The organist librarian

Great hymns at Coulsdon including O thou who camest and The church's one foundation. Had a chat about choirs with Ann and Jenny. Gary Seiling taking on CODA singers. Maybe we need a choir which does new repertoire? Mass at Purley with Fr Gregory - he changed 2 of the hymns on the board and we sang unaccompanied The Church's one foundation. Car to Selhurst and train back to East Croydon so I could have wine at lunch at Croydon Park Oscars with Liz and Dennis. Lovely food - beef and pork, chocolate cake and bread and butter pudding. To pre-Prom talk with members of Polyphony and London Sinfonia trombone and cello. The Britten variations on a theme of Frank Bridge beautifully played (score). The Colin Matthews No man's land a world premiere. Lovely singing from Ian Bostridge and standin baritone but diction not good. Mozart Requiem disappointing - group of soloists not a choir tenors and sops too loud, Basses excellent. Soprano solo too much vibrato. Stephen Layton has a great...

To the tip on the way to church to dump old compost. As I had my newly cleaned best suit on I donned an apron - there were 2 long queues of cars so I was a little delayed but picked up 2 ladies for church at bus stop as a result. I played Wyton and Thiman on Veni creator and we sang "Spirit of the living God" as an introit. Come down O love divine, Breathe on me Breath of God, O thou who camest and There's a spirit in the air. Veni creator at communion followed by Alan Smith's "Like the murmur". Straight to cathedral for 12.1 5 confirmation with Archbishop Vincent. Liz read the sequence very poetically and a splendid homily without notes. Stunning improvisations from Edward Tambling on Veni creator and I thought Mahler's Adagietto was creeping in too - mind you I am worrying that my copy of that is lost which I need next month! Come down O love divine, Breathe on me, O bread of heaven and Love divine. Lourdes Mass is a little tedious. Reception in the ha...

To Southwark cathedral by car. Trouble finding parking in the end I went on yellow line and put up disabled badge. Examined with Chris Greenhalgh for RSCM Bronze Dean's awards - some very nice singing indeed. A long session 9.45 to 2.45 with a lunch provided. There is something very touching about a young voice singing "O thou who camest from above". Some candidates were not well prepared. Saw Peter Wright and Adrian. To Herne Hill to get replacemetn dance shoes for organ pedalling. They had copied my original 5 yera old shoes but ordered one size too small. The new left one fits tightly but should soften. To the cathedral for Vespers and Mass. One way in man called Charlie spoke to me and said he was authorised to serve. He seemed to know Liz and John O'Brien but I checked with fr Swavek just in case and they said it was good I had done so. We were the only servers any way so no smoke. Fr Kingsley concelebrated with Swawek. Frove to West Wickham 7.15 to 8.10 p.m. arr...