The organist librarian

Played Jerusalem, Andrew Fletcher on Was lebet and Willan Chorale and fugue from A fugal trilogy a favourite piece of Dad's. Good to have Jerry Garton and Anne-Marie Garton back from holiday. We sang Flocks in pastures green abiding a favourite of my late mother-in-law. Just watching bits of the last night again. I still cannot understand what the chorus are singing in the Percy Grainger! The Maconchy is a great piece! The men's chorus in the Verdi were rough. Jamie Barton was fab! Evensong with Joe Matthews psalm now plainchant and chants for canticles. As Bob not there David sang the solo in The Call. Decided not to go to Christ's chapel organ recital and watched some Prom bits and Antiques roadshow.  Sanditon is good. Mozart requiem from Proms. 

Unpacked and Ocado delivered so put all that away. Washing on the line but it rained later on. Liz went to take Henry swimming as Dennis hurt eye and AnnMarie had an infected insect bite but it wasn't happening so they went to Crystal Palace park. Fr Rajiv at Mass and he requested quicker moves as he has to cut his homily every week! I said we were obsessed with the length of Mass whereas in India time was not important!  Michael Butterfield has gone to Truro as acting assistant director of music. Watched Sheku play Elgar superbly and with great feeling and Steinberg. Also Stephen Hough playing Mendelssohn and Prince Albert on a gold piano from Buckingham Palace. Excellent prom for Sir Henry Wood 150th including Ireland and Grainger. On Proms encore they used the footage of us crowning the bust! 

 After lunch to St John's for London Mozart players inaugural concert there. 600 including loads of kids who mostly behaved well - lots of Dulwich mums showing off. Mozart, Grainger, Vivaldi 2 trumpets, Handel and Copland encore. Bought a calendar. Liz helped with teas. Chatted to a violinist, Janet Marshall and Wayne now Mayor with his consort - says he is a Catholic boy. Watched Poldark and Antiques roadshow. Liz watched Aberfan cantata. Trip Advisor comments. Monday mosaic and painted tiles to be fired, qi'gong 7 there. Tate Modern Wiferdo Lam all the same very heavy Picasso influence. BSO and much better - good tutor manipulated my knee well. Daniel Moult on Big sing from Songs of Praise. To Beckenham official visit Thomas More well received and  they liked the bagpiper joke very much,

Swam 20. Liz went to Westfield about new glasses from Boots and got new Ecco shoes for me. I went to Bromley library and got everything except the Vaughan Williams - I suspect it was filed under Williams! I was asked to email my list in advance which did not work at Wandsworth! To Lakeland for peelers. To excellent discussion on Melbourne which made it sound a lot nicer than Sydney! Carmen Callil was rude about Australia's future because of the boat people situation and Paul Abbott's comments on Scotland. Melbourne like Glasgow to the beautiful Edinburgh and Sydney. Sydney is modern but it does have the harbour walks and ferries. The Melbourne SO is the oldest in Australia and Sir Andrew Davis conducted Strauss Don Juan, Elgar cello concerto with Truls Mórk (encore Britten) and Symphonie fantastique (encore Grainger). Liz did not make it. New sofas and comfortable sofa bed at Lou's and new fireplace has arrived and bathroom tiles. Wednesday decided to have a quiet day as S...

Woke around 6 a.m. and went back to bed and had breakfast with Ciarán. Tom still asleep! No trains so various buses to arrive at the hall by 10 a.m. for roll call. Chatting with Peter and then to Marks Kensington High street for coffee and shopping - apparently this is their best day for wine! Sat in very nice garden behind St Mary Abbots in memory of Alec Clifton-Taylor. Got sticky tape for hat decorations. Back for 3 p.m. roll call and then stayed in queue. Amazing outfits especially Germans and lots to eat. Had cava. Went in at 6 p.m. and rehearsed Maxwell Davies new work with words written by Prommers. Stephen Jackson hopeless! Got a very good position on the rail at centre and young family near us. Several people who came on the day. It seems only 30 full seasons were issued for the gallery so we were very lucky! Many people had to buy 2 half seasons not including the Last Night. Maxwell Davies piece in tribute to prommers collecting for musical charities. Bartok Miraculous manda...

Liz went to hospital for preop assessment. The Prom was gorgeous. Elgar violin concerto with score played by Tasmin Little. There is sweet music. Percy Grainger and Strauss Till Eulenspiegel. Andrew Davis conducting BBC. Stayed on for late prom which was Grainger and folk music from Northumbria and was great fun, including smallpipes. Grainger's arrangements are quite extraordinary! Just missed a 70 and got to Acton at 12.30. Wednesday our 37th wedding anniversary - to Mass at Acton. Met Louise and Ciarán in park and he enjoyed waterplay. She took us for a lovely lunch at the Station House sea bream and she had lobster with Marlborough white wine. Delicious and a very hot day. Ciarán loved the paddling pool and playing being showered. To Prom BBC Scottish conducted by Donald Runnicles. Ravel and Debussy. The Dutilleux cello conerto a bit too dreamy and soft for the Proms? Lynn Harrell played a lovely Bach encore. Score for Prelude a l'apres, Bolero and part of Daphnis and Chlo...