The organist librarian

Swam, finished Van Gogh mosaic, St Michael Cornhill recital which was a popular programme, to Forest Hill to see Ros. Westminster city hall Holocaust memorial day. Lots of RCs there a superb male voice choir from New West London synagogue Bayswater, 3 speakers including Nick Ross and a holocaust survivor but it was such a long stand! My knees were unhappy. I gave out a lot of leaflets about the auction.

Wednesday to school library and all catalogued and cleared up. To Shakespeare Road and home for Halloween. Dennis was coming but got locked out so Liz went up there after mass at Addiscombe. Swam, took Liz to station setting off for Newcastle, Mass of All Saints, returned home to find electricians here instead of 1.15 - no problem with the connections and saw Darren as well. To art and finished holocaust painting. Stayed for free session of Mind, body and spirit yoga instructor - enjoyed it much more than Tony's endless prattling. Finally got to watch Dagmar female production of Julius Caesar - amazing. Hamlet with the brilliant Andrew Scott and Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude. Michael Portillo's history programmes. All Souls to Mass and collected Liz's jacket from the surgery. Watched programme on Cary Grant. Welcoming at cathedral - met twins from Napoli but it was quiet. Train to Norwood Junction then bus as trains were being cancelled. Faure at St John's. Maz had us t...

Swam,  Mass Fr Sunith did it all and read writhe as rith! Penge library for 3 scores from Bromley and bought new washing up bowl at Poundland. To art and progress on holocaust painting. Lunch and then to Balham to return scores, recycle batteries and pick up ordered buttons at Waitrose. A good hour with Clare. Still hot and no rain. Everyone very excited about Clare and Mick getting married and Louise and family going to Sydney for Christmas. A delightful programme by Richard Hills at St John Upper Norwood with light and serious well-mixed.

Played before funeral at Caterham. I only found out yesterday that I was glad and Stanford in G Nunc was to be sung by a professional group so by mutual agreement Laurence played. He was most impressed by the organ and my playing. I know, Faure Elegie, Thalben-Ball Elegy. Deceased was big in St John Ambulance so church full. Because of the change in funeral arrangements I was able for the first time to attend the Holocaust memorial day candle lighting and presentations by 4 schools and a survivor at Croydon Town Hall. It was most impressive and moving. Met the rabbi from Shirley, Rose from South Norwood, Irene Siepka and the Mayor. Excellent string quartet from Whitgift and a fine singer from Oasis Coulsdon. Programme on Rembrandt and otters. Long chat to Andy Pritchard. 

Had a quiet morning after last week's unpleasantness Had a break from Tamar's Pandemonium! 10 came to hear Joan Salter tell how her family were saved form the holocaust - her parents were amazing and lucky! 7 at Conversations for the soul and a stimulating discussion about Japan! I was early so sat and prayed during the chanting - love the sound of the bowl/gong and the chanting is done at high speed.A stimulating day considering I had felt tired after waking early. 

Wednesday was a serious day. We went to Yad Vashem which is distressing and makes me angry at the inhumanity of the Holocast. Afterwards we met Yahan a Jew who works against demolition of Palestinian houses. He showed us how Yad Vashem while an excellent museum has an agenda about Israel and is built on the site of demolished villages. We went to see the outskirts of a mental hospital where the village was where Palestinians were massacred in 1948 leading to evacuations. In the evening we had an excllent session with Christian and Mulsim young ladies - the account of the El Al search was disgusting and I will certainly l never fly with them again. I am still puzzling over apartheid parallels but there is hope that the women might change things. Thursday 26.3.15 To the Dome of the Rock at 7 a.m. We were very priviledged to go into both mosques and the Muslims prayed under the actual rock. Wonderful stained glass and mosaics and decoration. The Al Aqsa mosque is huge – 7 aisles and mo...

To mosaic and tai chi ( a new member from Italy and a good turnout). Nice lunch. I was supposed to go to West London synagogue yesterday for the service but took a rest instead - seem to be tired. Had a wierd dream about somebody kissing the Queen at a meeting - outrageous! Washing machine is fixed and Dennis's roof has been checked and all is in hand. Weather turned wet again. 

Monday had a nice breakfast and packed up. The bill is not as much as expected – the exchange rate is favouring us! George has been brilliant and I feel for him over Saturday’s mess-up. People can be so unreasonable. To the library and Jenny was delighted by the mosaic and as chatty as ever! We the went to Wits university campus which is huge compared to my day. The Origins centre is fascinating especially on the San people with marvellous wall hangings and films. You also get a commentary on a headphone set up. We arrived at Oliver Tambo airport in good time despite some diversions using the GPS. Car handed over without a problem and then to domestic terminal to get 3.10 flight to Cape Town. Liz did not have a window seat but as the plane was full that is not surprising. Her balck neighbour seemed decidedly odd! We picked up the car which a brand new Toyota Corolla. I hired a Tom tom from another company as Avis had run out of them and he was most helpful even coming to the car to i...

Liz off to the cathedral after a request from Nicolas Moodie for a soprano at St Michael Cornhill - £50. Decided against it - I used to sing there in 1974 and met Harold Darke there. Read article on Jewish/Catholic relations. Listened to evensong Bramdean school 1990 including Harris in D and Ireland Ex ore innocentium. Djokovic won Australian Open final beating Murray again! Lovely sunny day and cleaned kitchen floor.

Sorted out queries on New Zealand trip - swimming with dolphins not possible because water too cold! To hearing aid clinic at St Michael's Battersea - seems had wrong battery in right hand one and now can hear well - in fact hearing too much! To interfaith lunch at Streatham and a useful meeting on Holocaust memorial day. Good discussion.