The organist librarian

Angela Tilby led day of prayer at St Margaret's on Seeking the face of God. Wonderful talks. Had lunch at Methodist Central Hall. Had the shrine to myself!!!! Evensong Noble in B minor and favourite anthem Wesley Ascribe unto the Lord. The boys were great not so sure about some of the men. The B team? Harwood sonata movement. Had a look in the new Waterstones near Victoria. It's huge. Bishop Paul confirmation. His Irish accent is so think I did not understand his homily at all. He filled the chalice so Aymeric and I had to drink it! Patrick seemed confused! Fr John helped out.  To fit the gospel played Bach O lamm Gott unschuldig and Handel Behold the lamb of God. We sang Webbe Lamb of God. Full marks to Imogen who had been to see the exhibition. She found it too sad to bid! Reached Caterham station in time and tried to get on train. Turns out front 4 coaches only. Furious with 2 staff more concerned with waving the train out. They could have made it wait. Why long trains on...

Harvest so we sang Greene Thou visitest the earth. I played Peeters on Wir plufgen, Statham on Monkland and Recessional on St George by Vernon Griffiths. We sang For the fruits but to Ar hyd y nos. Liz came for the harvest lunch and Julie entertained us with poems and 3 flute pieces. Richard Sutton conducted evensong and John Pritchard played. Sumsion in G, Attwood Teach me O Lord, Benediction. Nice to see Nicholas Ansdell-Evans and his mother.

Played another new piece Meditation by Gabriel Dupont and Finlandia Liz's Dad's favourite. We sang Boyce Alleluia which fitted well with 4 children admitted to communion and 5 new Mothers Union members. Abandoned attempt to reach St Paul's cathedral for the lunchtime talk - train broken down at Blackfriars meant a long delay at London Bridge. listened to the final evensong from King's conducted by Stephen Cleobury. End of an era? A very calm evensong and Benediction at St John Sumsion ATB setting, Stanford Song of Wisdom, Howells Master Tallis' testament.

At evensong we sang "Sing choirs of heaven" and "When in our music God is glorified" Sumsion in A and Britten Jubilate. Delicious meal at home with Larry  Markey and Tony. Great chat! Dennis and family came down and Louise and Bruce rang for Father's Day -enjoying the Leonidas chocolates from Jersey - thanks Bruce!

To St John's to hear Mark James. Chris remarked that he needed a good teacher. He has little sense of phrasing and style and a lot of marches! Discussion about Martin Setchel with Carl and about the RAH concert. 70% full and an opportunity missed to play some attractive organ music rather than transcriptions.

Up at 8 am 20 minute drive to Caterham.Anne-Marie Garton celebrated and preached on gifts. I took my organ card. Played Gant Paean, Sumsion Cradle song and Noel Suisse. Packed car and drove to Acton. Prosecco! Boys busy doing amazing lego. Spoke to Dennis in Dublin.Tom excelled himself turkey, ham, pigs in blankets, all delicious. Presents and I now own a Kindle! Sleep and pudding. The Queen as wonderful as ever and featuring a young choir. Slept soundly through Strictly come dancing Christmas special! Lots of TV catching up to do. Sadly missed call from Bruce Woodhouse  Delicious late breakfast. Liz to Brook Green for servers Mass. Walk to Acton Park. Spoke to Bruce, Dennis, Henry and Ann-Marie on phone.Call the midwife excellent.Traditional carol singing and the boys joined in a bit. The highway rat and French and Saunders hilarious.TV carols from King's very good. The weather put paid to plans for the zoo and Tate modern or Waterman's. French and Saunders hi...

We sang Creator of the stars of night arranged John Scott. I played Bairstow and Sumsion on Veni Emmanuel and Flor Peeters on Conditor alme. A train full of noisy loud 20 something's. Nice lunch. One of my Advent meditation books makes the good point that Paul's "Rejoice in the Lord always!" is an impossible idea. However the way forward is to be grateful for everything and turn that into prayer and joy will follow. Watched Mary Berry at Goodwood house and showjumping from Olympia. For evensong played Willan on Bristol and Flor Peeters on St Stephen and Wachet auf. Very annoyed to find that my parking place outside my house has been taken and for the second time the bollards have gone as well! How dare they take them away! Sports non personalityof the year. Sir Mo won. Liz gone to Clare's. Ciaran playing his new guitar on Whatsapp. Apprentice joint winners! 

