The organist librarian

To Death cafe and evensong where we sang Byrd and Whitlock. Richard played Bossi Scherzo. Crib down. Call the midwife good. Programme on nude in art followed by study of being naked with strangers. . Grouted half of Van Gogh mosaic.I hate grouting. Peter Wright at St Michael Cornhill such musical Bach! What a joy! Vierne Feux follets with score - amazing piece! SPIDIR commitee pretty dull. 

Drove to Arundel cathedral to play the fine Hill organ - the staff were very friendly. Cod and chips at St Mary's Gate Inn. The dog did it's best to get some.I think they may be a cricket match? Rain stopped play and it meant a miserable drive home on a packed M23. To the Grand Lodge for recital by Henry Fairs a large audience and splendid sound. Great we could see his hands, feet and talking to us. 3 cameras I presume. I liked the Florentz and Vierne. Rachmaninoff, Elgar and Schumann and Whitlock Fanfare. When we visit in September must bring romantic music. What a grand place! Liz went with Bruce to oils presentation. 

Woke early. Mass. Kelsey Park and sketching birds. To Bromley PC to hear William Fox from St Paul's cathedral play Whitlock, Ad Wammes, Elgar, Mozart, Byrd and Bach. An interesting recital.Dennis brought Henry down and train to Shepherd's Bush. Nice tea and waffle at Le Pain and great to see Bruce, Emma and one daughter and boyfriend. The boys liked the Chester Zoo guidebook and soon started drawing! Home to watch Professional bakers and Walks of life featuring Quakers and Iron bridge. 

We sang Lead me Lord by Wesley and I played Stanford on St Columba and Percy Whitlock on King's Lynn which is a great tune. Inspired by recent recitals and master classes I am working on Franck Choral no. 3. Lamb chops and homemade banoffie pie. Yum. At evensong Dyson in F and Howell Like as the Hart love that anthem. Fr John met with the choir and there was a frank and good conversation. Excellent vespers from Leeds and Berlioz from BBC Scottish. Boys and Lou arrived. Call the midwife, banoffie pie and white wine. Monday slept in so no swim or Mass. Wet so trip to British wildlife centre off. To West Norwood to collect our clock and Liz took boys to cinema. Tuesday finished the jigsaw which took most of 2 days. I did get to Mass but not mosaic.  Wed to Horniman museum. Took the boys to Brick Wonders, aquarium and sketching at the Horniman. Lunch at the Capitol Wetherspoons Forest Hill. Jonathan Gorsky gave a fascinating talk on Jewish/Catholic relations and 11...

Swam,  Mass Fr Sunith did it all and read writhe as rith! Penge library for 3 scores from Bromley and bought new washing up bowl at Poundland. To art and progress on holocaust painting. Lunch and then to Balham to return scores, recycle batteries and pick up ordered buttons at Waitrose. A good hour with Clare. Still hot and no rain. Everyone very excited about Clare and Mick getting married and Louise and family going to Sydney for Christmas. A delightful programme by Richard Hills at St John Upper Norwood with light and serious well-mixed.

Delightful Keralan lunch with Fr Xavier, Sr John Mary, Maud and Jennie in East Ham. Got to first part of preprom talk on Sibelius 2. Stupendous Shostakovich October and violin concerto 1 with Nichols Benedetti. She plays throughout. Love Sibelius 2.  Roy Sutherland the director the Buddhist Jamyang centre let me down again so I led a lively discussion on Laudato Si.  A very odd Prom first half did not excite and Berlioz OK. Home late due to wait for bus and train.Lots of flies. Thursday to mass and art - good work on leopard. To Balham library by car for scores. Saw 3 staff I appointed and Jeremy's daughter. Excellent recital at St John's by Geoffrey Morgan well played and presented. Met John Belcher and Christopher Herrick! Skipped John Williams prom. Loved the story about the O level student who in desperation wrote Bach wrote a lot of pieces for the Associated Board!

Clapham for the film "Lion"! An emotional and touching story. To Dulwich gallery to see the outstanding Vanessa Bell exhibition. Drew a Poussin (2 female heads). Spent the evening doing youth matters meeting minutes. Saturday to South London liberal synagogue Nathan led us in pairs (with Rod Quaker) to discuss Abraham's Tent. Welcoming the stranger unconditionally. Shabbat service. Delicious lunch and launch of project by Alice. Rabbi Neuberger was there and we spoke about the Alf Dubs amendment. To Bloomsbury - huge queue outside British Museum so to Pret for tea and Michael O'Leary joined me thanks to Facebook. Daniel Moult played an English programme including Parry and Whitlock. New Hall choir sang at Mass - beautiful Haydn, Nyestedt and Mawby Ave verum. Mendelssohn Sonata No 2 at the end from David Grealy who was cantor at vespers (I was late as I stayed to hear the Whitlock). Fell asleep during pottery throw down. Got on wrong train coming back but realised in ...

