The organist librarian

Ann led a lovely meditation on the Visitation at Hurtado centre and I went to St Patrick's art studios Wapping. Mike Quirke has donated a fine painting for the art auction. I love his work! The trains were replaced by buses so Citymapper suggested 468 to Denmark Hill and overground from there. Big match so missed Fr Stewart's farewell lunch. Drove to Kent House and missed train and next one cancelled so went to West Norwood. 5 admitted to Guild at Mass by Fr Daniel which was really nice. 

A stimulating morning at Hurtado centre on the darkness before the dawn. Lunch at Whitechapel gallery. Liz at servers AGM and school dinner after Mass. 4 servers admitted to Guild. Peter Stevens died. The Hurtado session this morning reflected on darkness and we were asked to use the Ignatian idea of looking down on the world with God. I did think half of the world is in the light all the time but there is so much darkness everywhere especially for migrants and in our country so I concentrated on darkness near to home where I might shed a little light e.g. the grief of our nextdoor neighbour and his loneliness. Are films really art? At Whitechapel gallery 30 minutes of grainy shots of Saturn by Tom Ireland very boring. Ulla von Brandenburg's Sweet feast is fun and Mikhail Karikis No ordinary protest is rather touching with 7 year olds reflecting on the environment. Elmgreen & Dragset did not appeal so skipped it as you have to pay. 

Woke at 3 a.m. Britten on brain, read McCall Smith. No swim as toe has dressing. Mass with Fr Stuart. Long queue at post office - guy in front large bag of parcels. £1.17 for one card to Eire! Henry came - crawling and played piano, good at standing up with a chair. Mick came for sd and went really well. To quiet tiem at St John's fell asleep. 4 of us. Liz to Lourdes Mass and Acton forgot her freedom pass. I went to Hurtado Fr John Moffat SJ on "What is truth?" Well done but a bit above my head. Fr Andrew Connick, Eugene and Alison there. Wine and sandwiches. Turner Prize winner announced in Hull. Gay teenager's life. Mexican art. University challenge. 

A very goo d morning at Hurtado centre with Ft Stephen and Anne looking at pilgrimage and looking back at the last year. I was surprised but what I had left out of the Christmas letter especially the bad start to the year and the consolation of joyous events later on. Watched Citizen Khan, Vienna and Chester Zoo. To Darenth Valley golf club along winding lanes in the dark to Swanley's Christmas dinner and dance. Food good but the singer/comedian in poor taste and we left at 10. The slovac joke did not amuse. 

To Hurtado centre Wapping for meditation on Mary Mother of mercy then St George's cathedral Southwark for Your Catholic legacy Mass, nice lunch and talk by the Mizens. Met a Catenian and a potential Catenian. Arcbishop Peter Smith walked off when I was talking to the Mizens but saw him later. To the Jewel house Westminster and Painting with light at Tate Britain and watched the dancers in the Duveen gallery. Fr Quaqoe at Mass. To Big iftar at West London synagogue - lovely food and saw Rabbi Neuberger and met several people.  Played Bliss Royal fanfares (which we had at our wedding!)  Thomas Hewitt Jones  Fanfare for Queen's 90th, Moore Nobilmente and Crown Imperial which was much appreciated as was Lead me Lord. Practised with 3. Evensong at St John Upper Norwood marking RSCM Music Sunday Howells Collegium Regale Britten Jubilate Deo When in our music God is glorified. Enjoyed the Royal coverage especially the Weir anthem.

To Hurtado centre at Wapping for session on listening. Only 6 there but interesting reflection on Philip and the Ethopian eunuch. Back home. Threw out frozen cauliflower cheese and had pasta and pan au chocolat. Prepared materials for the mosque (still no reply from the Shakyh) and stuff about organists visit to Acton. No trains from Selhurst so parked and bus and tram to East Croydon. Got there are 5.40 to find Emmanuel doing smoke, the girls with wimps, the new guy book. George and Paul Tobin. I said Good evening to Mr M and he once again ignored me. The bishops and Fr John very friendly. The cardinal thanked the servers. It was a mass for evangelisation with bibles given to catechumens. I did nothing while Emmanuel cleared the altar! There were prayers for Paris and an appeal for Aid to the Church in Need.I went straight to the Vigil at Trafalgar Square for Paris and lots of French people there. I saw Bishop Paul and the secretary of the Muslim council who greeted me as John! Catri...

