The organist librarian

Programme on Kusama.  Today Dean of St Paul's, Salcombe and Lucy Winkett, faithinisolation and we watched the Cardinal celebrating Mass and the Pope. Father Brown. Now watching National Theatre Jane Eyre.  Night prayer form Clifton cathedral.  Sung morning prayer and office of readings from Bishop's Stortford. Fr Carlos Ouito I think with guitar. The liturgy from St John's, Tenebrae from Dominicans Oxford and Tallis lamentations from Nova Scotia (all on youtube)  The liturgy from the cathedral was very moving. How we miss the people being there. The cardinal is very close to the people, he did not receive communion because we cannot.  Sanders (from Ely) and Victoria reproaches on YouTube. Cosi fan tutte from ROH with Thomas Allen.

Swim and it as very quiet despite half term. Took Henry to Phoenix centre and lots to play wth (Salvation Army music not on). Robert the piano tuner came and middle E flat was broken so he replaced it with bottom C. To pub lunch at Toby carvery. We were late but enjoyed chat with Bill, Vincent and Bernard. Quiet time and Liz went to chiropodist and later to servers council. Delivered St John's leaflets to our road and startled by dog! Saw Darren about the Hive and Death Cafe. Played Sweelinck on the piano. Blue planet live. Worked on schools list. Tasmania wildlife. Songs of Praise featuring Lucy Winkett. SS Windrush ballet.

Purcell Hear my prayer in 2 parts. Love those clashes. Played Bach aria Descent from the Cross from St Matthew passion and Fantasia in C minor. Elaine is back Praise the Lord!Enjoyed Anne-Marie Garton's sermon today about Mary pouring nard over Jesus' feet. We even got hand cream to smell! That's a first!  Revd Lucy Winkett packed room at St Paul's. She spoke so movingly on the Cross. We can look away, or look, or be looked at. The link with the empty tomb and Eucharist vital. We must contemplate atrocities now. Half the nations of the world torture. It is easy to have a lukewarm response to suffering until it comes to us. Be near me Lord when dying, that I may fight befriended.... The cross of life. Everywhere there are mothers and children uncomforted. Duck for lunch. Evensong Willan setting got changed to Batten. Benediction - organ too loud again. The Durrells and Victoria both excellent. 

Swam (swimming lesson in fast lane which is not good) Mass (fire engine in road when I arrived) 2 cars parked on double yellow line at bottom of our road! Hot again. Played Elijah and Brahms Requiem plus RVW and Howells songs on piano. Such wonderful music. Middle E flat not working but no sign of a dead animal inside the piano thank God! Fabulous exhibition at the Wallace collection and had a lovely chat to a curator.  Talk Revd Lucy Winkett and Sarah Hamilton discussed Brahms's requiem. Best pre Prom talk so far this season. The problem with having sung in a great chorus like the Philharmonia for so long is that the memory of that great choral sound stays. As a result the BBC efforts at Brahms's Requiem under Richard Farnes were disappointing. Yes the sopranos coped well and there was some soft singing but too much loud organ and orchestra exhausted ATB so some lines were inaudible. Faster tempi did not help. The text was unclear. The soprano soloist just did not have ...

Drains cleared. Mass and played for funeral at Caterham - very quiet affair. Henry came and played a little in the garden. To Canteen at Royal Festival Hall for most enjoyable family meal with Dennis, Louise, Bruce and Emma. To Acton. Watched TV programme on Royal Academy. Library work then to St James Piccadilly for a fascinating tour and talk on interfaith by Revd Lucy Winkett. It was brilliant! Tea at Royal Academy and saw the new bridge. Lovely dinner Old Johannian reunion at Royal Society of Medicine. 11 came and we had a great evening. This is our 6th reunion dinner there! 65 years since John, Richard and Stan started together at school!!

Swam, no Mass as to hearing aid clinic at AgeUK at 10 a.m. Need to put in drops every night and change tubes more frequently every 2 months.  At East Dulwich picturehouse for Thomas Ades The exterminating angel from the Met. Weird and 15 principals Alice Coote Tomlinson Sophie Bevan huge orchestra, bells, drums, ondes martenot, small violins. Liz to Acton. To St Paul's for Lucy WInkett and Marian Partington on forgiveness - large audience. 

Liz and I gave an hour interview to Croydon museum about Fairfield Hall and music locally. Really enjoyed it and remembered schools dance and concerts/ Welcoming at the cathedral. Excellent sung Eucharist at the Abbey enjoyed the Monteverdi Beatus vir and visited the Confessor's shrine followed by wine. I got there at 4 pm so we were well forward in the large queue and we sat at the front of the transept. Lovely meal at Browns with Society of St Gregory friends. Nice to see people we follow on Facebook!  Fr Andrew who was ordained with  Brian O'Mahony  was also at Browns. He is now at St Mary Moorfields. Society of St Gregory AGM and Crichton lecture given by Rev Canon Lucy Winkett excellent. I spoke about MM in Romsey. John Ainslie on psalms. Enjoyed it. Drove up to town as Liz went to dinner dance at school. New children's Victoria choir sang at Mass and 3 Downside monks concelebrated. They will be on BBC 4 very soon in a new series. T...

Caught up on broadcasts - Lucy Winkett on Good Friday and Norwich cathedral Easter Day both excellent!

We went to Clapham Picturehouse to see the Met production of The Nose. Very different and not particularly like Shostakovich! Very inventive production by William Kentridge. Can't say I enjoyed it but there was some amazing sustained singing. John Thing rang very pleased with the CD. Decided not to make the trek to Alexandra Palace but instead went to St Paul's cathedral to hear Lucy Winkett and David Lammy MP on generosity. It was most interesting. Ann Welch and Fr Dominic were there - the latter was in Soweto for 3 months in 1993! Thanked David for mentioning libraries and he opened the new Tottenham mosque. 

Read 2 more books about Eckhart or rather skimmed them. Watched programme on the Dark ages and the power of music featuring Jessye Norman and Lucy Winkett.