The organist librarian

Buses to Euston, The trains via Birmingham were fine and it is easier and cheaper going that way! Passed Malvern - great views. Taxi very helpful and arrived 3 p.m. Warm welcome from Julian, Dom Brendan and the abbot. Not many have come. Vespers and compline - food as good as ever. Watched University challenge and Natalie Klein on music to infuence politics. Up for 6.30 a.m. 12 years since Alan died! Feast of St Thomas Cantelupe so today became Guardian Angels. 8 a.m. Mass Robert Sholl on Messiaen and Part - prefer the latter. After lunch walk in garden. To Hereford cathedral and saw mediaeval choir book, chained library and Mappa Mundi. Tea at the deanery and lovely garden down to the river Wye. Very friendly. evensong was good - Wise and easy Stanford anthem as boys are new. They sang the long psalm 18 well. The stained glass windows for Thomas Traherne are great (Tom Denny) and new St Ethelbert and St Thomas shrines are lovely. Wine at dinner and Fr Dennis is here! Watched Bake off...

Swam 20. I went to get petrol and remembered in time that I do not currently have a credit card so paid cash! I  did well to clear the holly from behind the silver birch and shed before the rain came! 7 bags of garden refuse. Lots of white deposits under the holly leaves and weeds galore. The fox will have to find another spot to hide! Did not go to art as Julie away. Watched video of chorus and baby Dennis! Watched Dan Cruickshank's programme on destruction of historic art by IS - indefensible but some guy called Choudery did so! Watched Great British bake off and gypsy wedding with Liz. I was supposed to go to the serpentine gallery with Anna and group but she cancelled. I has also thought of visiting RCM museum but ended up going to Kensington library for scores (2 assistants making trips to the store) and the talk on Messiaen. His music was described as surrealist  - maybe that's why I don't like it! The Foulds Mantras were interesting and I did a sketch semi-abstract....

To 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's - Canon Collins and a good reader. The congregation mumble the responses and at communion the whole congregation stands up and queues round the building! Had a friendly argument with Pat Ryan. He says crossing Our Lady by not singing hymns to her in May led to Paul and I leaving Addiscombe. Strange that we both ended up at the cathedral - did Our Lady have a hand in that too? This made me miss train so waited for 337 bus. When I got off it a taxi came at the right moment. I said to the driver you are heaven sent. He was Muslim and remarked on this comment. So I said we are all heaven sent. Got to All Saints Putney Common at 10 a.m. Strange Greening setting and a poor Eminent organ. I played Watson In memoriam Howells, Eric Smith and Jerusalem, Bus to Putney Bridge and to Mary King's workshop on "Nixon in China" - tricky to sing and learn. Met Stephen from Bath who knows Pat and Keith Bennett. He came to Di Mario's for an excellent pizza...

Swam 32. To tip and John Lewis to look at HDD/DVD recorders - what to buy? To tai chi and only Lesley came - had a good chat. John and Darren helped move furniture at Glyn Close as Dennis and AnnMArie coming down tonight late. Too late to get to preProm talk on French literature. Proved to be an enjoyable evening with Myung Wun Chung conducting Orchestre Philharmonique du Radio France. Messiaen which I usually hate was pleasant, Dupasin new work effective last movement, Beethoven tiple concerto a pure joy. Chatted to several people.

Wednesday to osteopath and 3 students this time who worked on my left shoulder as I have no discomfort in side or back. They were impressed at my promming and swimming! Came home and Lauren had prepared nice BBQ with lots to eat. She ws having a quiet day and the new router meant she could use her laptop downstairs. Tried to use laptop to download music without success. To St John's to put pot of orange begonias with message for Mum and Dad's 2nd anniversary. Spoke to Ann and Dennis. Ann had been to Christ Church St Lawrence with Snowy and they had marked the first anniversary with Bairstow just as I did! Mum and Dad were prayed for and the priests remembered Ann. To Westminster Cathedral for organ recital by John Scott on sparkling form. De Grigny, Durufle, Alain and Eschaich all worth hearing but not Messiaen. It seems I am not alone on this one! Met Martin Ball, Adrian, Arnfinn (soon to compete in Montreal), Isabella, David just arrived from Dublin, Martin Baker. It was a go...

Had a BBQ in garden - nice lamb, barbecue biscuits and bananas. Took it easy as back still not right. Read Choir and Organ and "The Tablet". Watched Kings singers 40th anniversary prom which was delightful and included Poulenc, McCabe and Jannequin and Victorian part songs and folk songs. Britain from the air with Andrew Marr was fascinating. Evensong was from the 3 choirs at Worcester with the new Kenneth Tickell organ. The afternoon prom of Messiaen Messe de la Pentecote and Manchicourt mass sung by the boring BBC singers was dire - James O'Donnell playing what sound like rude noises on low reeds! And to think people pay good money to hear these concerts!

