The organist librarian

Planning meeting for auction. I now have a better idea of how charities operate. To St Dunstan in the West. Hamish Wagstaff from Sydney lots of noises off and the organ itself not in tune or very impressive! Dupre, JSB, Buxtehude, Franck, Howells. 4 hotels including Claridges took the exhibition leaflets. To St Paul's for vespers sung by Westminster cathedral choir. Palestrina. Langlais Fetes.Took Henry swimming - he loves it. Drawing, Thomas the tank and Night Garden. I missed Hurtado and Bloomsbury organ day.Oratory chamber choir sang Haydn and Elgar at Mass, confirmation candidates, appeal for the Passage, kids hyper. Fr Andrew. The week of prayer for Christian unity has just ended. Did your parish take part? I went to 3 events but only at the Coptic church were there specific prayers for unity! At the Masses I have attended this week only once was it even mentioned!!! Interfaith has taken over. But we do need to work and pray for unity. Revd Sara Goetscher had an interest...

Dreadful deluge. St Michael and all angels so we sang David Thorne's attractive setting of "God that madest earth and heaven". I played Willan and Thalben-Ball on Darwall's 148th and Hymne d'action de grace Te Deum of Jean Langlais which was much appreciated. It was Dad's FTCL piece and I often turned for him and I am using his copy. We heard about water projects in Uganda and relief for the Nepal earthquake from Alicia from International Funds UK. I forgot diary, coffee flask and fruit this morning but at least I had The Tablet to read and Organisms. Langlais told a master class "The trouble with you English organists is that you want to play ALL the notes". Watching Songs of Praise 10 top favourite hymns. 10. I the Lord of sea and sky (individualistic) 9. Be still for the presence of the Lord. 8. Amazing grace. 7. Guide me O thou great redeemer. 6. I vow to thee my country. 5. Abide with me. 4. Dear Lord and Father. 3. In Christ alone. 2 How gr...

We sang Prayer of St Richard of Chichester. L. J. White and I played Meditation on Slane by Thiman and Dubois Toccata. To Death cafe and very interesting conversation. Lovely that Bobbie Darbyshire came.Tidied up the patio so we could eat out. Nothing on TV so catching up on Couples come dine with me. Mosaic. Alessandro Bianchi from Lugano played a completely unfamiliar programme at Cornhill. Langlais and Germani were the only composers I had heard of! Quite interesting.

To Mass at Anerley. Croydon Minster where Adam Field stood in for Tom Little. His Langlais Te Deum was excellent and we had Bach and Lefebre-Wely and alas Messiaen. Good to see Jonathan Vaughn's father who tells me Jonathan's recital there in July is the first since the organ was restored. More reminiscences of John East have come in. Liz working in garden. Sorted shelves and changed quilt to summer one. Watched Cambodia canals and Effie Gray film. More Cardiff singer of the world. Sad that Max Smith has resigned. 

To the doctor to see the nurse. I arrived saying "I feel a bit of a fraud as the little scab on my head has gone." She said "Good, I wish all our patients were as good as you, but you are here for a blood test for cholestorol!" I said "OK can you check my little finger" to which she replied "Fingers crossed it will be fine". o St Stephen Wallbrook Harrison Cole (there's a name ontrend) played Vierne and Langlais Plainte - very moving. Then to St Michael Cornhill for a recital by part of Bradford Cathedral choir - Dove, Taverne, Hadley and RVW. Charlie Manning was an expressive soloist. Bravo! They are off to Germany. Alexander Berry has done a great job in only 2 years. To Balham library and caught up on all the news. Linda has retired and Jeremy Travers has gone to Bromley. Alex who was a casual is now in charge! Met a delightful new directee. Picked up Ron and we both went to New President's dinner at Maidstone. Mgr Matthew Dickens spo...

Swim, got to Battersea to find mosaic class not on so to British library for writing exhibition. Southwark cathedral organ Harrison Cole playing Francaix and Langlais and saw Andrew Paterson's icons which were very pale. SPIDIR committee meeting. Started to watch Britain's Easter story part 2 with Gareth Malone. 2 programmes on sex education in the past were informative. To Beckenham Catenians. 

