The organist librarian

To St Dunstan in the West which is a Romanian Orthodox church as well, and heard part of the Medtner piano sonata in G minor, Op. 22 played by Chisato Kusunoki. To Tate modern to see the amazing sunflower seeds by Ai Weiwei and recorded 2 video comments for the artist. The Gauguin exhibition was excellent but so many people! Cream tea in the friends room with a wonderful view but hard to hear evensong on the radio. Also looked around the main exhibits and films by Rosa Barba. To chorus and saw Oxford Street lights - umbrellas and boxes and blue arches in New Bond Street. Merlin rehearsal with Rob Lane. Watched The Apprentice.

Wed 18th a lie-in and to osteopath Imogen who treated my hamstring.I need to do tai chi and exercises before swimming! Then got trains to see Ciarán for an hour. He had a cold and sniffles and not too happy. On overground to Islington for the recording of the Merlin soundtrack. We were able to watch the film and worked well until 10 p.m. Rob Lane had composed some of the music at 3 p.m. that day! He kept the Destiny theme until last so when he said we might not do it we all agreed to do it! It was certainly the best bit! Home by 11 p.m. but tired. Liz had gone to Birmingham having got Dad's book copied and it will be bound there. Thursday Scherezade and Tchaikovsky's 2nd symphony from Proms. Friday staff meeting and started to sort out basement stuff. Philharmonia orchestra prom on BBC4 with Part, Ravel and Scriabin. Finished reading "A thousand splendid suns" a truly great book and started "Wolf Hall".

Monday swam 38 and Tuesday 36 - John was there. Slow lane very crowded. Heard end of Scriabin symphony No. 1 from Prom. Novelists in their own words with interesting archive footage but fell asleep. Tuesday 17th had to sort out rubbish bins all wet and flies. New cleaning contract not working well and tea towels and hand towels not being cleaned any more! Had staff meeting. Left at 2.30 and to Tate Modern to see Gilpin's slides in Exposed (rather sad and bitteer sweet images) and Francis Alys's fascinating films. To National portrait gallery to see BP portrait award - not happy with first prize winner picture of her dead mother. The whole question of intrusion into privacy is raised by these artists although her mother did give permission. To Hinde St church for Merlin rehearsal with Rob Lane the composer who is very unassuming. Shostakovich 5th from the proms and Arvo Part St John Passion. Programme about man who tried to swim the Amazon.

The first recording session of the soundtrack for "Merlin" went really well and Rob Lane was very clear in his directions. He has had a distinguished career in film music including winning BAFTAs. It took a while to get used to having a headphone on with clicks to give the beats! Some of the themes were memorable and stay in the mind! Not sure I would watch the programme itself as it seemed to be full of medieval cliches! We were home quite quickly from Islington and watched The Planets conducted by Mackerras from the Proms.