The organist librarian

2 quiet days at home with a cough but no other symptoms but decided to play safe. Cancelled next week's meeting and got Shona to play on Sunday. Watched the rest of Michael Portillo's Asian rail journeys, the royal train, Yorkshire steam railway, Question of sport relief. Finished reading Frederic Martel's amazing The Closet on the Vatican. 

A quiet day with a strange ending. I went to Sainsbury's and got more boxers. Timpson's cannot fix my organ shoe. Watched Asian railways and Clive James in Cairo. Canon Christopher told me The Tablet letter had caused upset and I was not to serve for 2 weeks. I was astonished at this severity and bullying. I shall take 3 weeks off from the Cathedral. Yet again the behaviour has been outrageous. 

Mass at Addiscombe. Dennis came. He has resigned from Catenians. Watched Yorkshire steam railway and Asian railways with Michael Portillo. It was too wet to go to Croydon Minster organ recital. Got the car cleaned. Liz went to Stevenage to sing in Lourdes concert. At practice we started work on two anthems by Ian Brentnall Ave Maria and Bread of the world also learnt Willan in E flat Evening canticles.

Christ the King and the 3 men sang Tony Hemson's Alpha and Omega really well. We missed Linda Baker. I played a lovely Prelude on Diademata by Barry Ferguson and Crown Imperial which was much appreciated. Julie came and the flute in the Rutter and Berlioz is magic! I played Howells Psalm prelude Set 1 no 3 as a tribute to Stephen when I was practising. So sad to learn that Colin Mawby had died. Enjoyed Michael Portillo great Australian rail journeys and David Attenborough on Europe's natural highlights. The programme on Fair Isle was excellent. Signed Christmas cards.

Alarm did not wake me so no swim. Mass for St Andrew's Day. Liz put the flowers from the front garden into black sacks. Sorted car seats. To the tip and took recycled clothes to Age concern Acton. Picked up the boys and it took 90 minutes to get home. They quickly settled in watching Legomasters and playing with Lego. Finally got them to bed. Watched Michael Portillo at Bradford cinema and read Tablet online. 

Wednesday to school library and all catalogued and cleared up. To Shakespeare Road and home for Halloween. Dennis was coming but got locked out so Liz went up there after mass at Addiscombe. Swam, took Liz to station setting off for Newcastle, Mass of All Saints, returned home to find electricians here instead of 1.15 - no problem with the connections and saw Darren as well. To art and finished holocaust painting. Stayed for free session of Mind, body and spirit yoga instructor - enjoyed it much more than Tony's endless prattling. Finally got to watch Dagmar female production of Julius Caesar - amazing. Hamlet with the brilliant Andrew Scott and Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude. Michael Portillo's history programmes. All Souls to Mass and collected Liz's jacket from the surgery. Watched programme on Cary Grant. Welcoming at cathedral - met twins from Napoli but it was quiet. Train to Norwood Junction then bus as trains were being cancelled. Faure at St John's. Maz had us t...

Ciaran said he wanted to go home so rang Louise. He cheered up and we set off for Lullingstone Roman villa. However near Bromley was sick so headed for home and Sean did the same when we arrived! So had a quiet day watching Michael Portillo in India, repair shop, Pointless, Attenborough on eggs. Dennis came and we went to East Dulwich picturehouse to see Macbeth live from ROH. Fantastic singing and the production better than the Met. Chorus and Netrebko and Pappano brilliant. Home at 11 

Upearly, swam, Mass, hearing aids retubed at AgeUK, Henry came. Bravo Marko Sever playing Bach, Handel and Mozart brilliantly at St George Hanover Square. More importantly the music came over so well. As Dame Gillian Weir remarked "anyone can play loud and fast but can they make music?". Tate Britain All too human especially the films outside the exhibition. Freud splendid and Paula Rego a real discovery for me. Celia Paul and Cecily Brown impressive but Bacon less so. Enjoyed Michael Portillo Indian railways including Amristar, Chandigarth and Shimla. Grand Irish hotel Ashford Castle. 

Snow! Superb playing at Bloomsbury Baptist by Thomas Trotter. Bach,Wammes and Elgar sonata. Organ club there in force. Watched Michael Portillo in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Also Civilisations with Simon Schama. Emails about public speaking.       Played Brahms O God thou faithful God and Herzliebster Jesu and we sang Ah holy Jesus. Took hot water bottle to warm my hands! No service tonight which is a relief as the buses take an hour each way.                                            

Both went swimming. A quiet day clearing the garden of leaves and putting the  contents of the boxes into bags. I took the bags of clothes to Emmaus Lambeth at West Norwood. Did the draft Provincial President's calendar. Watched Citizen Khan, Simon Reeve in Ireland.

