The organist librarian

Swam.  Stunning music at St Cecilia service at Westminster cathedral.  Michael Berkeley  new work a wonder from a small cell. Schutz, Malcolm and Croce and superb Stanley on trumpet. Martin Baker said to tell him if there are concerns about music. Lovely singing from Francesca Pringle accompanied by Martin Ford at St Matthews Westminster - she just needs to get her face to match what she is singing! Nice chat to Martin who is now at the Guards chapel.  Lo The day ended with an excellent meeting at St Mary Magdalene Canning Road with Helen Bradley and the Bishop of Croydon speaking on Safe passage and religion in the lives of young asylum seekers. It is appalling that everything is done to make it hard for the people who have the right to come here to actually do so. What has happened to this country's proud record of welcoming people? v Triple firing on The Apprentice!!! el Triple firing on The Apprentice!!! y to see and hear   t St Matthew WestminStster and lovely singing from F

Ciaran came in around 7.15 and Sean woke a bit later. Nice cards. To church and played Harper, Bach and Willan and Wyton. Good hymns including Holy, holy, holy and Alleluia sing to Jesus. Home for lunch and kids had gone. Back to church for 2 for final things with Daniel then back to pick up Liz. Only 12 came but they enjoyed it. I don't think I relaxed enough - not sure it was good to have Daniel there to turn over. To St John's and we sang Stainer in B flat and I saw the Lord - always a good sing. Watched programmes on Hay-on-Wye, Dylan Thomas and QI. Dennis rang.

Played Henry G Ley on Down Ampney and Stanley trumpet tune (using oboe as tuning is needed - it will happen on Wednesday). Timed and rehearsed recital pieces. Paul preached about Pope Francis and Paul Hendricks at confirmation at St Anselm's. There was a meeting after service so could not practise but have made some arrangements for the recitals. Listened to Just a minute and we had pie for lunch. To evensong which was ATB - Sumsion in G and Ernest Walker I will lift up mine eyes. Prepared programmes for Ian Verran and Robert and Brian - the latter meant a lot of copying and retyping! Printer problems. Duchess of Malfi from the new Globe theatre on TV - very well done.

Liz to servers Mass. Road closed by police outside Safeways so just missed train. I went to Queen's chapel of the Savoy. Philip Berg welcomed us and played Bach and Elgar Imperial march and a piece by a Victorian organist of the church. I played Andrew Moore and really enjoyed looking round the robing room and the Lancaster Hall. Steak and kidney pudding at the Wellington in the Strand - long wait for it but it was very good. For some reason the Strand one way was closed so got bus from Trafalgar Square to St Patrick, Soho where  Breda eventually arrived. I played some Stanley - the short swell was confusing. All agreed it is a lovely instrument. Bloomsbury Baptist I turned for Philip Luke who played some Bach and Bedard based on a Canadian Huron carol. I too played some Bedard then off to Vespers and Mass with Fr Alexander and choir of St George Sudbury. Dennis came down for dinner with Louise and the boys were in bed.

Woke early and then late so no swim again. It is hot! Worked on dissertation and reached 8200 words. Stephen rang (ex-Ajahn Santacitto) and we will meet on the 23rd. Michael asked to change the tutorial date from Friday. Invited for interview for Spidir course next Friday which doesn't really suit as Ann will be here. Cleaned bathroom and toilet. Took bike back to garage as buyer never came and got keyboard for Saturday. To St Patrick Soho for the last of 4 excellent recitals by Patrick Russill. Sat behind William Whitehead who was chatty. Good programme including Stanley and William Russell. Home to watch 3 leave the Apprentice. 

Swam 20. Saw Dr Attard about bruise on upper leg - cortisone cream - he asked if I had had shorts on - fat chance the weather we have been having!  To Acton for when Ciarán came out of nursery - met the nanny for the autumn - very nice. To Carluccios for a lovely lunch - had asparagus risotto and lemon sorbet and white wine - starter with gorgonzola. Ciaran had made a card for me and presented with a lovely hat - very smart. To Interfaith group after tea at M & S. Got ticket for Venice concert. Only 3 there to hear an excellent Power Point by Morten Thuysen from the World Development movement. Shocking to hear how government are linked to finance and fossil fuel companies even Vince Cable! Their campaign is Carbon Capital. To Foyles bookshop and impressed by their religion section - in fact found some Eckhart references! To Soho Square but by then the sun had gone. Earlier had met Fr John O'Leary and Fr Michael Archer and commented that I wished I had my shorts on. To St Patri

