The organist librarian

At evensong we sang "Sing choirs of heaven" and "When in our music God is glorified" Sumsion in A and Britten Jubilate. Delicious meal at home with Larry  Markey and Tony. Great chat! Dennis and family came down and Louise and Bruce rang for Father's Day -enjoying the Leonidas chocolates from Jersey - thanks Bruce!

Unpacked and watching the Trooping - good old Britain. It's hotter here than in Botswana and Zambia. Good flights with SAA apart from the muddleup on the flight home. As it happens I needed 2 seats so I could elevate my leg. I grazed it getting off the safari vehicle so had to have treatment at the Avani hotel. We met a lady from Florida who said she normally came to London every year but not this year. Understandable but sad. The LMP concert attracted a good audience no doubt attracted by community choir singing Adiemus. Ken Burton conducted Vivaldi Gloria. Good for all to hear Poulenc and Mozart. The ensemble in the organ concerto was remarkable. Hot and trains replaced by buses so going whole way on tfl buses. We sang Day by day by How and I played Ronald Watson Elegy in memoriam Herbert Howells and June Nixon improvisation on Adoro Te. She signed my copy when I played it at Melbourne cathedral. Happy 50th birthday to her. Super concert by the London Mozart Players at St Joh

At service played Purcell, Oldroyd and Sumsion Pastoral. Lovely to have the organ in tune. Bill sang the psalm really well - the chant by Harry Bramma. Debbie away - what a treat! Excellent sermon from Fr Paul on the woman washing Jesus's feet with her hair. Practised Buxtehude. Home for lunch and then back for 2 and picked up Liz. She had been at Mass at Acton. Composite recital worked really well and 35 there especially United Reformed folk. Ian Verran very musical Rutter, Borodin and Sousa Liberty Bell. Michael Toplis Handel and Festing. Ken Baker played Croft, Greene, Burney and Bennett all ideal for this organ. Widor Toccata from Gloria Toplis worked well. Had some wine. I went to evensong which celebrated Sumsion. Bruce rang for Father's Day and I told him we were doing "Stagger like a drunken man". "Oh I like that one Dad". Spoke to Ann in Nuremberg. Dennis and Louise rang. Watched The White Queen about Edward IV and Review show, also Antiques roadsh

Woke at 7. Father's Day. My lunch will be on Wednesday at Carluccios as I have to be here for the composite recital.  Chatted to Ann on phone. My Blackberry is playing up. Ann and Paul arrived in Nuremberg via Dubai where they went up the world's highest building. They want to go on the Eye and see The Audience. Also the Shard. I suggested Billy Elliot and Buckingham Palace. Paul is now a senior! 

On Friday morning I was sitting on the station reading Morning prayer when along comes Maureen looking as smart as ever. Her son Eugene was tragically killed in a gang fight and he was not a gang member at all. I went to his funeral as he used to come to the library to see his Mum when she worked with us. She said to me "What can we do?". My inadequate reply "Try to do good, speak out against this tragic loss, fight to improve things". Saturday to the ordination of Richard Nesbitt at the cathedral. He was ordained with John Elliott by the Cardinal. What a wonderful celebration with good strong hymns for all to sing and some excellent cantors. Richard will be a fine priest as he is 40 and so kind. We gave him a candle Liz had specially made. The party in the Allen Hall garden which Richard tended for 6 years was delightful. Chatted to Deacon Peter and Fr Michael about music. Saw the famous mulberry which stood in St Thomas More's garden and visited the modern cha