The organist librarian

A very good breakfast and went to Tescos and then the model steam railway. Had numerous rides and enjoyed several model layouts and a pipe organ. Good playgrounds, cafe and shop and Ciarán did not want to leave. He slept in the car while we drove to Birling Gap via Beachy Head - a lovely day. Played on the shingle beach and ate cod and chips at Harry Ramsden's with excellent Viceroy pale ale. Watched Great British bake off.

Friday evening I got the train to Coulsdon South where Liz picked me up and we drove to Brighton. She had had a busy time when she found some bugs had eaten away the carpet under one of our sofas! The Grace and Compassion sisters have 4 different addresses in Brighton and eventually we found the right one in pouring rain - St Benedict's in Kemp Town. A delightful house with every comfort including en suite and TV in the room. As we missed supper we went into town and ate fish and chips at Harry Ramsden's. This proved an ideal quiet retreat with morning and evening prayer in the lovely chapel and daily Mass,excellent food and a warm welcome and good company. We sat at table with a delightful elderly Sister from Ireland visiting her dying sister-in-law in hospital and today we met Fr Carl from Hove. Saturday we set off to try and find an organ recital in Herne Rd but abandoned it and went on to English Martyrs, Goring-on-Sea with its remarkable copy of the Sistine chapel ceiling....