Sunday and Liz at Acton where she went to Mass and to James's house. I played Purcell at Mass and photocopied the remainder of the recital programmes - Debbie has done a lot but not the tricky one for the 16th so it is all done. Came home to get my tie and drove to Park hill to deliver leaflets about Thursday to Les. Never been in that park before - it was an interfaith picnic but very few there and it was cold! Adrian arrived 2 p.m. to practise (his fourth session). Very pleased that 30 came as several people in the morning had said they were not coming. St john's folk supported it well and Fr Paul looked great in a grey suit.I turned pages and pulled out stops. People liked the arrangement with the blue chairs facing the organ and delighted that John Mander came. Gordon Jacob, Bach the Dorian! and Schubler chorales, Boyce, Stanley, Haydn, Mozart, Whitlock (worked very well) and Crown Imperial. The chance to hear the organ from down below confirmed the warmth of the sound in

Liz went off to Vaughan House. Louise had stayed overnight and went off shopping.  I submitted my Dialogue account and did the reading Michael had given me. An interesting article by Denys Turner about "Do we worship the same God" - answer we don't know. To Bloomsbury Baptist for Gary Sieling's excellent recital. Saw Jane and Gary before and afterwards - for once I was able to stay for the tea! A nice programme Bach Passacaglia, Brahms, MacDowell (there is no truth that he wrote this to a girlfriend called Rose who was a bit wild) Clerambault, Stanley, Britten and his own Toccata and Fugue on the Pink Panther theme. Great to have some humour! Then to the first part of Mass which was for new Christians - Alistair sang really badly. Archbishop Vincent. 507 bus to St John's Smith Square for the long awaited memorial concert for Lisa. Saw Richard Wiegold and met Jenny Bacon who is the widow of the first general manager of the Sydney Opera house - Lisa used to go to t

Liz to college. I was acolyte at Mass attended by Aid to the church in need conference. Archbishop Mennini was the celebrant and Archbishop Ignatius of Kos was the preacher. Emmanuel was a pain! So much fussing over a bishop's lost spectacles!  Choir sang Howells Salve regina. To St Stephen's Rochester Row for coffee and cake. Excellent Kamerkoor Cantate Dutch women's chamber choir conducted by Dion Ritten. Michael Haydn, Taverner, Holst, Wood and some little known composers. Their tuning was immaculate! And their expressions excellent. I liked their outfit too - black trouser suits with purple lapel decoration. To park next to Tate Britain for picnic and reading Lipner article about Hindu theology which is very heavy going. Wait for bus (affected by massive anti-cuts demonstration) so tube to South Ken and 345 to Allen Hall. Arrived in plenty of time to rehearse with Derek Hyatt. He is a Liverpudlian former Anglican from Chiswick parish. Good to see Brian and everyone ver

Nearly completed essay based on the seminar. To Bromley parish church for Michael Toplis's demonstration recital, AGM and played 2 pieces (Michael Fleming and Healey Willan). Mass at St Swithun Bromley Common which is tiny and woodlined and will close when the parish priest Bob Mercer retires. To Beckenham circle 50th anniversary dinner at Oakwood House. Grand Vice President was there. The Grummitts and Topes were there - nice meal and gave Harry Mellor a lift home.

Swam 30 and saw Melvin. John Fulton will help him in Vancouver. Spoke to Liz and Ann on skype - Liz found her phone. Ciarán has throat infection and on antibiotics. To library but some scores have still not come from Ealing! To St Stephen Wallbrook despite the rain for recital by Richard Hobson of Grosvenor chapel, Mayfair. Mathias, Stanley, Bruhns, JSB, Sweelinck, Franck Pastorale and Dubois toccata. Enjoying The tiger's wife. Watched last episode of The Hour while I ate my burgers and veg and watermelon. Antiques Master on TV.

Liz stayed home. To Coulsdon and found pedals not working at all as bottom C and D were stuck. Also lights on console were off - Bob found the fuse. I abandoned RVW Rhosymedre and Karg-Elert our wedding anniversary pieces and played good old John Stanley on manuals only. Nobody seemed to know "Mount Ephraim" to "For all thy saints O Lord" which is odd as we have sung it before. Teresa apologised about the email muddle up for Friday's funeral. Ann had kept aside Fairtrade muesli, biscuits and yoghurt covered raisins for me. Practised despite lack of pedals. To Croydon M & S, Debenhams, Allders and eventually Barratts where I found some Hush Puppies sandals which can be adjusted and are comfortable - £35. Unheard of for me to go shopping and loads of people about. Tidied up garden and swept patio so we could BBQ and have lunch outside for the first time this year despite the weather we have been having. New laptop on charge. Listened to prom - Schumann and Joh