The organist librarian

Tidied up garden and tried some planting in the old water feature. To Glyn Close - ssems Maggie has used material for upstairs downstairs and vice versa. It looks lovely! Served at confirmation with Bishop John Arnold - I was mitre and Liz was smoke. Bit thrown when he took it off for the Gospel and then did not want it for the homily but no matter. Took shirts and clothes I do not wear to the Passage and found a nice pair of black leather shoes in the locker so throwing out 2 pairs I don't like wearing! Tea at Marks and bought slippers and umbrella. Served vespers and Mass and met the new organ scholar Matthew who was at Queens Oxford and Tonbridge school before that. He starts in September. Nick sang well. Home accompanied by Massenet's Cendrillon. Nice pepper steaks and Italian ice cream. Liz practising songs. I played numbers from Noel Coward's "Bittersweet". "I'll see you again" is such a beautiful melody and so well constructed as a duet. Also ...

Tuesday watched programme on English National Ballet and perfume - fascinating! Slept well but woke at 5.15 a.m. A perfect day weather excellent. To music and Ciarán much more involved. Had coffee and he had his lunch. To 12.30 Mass for SS Peter and Paul at Chiswick. Shopping for storage bags for quilts, sewing kit, anti-fox stuff and replacement ducks for Ciarán as one went down the loo! To Ravenscourt Park and ate at the cafe there. Liz and Ciarán had a paddle and he enjoyed the slides and car. Did not want to go in buggy rather try and make out how to fix it together. Got 3rd bus that came along previous 2 full of buggies. All 3 of us exhausted and watched Apprentice on return home. We were out 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.Met Alison Williams Putney branch librarian on train - cuts start this week and privatisation in 2012.

A most interesting morning as I went to Paddington to meet Peter and Joan Stanhope. Peter is writing a book about Ridsdale Tate. He is related to the lady who adopted Florence Harland also known as Tate and Dewes and Lana - quite a Bohemian! The picture I have is an original drawing and 2 of the prints in the book from Dad are hand tinted prints probably done by the artist himself. My grandmother's and Nellie's diary of dates and people revealed the Loadmans and a Harland connection. The census shows that my grandfather was adopted by a Mrs Woodhouse but at age 18 he was living at 43 Priory Street with Miss Tate and Florence then aged 3! Fascinating and Peter loved Dad's book as he went to Nunthorpe school and worked at Raimers! Liz up at Glyn Close and fixed up drainpipe above waterbutt. Watched Wimbledon, English National Ballet and Botany.