The organist librarian

To Addiscombe for the funeral of Richard Siepka. It ws well attended and Fr Joe greeted me. The Foleys and Mike Nestor were there. Antony Sisley played badly - he does not use music and he makes that lovely organ sound the same! We waited in the hall for the crematorium party to return and enjoyed lunch. They are a great family. A  200 mile trip to Dover group's (all 3 of them plus wives) meeting. A delightful Chinese and English meal at Jim and Haini Duck's  and we stayed at Seabrook House which is excellent. We visited Walmer Castle, Samphire Hoe and Sissinghurst Castle. Walmer has a lovley setting and much about the Duke of Wellington and a lovely Queen Mother's garden and tulips. We had tea and cake. It was windy and wet and Samphire and the same at Sissinghurst but saw the book conservation in progress (£20 a book!) and climbed the tower. Had a cream tea. Home by 3.15 so 2 letters from my MP! 

To Battersea library for Jim's retirement after 49 years! Amazing turnout of old faces and a black and white 1967 film was shown taken at West Hill. It was all so formal in those days - too many staff overmanaged amd of course fiddles went on. Some got away with leaving early or going to the park there were plenty to cover! Lovely to see Robin and tell him we were following him to Galapagos and how much the boys liked his book. He is now teaching. My successor at York now teaches drama! Chris and Gill were there and Anne Walker. Lots of nostalgia! I missed  the cathedral group for the first time ever but I do feel better. RIta tells me only 5 came. Carol brought the new church key. I have rewritten the article about Jerusalem using Shohel and David's comments. Cleaner is here so up in study listening to glorious Schutz. Liz on babysitting alone! Snakes and ladders. My Outlook will not open so I must now reconstruct somehow my email networks for interfaith and spirituailty! Wat...

Swam 20. To Chrism mass always a great occasion. Acolyte 6 and consecration torch 4. All went well but it was a long stand and kneel! Lovely Byrd Ave cerium with pp ending beautifully controlled. Haydn little organ mass and Bach at the end. To lunch and saw lots of old friends. To National portrait gallery for Sargent which was superb but too many people. The Wellington special exhibition was less crowded but a bit dull. Did a sketch of Frank Dobson head of Sitwell. To Chiswick Park for double session of oil painting and have no done second layer. Not so keen on using my fingers. To Acton Lou in New York, boys have bunk beds. Wed took Sean to Osterley for lunch and soft play. On the way in he spotted Thomas engine ride And that is where I found him after ordering food.