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...

Friday watched the Placido Domingo Royal Opera house tribute with Joyce DiDonato and Stefan Popp. Liz brought Ciarán over and we went to bed happily in Bruce's room and slept well. We set off for Sheffield Park in good time and were on the first train to Horsted Keynes. Father Christmas gave him a Coronation Scot board game which we enjoyed. There were mirrors, model railway, games and Ciarán got a sweet! It was great. He enjoyed the carousel roundabout and a lolly. We ate at nearby Stables restaurant. Drove to Acton but I got out at Earls Court. Anthony served and was impressed by the servers. Eugene was smoke. Advent wreath candles lit before Mass again! Liz still not well. Worked on Christmas letters and cards. Byzantium and Michael Portillo on the Continent.

Woke at 8 a.m. To mosaic and worked on project 3 which involves following curves with small tiles. Spoke to Linda about the damaged project for Ivor and Alan so it will go on a board and have to be regrouted. We wasted time going to see the outside of the room we will use when the centre is demolished. At ta'i chi I pulled a muscle in my left side trying to stand on my right foot in a new exercise so rested and it went off after Toni massaged it. Read more Cornille and watched Great British railway journeys in Ireland with Michael Portillo. To Catenians and my election as President is confirmed. 19 visitors and a lighthearted meeting. Got more takers for the Conference and Mass although Liz and I are the only ones going to paid events. Lift from Colin.

Swam 24. We both went to the excellent Mughal exhibition at the British Library. Wonderful paintings and objects. Bought the book! Lovely to see places we had recently visited and items which belonged to the emperors. To Heythrop for Mass at 1 p.m. and tea afterwards. Liz went to King's for last optigut session and I came home. Email from Maud who was at Xavier's ordination with her comments. Watched programme on railway North of London with Michael Portillo, visit to Elgar birthplace museum, Come dine with me. She-wolf queens.

Finished reading the Pieris book. Liz went to course retreat at Tyburn. To St George's cathedral for Peter Wright's excellent recital of Bach, Vierne, Cochereau, Bairstow, Jackson and the Leighton Et resurrexit again. Not impressed that Mark Johnson ignored me - it was the St Cecilia day as well. Norman Harper was most welcoming and there was a reasonable audience. On 344 with Dorio to St Mary le Bow. An excellent demo by the church secretary of the Kenneth Tickell 2010 organ which is a real treat. I played two Andrew Moore pieces. There was a good turnout too. To M & S for tea and cake. At Mass RCIA candidates were enrolled. St George's Sudbury all male choir did not distinguish themselves! Nice meal of pork chop. Michael Portillo has continental railway journeys series!

Bed at midnight, woke at 2, 5 and 6. Unusual dream - I was supposed to sing the gospel but had not had time to practise it. In the end I did not sing it and came into a room of black clad clerics and deacons (I was in ordinary dress) and one of them said "I really wanted John to sing the gospel" but he meant another John! Then somebody mentioned a response to the gospel sung at Christmas "The word was made flesh" sung by Marcel McCarron but of course we never did sing such a response! Swam 28. Watching dressage and Come dine with me. Interesting that the Praise bus video in London shows it going past Spurgeons College so they must have been staying in this area! Considering the hassle I had trying to get a band on the bus and it never came off! Watching men's triathlon and Michael Portillo on the West Highland railway to Mallaig - been there!

The match between Federer and Juan Martin del Potro is engrossing and a real battle. Watched the people's history and History of art in 3 colours - blue also Michael Portillo so gradually catching up. To prom Siegried Idyll and Bruckner's 8th BBC Scottish with Donald Runnicles on great form. Came home to Carte d'Or ice cream and Montepulciano wine and watched some of the TV of the Bruckner.

To Vaughan House for confirmation class and enjoyed talking about marriage with Liz. Fr Paolo showed our wedding photos on the screen and also part of his ordination last July. Had not realised the priest who baptised him and his spiritual director who died 3 weeks later were present. Session went reasonably well. Watched University challenge, Michael Portillo on Scottish railways. Louise has posted on Face Book about baby No. 2 so we can announce it at last! Hurrah! From what Bridget said I have had a lucky escape from Upper Norwood!

To South Norwood mosque in Clifford Road to discuss visit in July on the interfaith walk -  a warm welcome. Nice meal with New Zealand wine. Watched Michael Portillo's railway and University challenge. Printer working again. I popped into Battersea library to photocopy and return book and it's much improved.

The electrician has fixed the lights on stairs and our bedroom - hurrah! Liz did well in her first reflections and especially the Power Point on the parish - 67 out of 100! Watched Michael Portillo in Ireland and evensong from Manchester cathedral. More reading on the Muslim Jesus.