The organist librarian

Swam 20 and to mosaic. The tai chi was rather spoilt by Bill's email about the carol service but Fr Paul backed up my response. Redrafted the Christmas letter. Wrote an article on interfaith for Westminster Interfaith. To Catenians and dropped Tablet article into the Crinnegans. Presented a cheque to Barry Mizen and spoke after circle on interfaith dialogue. It went well. I got some strong opposition mostly showing astonishing ignorance but also some very good support!

Slept better - only woke once. Some interesting reactions at Lambeth country show ranging from "I'm an atheist" to "I'm a born again Christian Jesus is the only God" to a former Catholic who seemed to blame all the violence in the world on religion. Most striking were the harassed faces. A couple of good encounters which may lead to people coming along to meetings.

Drove to Brixton Hill for interfaith breakfast for Harmony week. Had bagel. Arranged mosque meetings for April and May with Mr Ijaz and Sayed had seen the Pope last week and is coming on the 28th for a chat. We heard from Lambeth's Topaz service and Mark of the anti-hate crime campaign supported by the council, also a new project to get kids walking to school and winning points so they get their parents on side. Watched Australian Come dine with me - not as good as the UK version! 

Swam 24 - came home to hear of horrific helicopter crash at Vauxhall. To Watermans for music and Seán was enjoying it. Saw the film "Pitch perfect" not bad but not funny and plot was non-existent! Lou dropped me at Gunnersbury - ate at Subway and got salad at M & S. Good interfaith group meeting with Karen Lawrence from Peterborough PECT and showed 3 short videos of ordination and Kurisamala. Dashed to Heythrop but videos blurry in Hughes room so showed bit of ordination on laptop during the break so Xavier could see it. To library and put up poster for Kensington unity service. Picked up Liz - frosty. She had been at RCIA. Didn't see Ciarán. The lecture was on the Catholic approaches to other faiths.

Friday 13th to Balham library to reserve and get scores. Good to be back at the Proms. The Turnage new piece left me cold. Cockaigne was much more fun followed by the gorgeous Sea Drift. Tippett suite and Elgar Coronation Ode (extra movements not in the score). Liz went to party at St Helen's. It was different to have 4 conductors. Saturday 14th Croydon interfaith walk. About 35 in all. Started at the new CRERC centre then St Mark's South Norwood with an interesting baptistery. South Norwood mosque a nice display and good talk (none of the usual preaching!) and some of the Muslims walked with us to the Hindu temple (Hare Krishna) where we had lunch. Then tried for 410 bus and ended up on 75 to get to the Gurdwara where the welcome was incomprehensible. I did not go to the Ahmadiyya mosque but headed for the cathedral for Vespers and Mass to a warm welcome back. Fr Wansborough was at mass as the schola of the Cardinal Vaughan was singing and Charles Cole's last service condu...

To St Pancras via East Croydon to get train to Nottingham.  Had to wait at Travelodge which is actually not brilliant but cheap and convenient for St Barnabas cathedral. It was a splendid ordination on St Barnabas Day lasting 2 hours and Simon looked and sounded great. We washed the Bishop's hands using a towel which had been used earlier! Everything went well. Choir were on good form and sang Widor, Lauridsen, Mawby and Weelkes. A very long stand during the ordination itself! Nice party afterwards and the scouts formed a guard of honour. Tuesday a.m. saw Larry at breakfast and to the Albert Hall to meet David Butterworth to play the magnificent 1909 Binns organ. Bought his DVD. I played Andrew Moore and Crown Imperial. We served at Simon's first Mass as acolytes - this was at 1 p.m. in the cathedral. Lovely new Polish vestments. Bus to station and train. Picked up Ciarán from nursery and put him to bed - he took an hour to settle and twice I crept out only to find h...

Ciaran decided he did not want to go out with Grandad and Aga but wanted Mummy. He is now in pants and using potty. We all went to Acton Park and found the pond and the rhodos and had lunch in the park. He went to sleep at home and I went to cathedral interfaith group. There were 14 there and we had an excellent discussion. Jon dal Din, Phil Rosenberg, Anna and Rosalind new to the group. Did not go to Alexandra Palace to hear Stephen Disley but came home to work on essay.

Thursday to interfaith lunch which was delicious and then to Heythrop where I met Gabriella about next week's seminar. To library for more books and then met with Fr Rocco and first meeting of chaplaincy interfaith team. Jonathan Gorsky is very nice. The lecture was interesting and Ben and Moises talked about the report Contextualising Islam in Britain. To Acton and curry. Ciarán had a temperature but by the morning we was OK and asked for me to make a train track! I got the bus to Ealing and enjoyed the day on modes and the chant with Br Alban. Excellent salmon lunch and trifle.

