The organist librarian

Just caught the train back as we had a Baptism. Had no warning of it! I accompanied the anthem Let all mortal flesh arr Sir Stephen Cleobury on the organ as we had 3 strong singers. Flor Peeters fest Prelude on Innsbruck, lovely tune, Canzona and Ciacona dedicated to my friend Ralph Downes. They went well as I had played them in Jersey. No mention of St John Henry Newman canonised today in Rome but I played the tunes Gerontius and Shipston! Also practised Prelude and angel's farewell from Dream of Gerontius for next Sunday. Love that so much. Drove to Acton - still wet. Lovely birthday lunch roast belly of pork. Prosecco and Liz had ordered a delicious cake. Drove back with Bruce at a slow pace. Claire came to talk about Doterra and I fell asleep. Took her home. Watched Sanditon. Bruce up early tomorrow. 

Weather good. Started at St Paul's a Walker 1918 and quite a god sound despite the carpets. Action hard. Found a couple of gorillas especially in the fine library. St Luke's is High church and big. A reasonable 3 manual Makin. Nice walk in Howard Davis park and lunch at the rose garden cafe. Found 2 gorillas. Drove to Trinity and St John's church where Revd Beverley Sproat opened the organ for us recently fixed. Ingham 1890 and again a good sound. Played Peeters, Moore, Statham and Whitlock Plymouth suite. Back for tea and chat to Janet just back from New York. To dinner at Wildfire which we enjoyed last year. Chorizo starter, delicious steak, profiteroles. Noisy drunk 40th party next to us! 

Harvest so we sang Greene Thou visitest the earth. I played Peeters on Wir plufgen, Statham on Monkland and Recessional on St George by Vernon Griffiths. We sang For the fruits but to Ar hyd y nos. Liz came for the harvest lunch and Julie entertained us with poems and 3 flute pieces. Richard Sutton conducted evensong and John Pritchard played. Sumsion in G, Attwood Teach me O Lord, Benediction. Nice to see Nicholas Ansdell-Evans and his mother.

Monday mosaic, Peter Wright's last recital as director of music at Southwark including Messiaen, Bach, Vierne and Peeters Aria. Spidir committee. Both to Maidstone 800th meeting black tie dinner. Lots of dithering after the meal, Flame is not a charity and Barbara Stevens the guest speaker was not great. Took Henry to Crystal Palace park - the new cafe is very good and he enjoyed the dinosaurs and farm especially the meerkats and tortoises.

Liz up in the early morning to see blood moon. To mosaic, part of Stephen Disley's recital at Southwark cathedral and SPIDIR committee meeting.Updated Christmas card list. Sadly so many are now emails but that is so much cheaper! Connect. University challenge. Liz went to Anerley UCM. Icons. 

Using stick so far right leg OK. Played Bach In dir ist freude and we sang Britten New Year Carol. The newsletter instead of Preludes on Song 1 by Willan and Flor Peeters came out as Willan and Flor Prefer A.!! Unusual name for a composer. Very cold. At evensong we sang Harris in A minor and Gore Ouseley From the rising of the sun. Looked it up and he founded St Michael's college, Tenbury Wells which we visited many years ago. I was the only tenor! Back in time for school is fascinating!  Good viewing tonight. Chelmsford men not so good, girls did well. 

We both went swimming and to Mass then shopping in Aldi. Reduced price stollen and pannetone? Silly question! Good to see Berni Excell at the shops! Emma Gibbins played Advent and Christmas music at St Stephen Wallbrook. Nice to know I am getting it right! Did not know the Weckmann and Liszt. Good to hear Lloyd Webber, Rowley and Peeters. Splendid trumpets in Noel Suisse. Welcoming at cathedral and 3 of us on. Family from Durban delighted by children's guides. Sad to see Christmas tree and crib in Trafalgar Square gone. To National gallery to see Landseers (wonderful lions) and Artemisia. The lion and the unicorn is rubbish. Gainsborough's family portraits lovely but rooms are too small. Gorgeous Royal wedding photos. And I was very struck by a portrait of Ed Shehan. 

