The organist librarian

Watched "The Jane Austen book club" and loved it.

Woke early and did some posting and then back to sleep. Helped clear up the garden and the bark is now down under the tree at last.  Bloomsbury Baptist Karg-Elert festival. Ouriana Gassiou and  Eleni Keventsidou  played duets for organ and piano. The problem was that a succession of movements left one confused which was Karg- Elert and Kienzl. Wagner and Weber more successful as it was all rather similar. Stefan Engels played well.  The cardinal celebrated Mass for New Catholics at the cathedral and gave an excellent homily. It was good to see Deacon Kassa and Carlos there. We had a word with him about Sayed Ali Razawi and Ibrahim Mogra's visit to the Pope. He did not realise our friendship with them. Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen on TV.

Having come home early on Boxing Day tummies settled down! Had a quiet day catching up on TV = excellent broadcast from York Minster, horrid one from St George's cathedral Southwark - difficult to find anything good to say about it! Becoming Jane excellent, alleged portrait of Jane Austen, Nutcracker from Royal Ballet 2000, Christmas University challenge has been good. London's burning about the riots in Clapham Junction was terrifying. Tuesday to St John's for sung eucharist - nice David Thorne setting and AJEyre carol. Surprise lunch in the vicarage which was lovely.

Last night after a relatively quiet 9 to 5 at work Liz persuaded me to leave the quiet comfort of the lounge to go to St Paul's cathedral for the 11.15 watch night service. The Cambridge Heath Salvation Army band played very well and the precentor Canon Lucy Winkett spoke excellently. The cathedral looks splendid and I liked moving to the great West door during "Lord for the years" to hear the famous quote used by King George VI "I said to the man at the door of the year give me a light". We drove up via Tower Bridge and heard the fireworks. The journey home took a long time and every bus was packed! We go home at 1.45 a.m. Today we spoke to Ann on Skype having got Dennis on the mobile at midnight. We went by train to Westminster Cathedral and served at Mass. Fr Michael spoke about Mary and the Trinity and Deacon Ed said he had seen the fireworks from their roof terrace. Watched a lot of TV including the Vienna New Year concert, 3 hour programme on Vaughan Willi...