The organist librarian

Oh bliss Oklahoma on TV remembering our canyons trip and the John Wilson Prom. Yesterday I was playing The King and I on the piano - great songs! Liz went to get her hair done. What I heard of Kings sounded lovely. At vespers at the cathedral we had Buxtehude Magnificat and Victoria O magnum mysterium. At 6 p.m. We had blessing of the crib and exchoristers singing Reger. Just spoke to the family in Oz on Facetime. Santa arrived! Carols from King's on TV. Superb tenor solo in the Darke and a Muslim woman reading the Annunciation - Yes! Love the new carol Judith Weir - it really is a carol. What I love about Christmas is how music brings back so many lovely memories especially Mum and Dad and so many wonderful Christmas celebrations in Joburg, Cornhiil, the cathedral, Addiscombe, Coulsdon, Beckenham and now Caterham not to mention Oz and India. And not to forget visiting Bethlehem 3 times! Delivered the circle records to Derrick so he can continue the history. Midnight Mass at Cater

Sang "Creator of the stars of night" arranged John Scott and played Rowley and Peeters on Conditor alme finishing with Reger Wachet auf. Good Carol practice. Started clearing out old choir robes. 3 p.m. Mass at St Mary's West Croydon. 2nd reading today from Philippians not the epistle to the Phillipines! And it is the winding of the ways (as in winding from side to side) not winding (as in a wind blowing) in the Gospel! Fr Celestine strikes again. He introduced the new p.p. Fr Patrick. Tom Tannion kindly drove us to Aylesford for Maidstone's Christmas dinner with carols with the Maidstone Salvation Army band. Most enjoyable. 

Swam, Mass, coffee (I think the list for the Christmas lunch was not well handled - it made it feel like that one was an extra and we will not be going.I went last year.) Petrol. Quiet day watching Repair shop and listening to evensongs from Blackburn and Armagh. Catherine Ennis played well at the cathedral with a good audience. A treat to have the Parry and Reger Sonata No. 2. Even Thomas Trotter was there! The Apprentice was good.

Up at 6.30 a.m. 2 buses to Caterham as train replaced by bus at that time but now running. Played Gordon Slater on "St Botolph" as we sang my favourite Marian hymn "For Mary mother of our Lord". Beautiful tune. I am afraid " Shall we not love thee mother dear" feels very Victorian. We sang "People look East" which seems very appropriate as people were very busy after service preparing for Christingle and Midnight. I think I have 4 sopranos tonight so descants are on. Lloyd Webber on Helmsley a great piece and also played Noel pour L'Amour de Marie. Compliments about carol service but more importantly ecumenical first.  Washing put away, presents wrapped, dishwasher loaded. Delicious ham lunch with squeak and Aldi Chrstmas pudding. Can now settle down to listen to King's - let Christmas begin!  Served at 6 p.m. mass at the cathedral which was packed. Blessing of the crib. Ex-choristers sang lovely Reger and Stille nacht. Missa de angelis

Snow. We heard about Caterham Overseas AidTrust. Advent message Martin How. Lang on Winchester New, Rowley Conditor alme, Reger Wachet auf. Carol practice.  Oh dear tiny glass globule in an apple from the same Ocado batch. We have had a refund for the batch and messages from Ocado. Evensong at St John's Gibbons, How lovely are the messengers. Blue planet 2 came to an end. 

Slept well, swam 18, Mass and to coffee. I spoke to the lady in pink coat but she is very deaf. She talks during Mass and Fr Sunith says nobody knows her name or address. It is scary that Catenian Eric Smith completely disappeared. I am still talking about the UCL experience. To Royal Albert Hall and good seats in the stalls but hard to hear dialogue. The boys enjoyed it.  The highlights of the concert for children at RAH were the sea sections Wagner and Britten and Firebird and Going on a bear hunt. Liz went to Trailfinders to pay remainder for the cruise in February.  The boys were playing up on the bus and train and got a rocket from Louise with tomorrow's trip to Brick in Birmingham in the balance. To Station house for Frank's  birthday - had pizza and beer. To cathedral  As expected Adriano Falconi's programme at the cathedral was heavy going lots of Reger and Liszt. The acoustic does not make for clarity in fugues. Good to see  Madeline Smith  and  Michael Butterfiel

Swam 18. Tree pruned and some of foliage cut back on John's side. He agreed to more being cut back. Result did not get to Mass. To Southwark cathedral and saw the Dean in passing. Freddie James played Muffat, Merkel and Reger. Had a chat to Martin Ball and some guy who talked a lot about himself! He is connected to St Peter Eaton Square. Had a lot at the painting in the refectory and then to Tate Modern to see Wolfgang Tillmans and Giacometti - did two sketches. He is either a genius or a frawd!. Wrote to the Tablet about music at first communions. To Beckenham meeting Bill was there. Chat to Don - Gaynor is doing well and he does not want help with provincial website. 

