The organist librarian

The last time I was at Caterham was Vi's funeral 11/3. Last time at the cathedral 29/2. Could be months before we go back. Last time I received communion 11 March at Dulwich circle. Monday 30th 3 more sessions with Ian. I still have not finish my drawing of the face. As I will have to use oils there is no hurry. Faith in isolation was excellent. Watched final of Only connect, University challenge and Aubrey Beardsley with Mark Gatiss. Will not see the Tate exhibition I guess. Act 1 of Butterfly from Swedish opera with an excellent tenor and modern production. Jim Connolly died and Tom Tannion wrote and Arthur Hughes rang so had a good chat. Recorded Passiontide hymns and pieces by Henry Coleman. Jennifer Bate died a sad loss. Today was the funeral of Archbishop Peter Smith. We would have been singing in the choir. Excellent homily by John Wilson.  He was an approachable pastor and a man of principle. He came to judge the Catenian Province 7 public speaking competition and there w...

Not a great start to the day. Woman swam into me and I knocked back of my head. The same person did this once before so I complained. The manager did NOT take my details and said he would speak to her and the attendant who seemed unaware of the incident! So much for health and safety records. I have emailed the pool. Will monitor headaches. She is a menace. Would you ask for her to come at special times or even ban her? Ryan the manager emailed twice and was concerned. I had a slight headache and felt tired.To Mass then Caterham to play for memorial service for Grayson Clarke.Had a chat to the homeless man opposite the hall  and suggested he try the Passage. Spoke to Daniel Clarke and his mother at Soper Hall about learning the organ. East Surrey museum to see display about WW1. I did not go to Southwark cathedral for Stephen Disley's recital. Watched Planet child, 2 Antiques roadshow, Dementia choir was very moving. Final of Only connect. Sent pool manager the October 2017 letter...

To Mass. Boys on their screens! Took the boys to see "The missing link" at West Norwood loved it. Horrified to see Notre Dame in flames. The organ will be destroyed. Horrible to watch the spire fall. Only connect, University challenge, Attenborough on shells, Home is where the art is but dropped off. 

Swam and Mass together. Jeremiah Stephenson stepped in at short notice at St Michael Cornhill and played really well. Lucky All Saints Margaret Street! He has declared himself transgender on Facebook. He plays really well - Bach and Mozart. Met Liz at Aldi. The repair shop back on TV - very touching! Enjoying Only Connect and University challenge. The house in Newcastle upon Tyne. Put together the exercise bike and Liz returned from UCM Anerley to find it ready. 

Sunday enjoyed chatting to Peter and Edna Morgan from Basingstoke and he loves Parry I was glad and organ music. He worked in Dubai. Mass at the hotel hardly any singing then coffee. Another lovely day pity the pool was closed. Drove round North coast Rousse tower, Fort Pembroke, Fort le Marchant, Fort Doyle and marina. Earlswood garden centre for tea and lemon cake. Motorcross on beach. Very warm in our room hence a cough. Pizzas from the bar long wait but good. Watched Antiques roadshow, Blue planet live, Victoria. Monday breakfast with Peter and Edna. To Ladies bay and walked round Delaunay Park. Mass at noon for the Annunciation at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Polish priest. Interesting circular wooden altar and evangelists in wood like Steyning or Oberammergau. Guernsey museum to see photos Chimera. Cream tea and bought soapstone elephant and gifts. Priaulx library really old world.  Town church excellent Lenten stations, large organ with hidden console. M and S for salads. Fin...

Both swam and Mass. Feast of St Joseph. Signed book of condolence at New Zealand house. The staff were really nice. Don McCullin's photographs at Tate Britain raise so many questions. Should war and famine be recorded? What about violent films? Don't they breed more violence? Images change minds and can lead to the end of wars. Similarly the huge donations in the face of famines. But why are root causes not addressed? New lady at quiet time who was in India for 5 years and did a lot of yoga. Antiques road show, Sewing bee, Bake off for cancer, Only connect. Sorted magazines. 

Lie-in reading McCall Smith and The Tablet. To Manbre gallery Hammersmith to see the fascinating exhibition and book The unknown fallen. 4 million Muslims fought in WW1 and the Imperial War museum refuses to sell the book which is the ONLY book on this subject! They claim IWM is only about Britain. That is plainly nonsense! Confirmation with Bishop Paul Baptism of the Lord. Tim was on duty and very friendly. Watching channel 5 programme on Anne Boleyn. Only connect and University challenge.

To mosaic and an enjoyable Christmas party for the group at St Luke's Kew where we were treated to songs from the ukelele group. I was interested that a lot of the songs had no intro and were set very low probably in C or D. To Caterham for practice for the carols. Why am I awake at 4 a.m.? The subconscious fretting over the carols. Watched Only connect and University challenge last night both enjoyable. Liz went to Bromley circle's Christmas meeting. No doubt all will go well on Thursday! I was furious that only Shona the conductor from Sacred Heart turned up at the rehearsal. It seems her choir are rehearsing tonight for a nativity and 3 Christmas Masses. Last year we had 2 singers at the carols who did not attend a rehearsal at all. All very unprofessional and a lot of the time I could not hear what she was saying! The Victoria is accompanied which helps.