The organist librarian

Woke late. Sang Faure Pie Jesu at Peter Diggens' funeral. Sadly no incense. He was a true Christian gentleman and pillar of the church. Jill Caudle sang O rest in the Lord beautifully. I put my foot down politely with John Varney and said we had come to sing the Faure. He is competent but insensitive.  Henry came and played in the garden and upstairs. Royal Albert Hall organ spectacular with Wayne Marshall, Olivier Latry and David Briggs. I was late thanks to rail services and so arrived in the middle of the interesting tour inside the organ. It was a pity that the second half was not real organ music but the Ravel and Gershwin worked well. I think the Widor played by all 3 was fun!

At Peter's Southwark cathedral he had to get off the stool and stop a workman drilling! He played Heiller, Jackson, Moore and Latry. Watched VE day Abbey service with new anthem by Judith Weir.

Olivier Latry's recital started with intriguing piece by Jean-Louis Florentz. I skipped the Messiaen. Widor's 5th symphony featured a slow Toccata!

Ciarán had a great day. The weather turned hot and we went on the bus to Kensington gardens to what must be one of the best playgrounds in the world. He loved the sand, the musical chimes, slide and especially the pirate ship. In fact unwillingness to share the steering wheel was the only barney of the day. He did go on the potty but produced nothing so had 2 disasters. He enjoyed ice cream and we saw a helicopter. He slept on both bus journeys which was good. I was exhausted and slept well on Tuesday evening. To the cathedral for Martin Baker's superb recital. I had the score for the Bach B minor BWV 544, the choristers sang beautifully in Olivier Latry's Salve regina and Widor Symphony No. 8 was splendid. I did take my hearing aids out for the last movement as it was so loud! Andrew Cessana, Christian Strouver and Simon Lloyd were there.

After a nice lunch of burgers and sweet potato followed by apple pie to recital by Charles Cole at the cathedral. He played Langlais Rosa mystica based on Salve Regina and then 3 sopranos sang the phrases of the solemn Salve and we had Olivier Latry's improvisations. Carillon de Westminster by Vierne. At mass Fr Tim and some differences in serving. 3 people asked me why I wasn't serving! David played Stanford postlude in D minor and a fine improvistion on "Regina coeli".

A lovely day and enjoyed the park at lunch time. I swam 30 lengths. Dan's baby is 9 days overdue! My shoulder and side still giving twinges so did not go to tai chi (again!). Liz insisted that I come home and not go to the CAFOD meeting in the Hinsley Room. Watched Olivier Latry playing Saint-Saens No. 3 from the Proms - he was playing from the miniature score. Messiaen in first half too long if interesting to watch and beautifully controlled by Myung Chung. Discussed last night's Channel 4 programme on the haj with Zia who says the walk to the spring was stopped 4 years ago so the film was a tad misleading. Still it is was beautifully done with some amazing mosques in Lahore, Istfahan, Mali, Jerusalem and Granada. Packed for wedding - usual dithering and fuss.