The organist librarian

Tuesday to Vickie's and June music list is now done. She was very upbeat! Homeas Liz had a hair appointment - she had highlights and cut short - looks lovely! To 2 p.m. Hamlet at the Globe. This being a touring production is was a smaller cast and a cut version and it worked really well! Brilliant! Packed up and to Lou's in time for The Apprentice part 1. Wednesday to British Library and 6 of us there including a new lady Rita was is very musical. Jyotsna gave us an excellent explanation of the exhibit and answered many questions. Had soup outside and chatted to Andrew, Colin, Ann and Clare then walked to Coram's fields. Outside Foundling museum and Coram's foundation at first. Ciarán loved the slide and playroom and they gave us tea and snacks for the kids. One small incident with a girl in front of a wheel and he wailed when he could not go in the kitchen bit but he was very good all the way home in the buggy. Liz got us on 267 instead of 266!. She has her rings b...

Saturday did not go to interfaith walk around Thornton Heath. The new green leather suite arrived. Hoovered, haircuts, tidying up. To 7 Shakespeare Road Acton to see the house Lou and Tom are to rent from next Saturday - very nice. Had a lovely picnic in the park nearby. To the cathedral with Dennis and Bruce stayed overnight. Vespers and Mass and Edward, Emmanuel and Joseph got their servers medals from Canon Christopher and the Dean of Durban preached. Sunday to Coulsdon. We can have St Mary's hall on Friday. I played Grandma's favourite "Sheep may safely graze" instead of the Dorian toccata. Only 4 in choir and they sang Bairstow and Boyce Alleluia. Straight to London Bridge on train to get to the Globe for 1 p.m. show. Bruce and I thoroughly enjoyed the play - Falstaff, Hal, Shallow all excellent and very clever costume changes. Liz to evensong and Bruce off to Birmingham and Dennis and Ann-Marie to Burnley. They all return on Thursday.

Tuesday overslept so only 10 lengths - back seems fine! I did tai chi on Monday so that helped I think. Left shoulder still twinging. Listened to Vaughan Williams piano concerto from proms on way home - an interesting piece with a lovely quiet ending.There was a football match and the road up so traffic and bus chaos. Loved Maestro - 6 trying to conduct - Peter Snow was hopeless! Jane Asher looks like a winner! Wednesday up early and did tax letter. Express bus 90p on oyster to Waterloo and reached British school of osteopathy early. Full interview again with 2 nice students as I had not been since March 2007. Brand new HQ but rooms still rather cool! Tutor says pain in side cleared up well in 2 weeks so not to worry and back pain clearing by Monday is also good - shows how healthy I am. I go back in a week. Rang Vickie and bless her she said leave our meeting to next Wednesday. So that meant I was able to attend diocesan meditation day (or part of it) Midday prayer, Eucharist and 2nd ...

Swam 34 lengths. It was a busy day it being half-term. Thank God Caroline is coming to replace Calix. To the Globe to get tickets for Lear in August. Tate Modern had an interesting photographic exhibition contrasting street scenes with portraits. Surprised Karsh of Ottawa was not represented. Some iconic images notably Oliver Goldblatt in Johannesburg. Walked along the Thames in the rain to the Festival Hall and found myself looking at people imagining photographing them! Free recital by Martin award winner Pei Sian Ng from Sydney - a very fine cellist playing Rachmaninov cello sonata with an excellent pianist Miyako Machida in a lovely blue dress. He was lovely to watch and the G minor made me feel sad remembering Mum and Dad and the prom concert of Rachmaninov Bells when they died. Across the bridge to Embankment and tube to Victoria for rehearsal of Saturday's ordination. We are acolytes so a bit of a waste of time!

Wednesday was an extraordinary day. I spent some time reading "Othello". Ann did not come on Skype. To Coulsdon to choose music for June with Vickie. There was a line side fire at London bridge so had to get train to Victoria and then tube to Southwark. Met Bruce at Shakespeare's Globe for the outstanding production of "Othello". We had excellent seats against the wall in the lower gallery. The couple next to me had seen Paul Robeson play it at Stratford and apparently he sang after the performance - quite a feat! Olivier's film has influenced our perceptions. Tim McInerney commanded the stage as Iago. There was a class of 11 year olds from a special needs school and they were restless - what could they make of such a play? Fortunately they went at interval. The final scenes were so moving with Desdemona fighting for her life and Othello's tragic end taunted by Emilia. "Oh the pity of it" "It is the cause" "farewell the pomp and ...