The organist librarian

Took Ann and Paul to East Croydon - it has been a lovely time together. Swam 20, cut my thumb at mosaic taking tiles off to redo them. Played at funeral of Shirley from Barbados. Singer came to do Going home so I played that and Faure, Elgar and Handel beforehand. It was all very dignified and heartfelt. Cheque for £40 but contract says it should be £60. Saw the beehive in the vicarage garden as I parked at the back. To Harvey Nichols for delicious champagne chocolate tea - this was to make up for the poor tea Liz had there before. We sat in Hyde Park for a while enjoying the sunshine and the green trees then to confirmation class where Paolo answered some good questions. Watched Rev - the end of this series.

Had a lie-in and Louise arrived with the boys. Seán was on great form. Paul posted all his photos which are great. Disposed of 3 dead mice in the bin - yuk! We enjoyed the London Eye very much - how green the city is and so many high buildings going up. Crossed the Golden Jubilee bridge and ate at Café Rouge - camembert baguette. Handbagged at the Vaudeville theatre was hilarious and also sad. A great show. We went to vespers and Mass with Fr Alexander. David played Widor Marche pontificale for the 2 Popes to be beatified tomorrow. Came home to a delicious pork meal cooked by Louise with a good champagne. We watched Rev which was rather dark - I had earlier completed a Christian survey about the series. I watched most of a programme on Messiah and Coram's foundling hospital. Proms prospectus is full of goodies and the Singapore Symphony orchestra are to play - some years since I suggested this!

Swam 20. Final preparations for Ann and Paul's arrival. Liz a little better but still staying home. Chrism Mass went very well. One stupid decision was to move us from BVM to BSC side too early so we went back to our seats! I had to move a heavy stool and consecration torch and acolyte 5. Nice lunch and chatted to seminarians and a couple of priests including the one I have met in art galleries! Home to find Ann and Paul there so we sat in the garden for a bit and went for a walk before dinner. Liz went off to Acton. Watched Rev again and Come dine with me.

Up at 4.45 to take Bruce to East Croydon to get to Gatwick in time. Checked Louise's times which are impressive and she has raised more than the £2000 needed. I reckon Dennis, Bruce and I all arrived just that bit too late at Canary Wharf! What a pity the website wouldn't work on my phone as we could have tracked her progress. Swam 20 and to mosaic. At tai chi I dropped off during the meditation. Practised on piano. Worried about Liz and she had to cancel serving at Chrism mass - Andrew took her place. I went to rehearsal which went on rather long so had a chat to Derek, Gordon and Don the deacons. Watched secrets of bones, British railway journeys and programme on 18th century English music and best of all Rev.

Lie-in and to mosaic - finished letter L. 6 at tai chi. Liz went to confirmation and I went to Catenians -  a very jolly evening with some good jokes. Brendan Ducey came and 2 from Croydon. Watched final of University challenge and Rev.

Swam 20. Mosaic and good progress, 9 at tai chi - bit crowded at times! To Balham and returned Prince Igor and Werther scores - all the music leaflets have gone! To Nationwide as my card is cracked and got 5 amp fuse at Sainsbury's - outside light still doesn't work! Come dine with me. Jan Latham-Koenig on In Tune. The confirmation session on marriage went really well. So much better than the previous 2 years as I had attended most of the sessions and could link back to vocation and the creation session. Lively discussion in groups as well - most of them want to get married and there were some interesting comments on what they do not like! Rev was funny and topical and University challenge saw SOAS go out which is a shame. Gay wedding the musical very OTT. After her rehearsal for Maundy Thursday Liz met the 2 bishops elect in the street!

An excellent session at confirmation with Fr Michael Q on freedom - the young people were really involved and asking good questions. Watched Rev (it's back!) Come dine with me, University challenge and The Plantagenets.

Choir depressing at practice - who would think it's Christmas? Nitpicking. When I said who's going to the pub 2 said No. In the end Caroline, Jenny, Catherine and Molly met Vickie at the White Hart. She likes Rev and in fact based her Christmas sermon on it. Liz had stomach bug so went to doctor and took sample to Mayday. Midnight I fainted while on loo and knocked my forehead. In the morning sick and more diaorrhea so stayed home. Vickie played for 2 crib services and I was able to listen to King's (nice new carol by Tansy Davies) and watch the TV carols, also Pappano on Tosca from Rome and Morecambe and Wise. By 1 p.m. all seemed OK so played for Midnight. Nichole came as Karen was ill. Went well including Harwood in A flat. Christmas Day to St Gertrude's South Croydon for mass with unaccompanied carols - not Silent night again! Gerry and Eileen there and Fr Martin said I could have played. The new texts still throwing people and they have McCrimmon mass books. Played...

To Shoreditch on overground. Walked around from Hoxton (back of Geffrye museum) trying to find the hospital and it turned out ot be opposite St Leonard's church where Rev is filmed. Carol service with Heythrop schola and we sang In the bleak and O little one sweet. Mince pies and mulled wine followed by a tour of the hospital. Costs £3 million a year, currently 16 patients living in and 16 day visitors. Old building being rebuilt.

Swam 24 and Liz came as well. To tip to dump chest of drawers and carpet. To Heythrop for college Mass. Arrived 12.30 and saw Joan. Joey seemed pleased to have a tenor and asked me about Alleluia verse. People drifted in to rehearsal. Graham Poulsom was celebrant - he has played guitar at Mass. St John Bosco started his work 160 years ago as a result of a young man asking to serve. We sang "Hail Queen of heaven" - dodgy theology at Heythrop of all places! Also Mary immaculate to Liebster Emmanuel and Sing we of the blessed mother to Abbots Leigh. Saw Sr Simon about Hilda's funeral. At coffee chatted to Philip who sings tenor in the schola and is in my class - thinks Damian pompous and too ready to put people down! Read a book by Habermas and Ratzinger in library. To M & S for tea. No sign of Jordan re my trouser alterations. Acolyte at 5.30 Mass Bishop Hopes. Superb Ave Maria by Mawby. Home to watch Rev and Antiques roadshow and The manor reborn. I was asked if I was ...

Thursday to London boroughs interfaith forum - not so many there. It was held at London Fire brigade HQ and we had a free tour of the musuem with some fine engines from the past. Liz to Douai abbey until Saturday for course retreat. She took the car so used buses. Served 5.30 mass with Bishop John Arnold for Catholic union - I was book. Watched Rev and Symphony. Friday to Ealing Abbey on X68 and tube. 25 mass settings and salmon lunch. Visited the abbey garden with Fr Alban. Sr Jean did a good job and sisters wanted to know Liz was. On tube with monk from Worth and home briefly before buses to choir practice. Saturday more reading and to Coulsdon to practise and 6 p.m. Songs of Praise which went well. Acting archdeacon Barry Davies dedicated the new furniture - the last time I saw him at interfaith forum he was going to lose his post! We sang the Greek chant Beatitudes and Barry's introit although he was not there. Fish and chips and a difficult quiz - I got 7 of the paintings r...

Busy day weeding music scores and dealing with game plan and Chris D came. Met community policemen. Fell asleep and woke to find Liz home from G & S show which she had enjoyed. Roisin was in chorus. Laughed a lot at "Rev". Lovely midday prom featuring Haydn quartet and Schumann Piano quintet.

Cleared away the book sale which seems to have gone well. Muggy day and short of staff. Tchaikovsky's Manfred from the Proms played with gutsy sound by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic conducted by Petrenko. Had Christmas pudding at dinner to eat it up! Laughed a lot at "Rev" which has to be the best thing on TV at the moment apart from the Proms. This computer is so slow - we need a laptop each!