The organist librarian

Missed swim again. Watered garden and cleared up. Very hot and sunny. Lovely day at South Norwood lake with  Louise Maher   Grainne Kedves-Constantinides . and the kids. Watched TV on Georgia O'Keefe and Olympics. Interesting talk on Brahms 4 and BBC Welsh played well - Walton Partita ideal for last night, Webern and Huw Watkins' cello concerto played by Paul Watkins lovely and want to hear it again! Thomas Sondergard conducted.

Fr Paul Francis from St George's  and Stephen was there too it being St Bartholomew. I played Dyson and Willan on Song 34, Watson tribute to Howells and Dad's postlude. Mum and Dad were included in the prayers. Good hymns All my hope, For all the saints, O thou who camest, Forth in thy name. 28 there. To Clare's for lunch with Grainne and the kids and Dennis - very nice. To talk on Czech music which was rather dull. The Czech Philharmonic strings are superb - Janacek, Dvorak cello concerto (Alisa Weilerstein and a Bach encore) and Beethoven 7. Listened to 3 encores on the bus. 

To see Vickie at 99a St Andrew's Road which has a lovely garden and very homely - much nicer than the vicarage which is being rebuilt.Short discussion about going freelance which makes sense. Am reading Introduction to Buddhism - it might be that the MA in Abrahamic religions is a better option? To St Michael's - a good audience for Marilyn Harper - the end of the series. Chat to Dorio Melfi. John Blitheman, Alain and Rheinberger Sonata No 8 including the mighty Passacaglia. To Acton in 45 minutes - connections all worked. Just missed Grainne who had taken Liz over. Ciarán brightened up on my arrival and laughed at sneezes! We were home by 8.30 and watched The Apprentice - Melissa has gone - hurrah!

Worked until 5 and had some time to do some clearing up. To Feltham on train and parked car outside Barbara's. Ate at Giraffe and flew out at 10 p.m. on Cyprus Air. Watched film "Whatever happened to the Morgans" although sound was not good. Landed at 4 a.m. 2 hours ahead and picked up Citroen. Drove to Nicosia and spent some time trying to find the Hilton Park hotel. Had breakfast and able to use room immediately so went for a swim and rested. Sunday morning Grainne and Dino and Tony and family arrived at hotel and we followed them - the church proved to be very close by hotel. The baptism of Alexis at 12 noon was an ordeal for everyone. His mother is not allowed near him and the 2 godmothers have to completely undress him and is covered in oil and put in the water 3 times by the priest. His hair is cut 3 times. Naturally he screamed through the whole ceremony some of which was in English but the rest in Greek which the people do not understand! Very nice lunch at countr...

Up early and Cambridge visit is now finalised - just got to do the programme sheets. Chat to Ann. Moved the logs and branches of the rowan tree from the back lane to the front garden for recycling using the wheelbarrow. While I was on Skype Liz disappeared. It turned out Katy had taken her up to No.19! I set off for the Hinsley Room and the spirituality day wondering where she was and left messages on her mobile which of course was at home! Jill Benet spoke about relationship - there are 3 elements between 2 people - you, me and the space between. The theme was "Rising to new life" and after the silent meditation and lunch she gave us a bunch of leaves. She spoke about the new child and how we ever new and the music of the dance between us. I chose to try and draw a leaf and was interested how scientific this was rather than artistic. We also were encouraged to touch and smell the leaves and really look at them. I noted soft, gentle, pure, simple structure, united, all the ve...

Church of the Nativity Bethlehem Going down into the cave and the star for the birthplace. Listened to Rachmaninov vespers on way to Coulsdon Christmas Eve - it was the Estonian philharmonic choir at the Proms - we will be singing this next year with Edward Caswell. Bruce went to St John's Upper Norwood for Midnight, Louise to St Michael's Bedford Park. Dennis and Louise to St Chad's South Norwood Christmas morning where they met Grainne and Clare and Sophia. So between us we have been at 6 churches! I drove to Coulsdon 3 times but it was worth coming home and having a short sleep before Midnight. I finally got to hear more of King's carols today! Many of them we had enjoyed at the Albert Hall - the soloists are particularly good this year especially the baritone. Bruce went cycling in Richmond Park on Christmas Day morning with friends and won the champagne. Boxing Day was relaxing. Waited until the football crowd had come before taking Dennis up to Grandma's - he...

Tuesday we set off picking up Josie and Grandma and parking at APH parking and getting the coach to Gatwick. Liz had requested full assistance for both ladies. Bruce met us there and we started out with 2 wheelchairs one of which Bruce pushed. However once through security we were in a holding area where we ate our lunch and the ladies had to climb onto the buggy. At the plane we could walk on but no wheelchairs! One lady went down the stairs as the doors to the corridor to the plane were shut! Ryanair are pretty hopeless - it's basically a cattle truck. The steward was apologetic and assured us of full assistance at Dublin. There we waited on the plane and in fact the bus took us to near passport control. Picked up the Toyota car without a problem - comfortable and a big boot. To the Ardmore hotel in Finglas where people started gathering. Dennis very anxious about suits so Bruce and I went straight with him to Black Tie. Mine fine. Had a nice meal in the bar. Dennis was summoned ...