The organist librarian

Repair shop 26 features Escalado a horse racing game just like Grandma and Grandad had in York when I was 5. Poor Grandad had sore fingers from turning the handle so much!  To Liverpool for Catenian conference. 3 circle meeting started with Mass with retired bishop and guitar. Go the Mass is ended is a kids song. Air bnb very pleasant. 2 of Province 7 motions passed on marketing and proxy voting. Great speeches from Lord Alton and Bishop John Arnold. Thursday 3 circles Mass and dinner. Excellent appeal by Across Trust and went on a jumbulance. Walker gallery superb exhibition of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Had a lovely day at Chester Zoo. The Mayor was very welcoming. Went to Maryton to see Sr Mary Pia in the new monastery, She knew John East - later we learnt that he had passed away. The banquet at Aintree was OK with a lovely view. Sunday served at Mass boat and acolyte. Choir were excellent Roxanna Panufnik setting of Missa de angelis. 2 Purcell anthems.  Lunch at cathedral...

Sunday to Mass at Anerley and heard John MacManus has died. Dinner at Harvester using voucher - I had gammon. Monday a.m. Marshall Graham's funeral at St John's - a great sendoff. Stanford, Faure, Kontakion. Body had been in church overnight - he was confirmed at Westminster Abbey and they attended St Peter Eaton Square. Ann is his widow. Nice eats and good chat about the trip and the new choir director. Told Adrian about the Musical museum. To St Martin in the Fields to hear the wonderful Rowan Williams on encounter. Alan, Ivor, Brian Pierce, Rita there plus 2 others. Met rabbi Stephen at exhibition which I did not like much. Our conversation was interrupted by an American Jewish lady who I have often seen at the front of PreProm talks. She announced she did not celebrate Yom Kippur and could not get to the synagogue in Greenwich. When asked why she became very aggressive - said we were asking personal questions - she had visual problems because of a brain tumour. I apologise...

An enjoyable overnight visit to Whitstable for Canterbury meeting joint with Blackheath and Chislehurst. We explored the harbour and town despite the wind and the threatened storm. The air b n b was a garden room near the Marine hotel.  We sang in the final concert at Fairfield Hall before it closes for 2 years for refurbishment (we hope). The acoustic is wonderful. London Mozart players were joined by the Countess of Wessex string orchestra and Salvation Army band - Vaughan Williams. Mozart and Haydn farewell symphony. We sang Zadok the priest and  Roxanna Panufnik 's Fairfield Fanfare all conducted by Dominic Peckham.

Monday swam 20. To mosaic and finished Sean only needs grouting now. Tai chi we stood for 30 minutes while Tony wittered on and on! Got petrol and went back to Norwood Junction to ask about ym mobile phone which disappeared yesterday. Got home and emptied boot of car and there it was! What a relief! Phoned up about Catenian cups and they are ready. Practised Panufnik.  Really enjoyed Werther live from ROH at Clapham Picturehouse. JoyceDiDonato and Vittorio Grigolo very moving and Pappano superb. Horrendous journey home from Balham to Clapham Junction then to East Croydon no trains so walked to Whitgift centre and 75 bus to Selhurst to get the car!

Everybody says rest so no church today. I was going to play the Bach Ascensiontide prelude. Sorry to have missed Tablet 175 mass and Roxanna Panufnik's new anthem. Watched the lovely Amour which has an unexpected twist, VE Day service at the cenotaph, Geordie symphony school which is brilliant - Il Sistema comes to Newcastle! Woodcarving. Enjoyed the end of University challenge and Gonville and Caius were worthy winners.

Woke early and took Liz to Brixton to go to St Pancras and train to Lourdes. She was greeted by VN on arrival in rain this evening. Played Finlandia Dad's favourite, Sheep may safely graze Mum's favourite and we sang Happy are they my Mum's favourite hymn. Also sang Christ be with me so played Stanford on Gartan. To West Norwood and bus to Brockwell Park. Very hot - gave out lots on interfaith bags once I found the gazebo of Faiths together in Lambeth and got lots to do interfaith quiz. Alan and Ivor were there and some other helpers. People looked so stressed and hot! To Grangewood park and had cake and drink and joined the Friends of the park for £3! Saw John and Louise (he goes to the pool) and introduced to Karen organiser of Thornton Heath arts week and people are delighted by the mosaics. Home for tea then to the hall. Pat Barker and Owen Street on war and authors reactions to it. Poetry read by Stephen West. Fabulous Prom from World orchestra for peace conducted by ...

Thursday was a lovely day and we had a big breakfast including delicious black pudding. We went for a walk round Headham village and saw the alpacas then had a swim, sauna and jacuzzi. The wedding itself was at 2 and the room was beautifully decorated with lights, candles and flowers. The registrar was charming and the whole thing went off very well. Shirley and Levantha's sister were witnesses and it was great to see Shirley and Jim's grandchildren. We had a delicious meal and sat with George and Jane from York and Marion. There was a good band and excellent ballroom dancing plus a disco. I went off the bed around 10.45! Friday up for a swim and short sauna and a large breakfast. I had rung the parish church vicar and arranged to play at 11 a.m. We duly arrived in a taxi at 10.50 and there were flower arrangers around and the lady said the the vicar is here as his car is here. By the time she went to the office he had gone. I tried the library (wearing my organ shoes) but no ...

Listened to evensong from St Mary Redcliffe with RSCM Millenium choir - premieres by Panufnik and Farringdon and Philip Moore and vespers from the oratory which included Durufle. Reading Pierce's book.

Richard Blackford's "Mirror of perfection" was featured on The Choir on Radio 3. It is worth hearing! Vespers from Liverpool Metropolitan featuring Pachelbel. An exciting new piece by Roxanna Panufnik for the Choirbook for the Queen - Joy at the sound.

To the cafe to meet Gemma and the lovely 6 month old Sebastian then to Godstone farm. Saw 2 families of piglets the sows Curly and Wurly covered in curly hair, lots of sheep, goats, kids and lambs, rabbits, guinea pigs, fowl, llamas, alpacas. Ciarán loved the sandpit and the slides with Bruce. Drove to Acton via Hampton Court and Teddington - a different route. Tommy came home and delighted to see us. Home just after 8 listening to Roxanna Panufnik's new violin concerto 4 world seasons played by Tasmin Little. Cried off Catenian 10 pin bowling - I find Valley Park far too noisy any way!

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You. Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches...