The organist librarian

To Watermans for the last session this term with Tamar. After lunch at Fields a happy hour listening to readers in Ciaran's class. Ciaran was delighted with the ZSL magazine and let 2 butterflies go. Radio 3 concert of Guerrero and Lobo from York Minster by the Sixteen. Busy putting ne BBQ together - need 2 people and 4 hours!

Had a rest and watched The Hour. Did I mention an excellent programme on Sir Terence Rattigan which I watched? Took car up to RAH. Holloway concerto No 5 for orchestra premiere, Strauss 4 last songs and Brahms 2. Thought the soprano was not quite at ease on some higher notes. Donald Runnicles conducted. Enjoyed the Brahms very much. Stayed on for 10 p.m. prom by Tallis scholars of Vittoria with a Lobo encore. I slept soundly through last bit of requiem - it was beautiful but perhaps lacked Spanish passion? Met Bridget and Dave. Home by 12.15. My watch stopped but is now working again!

Up early to swim at South Norwood pool as I had the old car, then to vote at the Polish club and got early train. My £2 coin got stuck in the machine at Selhurst and when I asked at the ticket office the manager opened the machine and handed me several coins! Ken Livingstone promising us over 60s 24 hour free travel but I voted for Paddick and the greens. Boris was elected and worse still one seat for the BNP. What is happening in this country? Massive swing to the Tories throughout the country no doubt not helped by the 10p tax mess-up and the high price of petrol and food. Bob Geldof came into the library to find where to vote! Halim got his autograph but did not alert me until too late. I was glad that the childrens library was not used for voting this time. Served at mass in the Lady chapel with the full choir singing Lobo. To Baroness Julia Neuberger's excellent lecture on volunteering. She chaired the government commission on this. She mentioned how silly it is that one CRB c...

I overslept which is not surprising as I have been up late blogging! Liz took Grandma to King's for small op and is staying at Glyn Close tonight. Bruce came over to babysit. Calix announced he was resigning as he is to be manager of the Fabian Society's offices. Staff meetings discussed security in some depth. Served at Mass in the Lady chapel with the full choir singing Lobo directed very well by Thomas. 2very small new boys were there too. Fr Michael Durand celebrated. William Hague Shadow Foreign secretary gave a brilliant lecture about Wilberforce and William Pitt and the dangers of drugs, arms trade and trafficking in people. He answered the questions with humour. Baroness Shirley Williams in charge. Saw Hanna, Claire, Kate and Celia. Booked for Barbican on Sunday - could not get password last night so missed out on cheap ticket - still I am sure the new MacMillan work will be worth it. Read "Music and liturgy".