The organist librarian

To Hotel Montcalm for 11 a.m. This was my ruby wedding present to Liz. We spent 11 to 3 ralaxing in jacuzzi, small exercise pool, sauna and steam room and reading then champagne tea. It was lovely - the only odd thing was marmalade with the cream scones! Liz went to servers dinner and I went to the Wallace collection where I enjoyed the pictures. To Heythrop for book launch by Keith Ard, John Polkinghorne and Fiona ? Saw Anna and Michael Barnes. To Acton and Louise and Tom went out. Wednesday took Sean to Acton parish church but no sign of playgroup so 70 bus to Acton Park and cafe and then football skills session at the children's centre. 70 bus back and visited the new library and walked to car. He slept. Liz and I went to organ recital by Martin Baker at RFH. Not a great audience. I went to the 6.15 talk with Martin and Simon Holt but the actual commission was disappointing depsite the superb signing by Louis Negri who is head chorister at the cathedral. The Bairstow did not qu...

To Brentford on trains and bus and met the family at softplay. Amelia was there with Rufus and Scarlett and her Australian mother-in-law. Had a very nice lunch at Syon House - I had beef pie. Built track and the boys put on their Buzz outfits. To opticians in Ladbroke Grove and Mr Shannon advised new specs - £591! Not had new ones for 4 years and eyes are healthy! To British Museum to see the Spanish prints especially Goyas and fine Asian galleries and Asian drinking rituals. To Westminster Abbey for Professor Keith Ward's lecture on faith and secularism. Saw Graham Hedges. Watched Michael Palin in Brazil and University challenge.

Looked up more details of places we are visiting, changed light bulb in kitchen twice (!) found adaptors, picked up Liz's prescription. To Eugenie room for day conference on comparative theology. Prof Francis Clooney from Harvard excellent, Prof Keith Ward less so, Nice buffet lunch, Fr Martin Ganeri dull and Michael Barnes brilliant on Augustine and Buddhist mandalas, Lots of my class there and Damian referred to 3 of us as his best students - flatterer! Archbishop Kevin there. Got books from library. Home and watched country house rescue and London bridges with Dan Cruickshank.