The organist librarian

To Selhurst train delayed so drove to Norwood Junction. Train on time then delayed at East Croydon. Why can't trains run on time?  Played Sheep may safely graze and Finlandia favourites of Liz's Mum and Dad. I also played Come unto him from Messiah. Train cancelled so on buses home.  Enjoyed the sunshine at Friends of Grangwood park picnic and excellent Norwood society tour of the park. Bought some good local history books. Saw Claire Kedves  Dennis Woodhouse   Ann- Marie Woodhouse  and Henry.  How I enjoy a recital where we smile and Bridget West certainly achieved that. Very elegant playing at Dulwich. The Tambling based on Sagina prompted me to sing "And can it be that Daniel is wearing shorts?" Nice eats. Interesting programme on 90 years of Wimbledon. 

Liz home at 3 a.m. from Lourdes. Prayers for Brien and Violet George today and I played their favourites Finlandia and Sheep may safely graze also Dad's interlude on "York". Jerry paid me and has found Lourdes Gloria.  Two excellent Proms Aurora playing Mozart 39 from memory and Strauss oboe concerto. BBCSO under Edward Gardner Ravel, Debussy and an attractive choral work which apparently was in English!

I played Finlandia at the end of the service today as we remember Liz's Dad who loved it. He was a steward at the Royal Albert Hall and always enjoyed the concerts. BBQ after church and then we walked up to Grangewood Park for the Friends of Grangewood park picnic and kids party.  The BBQ is complete just need to do a gas leak test. At St John's we sang Howells Collegium Regale and Gardiner Evening hymn - always a treat! To Hyderi mosque Streatham for debate about faith values and British values and iftar. None of the speakers addressed the greed and false expectations of many people. They all seemed to think faith values = "British" values. 

Woke early and had a lie-in. Set off to go to St Margaret Lothbury as not enough time to get to National gallery talk as discussing money. Ended up eating delicious fish at The Anthologist. They give you the bill in an old book and guess what ours was about C.J.Spurgeon who lived round the corner from here. Met David Stone about ISAs and investments. Buses to Royal Albert Hall. Just in time for Rabbi Julia Neuberger on pianos in literature with readings and piano pieces. Asked a question about comforting music like Mendelssohn and spoke to the rabbi. Also saw Chris Tew. All with scores Finlandia, Tchaikovsky violin concerto, Symphonic dances and La Valse conducted by Charles Dutoit. Encore Berlioz Hungarian March.

Another very hot day at work on Saturday but found basement quite cool so sorted out queries down there! Ciarán behaved impeccably - his first night away from Mum! The move went fine. Took Bruce out for a drive around the lake area and he in fact drove to Birmingham on Sunday! Coulsdon only 5 in choir so we sang Wesley's Lead me Lord and Bairstow setting again. Finlandia was much appreciated - Granddad's favourite. Straight to West Malling via M25, M26 and M20 - easy to find. Chat to Fr Peter Soper - says we need married clergy. Bishop John Hine super sermon. Anne played and her daughter played violin with Gerard cantoring. Good singing from the Catenians. Sat with the Barretts. Provincial president Peter appreciated my comments on email. Left at 4 and listened to Winchester cathedral evensong featuring Leighton and Elgar Give unto the Lord. I have finally finished Jon Cannon's "Cathedral" - lovely illustrations but his lack of Christian knowledge shows. Evensong ...

Claire arrived OK and Liz picked her up at Stansted and there was a hold-up on the motorway. We had 2 baptisms at Coulsdon and the Boyce Alleluia went really well. We added in a communion hymn to "Liebster Jesu" so I played the Bach preludes on the melody. At the end I played Finlandia Grandad's favourite as it is near his anniversary. As it is Sea Sunday we sang "Eternal father". Fairtrade stall so I stocked up on muesli and biscuits. Spoke to Ann, Paul, Dennis and AnnMarie on skype with Claire. Abandoned plan to go to Alexandra Palace to hear Francis Jackson as it would have taken too long to get there. I practised for Tuesday's songs from the shows. To St John's so Claire could see where the ashes of Mum and Dad are buried and I sang at evensong - Noble in B minor, Balfour Gardiner Te lucis, Michael Fleming's splendid Palace green tune to "Sing praise to God on high". Christopher Moore played. Josie and Grandma came for a meal which Clai...

Our weather has been so miserable is was great to have some sunshine today and I even managed some time sitting in the garden which is looking particularly lovely at the moment after all the rain! Liz reports that James MacMillan's music was sung at the cathedral. At Coulsdon we were celebrating Music Sunday. We sang Stanford in C and F which has a beautiful Agnus Dei. The anthem was "How goodly are thy tents" by Ouseley. There wasn't time after the communion anthem to sing "When in our music God is glorified" to Stanford's "Engelberg". I played Parry on "Rockingham" and Willan on "Darwall's 148th" - both fine voluntaries. After a Generations rehearsal there was sherry in the hall to celebrate Linda Williams' forthcoming ordination and departure. Her preaching is much more confident and she tells me she knows the churches I visited yesterday! The Tour de France went through that part of Kent today and we saw some of ...