I played Buxtehude Fugue in C and Toccata and Fugue in F, Percy Whitlock on Werde munther and Thalben-Ball on St Bernard. A nother good day of weather for Open House. Depressing to tour Central Hill estate and Cressingham Gardens and learn that Lambeth council want to demolish these estates especially the latter which is very well designed and built next to Brockwell Park. Why should this housing be replaced by homes for the rich?  Tea and chocolate cake at the South London botanical institute which has a fine garden, visited an excellent loft conversion in Herne Hill Road using recycled materials and an archway at Loughborough Junction made into an attractive landscape architect's office and workshop the Edible Bus stop. Downton abbey is back. Antiques roadshow. Jerry Hall Who do you think you are?

A most successful with 4 different organs; the superb Dobson at Merton, quality Harrison at Lady Margaret Hall, Matthew Copley at St Aloysius Oratory and St Mary Magdalen.I got the Oxford tube with 3 others at 8. Ben Nicholas dleighted to see us at Merton and a superb organ. We heard Widor and Buxtehude and I played Willan and Moore. 8 played. Long walk to Lady Margaret Hall and Nicholas demonstrated the fine Harrison. Had my lunch there and then to St Aloysius oratory. Edward Dove organ builder there. It's very loud!  Got hot salad and coffee. St Mary Magdalen vicar came and told us history, given tea, unusual console and use of glass as a refective surface. Played Whitlock. Saw Saira Malik in Cornmarket giving out Christian literature then to Ashmolean for lovely British drawings and Gillray and the gallery has been rehung really well. Ice cream Oxford blue and Ambassadors and tea then to Christ Church cathedral for evensong. Harwood in A flat, Vaughan Wlliams Easter - superb t...

Posted videos on Face book. To St George's cathedral for Tim's recital which included the Whitlock Plymouth suite and a Bach trio sonata. There was no swell but one would never have guessed as he remained so calm! Not many there and various noises off! Had a nice chat as he is now at Ripon cathedral. To Imperial War museum which is awful. Confusing, muddled, crowded. Went in a circle to find the Sargent in gallery 3, could find nothing about Gallipoli in World War I section although it was busy. Did find 3 books in the book shop - have complained. To Victoria library to pick up Channel Islands guide book -£1 charge. The biographies are in a mess! M & S for tea. Cross with Gerry as waited 10 minutes to get into sacristy and got robed only to find him going on about child protection. Liz and I will have to arrive together so I can go to vespers. Wore new cotta for first time. Cardinal Vaughan choir sang Britten Missa brevis and Dupre Ave Maria well. Watched Indian summers an...

A fun day with the boys - track and games. Lou and Tom stayed later so that they slept on the way home. I went to Vespers and Mass. Liz would not go as we thought it was to be the start of the confirmation programme but no sign or mention of them. Fr Andrew had to get me to get his homily from his chair! Appeal for the Passage and Trinity Oxford sang Hassler, Durufle and Byrd a little hesitantly but it was good. Reception so met Ben Morrell and chatted to Ben Bloor about the Whitlock Paean. Canon Christopher let me out! On the way to the car at Selhurst I remembered I was supposed to have gone to the Sunni event at Tooting leisure centre - I was far too tired! Saw the end of the Winter's Tale.

Swam 20 with Liz. Liz got an alb from Anerley for Lourdes. To art and the charcoal is did of my school badge and lilies is to go in the exhibition tomorrow! Good selection of art to display. It was hot. Took fliers to Alan and had tea and a chat. To St John's for Jonathan's recital which was memorable. Wagner, Saint-Saens, Whitlock, Ireland, Mendelssohn 5 and Willan. Alan's photocopied scores have fingerings and some very difficult passages. Good audience including Martin How and Robert Cooper. Jonathan has small hands but very flexible thumbs! Ian Tompsett was there.

Monday Bruce and EJ dropped off luggage after their visit to the Tower of London and headed for Crystal Palace. We went to confirmation which was in the crypt and Paolo explained Mass. We spoke about being servers. I left my keys in the locker and got them back on Tuesday evening. Up early to take Bruce and EJ to East Croydon to fly off to Egypt for 2 weeks in the sun. Went to the tip and then swimming. To St Mary at Hill to hear Robert Smith play the Plymouth suite with the score of Percy Whitlock and Durufle. Fred Irvine was there. To the National Portrait gallery to see the World War 1 portraits but it was crowded and cramped, also saw the Ben Okri poem. To Eland house for London interfaith boroughs forum. Alan tells me India Chennai accommodation  is refurbished and en suite.. The 2 hosts disappeared and did not come back but at least there was a chance to announce things. There was discussion on public health. Served 5.30 Mass and the boys sang 2 Bach arias beautifully. I got...

