The organist librarian

A wonderful day! Swam, Nelson Ferreira and I put Julian Barron on the auction and he gave us lots of great advice. He thought my paintings would sell well! Coffee than Gauguin portraits at the National Gallery which we enjoyed. Tea then Pre-Raphaelite sisters at NPG which we hated but we liked Elizabeth Peyton. A delightful recital by Gerard Brooks at St John's. Great to have English music plus Bossi and Gothic Suite. The Apprentice.

Bravo Michael Butterfield such musical playing! Great to chat to you, Marko Sever, Peter Stevens, Andrsez and Gerard Brooks. Nice cafe Conran kitchen. Rosemary Shaw is on SPIDIR committee with me a lovely surprise to see her in Oxo gallery exhibition on women priests, also vicar from Tooting who as at iftar last week. Met Dale Eaton at Globe Swan showcase very nice and enjoyed chat over tea. Champagne and canapes. Osterley 100th meeting very enjoyable evening and a substantial meal. Came back with Croydon brothers home at 12.15 in taxi.

To the tip. After food shopping in IKEA to B and q for paint. Polish Church Signposts poster done and emailed local parishes. One even offered to put up Catenian posters whereas often you find they get taken down or never displayed. Starting compiling tributes to John East. Choral evensong from Ripon. Gerard Brooks played some unusual French music at the cathedral. The detail in Widor 4 was extraordinary. Andrew and Andrew Cessana and Jonathan Holmes there. Martin Baker had heard about John East. Lovely tributes came from Bill Tamblyn and Patrick Macphail. 

Tuesday we both swam and I did 20 - it was cold again.Liz went to Brick Lane and Somerset House and then to Acton. I went to Church House for the Boroughs interfaith forum. There were reflections on recent events and I said I was bewildered but wanted the police to do something about hate crime. The MP from the Dept of Communities a Liberal agreed. We heard about Near Neighbours and food banks. I left early to go to the cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral. Stanford in G (did not like either soloist and the men were far too loud at the start of the Magnificat, Brahms Geistliche lied. Exc sermon by Canon Oakley. Nice to see Michael Durand (with a stick) and Anne Welch. To Alexandra Palace for fine recital by Gerard Brooks. Saw Jack Beeson and the Shepherds. Coleridge-Taylor, Lloyd Webber, Guilmant and Widor (with a sense of humour!) My tea came out of the cup! Reached Acton at 10.15. Wed Sean ran about and his behind the curtains at music but he did join in some of i...

Liz and I went to St Michael's West Croydon for the recital by Gerard Brooks, who is now at Westminster central hall. He gave a sparkling account of Bonnet's Etude de concert, Mendelssohn No 6, Saint-Saens Fantaisie in C and the Dubois Toccata. his programme notes were helpful too - we don't usually get these which is a pity. To coffee with Dorio, Arnfinn, Steve, Graham and Gerard and also met David Wakefield, David Dibbs, Ken and Howard! To Tate Modern for the exhibition by Duchamp, Picabia and Man Ray. Unusual obsessions with brides, sex, chess and windows! I'm not sure that one learnt very much from the captions and booklet. Perhaps there isn't much to learn any way! A French day with English rain! Our M.P. has sent me a reply about crane disasters from the relevant minister!