Today a lady came to compliment the 4 of us on the anthem King of glory Bach arranged Harris. I played Boellmann Angelus, Verset on Adoro The and Carillon. There wasn't time to play Elevation which is a bit like Puccini! Just before the first hymn the book fell off the stool onto the pedals so there was a gap while I retrieved it and found the number. As Fr Jerry said in his excellent sermon Murphy's law. I liked the Gilbert principle i.e.only promote the incompetent to management so they can do the least harm to the bank! Good practice afterwards and 2 new items introduced. Watched Lucy Worsley on opera and fell asleep - I woke early again. Evensong at St John's Sumsion in A and Bruckner Christus factus est. The vowels were not the same and pitching difficult. Bob changed sides which did not really help! Victoria returns at Christmas! Antiques roadshow. University challenge. Glyndebourne Hamlet by Brett Dean. Programme on governments using music 

We sang David Ogden's Christ has no body now but yours and I played Walther Jesu meine Freud and Clarke Trumpet voluntary. Excellent talk on the Church's year at St Paul's cathedral by Canon Mark Oakley.  At St John Upper Norwood we sang Greater Love (Liz sang the solo well) and Sumsion in G. Watched Call the midwife. I had a rest and did not go to Streatham mosque open day. 

Today is my last Sunday morning "off" before St John Caterham from next week. I did consider going up to the Temple church or even the Shakespeare walk but I'm glad I didn't in view of the marathon crowds. I realy enjoyed the service at St John Upper Norwood and we sang Sumsion in F and Lloyd Webber Sing the life, National anthem and Jerusalem!! I need to find the quote but Alexander McCall Smith hs something about our patriotism being influenced by what we ate for breakfast as a child! Maybe something in that? The children like  the idea of a new tree in memory of their grandparents - Dennis wants two! At evensong we sang Noble in B minor and Greater love with Liz singing the solo. Bridget conducted and Fr John played - toccata and fugue in D minor at the end. Watched the Queen, marathon, Indian summers and Antiques roadshow. 

I played le Begue Noels. We had alcohol free Christmas pudding with brandy sauce from Marks - very nice. The carols by candlelight went very well. Liz sang The little road to Bethlehem and the small choir sang People look East, Whence is that goodly fragrance, Mary's song by Simon Mold and Sing lullaby. I played Sumsion Cradle song, Buxtehude and Bach In dulci, Boely and Brahms Est is ein ros.Antiques roadshow and The apprentice final.

Played Henry G Ley on Down Ampney and Stanley trumpet tune (using oboe as tuning is needed - it will happen on Wednesday). Timed and rehearsed recital pieces. Paul preached about Pope Francis and Paul Hendricks at confirmation at St Anselm's. There was a meeting after service so could not practise but have made some arrangements for the recitals. Listened to Just a minute and we had pie for lunch. To evensong which was ATB - Sumsion in G and Ernest Walker I will lift up mine eyes. Prepared programmes for Ian Verran and Robert and Brian - the latter meant a lot of copying and retyping! Printer problems. Duchess of Malfi from the new Globe theatre on TV - very well done.

We sang Lo he comes at the morning service so I played Lloyd Webber voluntary on it and Sumsion on Veni emmanuel. Liz ahd made cakes for the boys, clergy and servers. Fr Augustine is moving to Walsingham aged 98! Louise arrived for lunch and had a sleep. The carols went really well. Choir of 8. The Rutter Angels'carol and Little road were beautifully sung and we sang On Christmas night and Sing lullaby. Applause was a little odd  -45 there. Mulled wine and mince pies. Antiques roadshow, final fo Choir in the workplace won inexplicably by P and O. I thought Citi were much better and I like Cheshire fire service's sound. 

To St Mary's to practise - fitted in between roaary and 12.10 a.m.mass. There was a delay starting and I played Sumsion and Bairstow and Willcocks arrangement of Veni emmanuel (Dermot's favourite) and I know. 7 choir members there so they sang well also people from the Railway club. At the end Michael Fleming's arrangement of Now the Green blade riseth. We got a little off the rack going to Long Ditton but did see the grave - it's a lovely cemetery and nice meal at the Ditton. We gave Louise Sage a lift. Parked at Battersea Park and of course the one night there was no 452 straight after the concert! LPO under Jurowski Bantock, Prokofiev Piano concerto 3 stunning playing from Anika Vavic, Sibelius and Also sprach. 

