The organist librarian

It is weeks since I went swimming. As I have had a chesty cough and cold it is not a good idea and I have been waking in the early morning. I do seem to have lost some weight since Christmas 10:2 at the moment. Monday 30th took Bruce and EJ to IKEA and Boots in pouring rain and they went to the National Portrait Gallery. Liz and I went to Clapham Picturehouse to see Saving Mr Banks which was excellent. Fascinating the clash over what should be done to Mary Poppins - do children want a softer version? Excellent songs and the flashbacks to Australia were very well done. Home to see Sacred Wonders of Britain. 31st grouted the mosaics I made yesterday - Bruce kindly cut the MDF for me. I have now made 3 of the Walsingham ones and 2 Keep calm and pray. Bruce and EJ went over to Louise and Tom's as they had a baby sitter. We went to the Clapham Picturehouse for 4.30 to see the Berlin Philharmonic New Year concert live conducted by Sir Simon Rattle OM with Lang Lang playing Prokofiev 3. ...

Eye much better. To mosaic and ta'i chi - Tony gave details of Buddhist meditation. Liz went to optihut X-ray. Watched Michael Wood on India and Come dine with me and listened to Gabriel Jackson Requiem on radio 3. Interesting programme on Lang Lang and University Challenge.

Our front door! After the excitement of the amazing river pageant, we travelled over to Acton on Monday morning in good time for the street party. Liz made some excellent cupcakes and we enjoyed meeting everyone. We eventually retired to the house to watch the concert which was spectacular and included Lang Lang, Rene Fleming and Alfie Boe. Tom was out with Mark and Stella but cam home to rejoin the street party. We were up quite early on the Tuesday and drove home to watch the St Paul's service and the lunch and procession of carriages. Dennis and Ann-Marie had grandstand seats for the whole day opposite the Palace! We went up to Victoria and just saw the Red Arrows in the flypast. We served at the special mass with Mozart's Kronungsmesse with orchestra and a fine homily from Archbishop Vincent. Nice to see Brian and Fr Michael Dunne. Wednesday worked on the 2 essays and eventually decided to send them in. Sorted out organ music and now have a large pile to disp...

Woke around 6 a.m. and went back to bed and had breakfast with Ciarán. Tom still asleep! No trains so various buses to arrive at the hall by 10 a.m. for roll call. Chatting with Peter and then to Marks Kensington High street for coffee and shopping - apparently this is their best day for wine! Sat in very nice garden behind St Mary Abbots in memory of Alec Clifton-Taylor. Got sticky tape for hat decorations. Back for 3 p.m. roll call and then stayed in queue. Amazing outfits especially Germans and lots to eat. Had cava. Went in at 6 p.m. and rehearsed Maxwell Davies new work with words written by Prommers. Stephen Jackson hopeless! Got a very good position on the rail at centre and young family near us. Several people who came on the day. It seems only 30 full seasons were issued for the gallery so we were very lucky! Many people had to buy 2 half seasons not including the Last Night. Maxwell Davies piece in tribute to prommers collecting for musical charities. Bartok Miraculous manda...

Last Sunday without choir. I played Thalben-Ball on "Monk's Gate", John Stanley voluntaries and Adoro Te by Boellmann at Communion. At the end the tears filled my eyes as I started to play Dad's Bishopthorpe March but I kept going and managed the 5 sharps section much better. I practised and then met Vickie to choose hymns up to the end of November. This is necessary as my Wednesdays are taken up with holidays and the group on Paul. Liz was cantor at 12 noon Mass and I picked her up from the swimming pool where she had rescued my swimming stuff from my 40 length swim yesterday. I am feeling fit! A pleasant afternoon listening to evening prayer sung by the RSCM millenium youth choir in Holland featuring Sweelinck. Then Lang Lang's piano prom which was later on TV. Scanned photos for Doris's card and cut out letters for her card.