The organist librarian

Henry came early today and enjoyed himself. We went to East Dulwich picturehouse to see Samson and Delilah conducted by Mark Elder from the Met. It was simply fabulous. Great singing from Alagna, Garanca and Naouri, terrific sets and production, the chorus were amazing! Finished reading Simon Reeve's excellent autobiography "Step by step: the life in my journeys" Highly recommended! Watched repair shop, evensong from Chester.

A really great day. Swam 20, did Catenian circle minutes, to Gate cinema to see Manon Lescaut from the Met. Alagna and Opolais superb and I found Richard Eyre's production much more moving than the Covent Garden production. To V and A for the Botticelli - superb pictures. Had fun sketching a donkey and a grumpy St Joseph! Liz went to Science Museum with school and servers council. To Archbishop's House for the Pope Benedict XVI lecture given by the Chief Rabbi, the Cardinal and Moulana Sayed Ali Raza Rizvi on "Living as a creative minority in the UK". Excellent and some good questions too. The Cardinal gave a superb exposition of the role of education and a framework for dealing with extremism. Good to see friends Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, Fr John O'Toole,  Katharina Smith-Muller Interreligious Adviser , Sr Margaret Shepherd and met some interesting new people too. Sayed's friend gave me a lift to Streatham Common.   

There was a baptism at Coulsdon - Autumn a lovely 8 month old who had been very ill. I played Arthur Wills's Lullaby for a royal prince, some Andrew Moore and Mendelssohn Song without words in E. I didn't think the Venetian gondala song suitable! Chat to Jill Cliff about the magazine. we are to try a half hour with the girls after Sunday service which avoids me going down there again on a Wednesday or early on a Friday. Listened to Roberto Alagna's Desert Island discs (his second wife died) and Just a minute. Liz had been shopping in Croydon. To Geffrye Museum in Shoreditch to see the excellent photographs of Ethelburga tower in Battersea and Newlyn copper. The herb garden and formal gardens are delightful and it was very sunny. The smell of rosemary and thyme very strong. They even have hyssop and valerian! Swopped buses to get to Museum of London to see the excellent history of Anti-Apartheid movement exhibition. Walked to St Paul's cathedral through the lovely Patern...