The organist librarian

The boys enjoyed the slime workshop at the Horniman which was crawling with kids! An excellent homily from Fr Sunith at Mass today on the gospel for the day. The devil has many ways of breaching the walls of our household including internet porn, gossip, being judgemental, etc. Benjy Bloor played very well at the drome and since his Japan trip attracted a very large audience so large that the concert started late! I did feel that the reeds were used a lot and that becomes tiring to listen to. The technique in the Bach was immaculate. Watched the Apprentice. Letters to schools and 2 auction houses. 

Woke early, read then slept to 8.45. At end of Mass Sunith stopped - after I had lit my candles (5) spoke to him - he said with MS the body just stops. I said it was a miracle he is still with us! Scores back to Penge library - at bus stop chatted to lady who goes to Mass. Invites to public speaking done. One judge has cried off! Have two hearing aids again but have to go back to Guys in October. To Guildhall library to see the Tylers and Bricklayers display which was not well presented. Who knew Ben Johnson was a bricklayer? The new mosaic at Westminster cathedral won an award the martyrs one!  Guildhall gallery De Morgan Symmetry surprised Battersea not mentioned on the map of De Morgan London connections. Victorian landscapes. Interview with Sebastian Faulks fascinating. We need to remember massacres so they do not happen again. Above all the arms trade must end if we want a better world. Fabulous Bruckner 4 Rotterdam Phil Yannick Nezet-Seguin. Bravo the horns. Yefim ...

Took Liz, Louise and Tom to Crystal Palace as Liz went to Derek and Brian's first masses at Homerton and Poplar. Brian will not be doing confirmation at the cathedral alas! Not much mention of Peter and Paul as there was a baptism - 90 there. Paul went on far too long 90 minutes in all. I played Bedard and Stanley. The hymns were pretty naf too. To Becket fete to promote Catenians and we got 3 names - I blew up balloons and left at 2.15. Fr Joe "Oh my God" and chatted to Brendan so no change there! I had black bean fajita - very nice. David Dibbs played the recital - 14 came. Bit of a mixed bag including Sullivan, Handel and Coates. Nice new march by Bishop. I think if you must play popular stuff you have to be accurate and his Walton was certainly inaccurate. I got given the left over wine and Paul would not take payment for it. To Anerley St Anthony's for Mass - Sunith a bit slow again and saw Stuart afterwards. Home to eat and rest. Come dine with me and Antiques...

We set off in time for Liz to get a train from Kent House to go to Vespers. I heard the first 45 minutes of King's in the car including The Lamb and Britten New Year carol. The new carol by Thea Musgrave worked well. Not so sure about Joy to the world. The crib service and Christingle at St Michael's was awful. It was preceeded by a tape (this always annoy me). We sang quite a few carols but the sight of children tearing round the church looking for crib figures was not a happy one. Paul lost it at times suggesting that Jesus travelled on Santa's sleigh and confusing the Christingle symbols - 4 angels or 4 seasons. It just went on too long - nearly 90 minutes and I will certainly play for it again! I got to the station to find trains were every half hour so abandoned the plan to get to cathedral for 6 p.m. Mass and went to Anerley. Organ played OK and Fr Sunith mentioned me at the end. Fr Stuart remarked that I had sneaked in from the cathedral! I picked up Liz at West Nor...