Saturday to St John's Wood to take minutes for SSG trustees which is much appreciated and we get nice eats too incl panettone and chocs from Allen. He and Caroline look to be finishing in November! I cam back on the bus with Caroline. Tea at M and S. Fr John at Mass and he was in a good mood! Home to watch more of the opening of the Winter Olympics and a programme about Torvill and Dean. Also Birds of a Feather and  Island Parish. Sunday played Whitlock originally harpsichord suite incl Ralph Downes' Dream and Tabblatura pieces, also Peeters on Abends and Bonighton on St Denio. Phillippa nearly read wrong 2nd reading and dashed down to read after the psalm! If she had not asked me about pronunciation, she would have read the wrong one! Did more indexing. 

Played Peeters and Willan on Song 1 and Thiman on Thornbury to mark Week of prayer for Christian Unity which has been very low key this year. Also Walther on Jesu meine freude. I started indexing Alan's music and found some treasures by Whitlock and Tallis. Got quite cold in church! The storm last night caused damage to the roof at Glyn Close - probably lightning. Nice lunch and Liz sorting out under the stairs. Clare came yesterday to get the cutting about the Pope and breastfeeding from The Tablet. Interesting programme on Hidden Kingdoms in the woods and Songs of Praise featuring a church changed into a soft play area. Programme on Toye family of regalia makers and Fake or Fortune on Constable. Enjoyed Call the midwife and watched Christmas lecture about cells.

Had a good practice after service and we started singing Kyries again (Murray setting). Nigel came to rehearse at 2.15 with his new wife Susanna. An interesting programme including Willan (who grew up in Beckenham) Fiocco, Purcell and Simper. 21 there and met Joyce Perry 87 who lived through the war in Beckenham. Her relation is 94 and still playing! Britten on The Choir.

Sunday and Liz at Acton where she went to Mass and to James's house. I played Purcell at Mass and photocopied the remainder of the recital programmes - Debbie has done a lot but not the tricky one for the 16th so it is all done. Came home to get my tie and drove to Park hill to deliver leaflets about Thursday to Les. Never been in that park before - it was an interfaith picnic but very few there and it was cold! Adrian arrived 2 p.m. to practise (his fourth session). Very pleased that 30 came as several people in the morning had said they were not coming. St john's folk supported it well and Fr Paul looked great in a grey suit.I turned pages and pulled out stops. People liked the arrangement with the blue chairs facing the organ and delighted that John Mander came. Gordon Jacob, Bach the Dorian! and Schubler chorales, Boyce, Stanley, Haydn, Mozart, Whitlock (worked very well) and Crown Imperial. The chance to hear the organ from down below confirmed the warmth of the sound in ...

Long chat to Ann - have not spoken for some time! To Bromley Parish church. Gary still not well - he has been in hospital but is home. Thomas Corns played a delightful programme - Mendelssohn, Bach, Byrd, Bridge, Whitlock and Durufle. Ken, Michael, Brian and Christopher were there. Dropped into Aldi to buy tulips, chocolate muffins and eggs. Bach marathon on radio 3 from Royal Albert Hall and TV programme about JSB. Reading Buddhist Christianity and Eckhart. Good April Fool's jokes about Pope, SSPX and King's to wear green! A very British wedding featuring Sikh and Ukranian ceremonies.

Liz to cathedral. I went to St Michael Beckenham and arrived at 10 a.m. Met Steve the thurifer who plays and is doing ordination training in Oxford 2 days a week. Met the Bishop of Rochester who I met at Hayes and Paul introduced me to lots of people. Robed choir of 3. I played Bach, Mawby and Cook for Candlemas and all went well. Shared lunch and I reckon every member of the congregation of 35 spoke to me very enthusiastically.Paid cash by treasurer. We went through the Kontakion for Alan's funeral and I corrected vowels! The Bishop came and had a play too! He is very approachable. I got to St Paul's cathedral late for Stephen Cotterill's talk on Stanley Spencer's paintings of Christ in the wilderness which are in Perth, W.A. It was standing room only. To Suthwark cathedral for evensong - 4 cathedral chaplains were welcomed and Frank and Phillipa Millingotn were there to support the curate from St Mary Addington whose post has been deleted. Noble in B minor, William ...

Swam 30! Listened to Liverpool cathedral evensong from yesterday - Vaughan Williams, Whitlock and Howells - who could ask for better on this special day! So sad about the General Synod decision against women bishops - how disappointing and out of touch can you be? Went in good time to rehearse for Mass as Westminster cathedral tour was off (pity about that as I had bought the guidebook but maybe I can volunteer as a verger/guide next year). Ended up rehearsing harmonies of Praise my soul and Hail redeemer King divine. The psalm which was about singing was said - why? Jerry is lazy that's why! 2 plainchant chunks sung by soloists from gallery. We did not even run through Proulx Alleluia! Fr Michael Barnes gave a brilliant homily on interfaith - first time I have ever heard one at Mass. To coffee and chat about Synod decision. Took my cartoon to Lion office and met Daniel Tripp at last - he edits culture features. My review of art exhibitions is published! To library and lots of re...