Dark and cheerless is the morn... Rain and first bus delayed but I caught the second one OK! Advent 4 Flor Peeters and Walther Wachet auf Lloyd Webber on Helmsley. We sang People look East and some Marian hymns. For Mary mother of our Lord such lovely words. The busy world had got no space or time for God on earth; a cattle manger was the place where Mary gave him birth. From For Mary mother of our Lord To St John's for the carol service. The Stopford I found rather dull and none of us warmed to the Whitacre - it needs a big choir. The Shephard Song of Mary works well and we also sang Sussex carol. Sad to find verses cut out of Once in royal. Good to see Adrian,Robert and the Wests. Mulled wine and cupcakes sent by Bishop Beverley. I met Edmund Max's brother who is a philosopher.  Watched The Bishop's wife. 

Not a good start to a day at Caterham. Train at new time 8.11 from Norwood Junction only 5 coaches to Caterham. On reaching Purley it was changed to Tattenham corner and no Caterham service so now on a bus. Station staff no help at all. I have complained to Southern. Frankly fed up with the poor service. All Saints and baptism. Played Peeters Sine nomine and O quanta qualia also Howells Sine nomine. We sang I sing a song of the saints of God. Trumpeter came to rehearse for next Sunday. Now having lunch at The Kerala opposite the church. It was delicious. I stayed in Caterham sorted music and practised. The church got rather cold! All Souls at 4 and some people came because of the earlier time. I played Vierne Epitaphe and Berceuse, Thalben-Ball Elegy and Elgar Angel's farewell. A first - the cake prepared during this morning's sermon served after the service - very nice! Watched Antiques roadshow WWI and Bake off final. 

On iplayer the Prom of Holst Ode to death and Vaughan Williams Martyn Brabbins conducting - lovely way to start the day! We sang Bread of the world arranged by Alan Bullard. I played Poco adagio from Saint-Saens organ symphony and Flor Peeters on Cwn Rhondda and Lasst uns erfreuen. Train times changed again so home in time to listen to "I'm Sorry I haven't a clue". Played Dancing years Novello selection and Brewer Marche heroique on piano. Took music to David Dibbs miserable rain. Great singing and playing from Southern Cathedrals festival at Salisbury Blair in B minor, Jonathan Dove, Vierne. RVW Pastoral symphony and Parry Symphony No. 5 on Iplayer. Poldark came to an end for the moment (sad). Watched Shostakoich, Beethoven and Rachmaninov from prom. Henry came to stay overnight and went off to sleep happily. 

Up at 6.30 a.m. 4 in choir so I accompanied John Harper's Benedictus on the organ instead of the keyboard. Played Peeters Canzona and Finlandia. Can't believe Liz's Dad died 1997 a kinder gentleman it would be hard to find and always immaculately dressed. We also sang Bernadette Farrell's Lord you search me and you know me. Am on buses only one train an hour and even that uncertain plus 2 changes. On today's service sheet. A personal prayer to use after Mass and during the week.. Dear Lord, I might think that I can't do much to make the world a better and fairer place. Help me to see myself as a little drop of rain making ripples in a big puddle. In your strength, and for your glory. Amen. Helped on teas at Friends of Grangewood Park. Sold a lot of prizewinning cakes. The chocolate and Guinness one excellent. Saw Dennis Woodhouse and Molly. Also Karen Jewitt and community choir. 3 p.m.Mass at St Mary's but I do think children should be encouraged to stay in...

Mass, art, interfaith lunch, Corpus Christi at Caterham. 5 in choir sang Schubert setting and Elgar Ave verum. Lovely to have incense. Played Boellmann Adoro te and Peeters O saving victim. Enjoyed Secret life of 5 year olds. Liz sang at Upper Norwood an impressive carpet of flowers. Vierne.

We sang Creator of the stars of night arranged John Scott. I played Bairstow and Sumsion on Veni Emmanuel and Flor Peeters on Conditor alme. A train full of noisy loud 20 something's. Nice lunch. One of my Advent meditation books makes the good point that Paul's "Rejoice in the Lord always!" is an impossible idea. However the way forward is to be grateful for everything and turn that into prayer and joy will follow. Watched Mary Berry at Goodwood house and showjumping from Olympia. For evensong played Willan on Bristol and Flor Peeters on St Stephen and Wachet auf. Very annoyed to find that my parking place outside my house has been taken and for the second time the bollards have gone as well! How dare they take them away! Sports non personalityof the year. Sir Mo won. Liz gone to Clare's. Ciaran playing his new guitar on Whatsapp. Apprentice joint winners! 