Played Thiman on Winchester New Bach Nun komm der heiden heiland and Reger Wachet auf - the only Reger I attempt! Too many notes. We sang People look East and Walsingham acclamations.  Barbara Mosse gave a good talk on Advent at St Paul's cathedral. Excellent evensong from Portsmouth  Show Mor Barbara Mosse gave a good talk on Advent at St Paul's cathedral. Barbara Mosse gave a good talk on Advent at St Paul's cathedral.

We did not have to picl up the kids on Tuesday after all so I went to oil painting. Wed to Tamar and lunch at Watermans. Sean joined in a bit. To Hinsley room for talk by Farhana Mayar from Quilliam foundation. Eugenie and Alison came and said a lot. Rita wasn't able to come so only 7 but 3 new people. We saw quotes from the Qu'ran and agreed this might be published by the Vatican. Worth a try. I went to Pret for tea and reading Tablet and Tagore short stories. Martin Baker's recital at the cathedral was Bach and Reger - a heavy programme. Adrian from the Proms and Martin Ball came to chat which was nice. Thursday to art and finished the drawing and decided to use oils so ordered spike primrose oil. To South London visit by Vice National president Peter and Joan Rogers to present 40 year scroll to David - he was very amusing. It was my official visit and Thomas More was well received. Friday no swim and kept waking up. Boiler serviced. Sent off emails and tidied study. 

On underground yesterday young man wearing shorts and tank top which revealed most of his chest. He was with young woman obviously been doing something sporty. But I rather think he should have put a T shirt on. So many people are wearing flipflops and scant clothing these days!  Swam 20 and wrote my Catenian Provincial president's blog. Painted a picture of flowers at art and started an angel picture. To see the doctor and mole must come off and knee to be Xrayed - it is much better thanks to icepacks and rest! Watched Proms Extra and a bit of Bake off. Took car to Battersea Park for parking. Enjoyed the Proms poetry entries very much although one fo them bore no relation to Dukas that I could hear!  2 Proms. Beethoven violin concerto seemed rather too confidential in places. Reger and Strauss and Wagner encore from Dresden Stattskapelle all enjoyable. Why no big Reger organ work this season? The late night prom featured Handel coronation anthems. The altos trills made me laugh a

Swam 22. To RUSI library for westminster debate on foreign policy and religious freedoms. 5 excellent speakers - the humanist particularly so. Jim Walters and a Catenian from Swanley were there. I asked a question about the rise of UKIP and German developments affecting foreign policy. To  Chrst the King Gordon square for organ recital by Matthew Blaiden of Richmond - Langlais, Reger and Alain. Did some sketching - very ornate and belongs to Catholic Apostolic church whatever that is. No tlalowed to applaud so thanked him. The chapel is the HQ of Forward in Faith. Had a look in Waterstones, picked up brushes from Cassart and posted music to Iain in Hereford. Came home for haircut and change. To Brook Green for servers dinner and I welcomed the guests the principal one being Archbishop Kevin. My speech ons erving and internet was well received. Very nice meal and good to chat to Canon Colin Davies episcopal vicar. Home by 11.30.

I w as relieved that Chris Walker's Stay Awake replaced The virgin Mary had a baby boy this morning - the calypso accompaniment is tricky. I played Pachelbel Von himmel hoch. A lovely recital by Robert Munns at St Augustine Grove Park at 6.30 of Advent music including Karg-Elert, Peeters, Buxtehude, Bach, Coleman and Leighton. There was a tombola and eats after service. I drove to Snakes and ladders at Sion House. I was late as I ended up going through Richmond.  A very nice party for Ciarán.

Swam 20 and Liz came. Chose a photo for next painting and sorted stuff for mosaic display. To Post Office to send off plugs to Paula. To St Michael's for Eleni's recital. While she played well it was nearly all loud and fast and needed some quieter contrast. I did a sketch of a candle bracket. I had not been in St Michael's for ages and it is good to see photos of people involved and some changes for the better. To Pret at Victoria to meet Teresa Whitney a PhD student from LSE from America who asked questions about the interfaith group and came to the meeting. There were 9 there and Jeremy Rodell did an excellent presentation on whether  you can be spiritual without being religious. He saw some overlap between the 2 and discussed Paul on body and spirit. We need to address evil and the soul/. I would argue for the heart affecting perceptions and not just a subjective reaction. To Westminster Abbey St Catherine's garden for wine and snacks but really needed some food! C

Worked on programme for concert. To St George Beckenham for Travis Baker playing Vierne, Mulet and Bach. He is lovely to watch and I sketched him at the console. Met Fr Tom Creagh-Fuller on the train - have not seen him since last year and seen him twice in 4 days! Met Harry Groome and Robert Cooper our piano tuner. Gave out recitals posters and several people said they would come. To Christ Church Chelsea which has a fine Flentrop. Very hot. Tak Man Chow played her end of year performance - Bach, Buxtehude, Hindemith and Reger. It was all a but academic and dry. To Acton and spent a happy time with the boys and picked up Louise and Sean from the gym. He had loved the concert. To St John Notting Hill for Nigel Allcoat's improvised concert and he had the bass scholar singing the chant which he managed to get wrong a couple of times! Nice to meet a Facebook friend - Nigel is great fun! I drew the eagle above the organ which looks more like a dove. Watched D day 70th commemorations f