Mosaic and redid the corner as the photo I used last time was a reduction. Peter Wright played Guillou, Bach, Franck and Langlais at Southwark cathedral. We will miss him when he retires. Ros told me a lot about her life. Very warm for February. Liz to UCM at Anerley and I went to Beckenham Catenians. Back to school 90s and University challenge. 

Swam, we both went to Mass. Bravo Fr David Price for splendid playing at St Michael Bedford Park. Good to honour Francis Jackson, Bach Toccata in F and especially Langlais Te Deum one of Dad's FTCL pieces so know it well. Must go back to playing it! Also Stanley and Franck. It is 32 degrees. Glad I put my Indian cotton shirt on. A warm afternoon welcoming at the cathedral. There was a wedding rehearsal with a lot of kids - what looked really silly was the mother carrying a toddler - far too young to take part in a procession down the main aisle!  I was delighted that the children were enjoying the children's guides.Excellent meal at Mantanah Thai which I cannot believe has been open 25 years and we have lived up the road for 43 years and NEVER been there! It was delicious!

Hot in the night again. To mosaic and cutting lots of little pieces and sorted out colours. To Southwark cathedral for recital by Jonathan Hall. Lesley from chorus was there! To my first SPIDIR committee. RAF 100 on Horse Guards Parade - planes with RAF personnel in period costume. Interested in Dakota as I flew on one aged 3 months. To 75th anniversary garden party at Westminster Abbey of Council of Christians and Jews. Excellent to hear from young people of projects at universities. Michael Redman, William Rhind, John Parry, Siriol Davies and met some new people. I was cross as Liz did not come down to station depite 2 emails - I had left phone at home. Tuesday we both swam (liz had not been for ages) and Mass. Henry came and played in the garden. I went to Thornton Heath library to video our art exhibition - looks great! To quiet time and a new lady came. I will miss it over the summer. Picked up Liz and went to Acton for the year 6 play Aladdin. For some unknown reason we went to ...

Swam and had The Swan on my mind, mass feast of St Barnabas, mosaic then Southwark cathedral David Drury playing Langlais and Reger. Marko turning for him. Tate Modern but Joan Jonas did not impress. Tea in the members room. Got train and bus home. Henry came for the night. 

Played Willan on Nicaea, Stanford on Garton and Alec Wyton March St Patrick's breastplate. We sang all of "I bind unto myself" and Schubert "Holy, Holy, Holy" and we will sing the Deutsche Mass adapted on Thursday and next Sunday. Rehearsed Boyce Alleluia - perhaps he will be rediscovered since the Royal wedding? Stupid boy about 12 hits emergency button on platform. Mother ignored it. Voice in response. So I said "yes that's for you". Mother had to explain to the person responding to the call. But why let him hit the button in the first place? A pleasure to turn pages for Stephen Power at the cathedral Stanford, Langlais and Parry and an enjoyable time at the Cardinal!

Swam, Mass, mosaic (changed colour of lips to lighter otherwise he would have looked like the Joker) tai chi exercises (did not like Morrissey track at all). Lots of emails. Liz to doctor.  Patrick Russill played really well at Brompton Oratory and the priest said some lovely things about him. Titelouze, Dupre, Howells and Langlais. Great to see Benjy Bloor, John East, Peter Wright and  Marko Sever . I found a booklet from Jeremy Filsell's Complete works of Dupre concerts with notes by David Gammie. It was in Alan Burtonshaw's music. Patrick said the adrenalin really kicked in - only his second concert this year! Watched programme on Du Pre. 

A pleasant day working on transferring my holiday diary to blog and Facebook. At last the photos loaded onto the laptop. Adrian Gunning's recital (preferred Langlais to Vierne, Carl jackson was turning over and adding stops) and Fr Michael at Mass. Must be the loudest homily I have ever heard from the visiting Dominican appealling for funds for Zimbabwe! Train delayed coming home in rain. Red wine now open for birthday dinner! Sticky toffee pudding.  Ann, Dennis and Bruce rang. Lots of facebook messages. Nice brown jumper from Liz. Watched Songs of Praise. and London Fire Brigade.

