The organist librarian

I woke at 6 and the boys arrived at 7! Sean why are you Bald? You're an old man. Me 71 is not old and you should have respect four dear grandfather! Fire alarm drill at school. A year 1 girl asked my name and then thanked me for making the library so nice. I was very touched. D'Arcy Trinkwon played well at Bedford Park and 60 there. Fine paintings on show too.The must see exhibition is Splendours of the sub-continent at the Queen's gallery. It is superb and wonderful to see so many beautiful things plus Queen Victoria's Hindustani notebooks. To Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe for Faith in Action Croydon Deanery Justice and Peace service with Bishop Paul Hendricks. It was not a Mass and had unusual elements like sharing bread and moving around for the peace. The blessing of the new cross by everybody present took for ever and was accompanied by David Ogden's Christ has no body. Caroline who was at Coloma a year above Louise sang a solo set to a tune from Car...

Swam 20 and even tried some front crawl and butterfly - water 3 degrees warmer! To Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe for the funeral of Iris Connolly - good turnout and a good sendoff. Church has been painted and looks good. Gill beach was there but made little effort to speak to Liz. Into the hall while the family went to the crem. Nice lunch and lo and behold Fr Joe sat at our table while we were getting lunch so I just chatted and he was OK! He has not spoken to me for 10 years and it really is time he did!  Long chat to Melvyn and Neva about India. To Heythrop and Liz had her interview about the essay - she sent the wrong one in so it is now sorted. I went to talk by bishop on Ukranian Catholic church - I dropped off. Bruce was there. To cathedral for rehearsal for ordination - waste of time as we are consecration torches. Brian was very enthusiastic about Holy Rood Watford. Watched The Apprentice and long chat to Ann on Skype - they fly to Dubai tonight 15 hour flight. ...

Yesterday we had a light dusting of snow on the cars but roads were clear so able to get to swimming. Today everything clear but the inside of the windscreen was wet and had to towel and wipe it a lot. Did 24 yesterday and 22 today. Have sent in art exhibition roundup to The Lion - they published my last one complete but not the cartoon!  Did some tidying up. Reflecting on the Mass yesterday it was such a contrast to the Sunday where there was so much joy and applause at Xavier's ordination. A requiem does tend to be sad but Kitty's smile and laughter kept breaking in. I liked the story from the niece who was sent to get bread from the baker and didn't understand Kitty's Irish accent - she was never sent again! Interesting that Kitty's first husband was never mentioned. She certainly made Jim very happy - he had been a bachelor for many years. Going back to Our Lady's is always going to be a strain as the church has so many memories most of them very happy ones...

Sunday to Corpus Christi Brixton for Xavier's first Mass there. This was a joyful occasion with a full church at 10.30 a.m. and coffee afterwards with cakes. Chatted to Colette the keyboard player about the Mass of Joy and SSG. Only one item was hard to sing - Foley because of gaps between lines. Needed a flute rather than a guitar. Pity they did not do psalm for the day. Took some photos. Saw Fr Tom. Then to St George's Hanover Square for Simon Williams' 12.30 recital on the new American organ. Mendelssohn 6. He plays really well and is moving to Croydon Minster. Liz working on essay and I did some more reading. To evensong and we sang Stainer in B flat and Stanford O for a closer walk with God. Chatted to Jeremy about India and Frank and Phillipa were there. P. not keen on India at all. Adrian and Terence are off to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Worked on Liz's powerpoint all evening. Monday to Addiscombe for Kitty Duggan's funeral - she was 89 and such a happy pe...