The organist librarian

Set off early and first train was delayed - problem with doors. I just got the train at Willesden so was there in time to take over from Louise. We went to Tamar's - only got charged £3 this time! It was wet and Liz went back to Trailfinders with Sean. I took Ciaran to swimming and he was excellent and came out at the right time so had a chocolate muffin. To ENO and secret seat at side of dress circle so able to see Gardner's dynamic conducting. All the cast and chorus were excellent and the orchestra thrilling. I had shivers down my spine in the storm interlude and that doesn't happen so often. This score is becoming more and more familiar and revealing many hidden glories. Spotted James O'Donnell in the stalls being a little camp. Also spoke to Debbie briefly. Home to NJ and bus to Selhurst to get car - home by 11.30. Left hat behind! 

After work to armed police reference group. This was interesting although I can't say much. Movement to ban non-firing weapons which people convert to guns makes sense. It was a long meeting. Liz was at wine tasting serving with other servers and got home at 2 a.m.! I returned home to do the programme for Friday at the parish church. The practice on the 10th went well although they were very chatty. The girls want to join guides so I suggested a Wednesday practice for them which may cause problems. Sat 11th July Liz was up late waiting for Claire to get in touch from Stansted airport. I guessed rightly that Claire had her dates wrong and spoke to Ann who confirmed she would arrive early Sunday morning. I had changed my Saturday. I did the blog and August music list. To servers mass at 2.30 and Archbishop Vincent gave an excellent homily - simple and clear. The Gunnersbury school choir were good. To M & S for tea and Kingsley at Mass. 2 new servers. I returned home and Liz to Bo...

To swim on Tuesday and staff meetings including a training session for casuals. Liz went to Chiswick and when I left the house to go and pick her up my back really "went". This meant I spent 2 days on a chair watching TV and reading. All movement slow and awkward. The medicine the doctor prescribed last Friday contains opium so had to be ordered specially! It is a powerful painkiller. I caught up on "The Tablet" and watched Covent Garden Prokofiev "Romeo and Juliet" with Carlos Acosta, an odd programme about Jesus in Kashmir, islands with Martin Clunes, The seasons from the Proms and the history of the English Bible. I missed Norman Harper playing at St Michael's, Thomas Wilson playing Dupre at the cathedral (Liz went) and most annoying of all "Peter Grimes" at ENO which Liz went to.

Saturday day off but to the library for the reading group session in the adult. 13 came and met Michael Mail who I had met at a police meeting. He speaks really well and he explained how he came to writing late when he won an Edinburgh short-story competition. He is a Scottish Jew living in North London and is now a full-time writer. "Exposure" is about a Jewish girl who comes down from Leeds to the East End to study photography. One of the group felt that the book was more like non-fiction whereas others loved it and found they wanted to know the ending. Michael pointed out that tragedy was hinted at from the beginning. Suzy gets to know a Jewish community in the East End and the novel plays on the use of a camera as a shield to intrude into people's lives. The lecturer Terry and the other students are well-drawn as are the Jewish characters. There is also an interplay between the nominal faith of Suzy's separated parents and Suzy's rediscovery of her faith thr...