The organist librarian

Friday's choir practice went well and we have a practice on Monday to work on the carols. Worked Saturday and the reading group met and went out for lunch at Antipasto. I went along at 12 and ordered rigatoni and tiramisu. It came quickly so I was back at the library at 1 so Elizabeth could go along. There were 12 at lunch and it only cost £10 as Graham organised half-price! To Brompton oratory where I met Liz. Rose vestments but the priest did everything including the readings and the psalm read without response. He also stands at the high altar with his back to us. Very unimpressed by it all. The homily was good but the same delivery for everything meant that it all went by in a blur! To the Royal Albert Hall and got parked near the hall. Robert Dean was on good form although the jokes were pretty bad. What do you get if you drop an organ down a mine shaft? A flat minor. And if you drop the Albert Hall on an army base? A flat major. It was a fun concert and we were wearing our br...

Tuesday had my final dental treatment and Judy suggested I go to the Mayday eye clinic as a floater had appeared in my left eye on Sunday. It was thoroughly checked by Dr Hun and nothing was found so now I must get used to the floater whizzing around my eye! The Sharing in his life group had a good discussion and I served at Mass. James has joined the team and really looks the part! I also saw Sarah and got the fliers for "Understanding Islam" copied. Liz is to do sacristy duty on 3 days. She is busy redecorating at Grandma's while she is in King's with a urinary infection and bleeding again. She is getting much better care there than at Mayday.At Chorus Robert rehearsed for Classic carols including his own rather good arrangement of "Silent night" which is one carol I loathe! Thursday to King's to see Grandma and chorus where we rehearsed Elgar Te Deum and Vivaldi Gloria. The rehearsal was taken at short notice by a young man with beard and heavy rimmed...

Tuesday was a long day. Swam 34 lengths - the pool was busy and not arranged as it usually is with wide fast and slow lanes. I did my best to catch up on work so I was tired by the time I got to the Festival hall. Liz sat in for the first half of Henze Bassarids suite which apparently was better to watch than to listen to. The Beethoven went well but Dohnanyi was not always clear and speeded up the finale. We were joined by Philharmonia Voices directed by Aidan Oliver and some members of the Bristol choral society so we filled the new choir stalls. Afterwards we went to the bar for the farewell to Robert Dean. He clearly enjoyed Rosa's choral item featuring some of his favourite expressions and rolled rs. He gave an excellent speech and was presented with wine and a leather bound score of Rosa's piece. It was Jean Taylor who got him to come 10 years ago and there have been some memorable concerts notably Gerontius and Mozart under his direction. We were home by 11.30 p.m. The c...

An excellent day spent at Battersea library discussing stock and how we buy it for the library. Good to have all the branches together plus home delivery service and the prison librarians to discuss this. Nice lunch too! To the cathedral but because the course finished late I was too late to serve. The full choir were back and Fr Tim was celebrating. My favourite passage from Colossians 3 was the first reading - sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God in your hearts... always be thankful... put on love". To chorus for Robert Dean's last rehearsal with us as director. We are going to miss his happy smile and antics! Beethoven 9 yet again!

Congratulations to deacon Peter Simpson on the 10th anniversary of his ordination. See Chapel of the resurrection for some fine thoughts and photos! I served at Mass this evening and Mgr Mark congratulated Peter. He preached a fine homily on the sacrifice of Abraham. When I was waiting for the bus to go to chorus, a lady said "Is he going to become a priest?" Why can't people accept deacons as permanently in that state? I was late for chorus - Beethoven 9 again from memory for the first night of the Proms on the 13th. The men are to be in black shirts again, no ties and jackets - I hate that! Robert finished early. Liz did not come as Mum wasn't feeling good. This morning I only swam 18 lengths as had to be at St Mark's centre, Battersea for 8am breakfast meeting where we saw presentations about plans for Clapham Junction and the traffic around it. Very interesting and at last there will be disabled access to the station!

To St George's Hospital. 80 minute wait and told registrar I was using hearing aids at work. They are big and my ears get tired after a few hours but so far so good. I've not used them at concerts or church so far. I will try them at a meeting but I reckon I will pick up too much! Too late to go to St Michael's so on tube to Old Street. Shoreditch Town hall basement Saw Ed Davey - his charity he works for kidsco had an amazing display for kids art work on demons and angels addressing some very powerful issues like poverty, abandoned kids, gang warfare, drugs - it was worth seeing! To Canary Wharf and after some searching found Evans and saw Bruce who looks well. To the cathedral for feast day of St John Southworth. His body has been moved to centre of the nave. Mgr Mark gave a great homily. To chorus to rehearse Rosa's farewell piece for Robert Dean - quite good! Finished reading "The common heart" about interfaith meetings at Snowmass, Colorado.