The organist librarian

Jill Benet took morning session of the quiet day on Wisdom. Had to walk to House of Commons because of taxi demo. The Interfaith harmony event had some good speakers especially a Muslim head and Muslim police officer. I spoke about the need to defend faith schools. Met several new people and some young people which is encouraging. Some of the MPs were difficult to follow! To Caterham for Grow meeting so missed Kirkham cup at Maidstone. I did not want to drive the hired Kia there at night. To Streatham drop-in centre for Asylum seekers and migrants which is a lovely hall for Interfaith harmony week breakfast. Great to see so many there including Catriona Robertson and Jill Gregson. Painting and worked on faces and Mind, body, spirit.

Loved Cendrillon by Massenet from the Met with a fine cast Joyce DiDonato, Alice Coote and Sarah Kim absolute delight. Good meal at Johnnies Dulwich. A busy morning showing Emma how to catalogue. She is a natural. I am to attend a staff meeting. I chucked out more baby books and old stock so the piles are going down!To Quiet day at Hinsley room with Jill Benet on Emmaus.Popped into the National Gallery to see Still Life curated by Tacita Dean. She chose some interesting paintings but her own videos were unimpressive. I liked Sickert's Hare. What do we make of Tacita Dean? I am not going to pay to see her Portraits at NPG.  Train to Sevenoaks for meeting with Sussex Catenians! Learnt a lot at the meeting especially about central council. Lovely pub The White Hart. Home by 10,30.

Tuesday listened to evensong from King's and we both went to the lecture on Faith matters in the cathedral hall. 2 outstanding addresses on vocation by a head teacher and Fr Paul who is a Jesuit doctor. Much food for thought. Not as many there as last week. To Acton and saw the end of Gypsy wedding. To Chiswick Town hall with Ciarán who yelled " I want Mummy" all the way to the station in pouring rain! He did enjoy it especially the snakes and cars - Amanda's dancing and singing. To Starbucks Chiswick in the rain for lunch and he played with the toys. Liz took him to mass and I went to the Spirituality centre for Jill Benet's afternoon session on "Seeing God in all things". Then to 61 Whitehall for the Religion and society 3rd in series on radicalisation. 5 excellent speakers and some interesting questions on the research. Watched One born every minute and rest of Gypsy wedding - felt tired. Tits in the nesting box on our silver birch for the first time!

Up early and Cambridge visit is now finalised - just got to do the programme sheets. Chat to Ann. Moved the logs and branches of the rowan tree from the back lane to the front garden for recycling using the wheelbarrow. While I was on Skype Liz disappeared. It turned out Katy had taken her up to No.19! I set off for the Hinsley Room and the spirituality day wondering where she was and left messages on her mobile which of course was at home! Jill Benet spoke about relationship - there are 3 elements between 2 people - you, me and the space between. The theme was "Rising to new life" and after the silent meditation and lunch she gave us a bunch of leaves. She spoke about the new child and how we ever new and the music of the dance between us. I chose to try and draw a leaf and was interested how scientific this was rather than artistic. We also were encouraged to touch and smell the leaves and really look at them. I noted soft, gentle, pure, simple structure, united, all the ve...

To Tate Britain for 10.30 a.m. visit to the Millais exhibition. Audio guide good. Some very impressive painting over a long life. Some of his paintings of children are very sentimental. I'm not a lover of the Pre-Raphaelites but I must say I was impressed by some of the pictures. Met Pauline who comes to the library every day! Liked the last room of Scottish landscapes one of which was lent by Johannesburg Art gallery! "The sound of many waters" shown here with a detail gets its title from Newman's Gerontius. The daily selection of Newman's writings by A.N.Wilson which Liz gave me for my birthday is proving excellent reading with the daily missal each morning. The spirituality day was led by Jill Benet from Centering prayer and focused on motivation and following Christ and resting in the Lord. I took a walk to Church House bookshop and bought the Psalms calendar for Ann and Paul. Also a Taize calendar and the booklet for the Week of prayer for Christian unity.