Swam 12 as I was late. Liz went off to college. I finished first draft of the article for Xavier. Also finished reading Mark Barrett's Crossing. To St John Smith Square to hear Martin Baker. Excellent Bach and de Grigny. Effective Reger and a sparkling improvisation on a jumpy theme! Apparently he was not too well  -you would not have guessed it. It was good having the screen. The Klais is very fine and a reasonable audience. To Royal Academy to see Sensing Spaces. Fascinating use of light and natural materials by architects. It was great to see the film and to be able to interact on IPads. I loved the Japanese use of cedar wood for the scent and light and the lovely forest with birchwood. Also being able to climb up to the ceiling of the grand rooms. I am considering not renewing my membership of the Friends - the tea room was very crowded again. To National Gallery to see the Vuillard - his technique is fascinating. One tends to miss him against all the Monets and Seurat. To tea

Debbie was not at practice but arrived for the service. The 3 who did come did well. I played Peeters on Wachet auf and Conditor alme and Num komm der heiden heiland preludes and Reger on Wachet auf. I was horrified to see the crib and Christmas tree up - what is the point when we have a crib service on Dec 24th. Stephen offered a lift home after Midnight and I can go to their home after Mass that evening which will help. The plan had been to borrow AnnMarie's car but she is in Ireland. Jo's op is next week. Practised but then remembered there was a  council meeting in church so stopped. Enjoyed I'm sorry I haven't a clue. Christmas letters and cards all done. Watched Michael Portillo on the continent. Exeter cathedral evensong. Liz worried about condition and did not go out. At evensong we sang Hark what a sound to the Terry tune and Purcell Rejoice - Terence was all over the place! Watched coverage of Madiba's funeral. BBC sports personality of the year is Andy M

Took Ciaran to school and Liz did not go in because of tummy. Took Sean to music and he enjoyed it. He slept well and I listened to Norwich cathedral evensong while Liz took Ciaran to swimming. Liz had a good time in New York last week and Tom is going to Sydney for a week! To the cathedral for Nicolas Kynaston's well attended recital. Richard Pilliner was there. Liszt, Reubke, Mozart, Reger and Roger-Ducasse. It was rather a heavy programme. Thursday only swam 16 as I was late up. Liz to college. To South London interfaith group lunch which was very delicious and some good sharing about National Interfaith week. To National Portrait gallery to see excellent Elizabeth 1 and Britten displays. Hannukkah lights in Trafalgar Square. To Heythrop for excellent lecture by Baroness Scotland about being a thinking Catholic in public life. Fr Michael O'Boyle, Allen Morris and Tom Creagh-Fuller were there. Chatted to a Muslim and Dr Prout from Brisbane. Monika from Liz's class was th

Woke 5 a.m. and went back to sleep. Swam 30. Interesting feature on Janacek on radio 3 - the Proms start today! The feature on the Proms is on at 9 a.m. as I drive back from the pool. Moved rubbish to front garden, cleaned kitchen floor, put away Ocado shopping. To Blackhorse and parked to go to Beckenham for Harra Bramma'a recital. Dorio having more trouble from the priest who is rude. Bach rather muddy, Reger Canzona and very nice Whitlock Fantasie Chorale No 1 in D flat. Home for lunch and Liz off to Heythrop for chat and tour about her 2 year mission course on Saturdays. I took spare lettuce and cabbage to Josie and had tea. They have rented accomodation and go back Thursday. To V and A to see Jain sculptures and queued for gallery. Met nice Maltese girl and her boyfriend. Got seats and could walk to rail for a view. Splendid Judith Weir, Brahms Academic festival overture with chorus, Liszt Piano con 2 with score Ben Grosvenor only 19 stunning. He played Liszt Hungarian rhapsod

Tuesday to Bromley Parish church with Liz to hear Adrian Adams play Alcock, Boyce, Elgar,Reger and Bach. Nice coffee and sandwiches with Terence beforehand. Liz has been painting and went to osteopath. To cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Philip Moore responses, nice chanting, Stanford in C Gloria sent shivers down my spine which doesn't happen often, Britten Te Deum in C. To Westfield to see The King's speech which was so moving. Louise treated us. Brilliant film!

All went well at Coulsdon - a baptism for Baptism of the Lord. Ellie Lyon came to start with Molly - she plays cello and sings well! Practised. Liz went to Croydon Primark and BHS. I went to St Paul's Cathedral to hear Norman Harper play Buxtehude, Finzi and Reger - what a sound. Marilyn, Michael and Martin were there. Antiques roadshow and Lark rise is back! Monday swam 22 - Mervyn was there. Diane asked me to move into the slow lane and there was music on! To tai chi - 3 there. To Catenians on Monday evening - got 2 new Norwood ties for £15. 22 visitors and 2 visiting gentlemen. Philip was back. Tuesday swam 24. Took AnnMarie to pay for new carpets and get swatch and she painted at Glyn Close.