The organist librarian

Picked up Henry at nursery and I was soon surrounded by little boys fascinated by no hair and hearing aids. Henry ate a lot and played ha ppily. He is staying overnight. He took a time to settle.  Took Henry to nursery - he slept right through after 3 Caterpillar video stories and 3 stories. He was keen to go on a bear hunt but I said the bear's asleep! Have ordered a new mobile phone.  First visit to St Matthew Bayswater a fine Walker organ and Charlie Warren played Widor 5 well. A friendly welcome. To Horniman museum Marilyn Harper played chamber organ. Norman on good form. Nuala was there and Jim Sands. Mass at the drome full choir Rubbra and Palestrina. Catholic creators UK addressed by actor Alex McQueen and author Piers Paul Read. Met Stephen Tsang.

Lie-in. 100 years of the RAF. Wonderful Evensong with Rubbra Canticles and stunning MacMillan anthem at the Abbey for Romero. The Dean gave an excellent sermon replacing the Cardinal who sadly is ill. Met Philip Jakob! Now headed to favourite M and S for tea!!!! Won’t go again, been changed into Market Place with paper cups and loads of hot food. They have lost seating. Excellent programme on Holst and RVW,

Woke early so did more work on dissertation and some pruning. Swam 20. Spoke to Ann who is back at work. To Senate House library to consult 2 items and get scores, Home for lunch and then to Rachel Leach's preProm family event with kids playing instruments and conducting. The Prom was BBC Phil and was good. Orb and Sceptre is a great tune, Rubbra, Bruch and Korngold symphony. Not many there! Very chuffed that the organ recitals leaflets have come and my name is in there!

Friday and wet and windy - woke late. I am using a large black umbrella as my German one has finally given up the ghost. The German ones are so much better than cheap Chinese ones - much sturdier! Finished reading "Basil Hume 10 years on" and enjoying dipping into "John and Myfanwy Piper" by Frances Spalding which has stunning illustrations e.g. the windows at Robinson college. To the cathedral for farewell to Bishop Bernard off to Birmingham. The Archbishop quoted the song "We don't want to lose you but we know you have to go" although it was hard to hear his homily and hot on top of the heater. The full choir sang Rubbra Missa St Dominica, Berkeley's Psalm 23 and we had 2 fine Newman hymns "Firmly I believe" and "Lead kindly light". Elgar Imeprial March. Cardinal and lots of clergy and bishops present and ecumenical reps as well. I was communion torch with Michael and dashed to get the Coulsdon South train which I just caught....

At breakfast met the choir of St Michael's Bedford Park directed by Jonathan Dods - they are a happy and friendly group. Rehearsed in the Truro school music school. I am doing second tenor which is really too low for me. Bought calendars in cathedral shop. We had free time so walked around Truro visiting the library (not impressed but being rebuilt) and the excellent Royal Cornwall museum featuring a special exhibition of fabulous contraptions. Loved the special soup spoon to stop Edwardian gentlemen getting soup in their moustache! Some lovely pottery and pictures on the theme of light. Joined Liz and Louise for lemon meringue ice cream cake and tea at Victorian tea rooms while they had a cream tea. To buy a new watch strap and look around Waterstones. Sung Eucharist for St James Day - Rubbra Missa St Dominic setting is lovely and plainchant sentences. To an excellent meal at Saffron - had gurnard and steak beautifully cooked and lots of wine, tiramisu cream. Enjoyed chatting to t...

A rosewood angel from Madagascar. Today we read of the Visitation and Elizabeth's joy at meeting Mary her cousin. O King— King and Desire of the Nations, made one by the cornerstone of your coming, of your being. How can it be? The cornerstone rejected, misused as rubble for rocks and stones to hurl and smash. They didn’t understand then (and often we don’t now) that cornerstones are for fastening onto, for building up, for foundations and transformation. Come, O King, Desire of the nations, Cornerstone. Save for us, formed of clay, the opportunity of being transformed by your peace. From Hasten the Kingdom: Praying the O Antiphons of Advent by Mary Winifred, C.A. (Liturgical Press, 1996). Dec 21 left work at work to be at Royal College of Music in good time for the orchestral rehearsal. Chatted to Peter Stevens the King's senior organ scholar who remembered our visit to the King's loft. He was playing the Harrison orgna in the great hall of the college which has paintings ...