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. 

Catching up on TV Proms. The Martin Brabbins was a delight. The space and Johnnie Greenwood all seemed very samey! Liz in Liverpool for national servers Mass on Saturday. The art group thanked Julie. I saw my pictures in the library. A delightful recital by James Lancelot at St John's. I must play the Harris and Whitlock again. Also included Bach, Rheinberger, Karg-Elert, Elgar, Alain and Widor. Good audience including Andrew Scott, Carl Jackson and Christopher Herrick. Returned scores to Central music library and went to Tate Britain to see Blake but there were far too many people there so I may return in January! A lovely party at Roger Brice's lovely new home for RSCM commitee members to honour Peter Wright for 30 years of briliiant leadership Astonishing that RSCM HQ did not consider it right to mark 30 years of voluntary service! Open day but could not park to visit Heavers farm school - should have walked from home! To the drome for mass for John Braburne's cause 40 ...

Monday mosaic, Peter Wright's last recital as director of music at Southwark including Messiaen, Bach, Vierne and Peeters Aria. Spidir committee. Both to Maidstone 800th meeting black tie dinner. Lots of dithering after the meal, Flame is not a charity and Barbara Stevens the guest speaker was not great. Took Henry to Crystal Palace park - the new cafe is very good and he enjoyed the dinosaurs and farm especially the meerkats and tortoises.

Mosaic and redid the corner as the photo I used last time was a reduction. Peter Wright played Guillou, Bach, Franck and Langlais at Southwark cathedral. We will miss him when he retires. Ros told me a lot about her life. Very warm for February. Liz to UCM at Anerley and I went to Beckenham Catenians. Back to school 90s and University challenge. 

Went to the Foundling museum to see Ladies of quality. I did not have time to visit the main galleries so will have to return! Peter Wright played well at St Stephen Wallbrook. Choir practice. Listened to choir and organ and reading Tablet online. 

To Mass and St Stephen Wallbrook for Peter Wright's recital. Janacek, JSB, Daquin, Jongen Sonata Eroica, Alain and interesting pieces from Tombeau de Titelouze by Zsolt Gardonyi. Welcoming at the cathedral non-existent as the school nativity play was on. Nice singing in Nativity carol and O holy night, lots of pop and flashy costumes. Simon did the fish quiz in 20 minutes and pointed out the mistakes - just what I wanted! Libera are performing there tonight. I saw Stephen Haylett and Sr Carmel in St Paul's shop. Choir practice at St John's quite a few mssing. Good work on Britten. Listened to Living with the gods. 

Friday swam 20. Magisterial playing from Peter Guiding at cathedral but very quiet and SVP kids including Bianca and Simon servers practising play, Saw Francis and Noel and Ellen. Emmanuel's behaviour had been noted.  British library maps exhibition very interesting. Last session with  Nelson Ferreira  really enjoyed it but the people in Regent Street!  Lovely retreat day with Michael Holman SJ at Sisters of Assumption next to Heythrop. Brian at Mass, Peter played Bach at the end. Chester Zoo programme. 

Liz went for a swim and some woman was rude to her - she was chatting to her friend at the side of the middle lane! I went to hear Peter Wright at Grosvenor chapel - only 6 there. I enjoyed the Bach but the Leguay and Demessieux and Heiller rather left me cold. Nice to have a chat afterwards. Miserable day. To Provincial council at Swanley and Fergus got through the business very quickly blaming the weather. I was at Acton in good time. Wednesday to Tamar's and Sean joining in the song. At home he changed the word to Lion King song! Ciaran doing times tables in the car. I said You never stop learning even when you are 100. "What about when you are dead?" I said "Nobody knows but perhaps you keep learning when you go to heaven". We returned home early as Tom took the boys swimming. Ciaran starting Beavers. The webinar did not materialise. Chat to Malcolm Woodhouse about Frank - he has lots of material including the King's Penny and medals and watch! Ann rang...

At Peter's Southwark cathedral he had to get off the stool and stop a workman drilling! He played Heiller, Jackson, Moore and Latry. Watched VE day Abbey service with new anthem by Judith Weir.

Swam 20. Long chat to Ann. No mosaic so I skipped tai chi for a change and went to Southwark cathedral to hear Peter Wright playing Messiaen, Bach and Dupre - excellent. To Tate Modern. Sigmar Polke seemd to become more and more desperate to be original and I did not get the references to the Nazis. His films were just poor cine films handheld and wobbly! Richard Tuttle's big installation in the Turbine Hall using textiles sort of worked. My right foot and knee were hurting a bit so had Earl Grey in the Friends room then got train from Blackfriars to Farringdon and collected passports with the Indian visas. To Bromley Catenians. Frank Bond judged the bow-ties and awarded the whisky to Vincent. 

Lie-in. We both went to our first meeting at West London synagogue with Rabbi Herman. Canon Peter was there too and we discussed some meetings. There is to be a Kristallnacht 75th commemoration in the Abbey on Nov 10th. Liz went to Harrods and I went to Southwark cathedral to hear Peter wright play the newly restored organ after the water damage. Mendelssohn, Franck, Bach and Messiaen well played. I took scores back to Bromley and to Lakeland. Listened to some Proms and University challenges. Played through the Couperin and some Bach which David gave me. 

Swam 20. To cathedral to serve at Eric's funeral. Emmanuel was an absolute pain and Patrick did his best. Nice to see Fr Robin and Fr Kingsley there and a good crowd including Knights of St Columba John Campolini among them. Reuben was cantor and we had Bach Prelude in C at the end after Thine be the glory. Eric was a true gentleman and often attended ecumenical events - he will be much missed. After eats in the hall jumped on a No. 11 which then decided to terminate at the Abbey so walked across Parliament square looking at the statues in the sunshine to get tube to London Bridge. Arrived in time for Peter Wright's recital of Guillou, Bach, Delius and Jongen evoking spring! Excellent.

