The organist librarian

Played Wachet auf Bach and Walther. Nun komm der heiden from Orgelbuchlein. We sang Stay awake by Chris Walker and Bernadette Farrell Christ be our light.  To St Paul's cathedral to hear Margaret Whipp on the Grace of waiting. Bought her book so much she said resonated with my life and helpful in spiritual "direction".  Great Advent carols from St John's Cambridge. Ian Shaw I sing of a maiden a highlight.  Beautiful Advent carols at St John Upper Norwood with Keziah Thomas in 4 movements from Ceremony of carols, O thou the central Orb and Wood Magnificat in E flat. Bach preludes and great hymns. Love Lo he comes!  For over a week I have had a sore right big toe treated with salt water and cream 3 times a day and antibiotics. I just wish it would clear up. Wearing organ shoes and leather shoes does not help! I am wearing trainers as sandals are too cold! It is like a whitlow.  I thought my diary was lost but found it in my bedside drawer! Blue planet and end of ...

Beautiful coffee concert by Keziah including Malcolm Arnold's Fantasy for harp. Mchdelov, Rousseau, Tournier, Stadler all delightful. Tried a sketch. Nice chat to her and wrote to the director of the Proms as she should play there especially at the Cadogan hall. Met her husband and son. Nice chat to Mary Johnston and Ian Golds. Watched programme on Joe Orton which was a bit near the knuckle.  The young cathedral servers enjoyed doing the Find the animals, birds, fish quizzes and completed them in about 20 minutes. Ideally you would be 7 and up. The terms pulpit, vault and pillar were not known to them - the solution would be to include a small photo of the pulpit. Before Mass the thurible was found to be full of water so there was a delay. Advent wreath candle no. 1 lit by one of our new servers. On the train home I found 3 tiny glass globules in my Ocado apple - a complaint will be made!

Choir turned up at 9.45 to rehearse carols. My organ practice was cut short as I woke at 8.20 a.m. Philippa a midwife from Ghana joined the choir and has a connection with the nuns in Whitby. I was amused to tell her to "Breathe" just like she would tell the Mums. I taught the congregation Walker's Stay awake and they joined in and some clapped. There were 34 there for the Family Eucharist the best for a long time. It was a pity we had to have carols so early. Dennis and AnnMarie and Louise and the boys came for lunch and playing. We went early to St John's with Louise and D and A babysat. Keziah Thomas harpist for the Britten, also Bach, Guerrero and Poston. A lovely service. Watched Morecambe and Wise and listened to Martin Baker playing live from the cathedral although I don't like Messiaen.

Liz to cathedral and I went directly to Beckenham to practise the Mozart Requiem extracts for Thursday and the Faure In paradisum. Service went well despite 4 big hymns for Peter and Paul! To Crystal Palace station where behind the cafe there is a large room and we heard 2 sopranos one American and the other sang Ivor Novello accompanied on the harp by Keziah Thomas. There was a good mediaeval ensemble with recorder, singer, percussion and small harp. Christian played well including a Bach trio sonata which he likened to Pride and Prejudice and he used the copy from school 60 years before! Edward Marsh and Lefebre-Wely and 2 blues type preludes. I turned and there were 21 there. To evensong Stanford in B flat and Give us the wings of Bullock. I stayed on for the Spectrum concert of wind and brass arrangements of Sibelius, Shostakovich, Ravel and Debussy and Holst - very well played. The ideas was to see colours with the music but that does not work for me at all. Cake and wine at inte...

To St George's Beckenham expecting to hear Avis McIntyre play the organ but it turned out to be Keziah Thomas playing the harp quite delightfully. There was no written programme but it included Malcolm Arnold's Fantasy and Awuya by Sally Beamish. This was based on African themes and rhythms and was written for the retirement of a professor in Glasgow who had worked on sleeping sickness. Quite fascinating! Popped into Beckenham bookshop and took posters to the church for the St Michael's recitals.

The finished silk paintings! 24 lengths on Thursday and 34 on Friday - Dan was there and I was in fast lane again. Liz to Bath with Grandma. The second recording session for "Merlin" went well although more music was produced on the night again! I laughed at the bass who reacted to Rohan Atkinson, the Australian composer's request for a low E flat "Easy Skippy!" Tuesday and Wed rehearsals and recording on Thursday at Islington. Had a chat to Hana about her family. Friday after work to Trafalgar Square and enjoyed BP Portrait award exhibition at National Portrait gallery and "From Corot to Monet" at National Gallery. Back to NPG for excellent harp recital by Keziah Thomas including Faure and Paul Patterson "Spiders". Lots of people about and young man on 4th plinth singing and playing away! Trains to Feltham and checked in at Travelodge. Breakfast not until 8 a.m. so to Asda to buy supplies. Bus to Heathrow Terminal 1 in good time - their ...