The organist librarian

A quiet morning and the talks prepared for August 1. Listening to lovely evensong from Rugby school including Hear my prayer. Phoned for assistance on both flights. Cut out poppies 4 to a sheet of red felt so I have 2 spare buttons! Conducted London Mozart players at Centrale Croydon. Pizzicato polka went well! An hour at the Lambeth country show on the interfaith Stand which was in a more prominent spot next to the ice cream van! Hot! Truth is it is an ordeal! The crowds at the crossing to the station! Superb singing of Amy Saunders, Rheinberger and Paul Patterson from Nottingham cathedral choir and Fr Thomas. We heard them at Simon Gillespie's ordination. Listening to the Prom on phone on train many interruptions. Trying to follow the score of Sinfonia da Requiem was awful. Good thing I did not plan to go to the Prom as there was an appeal from Missionary sisters which went on far too long although she got a round of applause! Hilarious tribute to Victoria Wood. Tony Robinson ...

To Mass in rain, Liz saw nurse about her hand - she fell outside school. 2 mosaics finished and we now have a break until June while some go to Corfu. Finished 2 small mosaics and chose Van Gogh for next project in June. Bravo Peter King at St Michael Cornhill cheering up a wet day with a varied programme. An enjoyable evening at Duke's Hall Royal Academy of Music. 6 excellent organists competing for the Dorothy Cooper prize won by James Orford. Thomas Trotter adjudicating. Well done Marko Sever and Michael Butterfield and great to see Paddy Russill and meet the South African Hannes Ebersohn. Andrzej Malitowski and Jamie Rogers also impressed. It is so important to play expressively and not just fast and loud.

Excellent morning at RFH as part of St Alban's organ festival. Saw Matthew Martin. Attractive work by him for trumpet and organ. Lovely Angelus by Vierne. Rheinberger violin and organ. Cochereau Bolero organ and side drum played by Marko Sever. Well done all especially Joseph Beech and James Orford. People power at Imperial War museum excellent.   S ent letter to The Tablet as Rick Jones did not know what Levit's encore was so told him to check BBC proms website. Critics!  An excellent appeal for Aid to the Church in need at the cathedral Mass. Presented Joseph with his 18th birthday card and present. Listening to prom on way home. Reckoned I would be late at the hall and not get in for the Strauss Actually the Beethoven 3 chat was first. Skype to Liz in Lourdes. Listened to prom from Hull.

Did a scroll for Clive and worked on my life story. 8 to  10.30 played 3 hymns and Hallelujah chorus at vigil at Anerley. Nice bottle of wine from Fr Stuart. They badly need an MC as various things went wrong. Readers went ahead so Sunith had to go back to the Gloria.Baptismal garment missed and nearly left out the prayers which Stuart had to find!  The channel 5 Last days of Jesus seemed to accept some of the gospel accounts and tried to make much of the fall of Sejanus. The Mary Magdalene programme had some good points. Easter from King's excellent and the new series on Galapagos very interesting. Up at 4.30, 5.45 a.m. to 8 a.m. vigil went well and we sang O sons and daughters at both services with breakfast in between. Howells Saraband and Hallelujah chorus the 2 closing voluntaries. Peregrine knew Howard Thomas! To St John's for lamb lunch. Liz made a pavlova. I fell asleep after red wine and missed evensong but Liz went. Good thing I was home as Dennis, Ann Marie and...

Swam 20 and Mass at Anerley. Excellent playing from Charles Andrews at St Stephen Wallbrook including Lloyd Webber and Rheinberger. Guiding at the cathedral Women's world day of prayer service written by Filipino women so Filipino ambassador and deputy Mayor of London came. To Royal Academy but the American exhibition was far too crowded but I enjoyed Anthony Green. Dennis and AnneMarie came. 

A large breakfast at St John Upper Norwood and the chance to hear from residents of the Sylvan Hill hostel.  Watched Father Brown. Slow progress on jigsaw. Liz has assembled her new office chair. Cardinal Vaughan schola at Mass and they sang Rheinberger Kyrie. Johnny Vaughn on design programme at Wells. We met a nice couple on the train Spanish and German teachers. 

Train ride very smooth and airband b close to the station. Laetitia and Pip the dog very friendly. Bought food at Waitrose and we were able to use the kitchen. Bed very soft! Saturday rehearsing in Becket chapel a large choir and evensong. We ate 3 times at Loungers which was excellent and convenient for the cathedral. Sunday we sang Mattins at 9.15 nice Archer Benedicite and Rheingberger 8 part Mass. Did some sketching. At evensong Sumsion and Hear my prayer. We watched Call the midwife. Monday visited Peterborough museum which has fossils and Victorian operating theatre and history of the area. Sketching in cathedral. Fast train to London and Liz came home and I went on to Dover. Coach from Folkestone West. Quality Inn a good walk from station but very comfortable. Back to Maison Dieu for Kirkham Cup and I helped with signing in. Denis from Maidstone was a worthy winner - only 8 spoke and all finished by 9.50! I stayed overnight and an excellent breakfast. Climb to Dover Castle and ...