I played Peeters and Karg-Elert on Nun danket and Finale of Mendelssohn 6. The hymn Beneath the cross I fain would take my stand. I fain must go to Waitrose? came to mind.  Voces 8 on Songs of praise!  Listening to the Ten Pieces prom. Nasty BBC for not letting the Prom season ticket holders attend on our passes. Why the sailors hornpipe at Hull and Ten pieces prom (twice)? Enjoying Haitink again on TV. Poldark and world diving. Miranda Hart hilarious. 

Played Willan on "Bristol" and Bach Wachet auf. We sang Fling wide the gates to Crucifer Come thou redeemer and Myn liking. Good carol practice. Nice chops for lunch. I have gained 2 pounds! Cape Town cathedral evensong.  At Evensong played Willan and Peeters on "St Stephen" and Peeters "Wachet auf" I like his cheeky approach. Jerry, me , Julie and one other. What is the point? I used the keyboard said psalm. Picked up Liz from St John's carols.  Wartching BBC Sports personality.  Andy Murray for the 3rd time and he has no personality. Alana won the Apprentice.

Friday swam 20. Magisterial playing from Peter Guiding at cathedral but very quiet and SVP kids including Bianca and Simon servers practising play, Saw Francis and Noel and Ellen. Emmanuel's behaviour had been noted.  British library maps exhibition very interesting. Last session with  Nelson Ferreira  really enjoyed it but the people in Regent Street!  Lovely retreat day with Michael Holman SJ at Sisters of Assumption next to Heythrop. Brian at Mass, Peter played Bach at the end. Chester Zoo programme. 

Advent 1 we sang John Scott's arrangement of Creator of the stars of night and I played Flor Peeters and Alec Rowley preludes on Conditor Alme also Lloyd Webber rhapsody on Helmsley. Organ has been tuned. Carol practice with 4. Edited church website and put appeal on Streetlife. Watched end of Midsummer night's dream on TV.  St John's Cambridge Advent procession very good. Lovely Advent service at St John's including Michael Fleming's Kindle a flame (we sang in the first performance) Charles Wood and Stanford. Es ist ein Ros in German . Bridget's version of Wachet auf quite different to Ben Bloor's - well he is young! Interesting to see Plimouth plantation in programme on Mayflower pilgrims.

Clocks went back an hour. Woke too early and dozed off. Up in good time left home 7.35 a.m. but on way to station in the car had to reverse up Dixon Road for a white van. Result missed train to Purley from where there was a bus replacement service. To Selhurst from Norwood Junction and to East Croydon. No trains to Purley so got bus 407. On organ at 9 a.m. Lourdes Gloria and Gathering not on sheet so did Murray. For all the saints cut to 5 verses and no procession. We sang "Holy is the true light" fairly well. I then started the communion hymn in D instead of F and realised on the second line so changed to F. I have never done that before. I think the travel disturbed my concentration. I played Howells Sine nomine and Flor Peeters well. Rehearsed for next 2 weeks. Never spoke to Jerry who had postponed meeting about Christmas because Anne Marie had a fall and broke her shoulder bone. Strangely Gisela had a fall off her bicycle and hurt her arm. Julie took posters and had don...

Played Willan and Peeters on Carlisle and Bach chorale preludes. Simon did not give time to start Alleluia! King of glory by Harris well sung and a good practice.  To Amazing Grace interfaith dinner and concert at Union chapel Islington to greet the Jain guru. Particularly liked the Sufi and Jewish singers. Evensong from Christ Church cathedral Oxford and they managed the Walton Coronation Te Deum well. 

Ventured out to Bromley Parish church and saw evidence of tree branches down. Paul Derrett have us a most entertaining programme. Purcell Mansfield's Toccata a la gigue reminded me of the Teddy Bears' Picnic and it was good to have a tribute to Richard Popplewell. We also heard Buxtehude, Bach, Campra, Reger, SS Wesley, Lemare and Flor Peeters. A jolly encore Capriccietto by Leonard Butler. Liz went to fetch Hannah to visit Claire. Watched Brontes, Shakespeare's grave and Don Giovanni. Easter Sunday morning from St Alban's impressive. University challenge, Island parish and a fascinating programme on the Easter rising.