At service played Purcell, Oldroyd and Sumsion Pastoral. Lovely to have the organ in tune. Bill sang the psalm really well - the chant by Harry Bramma. Debbie away - what a treat! Excellent sermon from Fr Paul on the woman washing Jesus's feet with her hair. Practised Buxtehude. Home for lunch and then back for 2 and picked up Liz. She had been at Mass at Acton. Composite recital worked really well and 35 there especially United Reformed folk. Ian Verran very musical Rutter, Borodin and Sousa Liberty Bell. Michael Toplis Handel and Festing. Ken Baker played Croft, Greene, Burney and Bennett all ideal for this organ. Widor Toccata from Gloria Toplis worked well. Had some wine. I went to evensong which celebrated Sumsion. Bruce rang for Father's Day and I told him we were doing "Stagger like a drunken man". "Oh I like that one Dad". Spoke to Ann in Nuremberg. Dennis and Louise rang. Watched The White Queen about Edward IV and Review show, also Antiques roadsh...

Drove to Beckenham and played Bach Ascension and Easter preludes. Chatted to Stephen about recitals publicity. To Alan's house and tried the Allen organ and there are 5 keyboards. Packed with his brother's paintings some of which are good and some are dreadful! I think museums would be interested in the original features. Liz stayed at Acton and went to Mass there and the park. To evensong - Timothy Penrose in congregation - Sumsion in G and Walford Davies O sons and daughters. Watched Diamond Queen. Great evensong on radio from St John's Cambridge. Monday woke with bad backache.

Thursday to Acton and fixed the track which Jack had changed! Friday to the gym where we watched the tennis class which the boys enjoyed. We then set off for Southwell. Decided to go a bit further on the busy M1 to Hardwick Hall which was well worth a visit. Elizabethan house and a nice cream tea. Arrived in Southwell from Mansfield without problem. The Reindeer pub proved not to be great but we did eventually get the ensuite room which was not really big enough to move around in bathroom or beside the bed! We had eaten at Hardwick so did not go out with Simon for a meal. At breakfast there were no cereals! The wife of the owner is a cardiac nurse with a small baby and very new to b and b! Rehearsed in the Great hall and evensong went well. Hadley and Willan My beloved spake and Sumsion in G. Fr Simon came to evensong and to the Wheatsheaf pub. We then went in the party to the Bamboo Garden Chinese restaurant and enjoyed chatting to Michael and Jonathan basses - the latter from Wales....

To Coney Hill Baptist church West Wickham for musical tea to celebrate Ken Baker's 50 years of organ playing and 50 years as a member of Bromley and Croydon organists association. Met Bill who knows St Andrew's and Dorothy Taylor well. Rodney Williams sang Mendelssohn and a spiritual -  he sings at Westminster Abbey - Owen Brannigan type bass. Ken played Arne, Handel, Mozart and Daquin and Ketelby. At evensong Sumsion in G and Eccard Benediction. No sign of Bev - sad to hear she is moving to Bradford.

To evensong at St John's - nice to see everyone again. Terence having knee op done. Sumsion in G and Stanford Justorum animae - end of it wrecked by sopranos out of tune. Both to swimming pool to find that it was too cold so did not venture in. To library and return lots of scores and picked up reserved books - saw Diana and 2 other readers! To Methodist central hall for inspiring presentation about the scale of the Olympics and the planned outreach and BBC coverage. Good lunch and saw Christina. Our table got full marks for the sports quiz and we got a white T shirt. Met people from Hounslow and Essex. Missed tai chi but it was worth it. To our first ballroom dancing class at South Norwood adult education centre and learnt the cha cha cha. We also did waltz and foxtrot - very good teachers.

Wed to spirituality day led by Eileen McDade on "Who do you say I am?" Excellent and had a choice of postcards from National Gallery. I chose Piero's Baptism and Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks also poster of Mystic Nativity by Botticelli which is a very strange picture indeed. Went to Church House bookshop as St Paul's closed for stocktaking and got calendar for Ann and Paul, plus some cards and a nice little statue on the sale of the Holy Family made of a sort of soft stone. To National Gallery to look at the real pictures! Then to the chorus party at Waterloo Warehouse which was a quiz with Jackie's excellent food. Didn't do too well in the quiz on 2008! Thursday chorus rehearsal with Edward - Arvo Part, Bruckner, Kodaly. A lot of sight reading. As I finished early to Tate Britain to see Turner Prize and quite intrigued by the winner's films. But is it art? Those who wrote on the noticeboard didn't think so! To National Portrait gallery to see ph...