The organist librarian

Had a nice chat to the family and we saw Evie! Owen was very quiet. Applauded at our door for the NHS.  Watching Angelus, Midday prayer and Mass from Dominican sisters of St Joseph, Lymington. The psalm at Mass was beautifully sung unaccompanied. Alas the homily was hard to hear and soon after that the sound went altogether. Just wondering if the internet is getting overloaded?  Session 1 of Ian Knowles icon painting course worked perfectly on my phone but session 2 could not hear anything on Zoom. My laptop does not want Zoom to have audio! I will have to use Liz's tablet. Waiting for Ian to send link to session 2. Got session 2 on YouTube but am now behind. Remaining sessions were interesting. Sat morning all about gilding which h I will not be doing. Very moving to see the Pope alone in St Peter's Square a powerful address and benediction simple and memorable. Tony Robinson on trains in Europe and Pilgrimage part 1 on peace road to Istanbul. Fr Paolo Bagini at South Ruisl...

Played Michael Fleming's variations on Noel nouvelet and Slater Easter Alleluia. We sang "Sing God's Easter people sing" arranged John Barnard. Also Christopher Jones' splendid hymn "Faith overcomes" to Highworth by Terry - I think his widow lives locally. Also "O food of pilgrims" to the sublime Innsbruck. After 2 years I again found time to go through the organ music left by a predecessor and found some goodies. It does seem strange that he left all this music which is valuable. I seem to inherit organ music Dad, Alan now Paul and interesting the similar repertoire lots of Bach, English and French, Buxtehude. Enjoyed Rejoice in the Lamb from Norwich cathedral choral evensong. Well done Guildford for choral evensong for St Mark. I remember that hymn from my childhood at St Mark's Yeoville. Simon Schama brought Civilisations to a fine end. The Durrells excellent. I had not seen Wilkie Collins as a feminist - Woman in White episode 2.

Set off on Wednesday early and got to Portsmouth early for the ferry so enjoyed a visit to the cathedral. David Price was teachng some organists to play hymns and there were some lovely paintings on display. The cathedral looks great! Good crossing to Fishbourne and met the Duceys. To Channel View Hotel where we had a good meeting with Gill. Brendan and Alice were impressed! We went down to the beach to play crazy golf and Ciarán won. The food was excellent throughout the week and the service outstanding. Nice sunny room and we slept well although Ciaran developed a cough for which we got some mixture. Swam morning and evening in the indoor pool. Thursday to Osborne House and walked to the Swiss cottage  and loved the children's things. To Albert Cottage hotel which is lovely. By contrast Ryde castle hotel awful. Isle of Wight steam railway excellent especially Train story. Friday to Carisbrooke castle and saw the donkeys and up the keep, also Charles I's room. Interesting mu...

Had a lovely overnight stay with Richard and Penny Peregrine at Hartley Whitney. Visited West Grove garden and played the fine organ.I played Handel, Elgar including For the fallen and 2 Pomp and circumstance marches and Crown Imperial. We had coffee at the Women's institute and bought a cake and a plant. The village is very pleasant and has a variety of shops including the organic one where we got chocolate.  Lots of piano and singing before dinner outside and lots of good wine! We also visited Richard's REME mess with fine British paintings on display. Guildford cathedral on the way home - fine Magna Carta banners and quilts. Home by 5. To Shirley golf club for Vincent Cullen Golf day dinner which was good. Long chat to Anne Brant. 

Tuesday to Acton by 6 p.m. so Lou and Tom could go out. Ciarán enjoyed his bedtime stories. We took him to Amandas at Chiswick town hall and he seemed more settled. To Starbucks for a free latte and within seconds it was Grandad make me a bridge! 2 other kids joined in! Lunch at Sainsburys and to Ravensbourne Park by which time he fell asleep in my arms! So we went home as all the benches had been painted! A lovely day. Excellent evensong from Guildford and had a sleep while they went to the park. To Covent Garden and good seats in amphitheatre (£30). Wonderful singing and orchestral playing - what a score from Dvorak! Horrid set and production! What has a brothel to do with forests and nymphs and lakes? Home by midnight. Met Julie and David Smith and the Alberys!