Spent some time doing the programme for June 28th so not happy to learn that David Wright is coming after all having told Facebook and organ recitals.com about the change of player! To Wapping and quiet morning at Hurtado with Ann and Stephen on Bartimaeus and the Trinity looking up and down. Met Sister from Poplar and Verity who is interested in praying with Muslims. Bought a hand-painted coaster of Kerry at Wapping fair on the green. Served at confirmation and told Canon Chrotsopher why I ws there - Fr Derek and Fr Kim pleased to see me. I ended up doing bell - Rebecca is even giving out jobs! I don;t think I will bother in future 103 candidates takes a long time and the local kids did OK. To Tate Britain and unimpressed by the history painitng. Cream tea in Friends room. The Duveen installation is by Christina Mackie. Vespers and Mass. Home to watch Cardiff singer of the world song final won by South Korean.

Nice Valentines card from Liz. To Wapping Hurtado centre for an excellent session with Anne on imagining the Baptism of the Lord, I had never before imagined accompanying Jesus as he left home and being baptised with him  and welcomed by him. Pam Morris was there and Mary who knows Fr Tom at Forest Hill. Trains to Sanderstead and then bus to URC where Richard played Elgar Imperial march.His talk on being a BBC sound engineer was so dull and illprepared.  I played Bach Liebster Jesu and Willan and got chatting to Caroline from the church choir. Good turnout and I gave out the recital booklets. Got train to Victoria in good time and Brian was celebrant. A very good homily what I could hear of it. To Beckenham Ask Italian. A disaster and in the end we walked out without paying. In 2 hours and 10 minutes 1 drink, 1 olives, 1 calamari. The neighbouring table gave us pizza and prosecco! They should never have tried to do a 4 course menu for Valentine's. Cab home and foraged in the ...

Took Seán to Acton parish church but no playgroup so went home. There wasn't time to go to music as I had to get to Beckenham to play for funeral. 2 hymns and voluntaries - £60. The deceased lady was treated like a saint. She lived for her grandchildren, would do anything for anyone. But did she go to church and feed the poor? Perhaps one should not be so judgemental but when the pop songs started I escaped and got back to Acton in time for Liz to take Ciaran to swimming. Evensong was from Magdalen Oxford. Yesterday I packed up Alan's surplus music in 3 boxes and sent it to Liverpool. Too Sean to the park in his push bike with no handle. To Hurtado centre, Wapping and 2 of the Jesuit deacons were there. Ann led a good session on pictures of the Pharisee and tax collector. During the meditation I had a lovely feeling of being accepted like a child just as I had comforted Sean earlier then dropped off! Watched Come dine with me,

To Tesco pharmacy for flu jab for the first time - very nice pharmacist explained it all. My arm still a bit sore. To Hurtado centre Wapping for an excellent Advent pilgrimage with Paul Nicholson SJ and bought his Advent book of reflections for each day. The walk round Wapping was most interesting. A lovely section like a Dutch canal scene then dull estates. The mosque is currently on a top floor and very dark. St Peter's Anglican church very high and quite lovely compared to the Catholic church which is cold and very Roman - St Patrick's. Pat and Kerry and a nice group. Damian was there and lent hats - I chose a splendid black one from Bailey of Hollywood. It was a great chance to reflect on pilgrimages especially the Holy Land and my role. John the Baptist seen as someone who decreased. To Bloomsbury Baptist for Norman Harper being funny and playing Thalben-Ball complete with happy stickers on his soles, Bach, Peeters, Leighton and Karg-Elert. Large crowd outside for auditio...

Saturday to Hurtado centre at Wapping for a 2 hour morning quiet session led by Damian Howard and Anna on Psalm 23 in which we wrote our own psalm. It was a good time. To Whitechapel gallery but Sarah Lucas's obsession with genitalia does not appeal. To Tate Britain to see the iconoclasm exhibition which was most interesting. Surprised to find the members room still closed but saw several films and the British art displays. Tea at Pret a manger. Big crowds to see the relics of St Anthony of Padua and mitre at Mass which was attended by lots of servers. Told Archbishop about our results. For some odd reason we were asked not to attend vespers - very odd. Rebecca and George are a pain. Watched National theatre tribute on BBC2. Commented on Simon Surtees' sermon for Remembrance.