Swam only 10 as I was late (High Street being dug up) and a lady asked me for advice about her bullying husband. He is disabled and she is also bringing up a 16 year old grandson. I said tell him, find something to do together and get respite care. Dave Cameron told me he had got the council and general manager to agree to no music at the pool. Excellent news! To mosaic (Linda in Amsterdam) so completed the Roman mosaic and worked on Seán's mosaic. Tai chi better attended - not sure when we move out for refurbishment of the centre as I will hold the keys for Tony. Home for an Indian meal and lemon meringue pie. To dentist - given a choice between £2000 for an implant or £204 for my front tooth I opted for the latter. Sent off the completed ordination article to Oremus, Music and Liturgy, PMM, British Jesuits, Jesuits and friends and Brixton parish. Xavier sending it to Kerala. To Peter Wright's for RSCM committee. The new director-general Andrew Reid came and asked a lot of qu...

Finished reading the Pieris book. Liz went to course retreat at Tyburn. To St George's cathedral for Peter Wright's excellent recital of Bach, Vierne, Cochereau, Bairstow, Jackson and the Leighton Et resurrexit again. Not impressed that Mark Johnson ignored me - it was the St Cecilia day as well. Norman Harper was most welcoming and there was a reasonable audience. On 344 with Dorio to St Mary le Bow. An excellent demo by the church secretary of the Kenneth Tickell 2010 organ which is a real treat. I played two Andrew Moore pieces. There was a good turnout too. To M & S for tea and cake. At Mass RCIA candidates were enrolled. St George's Sudbury all male choir did not distinguish themselves! Nice meal of pork chop. Michael Portillo has continental railway journeys series!

Did some reading. To St Stephen Wallbrook for Peter's superb recital of Bach, Howells, Leighton, Titeloue and Dupre. Nice walk along north Thames path to Millenium brudge and Tate Modern. Bigger Splash a little disappointing. William Klein's films interesting and Daido Moriyama's photos seemed dull. I rather liked the film of the Jesus type figure in a crowded street and ignored to "The people that walked in darkness" reminded me of the ballet we saw the other evening. Walking against the flow is never fun! Popped into Southwark cathedral and organ being tuned.

Woke late so no swim again. To St Mary at Hill which I do not recall visiting for Peter Wright's playing of Brahms preludes and Bach Fantasia in G. Excellent and nice to see a church empty of chairs and art celebrating the sea to look at. Peter talked about Francis Jackson's 95th birthday and still playing. Priscilla had meningitis 2 years ago and has recovered well - she is a Quaker and an ideal match for FJ. Peter had fractured his little finger but is recovering. Also had a look in St Magnus the Martyr which is Forward in Faith and has a fine model of old London Bridge. To Heythrop and coffee - gave Fr Dave leaflets. Met Faye West in the little Lion office and happy for me to write about art and music. Worked in library and had dinner with Michael and Simon. Michael Barnes on Buddhism excellent! The chat forum has now been set up. Watched Gareth Malone in Manchester airport and Come dine with me worst ever candidates!

Monday letter is written and retirement on Nov 30th! To Catenians only 12 there and a Beckenham brother acted as chamberlain. Colin was chatting about the Pope and David had seen my Tablet letter. He borrowed the Oberammergau book. Tuesday told staff about retirement - some not surprised. To Southwark cathedral for RSCM open evening. Liz and I did name badges and there was cheese and wine with grapes. Lindsay Gray was there and Ginette Nye's band from St John Redhill was impressive. The choristers of Croydon Parish church sang well and Peter Wright played the organ including the Widor Toccata.

Thursday to Green champions meeting at the town hall and found out about new cleaning contract and refuse contractor and got leaflets. To the hospital for meeting with the consultant and staff - Grandma needs total care and gradually making progress on the swallow and speech - it will be a long haul. Bruce home for a few days. Friday to practice and covered all the June music although 2 were absent. Finished with "Locus iste" and I used Paul Brough's ideas. Nothing from St Peter and St Paul Clerkenwell so they must have appointed someone else - a lucky escape I think. Saturday to organists training day in Bromley based around 3 churches. With Adrian for accompaniment at Widmore Rd URC and Norman for improvisation at Trinity URC - very helpful. After lunch in the sunshine masterclass with Peter Wright with 4 scholars on Bach, Vierne and Franck - all gained mushc and phrased better and more musically. Did not get to hospital and Bruce wasn't well so he didn't either...

Monday 32 lengths. To Roger and Lucy Brice's at Carshalton for RSCM committee. Nice food and wine and a good meeting. Adrian gave me a lift home. Andrew Scott has left Croydon PC. St Leonard Streatham might suit him. Peter Wright says Edward is enjoying the chorus. He knew Stefan Bevier is coming. Visit from AG to library went very well. Tuesday Micky came in. He has moved to Trott Street. The choir on TV - Gareth Malone triumphant South Oxhey festival - he is so inspiring.

To Unison committee meeting - quite short this time. I reported on asbestos and swine flu under health and safety. To St Michael's for organ recital by Peter Wright. Muffat, Bach Prelude and fugue in C, Hollins Song of sunshine which is a lollipop, Vierne Feux follets and Demessieux Te Deum (she used to play in high heels!). Liz was there having had her haircut. Grandma OK. Had coffee and cakes with Peter, Adrian and Graham. Passed on compliments to the Dean for yesterday's sermon. I have finished Jill Dawson's remarkable novel about Rupert Brooke "The great lover". This explores many themes especially sex and death. Not for the easily shocked!