The organist librarian

Picked up Henry at nursery and I was soon surrounded by little boys fascinated by no hair and hearing aids. Henry ate a lot and played ha ppily. He is staying overnight. He took a time to settle.  Took Henry to nursery - he slept right through after 3 Caterpillar video stories and 3 stories. He was keen to go on a bear hunt but I said the bear's asleep! Have ordered a new mobile phone.  First visit to St Matthew Bayswater a fine Walker organ and Charlie Warren played Widor 5 well. A friendly welcome. To Horniman museum Marilyn Harper played chamber organ. Norman on good form. Nuala was there and Jim Sands. Mass at the drome full choir Rubbra and Palestrina. Catholic creators UK addressed by actor Alex McQueen and author Piers Paul Read. Met Stephen Tsang.

Both swam (first time for ages) Mass. Fr Robin led a brilliant day on the raising of Lazarus. Marilyn Harper entertained us with Sweelinck at St Matthew Westminster. Evensong at Temple Church, two Alleluias! Fine anthem by Philip Moore. Bach very well played. Creed and responses cut and last verses of hymns changed. Why? Perhaps to accommodate those there for launch of book on Christian, Jewish and Islamic law? Watched Mary Berry cooking and Juliet won Great sewing bee. 

Baptism of the Lord and I got wet! We sang Like the murmur of the dove's song by Alan Smith. I thought We have a gospel at the end was an inspired choice. I played Bach The old year now away is gone and Christ the Lord to Jordan came. The latter was Dad's party piece and a steady speed paid off with an accurate pedal part on 4 foot clarion. The Great has a 16 foot diapason so that works well against the choir flutes in the right hand. Watching BBC Icons. How to choose? Thatcher No but Churchill, Roosevelt and Mandela are icons.  Here is the little door at evensong.  Christ's chapel Dulwich for Marilyn Harper's excellent recital. She played a cradle song by Howells. Enjoyed Call the midwife. Grouting at mosaic not my favourite task. I was expecting an organ recital at St Martin's in the Fields. St Martin's voices were excellent especially bass and tenor. Soprano too Emma Kirkby for my taste! Nils Greenhow excellent as the blind Samson, Nathan Harrison exciting...

Swam, Mass. An enjoyable first visit to Godalming to hear Marilyn Harper play. A fine Hill organ in an interesting church. Liked the Bedard, Mendelssohn and Norman Harper's piece. Lovely autumn day in leafy Surrey. Peter Halliday and a bass from Bridgemans and organists there. A good audience and tea.  To the British Museum to see the stunning Scythians exhibition. Their craftsmanship amazing and knew very little about them. 4.30 seemed to be a good time to go as one could see things well - it was not crowded. I also saw the prints about Luther. Iberia have refused to pay the 30 Euro for the taxi after delayed flight! Had some more green soup and to 9 p.m. showing at Clapham Picturehouse (met the nice couple from Cadogan Hall proms) to see "Call me by your name" beautiful film but did find the situation rather tiresome (idle people in Italy) and the father had some strange views - it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all might be the moral. 

A quiet day and back to the pool to do 20. Liz slept late and I went over to St George's Beckenham to hear Marilyn Harper play Bach, Mango Frist (who is this?) and Rootham which I have heard before (Song of Victory). 40 there. Got calendar at Beckenham bookshop. The clergy supper went very well. Fr David cried off so Fr Joe  was the only Norwood clerical guest and he said Hello. Sr Sheila spoke really well and Hilary Fife enjoyed it. It was good the younger ones came and I made a point of meeting and greeting them all. The real star of the show was Fr Brian who spoke eloquently without notes. Raffle tickets ran out but more were made so that was solved and we got away about 11. A successful evening and the food was very good - delicious salmon and sticky toffee pudding. Saturday got up at noon! Reading Tablets and to Bloomsbury Baptist for Eleni's recital. She played BWV544, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens and Greek pieces. I was shocked to be charged £4.70 to go on the tube...

Mouse No. 4 seen in the lounge last night - yuk! Saturday to St George's cathedral to hear Marilyn Harper play very well. I made myself known to Mylene. She played Bach, Rootham and Bedard. About 25 there. A lovely day and visited the Tibetan peace garden. I had parked at West Norwood so took bus back and then to Dulwich picture gallery for Hockney prints. Overpriced at £10 for pensioners - the rooms are too narrow and too many people. Parked at Kent House. Fr Quaqoe at Mass and there were 5 of us serving and all went well. To Hayes Catholic church hall for a delightful May supper with Beckenham circle - lots of nice food. Gabrielle who is German was rather dogmatic about the Church! Enjoyed the chat as the house is so quiet. Liz was at the diamond wedding celebration.

Played Christ the Lord to Jordan came of Bach both versions in Clavierubung. Found a box at church for the organ music which I am selling and also had a first look at Alan's organ music - he must have spent a fortune! Watched Christmas university challenges and some Christmas Songs of Praise. How can O holy night be the nation's favourite above In the bleak - it's not even a congregational carol! Evensong Stanford in B flat and There shall a star of Mendelssohn. To Christ's chapel Dulwich for a joint recital by the Harpers in memory of Tim Penrose and also the organ builder Bill Drake. Purcell, Wesley (which didn't work so well with the tuning), Buxtehude, Bach, Nigel Ogden. Vincent Nicholls is to be Cardinal - brilliant! 

Bank Holiday Monday and nice weather after all the rain yesterday morning. Up early and worked on Michael's suggestions regarding the dissertation. To Bromley parish church for joint recital by Norman and Marilyn Harper. They played a duet by Wesley and divided the programme between them including Dupre, Leighton and Mango Thrist (Lovely girl commented Norman). I left before the Bach Passacaglia to get home for lunch and then to Royal College of Music for 2.30 workshop with Mary King on singing musicals. Muriel was there. Enjoyed singing Somewhere over the rainbow, opening number from Show Boat and the scarecrow song with actions. Also a Waxman song. The light music organ prom was well played by Richard Hills and included Ireland, Sullivan, Waller and German and a fun encore. Excellent talk on film music with David Benedict and the John Wilson prom was excellent with a wide variety of film music and songs. I am playing for Dermot Molony's funeral on Friday at St Mary's.

Liz to college. A hot day. To St Ethelburga's for the start of the Westminster Interfaith and then by train to Manor Park  - a very good turnout and good to see familiar faces and new ones including Heythrop students and young people. To Sri Muragan temple (Sri Lankan Hindu) which was pretty chaotic but we did get some food and drink then walked to Froud centre for lunch and St Michael's church. Good to see the Anglican priest who was at Muslim/Christian forum and impressed by their Bible/Qur'an joint study. Bus to Imamia mission which is Iraq/Syrian Shi'a then bus to Mile End with Melanie from Liz's class and to Bloomsbury Baptist for Marilyn Harper's recital. She wore a short dress 70s style!  She played Reinken, Sweelinck, Jane Joseph and Guilmant - left after first movement of the first sonata. Smoke vespers and Pentecost Vigil Mass with Fr Michael - me lending him an arm on the stairs. TV programme on Northern ballet.