To Coulsdon - no choir and kiddy stuff. I played Vaughan Williams "New commonwealth" Musette and Prelude on Bryn Calfaria. Practised and then to see Bill Beach - borrowed some more photos - he has not written anything more!It was hot! He showed me the original marlpit where the fertiliser came from. To cathedral for Oliver Brett's last recital - he played Liszt Ad nos. Then to the Abbey to hear Simon Bell play Reger, Bach and Guy Weitz Symphony No.1 which is stunning. He is going from Southwell to Winchester cathedral. Messiaen Transfiguration from the Proms on BBC4 but it all seemed rather the same!

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.

Back to work and not many staff on. To Addington Palace golf club for circle May supper which was a better meal than in Manchester - roast beef, summer pudding. Sat with the Barretts and Del and Declan. Won sherry on the raffle. Tuesday a busy day and home in the evening. Supposed to do June music list but fell asleep. Spoke to Ann on Skype in Canada. Wednesday to Health and Safety Unison reps course in Putney. All men on course and a mixed bunch - stonemason, manager, dustman, security staff. Had a filled roll at Subway with Ian paramedic. To National Portrait gallery to see the blue stockings exhibition and the old shops photos. To National Gallery to see Alison Watt Phantom pictures - not that impressive. An excellent free concert in the central Hall by 2 Russian postgrad students from the Royal College of Music. Ilva Movchan violin and Anna Peletsis piano. The violinist very tall with lots of hair and like Nureyev. The Chopin Nocturne in C minor made me feel sad. Rachmaninov Musica...

To St Mary's West Croydon where Liz and I served at the funeral of Joyce Moore. Matthew played Londonderry Air during the censing - Joyce got me to sing this at a party and really loved it! Louise Sage, Neva, the Beers and Tony were there. It was a fitting tribute with some favourite hymns including "Bring flowers of the fairest". Stan served for Addiscombe for many years and died in 2003. Liz was able to go the small gathering but I went to work for 2 and a half hours and did some ordering. To the cathedral for the wedding of Naomi Waltham-Smith and James Olsen. A very grand affair with 7 priests and nearly all in Latin. Victoria Missa O quam gloriosum, Messiaen and Bach Prelude in C minor played by Matthew Martin. The couple read the lessons and composed "O sacrum convivium" to be sung at communion which was effective. Fr Mark on great form alluding to music in his homily. Unusual readings. Naomi wore black velvet! Wedding lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes - is thi...

Forgot to say that evensong yesterday was from St John's College, Cambridge and included lovely Otcenas by Janacek with harp! 36 lengths today and tai chi was good as well - Tony was back. I gave out invites to library's silver circle reading group First Fridays 2 - 3.30 p.m. Very good reaction to Saturday's reading group session and the photos. Micky brought in Fr Michael a Comboli father now at the local RC church. He is an Islamic scholar and wants to come to the interfaith group which will be great! My PRP assessment is full of glowing praise - let's hope I get the matching payment! Watched University challenge and How to build a cathedral in the BBC4 mediaeval series. I went through the Proms programme on the BBC website and was impressed as increased organ music - lots of Messiaen who is not my cup of tea. I am considering promming again. Such a shame the chorus is not singing this year. Incidentally Angela Young has a scene at the Proms in "Speaking of love...

Up early and completed Oxford trip booklet draft. The service at Coulsdon went smoothly. Vickie was ill so Theresa stepped in. There were 2 baptisms and the second baby really yelled! The Richard Jones Mass for Hilary has an awkward ending and this did not quite come off in tune. He is now Jo Richards. Vaughan Williams Come my way and Bach's "Christians shout with joy" both went well. I played voluntaries on "St Fulbert" by Douglas Guest and Philip Moore. I attended the AGM and annual meeting. The music costs about £3800 a year which is a bargain! I asked about the insurance on the organ and this will be checked. There are 106 on the electoral roll. Spent the afternoon tidying up, hoovering and cleaning the kitchen floor. Watched a programme about a man who wants to bring wild mammals back to the Scottish highlands. To St Augustine's Grove Park for the 75th birthday recital by Robert Munns. He plays well. He included pieces by Leighton, Vaughan Williams and ...

Spoke to Ann and Paul on Skype. To Coulsdon for family Eucharist. We didn't sing Gloria or Lamb of God because Vickie said the congregation didn't have the words! I played lots of French noels. To Purley for 12 noon Mass. Fr Jim did his best to get people celebrating but the singing was pathetic despite having the organ played by "Bill". The little boy behind me shouted out "No! I want that!" and had to be removed to the sacristy. Liz came home from serving at the cathedral and we both went to second Vespers and Benediction. superb singing from the choir of Bethlehem Down by Warlock and O magnum mysterium by Poulenc. Messiaen Dieu parmi nous at the end - that final chord is amazing. Nice to see Deacon Peter. Grandma joined us for dinner of roast beef and mango pudding. Spoke to Graham on Skype.