The organist librarian

Took Henry to music gems at the Salvation Army and he loved it. Then to Crystal Palace park playground, bacon butties and the dinosaurs. To quiet hour and Liz went to Lourdes Mass in the cathedral crypt. Caught up on Antiques roadshow, Only connect, University challenge and Couples come dine with me. Sewing bee. We had American fluffy pancakes. 

The Lourdes pilgrimage really was very special. Highlights the Cardinal's homilies, the torchlight procession with a stunning view from the Basilica steps where the choir were, the Cathedral of the trees Mass and the St Sabin abbey. Feeding Fred was very special and the parties were fun. Such lovely people we were looking after and hugely impressed by the Sant Frai volunteers and the redcaps. Joy, tears and healing said the Cardinal and he was so right! So many happy smiling faces. 

Woke early and got to church by car 8.40.No bells or junior church. Played Mascagni Intermezzo and Easter hymn for Mary Magdalene. Also Tambling on  O filii as we sang O sons and daughters. Visiting preacher good and finished 11.10. Gatwick 11.40 I had not noticed I needed to contact the driver but he appeared in 10 minutes. Assistance from Easyjet. I had time to get  a salad and coffee. Taken to wrong gate and chatted about NHS. Flight delayed 70 minutes lots of kids and crowded. Got his into Toulouse centre seems a charming place with canals. Missed train at 6.30 so got 8.30 one. Ate at Pauls at station found could not read books on Fire without internet but watched downloads Art of Scandinavia and Songs of Praise and read old Oremus. Arrived at 11 and got a taxi with the Oxford ladies. Hotel Metropole room has 2 double beds and we overlook courtyard. Had a beer. Monday to morning prayer and saw the Cardinal and Bishop John. Good breakfast. Choir a bit cramped open air ou...

Swam, Mass and at coffee invited to Christmas lunch on 20th, quiet day with Eileen McDade at cathedral on The Light of the world. two bite the dust on The Apprentice. Sean was brilliant in the reception class nativity. Frankincense bearer takes centre stage! At Somerset House very taken by film in Melancholia exhibition by Guido van der Werve. National gallery cello inspired by Cima Mario Brunello Bach and Weinberg sonata. People cannot sit silent for a Cage piece. Same thing in church if there is a silent gap.  3 exhibitions at Tate Modern. Too many people in Modigliani but did sketching from the catalogue in members room. Intrigued by Kabakov not bothered about Russian revolution stuff. The swings are fun! To Our Lady of Victories Kensington where we married 43 years ago.Church and hall vastly improved and plans for new pipe organ. The Cardinal was at the Lourdes carols to support the Westminster Lourdes pilgrimage. Nice to see Carolyn Morrison. Nice eats.  The r...

Suggestions from the interfaith group about Laudato Si'. Do not drive to church use public transport. Recycle. The cathedral uses one leaflet per weekend for Masses and recycles those left over. Change basic attitudes to creation through education. Preach about it!! Took Liz to East Croydon and Lourdes via Toulouse for a week. To Mass. Worked on scores and quiet day. To Thornton Heath library to see my pictures on display. To the hall.  Went to Sackler gallery. Black American photos. You have to queue for Grayson Perry at the Serpentine gallery described as the most popular art exhibition ever so will go another day. What about the Hockney? Rather off putting advert.  Fidelio prom and talk excellent especially Stuart Skelton and the Spanish chorus. The ladies resplendent in white satin! Orfeon Donostiarra which city? Home in heavy rain and late.

Set out to go to St John's coffee morning but discovered front tyre needed checking. It was resealed. Liz went to Lourdes Mass. To Chorus 2016 at South Bank centre and heard Choir with no name, Bexley and Gospel Oak groups. Plenty of enthusiasm, not my style of music. the conductor even got me moving arms and singing! One guy was wearing a deerstalker! Drawing at National Gallery - the Michelangelo entombment. Listened to some speeches at Trafalgar Square Refugees welcome demo. Foyles and then to Tim Harper's excellent recital at Bloomsbury Baptist. Vespers and Mass for Palm Sunday at the cathedral.

We went to the Westminster Lourdes pilgrimage silver jubilee concert at Our Lady of Victories church Kensington where we married 40 years ago. What a change and a lovely hall downstairs! UCLU chorus and orchestra Schubert and MacMillan conducted by Charles Peebles. They are excellent but it didn't move me much! We sang the Schubert Mass no 6 years ago and I particularly remember the Agnus Dei. The acoustic of the church meant that loud passages got blurred - maybe we should have sat at the back? Nice eats at the reception. Nice chats to Margaret Savill and Andrew Martin and a couple from East Dulwich. Bishop John was very welcoming.

Did not sleep well - very hot. Watered garden and swam 20 and took strimmer to Ann Marie. It is their wedding anniversary today and Liz had arranged for roses to be sent. To art and painted a picture of sunflowers based on photos from Lou's kitchen. Breakfast in garden and lovely photos from Lourdes including 2 of Liz!  To the hall and excellent pre-Prom talk on the Glagolitic with 2 composers Julian Anderson. I asked about whether Mary King was right to call Janacek a humanist as he was Catholic. He was influenced by millennium event involving 40.000 people. The Brahms piano concerto No. 1 was well played by Barry Douglas but the LSO ensemble was poor. |Did Gergiev rehearse? Why such slow tempi? The Janacek was great. Watched University challenge.MAt several people including Annalisa and Peter.

Swam 20, finished a mosaic, tai chi, popped into the Tate British Folk art (which is fun) avoided the cycle race and endured a Scotland Yard interfaith forum meeting with no tea! The commander wants to win our confidence but in fact I feel a bit ignored by the police. To Catenians and 16 there in all. I read Anna's letter as none of the Coloma girls could come. Danny's Niamh was on the HCPT pilgrimage.