Swam 14 as had to do February music list. Just missed train at Selhurst and delays on train to Kew Bridge. Arrived at music just before noon. Had a nice lunch and chatted to a Dad who works at ITN. Took Ciarán home and then off to cathedral. Fire alarm had gone off so everybody outside - got into Hinsley room at 4.05. 13 came including 2 Heythrop and seminarian from Wonersh also Ganesh a Hindu so a good discussion. Hugely chuffed!

To Streatham for the South London lunch and Jon Dal Din was there. Turns out Fr David has retired to South Norwood! Good meal and information sharing. The Bexley book is all wrong! Home to do some reading. Served at mass for 25th anniversary of Cardinal Hume centre and Archbishop Vincent gave an excellent homily. 3 monks of Worth were there so greeted them. Liz had first confirmation meeting with Fr Paolo. To Red Gallery in Shoreditch for interfaith exhibition and party sponsored by 3 Faiths forum. Art disappointing although there were some nice silkscreen prints of calligraphy. Good Jewish choir singing but downstairs noisy and hot so came away. Watched Rev. Symphony and The Slap - all excellent. Friday am to Addington for scan for aortic aneurysm - all clear. Liz panicking about Powerpoint presentation so showed her how to do it.

No swim as woke late after another restless night. Both on 9.30 train. To Hinsley room to host Boroughs interfaith forum - really good meetings 30 at each and 6 of my group attended including Margaret who I don't know and rabbited on! Discussed riots and British transport police policy also the Fire Brigade. After a break discussed Olympic truce. Charlies from Wormwood Scrubs was most impressive and Elizabeth Simon as direct as usual. Saw Campion. Malik was teasing me about lunching at Marks which was middleclass! To Edgware Road to see "Casting Jesus" film from Tablet review - well done. Underground to Mansion House and discovered good coffee and sofas at St Mary Aldermary. Excellent Justshare talk by Nick Spencer of Theos about the political influence of the Bible. This was in a crypt, drunk woman left eventually. Asked a question and mentioned S.A. so several people spoke to me. Alan Carr on Who do you think you are. A stimulating day.Liz served at ordination of new ...

The windows are completed and look great! Liz started painting porch. Very nice interfaith lunch with lemon tart and Ivor gave us plum jam. 15 there. To Balham library and Sabina filled me in on the news. Daniel is there now and Chris went to Putney. I found the Bridge score in the basement and picked up other reserved scores. Good to see them all again and they all said I looked so relaxed! To prom - I was watching British painters so missed train and only arrived at 6.45 so went in general entrance for gallery out of lift and to a seat. Lady next to me sings with Tony Potter at Southwark cathedral. Beethoven symphonies 1 and 7 conducted by Thierry Fischer. New flute concertos by Marc-Andre Dalbavie and Elliott Carter who is 101! First like Debussy but second one too many percussion crashes! Home by 10.20. Found a February Tablet in Bruce's room where I slept as no curtains up.

Sorted out reading for degree. Played for wedding at 3 p.m. - new hymn to "I vow to thee my country". Met with Vickie to choose music July/August and then did music list on laptop and took practice. By the end my back was hurting a lot but I got a good night's sleep after watching Paul Merton on Hollywood. To Southall for interfaith march for peace. Visited Visnu hindu centre and then to Southall Park for most impressive stage and marquees put on by Sai centre. Miriam, Clare, Alfred and Barry Mellish and his wife there. Nice lunch provided by Birmingham Sikhs. Bahai choir sang and Buddhists sang. Amazing Grace was used as an interfaith song! Bus and tube delayed so arrived at 3 p.m. for Mass for married couples. Liz serving so we did vows in the well. Good hymns - Come down O love divine, Praise to the Lord, Jesus my God,Now thank we all our God. Widor Toccata. Madeleine was cantor. Tea at M and S. Smoke vespers and Mass with Father Tim. Drinks for confirmation in corrido...

Chori last night was shorter as we had done everything. Shostakovich 5 BBC Phil on Radio 3. Saturday to Haymarket hotel for champagne brunch with John Suchet and Gloria Hunniford who are both charming. 50 winners of Classic FM/Flora online competition. Celticana string quartet a delight for the ear and the eye! What a lovely morning. Stayed at hotel as online 4090 in queue for Proms tickets. After 2 and a half hours it was my turn and site would not connect so rang Albert Hall and eventually got through and ordered full season Prom tickets for the gallery for both of us by phone. Liz went to Kings Cross to get train tickets (we had lost our senior railcards again!) and to ENO for MND tickets for June 30th. I went to Streatham liberal synagogue for Faith and gender - interesting questions. Malik and Fr Tom from Corpus Christi there. Confirmation at Mass with Bishop John - felt redundant as George and Anthony were both there plus Michael who asked about the Holy Land pilgrimage.