After Mass to Balham library to get lots of scores. To St Stephen Wallbrook and Christopher Harris asked if anyone would be brave and turn pages for him so I volunteered and got a clap! He played really well - Bach, Langlais, Telemann and Liszt and great to have the whole Dvorak Largo from the New World. He practises at Tunbridge Wells RC so knows Fr Peter! I had to go back to the church as my Michael Palin Sahara book had fallen behind the bench. Glad to get it back as I am enjoying it and it was a present from the junior choir. Met Nigel Groome and said I would try and get to his recital at St Matthew's his new appointment. To the cathedral to do welcoming - people from USA, Germany and Spain.

Woke in the night - it was muggy. Thought I was going to see elephants! To Mass and then to Beckenham. Just under 2 hours and saw Richard. Hopefully in 2 days plasters off and I will not need to go back - hurrah! Ice cream in park. Liz with Ann Marie to dentist. Much correspondence on Bursary fund and Aylesford on Tuesday. Liz baked delicious fruit loaves for tonight;s recital. Henry came to visit and full of chat. Beautiful mosque in Mosul destroyed by IS.  Adrian Gunning played at St John Upper Norwood, He included Te Deum of Langlais which Dad played for his FTCL, Vierne, Ireland, Tournemire and Buxtehude. 30 there. Took Martin Ball home and had a chat to David our neighbour. Friday to Mass. Lots of emails and started putting holiday pics on Facebook -Liz took some really good ones. Watched Antiques roadshow and Japan art.  JTo Chislehurst Golf Club. ust back from Province 7 Catenian dinner for new presidents. Launch of Casper project to help young people and excellent ad...

Caught up with stunning Australian tenor Kang Wang at Cardiff Singer final. What top notes! Very hot, quiet time at St John moved into the hall as Adrian Gunning was practising for Thursday's recital. To the cathedral for mass with combined boys and Palestrina choir from Dublin. Beautiful singing Franck and love the end of the Langlais Mass almost Britten will it end in major but no it is modal. District line train did go on to Richmond in the end. Boys loved tshirts, cards, drinks bottles and books from Africa. Sean said he had missed me and Ciaran was telling us geography details about the Falls.  Retired librarian postpones taking grandson to library. It must be hot besides I can only find 3 books.  Marius Twomey  postponed coffee meeting re getting Poles to join Catenians in South London and reading out to university students in London. Happy to relax at home and pulled some ivy off! Sean saw ants in front of fireplace.  State opening of Parliament. Must be...

A quiet day at home with Sean happily playing. Dorset chamber choir sang at Mass - splendid Langlais Gloria from Messe solenelle. I went to Beckenham circle's supper which was delightful. I left in good time to get to the cathedral from Kent House. Dennis and AnnMarie tuned up late and then said they were going to the cinema. They were supposed to babysit Sean so that meant Liz could not go out and I was annoyed.  Played Chanson de Matin of Elgar and Dubois Toccata. Sang Hurford Litany to the Holy Spirit. Had to rescue Celtic Alleluia copy from under the pedals! A lady called Imogen loved my article in the church magazine. To St Paul's on Thameslink to hear Revd Judy Hirst from Durham on Struggling with holiness. Quite good. Saw the boys in the car before they left. Had lunch in garden very sunny then back to Caterham for discussion with Jerry. Contract and choir and repertoire,  At evensong played Dad's voluntary on Ar hyd y nos and Robert Groves's variation and Elga...

To Grangewood park and had a chat about art in the park and the committee members liked my Christmas card drawing. To St John East Dulwich for John Webber's recital - traffic bad. Updated my satnav. The Cardinal celebrated Mass for new Catholics. Just watching Young Musician semi-final - amazing playing.

Swam 20. Clearing shed Liz found a dead rat and the wood has rotted away and holes in felt. Went to guide at the cathedral and there were 7 guides and a funeral so no tours! After tea left. To Acton and the boys in the pool and making track.  To St John Notting Hill to hear Oundle winner Christopher Baczkowski who is excellent! Sam Barber was on duty. Decided not to go to Holland Park mosque iftar as I would have to hang about for over an hour. Liz enjoyed Michael Flatley and Irish dance.

Phllip Scriven gave us a real Bank holiday recital which was fun at Bromley Parish church. The Croydon music festival organ class at St John's featured 2 accomplished players and 2 promising beginners all ably helped by Anne Marsden Thomas.