The organist librarian

Bought a new lamp for the hall at Peter Jones and they did not have the mobile phone I wanted. Coffee and fruit tart with Liz. 2 great proms. Cadogan Hall Armida quartet playing Schubert and Mozart with Lise Berthaud viola in a fine new work by Sally Beamish. Excellent discussion on 1989 in Leipzig and Berlin and Leipzig Gewandhaus in Beethoven programme conducted by 85 year old Herbert Blomstedt with Sir Andras Schiff. Lots of drunken carnival goers on train home which was delayed.

To 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's - Canon Collins and a good reader. The congregation mumble the responses and at communion the whole congregation stands up and queues round the building! Had a friendly argument with Pat Ryan. He says crossing Our Lady by not singing hymns to her in May led to Paul and I leaving Addiscombe. Strange that we both ended up at the cathedral - did Our Lady have a hand in that too? This made me miss train so waited for 337 bus. When I got off it a taxi came at the right moment. I said to the driver you are heaven sent. He was Muslim and remarked on this comment. So I said we are all heaven sent. Got to All Saints Putney Common at 10 a.m. Strange Greening setting and a poor Eminent organ. I played Watson In memoriam Howells, Eric Smith and Jerusalem, Bus to Putney Bridge and to Mary King's workshop on "Nixon in China" - tricky to sing and learn. Met Stephen from Bath who knows Pat and Keith Bennett. He came to Di Mario's for an excellent pizza...

Asked a question at pre Prom talk about Mendelssohn - it was whether is harmony had influenced Wagner and agreed. He was charming and funny in his letters. Leipzig Gewandhaus under Riccardo Chailly played all Mendelssohn programme which was lovely. It was full so Liz didn't come. Adrian and Terence came up for a chat. I met Pauline and Sean after first prom - nice to see them. Picked up Liz from no. 3 so saw Bruce and Dennis briefly. Watched a bit of John Wilson prom on TV.