To Victoria and the HQ of the Women's intefaith network for the meeting of the London boroughs interfaith forum where we chose a postcard and spoke about it's meaning for us. I chose a Van Gogh. We discussed Faiths and the environment. I heard of libraries under threat in Lewisham and Barnet. To Glyn Close to help with clearing up and Liz painting the stairwell. Missed tai chi - more important to network!

Woke early, swam 20 and loaded bits of drawers and cupboards from snowy front garden into car and then to Glyn Close into 2nd skip. Also threw out carpet. To Camden town hall for boroughs interfaith forum. I was late but that bit was about More than Gold. Interesting discussion on the relation between councils and forums. To the Renoir cinema to see "Of Gods and men" - very moving film about the murdered Trappist monks in Algeria. To British museum to see prints Picasso to Meurette and fine Buddhist exhibition. Met Pat Kahn Battersea Park reader. To Church House bookshop and bought calendar for Ann and Paul and "Cathedral music" magazine which has a photo of both of us serving at the cathedral. To Westminster Abbey evensong Clucas introit, Brahms motet and Taverner Collegium regale canticles. Psalm 90 to minor chant by Lang. To Balham - got prescription - only one pill! Met Liz Shaw the photographer. Liz Jensen met the reading group - 16 came. She was excellent. I ...

Early start as first service at 9.30. We sang Beatitudes to Greek chant really well! At second service with Royal British legion a good bugler but not told we were starting as late as possible so played Thalben-Ball Elegy, Solemn melody, Nimrod and Willan on St Anne and they came in in silence! Pie Jesu of Faure went really well (2 part version), St Anne fugue at the end. To Memorial hospital Shooters Hill an hour's drive in time for lunch and saw the memorial. To Firepower museum Woolwich for interfaith service with film. Fr Scanlon led it. National anthem to a recording did not work - band too slow and ran out of music in verse 2. Cup of tea and Hindu contact and Peace pagoda monk there so asked about a visit. Home and not to evensong - bit tired!

Wed to Interfaith group. I was late but the group had waited. I thought I had booked the Hinsley room and clergy house was inavailable. Any way we went to the cathedral cafe and had a good discussion there. Olga joined us for the first time. Met Sister Judith who had been in Peru for 30 years and lives in Croydon. To Chiswick and lunch at Carluccio's (gnocchi) and a yummy chocolate cake at Maison Blanc. Bought bells for Ciarán for Christmas at lovely toy shop. He is taking a couple of steps and climbing stairs, also throwing the ball and his bricks. To chorus for carols in great detail. The young Philharmonia voices have joined us. 9pm train to Birmingham (read Tablets) and started Kate Atkinson's "Started ealy, took my dog". Bruce arrived from Reading soon after I did so a taxi to the flat. Slept Ok and up at 8.15 a.m. Dismantled the units which Bruce has sold on Ebay. To the bindery to collect 4 copies of Dad's book "Finding a balance" all beautifully ...

40 lengths. To British Transport police HQ Camden Town for London Boroughs Interfaith network meeting which was quite interesting. Staff meetings and a chance to say thanks and welcome to Abi. Picked up Harry Mellor and drove to Swanley Indoor bowls centre for Catenian provincial council. I was congratulated and I spoke about the vocations initiative. I'm sure I dropped off at one point!

6th Advent carols at Coulsdon and all went well. 14th to Wimbledon to play carols for old folks from Wandsworth. They seemed keen to drink and chat and 12 days of Christmas with actions was the most popular. Some got up and did solos! 15th medical checkup at Medicentre Waterloo and the lady South African doctor from Pretoria very pleased with me. My fat count is up a bit which happens with age but she said keep up the swimming and walking and the good diet. I reckon I need to cut down on biscuits and sweets. To a fascinating afternoon at the IIPR Institute for Policy research - seminar on interfaith and community at 30 Southampton Street. Came home to find Ciarán here. We had had lots of visitors - I took Grandma and Josie home. 16th Interfaith meeting with Rachel Heilbron of the 3 Faiths forum - she is a delight and 12 came inculding Jon Dal Din and Sr Hilda. Went home and then to Chesterton school at 4 p.m. for Christmas buffet - not a great success - the former head friendly and cha...