The organist librarian

Boxing Day we drove to Heathrow via the cathedral to get Liz's purse and handed over the car to be parked. Our flight to Dubai was at 1.35 and the Emirates seats were much bigger and more comfortable and a very good choice of entertainment. "The 100 foot journey" with Helen Mirren an excellent film, Bolshoi ballet and film "Grace of Monaco". The change at Dubai went smoothly and the airport is impressive. Watched Art of Australia and Taste of Italy and listened to Britten songs sung by Ian Bostridge and slept a little as we were in a 2 seat at the back. 

No swim again. Listened to Walton Sinfonia concertante from the Prom with a lovely full score from CML. The HDD version lost the last 3 pages which I found on Iplayer! To Cadogan Hall for a super Prom of Shostakovich waltzes which were fun and Facade conducted by John Wilson and the Nash ensemble with the superb Dame Felicity Palmer and Ian Bostridge perfect as narrators. To Science museum basement to meet Lou, Ciarán and James. Had coffee and salad. I went to the V and A for the lovely wedding dresses display which was pricey but worth it. The Duchess of Argyl had a huge train carried by footmen through crowds at the Oratory. Some fine modern dresses too especially the Indian and Chinese style ones. The Duchess of Cornwall and Sarah Chatto dresses very fine. Some were too revealing for a church wedding! The talk was about Robert Frost and Edward Thomas and was excellent. Great to hear Frost read by an American. The Cleveland played Brahms Tragic overture and No. 2 beautifully. The Jo...

Monday swam 20 and Liz came too. To tai chi and the Wandsworth folk were there to observe. I completed the 2 St John's mosaics - just need grouting. Liz went to the Prom and to babysit. To Catenian meeting and 3 visiting gentlemen which is great! A very pleasant evening and Gerrard had some good jokes. I promoted the Jimmy Mizen book - Barry sent me a very nice email. Tuesday swam 20. To King's hospital dental - dentist said a denture was the best option to fill gaps on both sides. Any thing else would be a waste of money! Seen quickly. Listened to Brahms quintet and some Dowland songs sung by Ian Bostridge. 

Tuesday to the Horniman where Liz took Ciarán to see the Amazon adventure and aquarium. He liked the animals section and the bees which he remembered. I enjoyed the music section and the Art of Harmony exhibition. We had a very nice lunch outside and loved the chimes in the garden and the water fountain. Had ice creams. What a view on a lovely day! I was pleased to see that there are now lines across the glass doors where Ciarán ran into one. The Prom talk was about Britten's setting of text. I asked a question about Pears and Britten's religious beliefs which was well answered but it did not make the broadcast. Pears was the dominant one I think. Britten veered between conscientious objection to declaring himself a Christian in the 60s. The prom featured Ian Bostridge singing Les illuminations, Tippett and Elgar 2 instead of Sibelius 2. It was LSO and Daniel Harding's tribute to Sir Colin Davis. The Elgar was very fine. 

Great hymns at Coulsdon including O thou who camest and The church's one foundation. Had a chat about choirs with Ann and Jenny. Gary Seiling taking on CODA singers. Maybe we need a choir which does new repertoire? Mass at Purley with Fr Gregory - he changed 2 of the hymns on the board and we sang unaccompanied The Church's one foundation. Car to Selhurst and train back to East Croydon so I could have wine at lunch at Croydon Park Oscars with Liz and Dennis. Lovely food - beef and pork, chocolate cake and bread and butter pudding. To pre-Prom talk with members of Polyphony and London Sinfonia trombone and cello. The Britten variations on a theme of Frank Bridge beautifully played (score). The Colin Matthews No man's land a world premiere. Lovely singing from Ian Bostridge and standin baritone but diction not good. Mozart Requiem disappointing - group of soloists not a choir tenors and sops too loud, Basses excellent. Soprano solo too much vibrato. Stephen Layton has a great...

Had a lie-in - still tired from Saturday and back playing up a bit. At mosaic class I carried on with the beackground and made the stars out of clay and painted them - Linda will do 2 more coats and fire them. Tai chi was with Paul, Tony's teacher and he used the ideas Tony and Geoff used to use which helped - some new comers. To Battersea Park using the new entrance at Clapham Junction to collect reserved books. Lovely day but windy. Read Tablet and Ian Bostridge on radio 3. Chelsea flower show on TV. My comment on youtube about Cardinal Arinze has provoked a response informing me that only Catholics have the true faith and all other liturgies are wrong. How blinkered can you be? What of Vatican II and ecumenism? The cardinal told a mother that her daughter should not take part in other church's liturgies even though it was clear that the daughter would attend Mass as normal. I was appalled at his response. With people like him at the top what hope is there of a united Church...

I have been dipping into the biography of Tavener. Watched Don Carlos on Iplayer, spoke to Dennis for his birthday and watched play on Gracie Fields and documentary on her life. My Dad was very keen on her. Johannian came with my full article about the school reunion and a photo of me with eyes shut! To Terence's to have tea and watch the Westminster Abbey Remembrance for World War 1 service attended by the Queen. Excellent sermon from Rowan Williams and an effective new anthem "The Peace which passeth understanding" by Tavener. Ian Bostridge sang Britten's Agnus Dei so well. To Vic and Albert and enjoyed the Islamic gallery - once again the musical instruments were closed off. To cafe bar above Natural History museum ice rink for a cappuccino. Lovely carousel but no stalls this time! To Holy Trinity behind the Albert hall for chorus carols rehearsal. Ridiculous to have people trying to sing Bach without scores. John Rutter Gloria is fun and much influenced by Walton...