Swam 20 and general tidy up and packing to go away. To St Michael's for good recital by Georgina 4th year at the Royal College of Music. 

To the cathedral early for 10.30 a.m. Nice to see seminarians and I spoke to the priest from Watford. Deacon Geoffrey was very enthusiastic about the interfaith events. The ordination by Bishop John Sheringham was great - he sang some of the prayers. Brian looked so happy and the music was lovely. Mozart, Howells, Haydn, Thine hand O God which the Bishop used in his homily. Had tea downstairs and saw the flypast after the Trooping as we came out. Attempts to photograph it on my Blackberry not good. On No. 11 bus with Andrew and his family from Poland and Denmark. Nice reception somewhat disrupted by rain and ate lunch in library having a great chat to 2 ladies. Saw Stephen Wang. Nice speeches. A happy day. Liz went off to babysit and I returned to the cathedral for vespers and Mass with Fr Michael Quaqo - 5 servers and all went well. Byron choir from Harrow school sang Rheinberger, Guerroro and Harris Faire is the heaven very well. Harry Mellor gave me a lift as Catenians were appeali...

Li to college early so she could buy trim for Seán's baptismal white tabard/garment. Did some reading about Hinduism and Christianity. To Balham library and then coffee and crossant with Catriona. Lent her our Russian samovar and had a lovely chat. Home for lunch and watched a bit of Island Parish from Sark. To Croydon Minster for Martin How's Advent cantata. My name was not on the list and ended up among basses but carried on regardless. Lovely to see Jean and Alan Barber, Roy Nicholson and various faces from the past! A moving and effective work especially the well-known hymns and anthems. Very good tenor soloist and narrator but the real hero was the organist. The handbells and children's choirs were lovely. Left at 6 in rain and got to Victoria by 6.30. Harrow school Byron consort sang Rheinberger at Mass. Splendid Bach at the end. Met Peter at Il Posto and had a delightful chat and meal.

Gave out leaflets about Norwood circle at 3 masses at Virgo Fidelis Upper Norwood. Bill spoke really well. 190 leaflets taken and I found it best to give them out as men arrived at Mass. SOme of the brothers will not wear name badges or really engage with strangers! Liz came to the evening Mass. The new priest Fr Clark is conservative and the music is dire! Did lots of reading and in fact finished the Clarke book. After lunch to Penge Congregational church to hear 4 organists play the magnificent Lewis organ - Martin Ball, John Webber, Marilyn Nicholson and Robert Cooper. We had some splendid Dubois and Vierne, Schumann, Rheinberger and Buxtehude. A sumptious tea! Watched Downton Abbey, Antiques roadshow and Come dine with me. Songs of Praise from Royal Albert Hall.

Woke early - watched programme on Heritage from Berkeley castle where lost Vivaldi scores were discovered. Still no sign of baby but Liz stayed home. To cathedral hall for Year of Faith conference about the new evangelisation - some of Liz's class were there and Brother Ben. Interesting especially Fr Michael Holman SJ now principal of Heythrop. Third speaker I was dropping off a bit. To vespers and Mass and I looked after Fr Michael Durand. Choir sang Bruckner and Rheinberger. Watched University challenge episodes and Royal Edinburgh military tattoo.

To see Vickie at 99a St Andrew's Road which has a lovely garden and very homely - much nicer than the vicarage which is being rebuilt.Short discussion about going freelance which makes sense. Am reading Introduction to Buddhism - it might be that the MA in Abrahamic religions is a better option? To St Michael's - a good audience for Marilyn Harper - the end of the series. Chat to Dorio Melfi. John Blitheman, Alain and Rheinberger Sonata No 8 including the mighty Passacaglia. To Acton in 45 minutes - connections all worked. Just missed Grainne who had taken Liz over. Ciarán brightened up on my arrival and laughed at sneezes! We were home by 8.30 and watched The Apprentice - Melissa has gone - hurrah!

Liz off to Salisbury cathedral to sing services until Friday. Monday 40 lengths. Busy day. To Beckenham Catenian meeting - bitter and good jokes. Tuesday woke late so missed swim. All banking stuff finished. Book sale going well. Left at 4 and reached Rochester by car at 6.30 but Holiday Inn hotel not reachable form one side of dual carriageway so arrived late and had to change in to evening dress before meeting. Furious. 88 miles to say a few sentences about Norwood's 1000th meeting! Good dinner - roast beef. Sat with Duncan Aitkins. Nice photos from Saturday. Left at 10. Wed snow overnight so meeting at British school of osteopathy postponed although it was clear. Left at 12.30 to go to Shirley for lift from David and Sylvia to Tunbridge Wells. Visit to Salomons theatre organ - heard 3 rolls including Lemaire playing Bach very fast. Quite fascinating. Michael Cooke a know-all a pain! Enjoyed it and lovely sunny day. To cathedral for last of organ recital series. Stephen Cleobu...