The organist librarian

Swam, Mass, Henry came and played in the garden for ages and with the track. Made the shopping trolley. I was tired! Missed quiet time and "Tolkien". The repair shop series is a delight. 

Swam and had The Swan on my mind, mass feast of St Barnabas, mosaic then Southwark cathedral David Drury playing Langlais and Reger. Marko turning for him. Tate Modern but Joan Jonas did not impress. Tea in the members room. Got train and bus home. Henry came for the night. 

To Mass then to the cathedral to discuss the children's guides and quiet day with Michael Moran on God with us. I fitted in part of the recital at St Matthew Westminster by the talented organ scholar there Alexander van Dijk - a virtuosic fast Toccata and Fugue in D minor. I do think the player should acknowledge applause between items even if he does not want it! Saw Sebastian. Had some quiet time and sorted out emails when I got home so some publicity done for interfaith group and the dementia awareness evening. Now babysitting. They enjoyed Dunkirk. Henry played quite happily and now asleep. Liz is featured in January Catena and my letter has been published.

Swam very quiet when I arrived but the lady who swims fast in the slow lane arrived. I see the nutty lady is still about. Mass, Henry came and is crawling! He is so cure. Paul's birthday and he had been on freefall machine. To quiet time. Liz to Acton. Skype meeting on Catenian youth matters - 4 of us and it was excellent. Bake off final. Sue Perkins pilgrimage down the Ganges.

Henry came today and that was fun. To lunch at Toby Carvery with Beckenham circle brothers and widows - delicious and very reasonable. To quiet time at St John Upper Norwood but Fr Tom not there - lovely to sit in the church. Liz at servers council. Watched Bakeoff. Did emails and form about green spaces under threat. Christmas list of practices. Who is cute?

Got back OK from Barcelona. It was an early start to get the coach at 8.30 so we missed Mass at 8. Long wait at the airport and it was true security was chaotic. Nothing much to do apart from a cafe, duty free and one shop. Train and taxi from Gatwick. Home at 3.30 p.m. tired. Unpacked. To Dennis and AnnMarie for dinner and Tasmanian apple cake. Henry sitting up and trying to crawl. Watched 2 episodes of Victoria which is excellent. Monday to mosaic (I was late as I put the Ocado shopping away) forgot to take glue.They are off to Ravenna.  Fr John gave me lovely bread and would like to come to the party. To St Martin Ludgate for concert by Maria Thomas playing the lovely Poulenc oboe sonata. Jim Wells sang Faure - not sure it worked singing in French about sensuality. Julian Cable played the piano very well and a good audience including 10 gallery prommers and supporters. Good flautist as well. The Telemann worked well. They know each other through the Hampstead music club. To Bec...

Went to see Henry who has grown and chats away nearly sitting up on his own. He loved the mirror book. Packing. The last night went off well. Liked the Kodaly Te Deum and Finlandia. Pity the soprano who sang Isolde beautifully chose to sing depressing Weill which was too low for her. Did not stay afterwards. Jennifer complained about the flags in the way! She is nuts! 

Woke in the night - it was muggy. Thought I was going to see elephants! To Mass and then to Beckenham. Just under 2 hours and saw Richard. Hopefully in 2 days plasters off and I will not need to go back - hurrah! Ice cream in park. Liz with Ann Marie to dentist. Much correspondence on Bursary fund and Aylesford on Tuesday. Liz baked delicious fruit loaves for tonight;s recital. Henry came to visit and full of chat. Beautiful mosque in Mosul destroyed by IS.  Adrian Gunning played at St John Upper Norwood, He included Te Deum of Langlais which Dad played for his FTCL, Vierne, Ireland, Tournemire and Buxtehude. 30 there. Took Martin Ball home and had a chat to David our neighbour. Friday to Mass. Lots of emails and started putting holiday pics on Facebook -Liz took some really good ones. Watched Antiques roadshow and Japan art.  JTo Chislehurst Golf Club. ust back from Province 7 Catenian dinner for new presidents. Launch of Casper project to help young people and excellent ad...

Swam 20. Nice chat to Ann. Took Catenian posters to Fidelis and met Fr Clark who told me about the Knights and confirmation age. Henry is adorable  - lots of smiles. Guiding at cathedral boring. British library exhibition on the Russian revolution excellent. National Portrait Gallery lots doing drawing and I did two sketches. 

Saturday Liz went shopping and to Botanical Gardens. I had a lovely time at the Dublin writers museum where you get an audio guide. The Hugh Lane gallery is gorgeous and loved the Renoir and Manet. Francis Bacon's studio is a mess and new wing had Irish paintings. The special exhibition of the Belgian von Meulewin did not impress. Bus to the Zoo and met up with family. Baby elephants and mangabey, lemurs, rhinos, hippo, Asian lions, sea lions, zebra and giraffe, Amur tiger really close to glass. No birds because of bird flu. Back to b and b and salad downstairs. Dropped off during BBC young dancer. Sunday got cash and met 2 Edinburgh teachers. Bus to Finglas St Candice's church - folk group at Mass did not sing liturgicallt - wrong Sanctus, Lord's prayer and Peace song but no Gloria or Lamb of God, wrong psalm then they got applauded! 6 babies for baptism - hospital chaplain did OK. Walked to pub and got cab with Bruce to airport. Home by 8. Watched Antiques roadshow. Pro...

Wrote to  the Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration about unaccompanied refugee children as I am not satisfied by their figures and explanations. Delighted to see Henry who is 4 weeks old and has grown - looking and smiling and kicking! A lovely Meditation at St John's including Morley which worked better at the service, Byrd, Howells, Walton Litany. Watched Antiques roadshow and Ecuador jungle hotel. 

Set off to church. Henry Francis was born by caesarean at 9 a.m but I did not know until 11.30 as I was playing. We sang Hurford's Litany to the Holy Spirit - we being Linda and I. Nobody else came to practise Holy Week music. After lunch we went to King's College Hospital first for Mass with Clare in the chapel. Colourful vestment and colourful Afrcan priest.  Baby was 8 pounds and lots of black hair. Louise had got there already. Abandoned the idea of norma's recital at Dulwich as Liz took items back to the ward. I enjoyed the final Call the midwife and the painting challenge was really  hard. Monday We both went to Mass. I was late at mosaic and again jokes about being arrested for writing to the PM. I went to Marks to get biscuits to celebrate Henry's arrival but for some reason they got put int he cupboard so I gave the strawberry creams to the tai chi group most f whom did not eat them! 8 there. On buses to the hospital and Mum and baby doing well. Lo...