardvark, meerkats, komodo dragon, giant tortoise, monkeys, birds, etc. Mary Beard in a new series on Rome. Laugh out loud humour "I want my wife back"

To Selsdon for mass at 9 am for David Barrett. Late at mosaic and did some clay work. To Willesden Green for excellent lecture on neo-orientalism by lecturer from Tehran. Asked some questions. Came back on 98 bus with Michael. To farewell to Meryl Jones at Wandsworth Town - nice slide show and speeches. Mr Parker there, former directors, Philip from Unison, Jane Allen, Morgans, Masons, Baldwins, even Geoff the Ref! Lovely evening and a great tribute.

Rest of prom was a gorgeous Holst invocation for cello and orchestra and the Enigma (with score) very well played indeed. Woke in the night thinking about the funeral. Paul the roofing man did front bay roof. Practised piano and got to Selsdon early. The Jupiter symphony theme worked well and so did Laudate Dominum and Ave verum. Stravinsky Ave maria and Rachmaninov Bogoroditse. In fact all went well - Mozart and Ode to Joy at end. To crematorium and played Vierne and Holst Jupiter. Ian Verran was there! Nice eats in the hall and saw Rosemary and Maureen. Music was much appreciated. Had a little snooze on return home but this meant we left late and got to the hall at 6.45 by which time the gallery season entrance was closed. One look at the queue for the gallery was enough to send us back home and watch the film music Prom on BBC4! It does seem unfair that if you have paid for a season you can end up excluded although of course we did not wait and try. In future we must be early on pop...

Woke late so no swim. Washing done and cleaned lounge and changed bed. To tai chi - Tony back and 7 there! Balance not so good this week. To Sanderstead to discuss David's funeral with Rene, John and Jill. A joyful event so different music needed. To the church at Selsdon to try organ which is a one manual with pedals and in reasonable tune - not been tuned by Martin Cross since 2009! I last played there for Marcel's first Mass in 2001. To St Andrew's to find Ode to Joy copy and some Mozart. David loved Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky and Shostakovich none of which cna be played on the organ but I did find a Stravinsky Ave Maria! Sandwich and to RAH for Prom by Stockholm Philharmonic Sibelius 6, Grieg piano concerto and Nielsen 4 all with scores. Pianist played Liszt La Campanella as encore. She was excellent. Worried by riots including burning of Reeves corner and West Croydon station - why must ask why? Edwina Currie is right - this immoral behaviour is destroying the...

The house is now a delightful cream colour - first coat done today. It was warm but not too sunny. Liz did all the stuff on the ladders but I managed on the small ladder and it is now easy to get out onto the back roof through the new window. Vincent Coggin was due to sort out the organ today but he never eang with the time of his arrival so still have not met him. To Prom and we were early - met cathedral interfaith group member can't recall her name! An interesting programme of Honegger, Castiglione, Berg and La Mer very well played and conducted by Oliver Knussen. Thin audience. Home in an hour and picked up a blowup bed from Josie's for Liz to use. David Barrett died of pneumonia - so sad. Watched James Cox on British master painters - excellent programmes.

To Battersea Park library to pick up reserved books and saw 2 readers. To Tate Modern with Malcolm to see the Juan Miro exhibition which was not that inspiring. We all had tea on the terrace of the Friends room. I went to visit David Barrett at St Thomas - Rene was there and he has a splendid view of Parliament. the surgeon came so I head all about his woes. Train to Walton-on-Thames where Liz met me. Excellent river cruise from Walton bridge through Shepperton lock to Chertsey - wine and cheese. Taxi back to b and b run by an extraordinary lady who had worked for BA. To Evans cycles Guildford to see Bruce - lovely shop. Winkworth Arboretum for tea and cake and a lovely walk bluebells, azaleas, rhodos, magnolias all out. To Abinger farm shop and picnic at Box Hill - pork and watercress pies. To Oaks Farm for a short walk. Lovely day!

Another very hot day at work on Saturday but found basement quite cool so sorted out queries down there! Ciarán behaved impeccably - his first night away from Mum! The move went fine. Took Bruce out for a drive around the lake area and he in fact drove to Birmingham on Sunday! Coulsdon only 5 in choir so we sang Wesley's Lead me Lord and Bairstow setting again. Finlandia was much appreciated - Granddad's favourite. Straight to West Malling via M25, M26 and M20 - easy to find. Chat to Fr Peter Soper - says we need married clergy. Bishop John Hine super sermon. Anne played and her daughter played violin with Gerard cantoring. Good singing from the Catenians. Sat with the Barretts. Provincial president Peter appreciated my comments on email. Left at 4 and listened to Winchester cathedral evensong featuring Leighton and Elgar Give unto the Lord. I have finally finished Jon Cannon's "Cathedral" - lovely illustrations but his lack of Christian knowledge shows. Evensong ...