The organist librarian

Lovely to spend time with Peter Simpson and a short visit to York art gallery. ellent tour of York Minster, saw King's Book and shop. Lovely unaccompanied evensong. Soft singing in the psalms magic, basses a bit strident at times. Bednall anthem, Tallis canticles. Good meal at Gusto. Really enjoyed the SSG assembly in York. Great talks and discussion, lovely food, beautiful Mass! John ainslie and I sang Christus vincit. English Martyrs is a fine 1930s church with a lovely hall. Journey fast and non-stop and buses took me from centre to Bar Convent and station. River high. 

The funeral of John Michael East at St Etheldreda's was beautiful with 3 male cantors singing the Latin requiem plainchant. Fr Tom sang the Mass in Latin. 29 present including many old and new friends. Enjoyable reception in the crypt. There were 3 Old Johannians present and 3 directors of music at St Etheldreda's. The Society of St Gregory, Latin Mass society and Monastic musicians were also well represented. We both went to the Royal Academy. Phyllida Barlow did not impress and as usual the Summer exhibition was a hotch potch! Liked the elephants and one or two paintings and prints. The architecture section was very interesting. Mali Morris RA had a small colourful display of works on paper. Ate at Itsu. Liz took robes back to the cathedral, went to servers council and dropped her Freedom pass. I went to an excellent lecture on the architecture of British mosques and I met 2 Muslim ladies one of whom asked a question about involving youth in planning mosques. Cambridge mosqu...

Hymn society regional day at All Saints West Dulwich. John Ainslie on Catholic hymnody, Gordon Giles on English Hymnal, Janet Wootton on Billy Graham, Nicholas Markwell on How great thou art. Henry's second birthday party Postman Pat theme - it was packed. Escorted the blind lady to the cathedral and saw John East who has cancer of the liver and is very frail. Mass with Fr Michael. Alexander in tears at communion - legs hurting. Second week Fr Daniel has been called although this was not an incident.  Henry's second birthday party Postman Pat theme

To waterfowl trust in Arundel seeing ducks and swans in the rain. Beautiful funeral Mass for Fr Gerry Coates at Arundel cathedral celebrated by Bishop Richard Moth and a delicious reception. Catherine Christmas was cantor/animator and sang beautifully and prayerfully.Paul Inwood ill with kidney problem. Handel Let the bright seraphim with trumpet, As the deer.  Fr Aidan from Worth amd met a Brighton organist who knew Fr Farmer. To tea at  Sue Albery 's which was delightful and we met her neighbour Sue who was also at the funeral. To Kingston circle for dinner and the Thomas More icon was much appreciated. Good company too. A brother who is 85 told me he persuaded the circle to vote in favour of adopting Thomas More as an Assocation patron saint in 1981. Liz went to Acton from New Malden and I drove home in the wet.

Liz and I gave an hour interview to Croydon museum about Fairfield Hall and music locally. Really enjoyed it and remembered schools dance and concerts/ Welcoming at the cathedral. Excellent sung Eucharist at the Abbey enjoyed the Monteverdi Beatus vir and visited the Confessor's shrine followed by wine. I got there at 4 pm so we were well forward in the large queue and we sat at the front of the transept. Lovely meal at Browns with Society of St Gregory friends. Nice to see people we follow on Facebook!  Fr Andrew who was ordained with  Brian O'Mahony  was also at Browns. He is now at St Mary Moorfields. Society of St Gregory AGM and Crichton lecture given by Rev Canon Lucy Winkett excellent. I spoke about MM in Romsey. John Ainslie on psalms. Enjoyed it. Drove up to town as Liz went to dinner dance at school. New children's Victoria choir sang at Mass and 3 Downside monks concelebrated. They will be on BBC 4 very soon in a new series. T...

National Portrait gallery to see special exhibitions then to St Paul's for Music and Faith. Andrew Carwood talking to Timothy Radcliffe who has a clever way of not answering the question by telling a      joke! Some excellent quotes about music notably Roger Scruton.  John Ainslie, Allen Morris, Martin Foster, Frances Novillo and             .William Rhind 

Up for Lauds at 7 and Mass. More from Fr Alexander McCabe on propers and accompanying chant. Annual meeting and next year we are to be in France at Tamier in October! We went to Basildon Park -  a fine 18th century mansion with some 1950s furnishings and kitchen. Played the grand piano as i had some Ivor Novello with me. Cream tea and saw exhibition about filming Pride and Prejudice there. Nice gardens. Slow on M4 due to an accident so a long haul home. David and Helen dropped by. 

To Heythrop and had coffee and then worked in the library on essay 2. Served at 12 noon mass with Archbishop Vincent. I was crosier. Horrid white alb things with cinctures to hold them up as too long. All went well and an excellent homily. Nice buffet lunch and enjoyed chatting. John Ainslie and Jon Dal Din were there. Had tea at Marks. Ascension not smoke at vespers and gave Fr Michael my arm up and down stairs at Mass. Excelsis sang beautifully - Byrd 4 part mass, Durufle Ubi caritas, Mawby Ave verum. Lord enthroned and Hail the day were hymns. Louise came to stay. Watched programme on Cutty Sark and learning Shakespeare by heart.

To New Scotland yard for a communities police meeting - met a nice imam and an interesting discussion. Quite daunting to go through security and find the metal end of my pencil and belt buckle set it off! To the Tate gallery - loved the Modern painters Camden Town group exhibition and the beautifully lit neo-classical sculptures including a stunning Flaxman Adoration of the magi relief. Did not like Peter Doig or the 5 women artists. The rehang of the modern galleries is good but the drawings exhibition is poorly labelled. Why put all the labels at one end of the wall? Fascinated by a film by Breda Beban of a man dancing with a gypsy girl and how changing the music and the slow motion of the film made it immediately seductive. On way out answered a Mori poll for Wayne and pronounced being a member of the Tate very good. interesting that I did not spot that The Independent had sponsored the Peter Doig! The last of Understanding Islam and 30 there - felt quite sad but Chris was hilarious...