The organist librarian

To Mass after being awake at 2. Fabulous Adriana Lecouvreur from the Met. What a production and the singing and acting from all the cast especially Netrebko! Now waiting to see Stan and Ollie somewhat different. Stan and Ollie highly recommended. It has the feelgood factor. Reminded me of the Morecambe and Wise story. Very nice meal at Cafe El Posso in East Dulwich. Liz had shrimps Mexican style and I had sea bass. My 3 prize books from the Tablet crossword have come! Could have done with a short guide to Aquinas when I started at Heythrop! Chester Zoo. May defeated in parliament. BBC Icons entertainers who to choose? Has to be Chaplin!

34 lengths as it was busy although I did get on the left hand side against the rope which was nice. Work experience Alex useless and refusing to do things again! He finished Friday - 4 days was quite enough. When asked if I would do a report I replied "Only if I have to!" "Will you miss me?" "Oh, yes!". 2 possible volunteers came in but neither of them very available at the moment although they are off school! Some of the younger generation just don't try! Alexander McCall Smith's "Corduroy Mansions" had me in fits of laughter! Home to watch on BBC4 the prom - BBC Philharmonic conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Mendelssohn Italian symphony (with my score which is an interesting Norton with 4 pages of miniature score to a page and themes highlighted) Maxwell Davies Roma amor (I fell asleep in this but caught up with it later) magnificent Respighi Pines of Rome and Rossini arias sung by Alaskan soprano Vivica Genaux. She has a fine mezzo color...

Another lovely sunny day. I waited for Ann to come on Skype but she must have been out. Liz went up to Grandma's to see the carpet man and visited the hospital twice. I got the train to Coulsdon to plan music for October and November with Vickie. Norman Harper now at St George's cathedral, Southwark gave an excellent recital at St Michael's which overran! It included a Handel concerto, Buxtehude and Bach. Then a delightful voluntary by William Russell and "Lucis creator" by Thomas Hyde and commissioned by Norman. Debussy Arabesque No. 2 worked really well on the organ and the Final from Vierne's Symphony No. 6 to a rousing conclusion. Had a chat to Martin Ball and saw Adrian and Terence. In fact it was a day for meeting people - Mary, Bob Atkinson and Trevor. I dropped in the invite to the Catenian clergy supper at St Chad's and the secretary said her son used to be in the children's choir! Omelette for lunch and I did the ironing while watching the HD...