The organist librarian

High winds. 468 late but just got 407. Played Homage to Howells by Ronald Watson and De profundis Aus der tiefe Hendrick Andriessen. We sang Lent prose and All my hope on God is founded. Anne-Marie Garton preached on spring cleaning and Lenten promises. 6 weeks with no alcohol....Superb singing on radio 3 from St John's college Cambridge and the second reading was riveting! Disturbing BBC news item on poaching of Botswana's elephants. Evensong Thou knowest Lord Purcell and Harris in A not his best setting. Great playing by Eleni Keventsidou at Christ's Chapel Dulwich and a good audience enjoyed the eats afterwards. It has been a good start to Lent with quiet reflection on Ash Wednesday and a moving funeral on Thursday.It strikes me that the outside world seldom sees the church at its best when a community is united in grief and joy at the loss of a beloved brother and friend. The media seldom portrays this. All they see are the faults. And that is not to deny the fa...

To mosaic and then St Michael Cornhill for an interesting recital by Eleni Keventsidou. To Norwood Catenian circle 8 of us, 6 visitors. Watched Couples come dine with me. Eggheads beaten by 4X400 to win £26,000! 

Watched Bake off. To St Mchael's for Eleni's recital and she included some interesting pieces Vierne, Bach, Durufle. Left early to get to school to meet the boys and Liz. Sean liked his elephant picture for his birthday and the track is now very impressive. Left 4.25 to get to Caterham Grow meeting at 6.30 - all quite straightforward for Christmas. Left 7.20 in rain got home at 9 having met Liz. When I was having coffee at Waitrose which cost me 50p for a cookie realised no jacket or Tablet - both left at Acton! Thought I was going dotty! This meeting meant I missed Peter King playing at the cathedral. Thursday to Mass - back road closed. Good programme on finding a lost Rubens. To art and worked on last night and elephant's eye. Forgot my coat and keys and had to walk back from the car with 2 heavy bags. This made me late for the interfaith lunch and I found parking restrictions everywhere so only got one hour's parking. The room was full so never got to speak. Left t...

Woke early and did some posting and then back to sleep. Helped clear up the garden and the bark is now down under the tree at last.  Bloomsbury Baptist Karg-Elert festival. Ouriana Gassiou and  Eleni Keventsidou  played duets for organ and piano. The problem was that a succession of movements left one confused which was Karg- Elert and Kienzl. Wagner and Weber more successful as it was all rather similar. Stefan Engels played well.  The cardinal celebrated Mass for New Catholics at the cathedral and gave an excellent homily. It was good to see Deacon Kassa and Carlos there. We had a word with him about Sayed Ali Razawi and Ibrahim Mogra's visit to the Pope. He did not realise our friendship with them. Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen on TV.

A quiet day and back to the pool to do 20. Liz slept late and I went over to St George's Beckenham to hear Marilyn Harper play Bach, Mango Frist (who is this?) and Rootham which I have heard before (Song of Victory). 40 there. Got calendar at Beckenham bookshop. The clergy supper went very well. Fr David cried off so Fr Joe  was the only Norwood clerical guest and he said Hello. Sr Sheila spoke really well and Hilary Fife enjoyed it. It was good the younger ones came and I made a point of meeting and greeting them all. The real star of the show was Fr Brian who spoke eloquently without notes. Raffle tickets ran out but more were made so that was solved and we got away about 11. A successful evening and the food was very good - delicious salmon and sticky toffee pudding. Saturday got up at noon! Reading Tablets and to Bloomsbury Baptist for Eleni's recital. She played BWV544, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens and Greek pieces. I was shocked to be charged £4.70 to go on the tube...

Swam 20 and Liz came. Chose a photo for next painting and sorted stuff for mosaic display. To Post Office to send off plugs to Paula. To St Michael's for Eleni's recital. While she played well it was nearly all loud and fast and needed some quieter contrast. I did a sketch of a candle bracket. I had not been in St Michael's for ages and it is good to see photos of people involved and some changes for the better. To Pret at Victoria to meet Teresa Whitney a PhD student from LSE from America who asked questions about the interfaith group and came to the meeting. There were 9 there and Jeremy Rodell did an excellent presentation on whether  you can be spiritual without being religious. He saw some overlap between the 2 and discussed Paul on body and spirit. We need to address evil and the soul/. I would argue for the heart affecting perceptions and not just a subjective reaction. To Westminster Abbey St Catherine's garden for wine and snacks but really needed some food! C...