The organist librarian

An enjoyable meal at Bella Vita Shirley for President's Friday. Nice that  Dennis Woodhouse  and  Ann- Marie Woodhouse  came. 24 there. Good chat to Steve and Derrick.  To Kingsley Hall Bromley-by-Bow where Gandhi stayed in 1931 and we saw his simple cell. The interfaith seminar for the Gandhi foundation on animal rights. Not quite clear whether one should become vegetarian or vegan or not change diet at all! Certainly vivisection and industrial animal husbandry are unacceptable.  Bloomsbury organ day heard Richard Brasier play Mathias and good buffet. John Scott Whiteley played brilliantly. Bach, interesting Glass, Franck but Liszt which seemed neverending! Dreadful page turning! Watched Real Marigold hotel and Victorian bakers. Louise brought the boys to stay Friday night and they went to Gruffalo's child at Ashcroft. She was at Bagattis.

Swam 20. Fr Paul has sent a clear reply about the situation which is outrageous! No wonder priests leave the C of E! To the cathedral for 11 a.m. Mass for the religious with the Cardinal. I was mitre/crozier and Liz was acolyte. She was cross that Jess was thurifer and assistant MC. Nice lunch and spoke to several nuns I know and some new ones incl Marie Therese a Servite who was in Rome for the ecumenical gathering. Liz went to UCL. I went to the Rubens and his legacy at the Royal Academy - some fine paintings but also gaps where pirctures which were imitated were not shown. 14 bus to Victoria and Albert and sketched 2 lions of Pisano in the cast courts. Tea at M & S and served acolyte at 5.30 mass - loads of servers but only 2 torches! Fr Alexander and the choir sang Byrd superbly. Dashed to station and just missed train so home and quick change and got to Catenians at 8. A good meeting - 20 there. William spoke about Gandhi foundation afterwards. Juan will come on council. Sad ...

A quiet morning at home - played piano for a bit. Got to Bloomsbury Baptist for 1 only to find Philip Norman doing an illustrated talk on British organ building of the last 1000 years - didn't learn much. The organ students were down to play later. I got to London interfaith centre at Queens Park in good time and met a Catholic, Alan Rainer and Fr David Standley. Dr King spoke on ecology and faith and was excellent. Could have led to a really good discussion but I grabbed a tea and got to vespers. Liz went to Charlie Merritt's retirement mass at Northfields. Eugene was thurifer and he and the boys were a bit dopey. Visiting priest went up to the altar at the offertory so I had to politely ask him stand to one side so the censing could happen! Arthur Wills piece at the end from Ben. Simon Augustus cried off our pub drink so home to learn Seán had gone to hospital with Louise and Dennis so she missed her girls night out. Ciaran went to Ann Marie's and they are all now in bed...