The organist librarian

Swam, Mass, art and did 2 sketches. Julie kindly brought a book of post Holocaust art. Big funeral at Bensham Community Centre with white hearse and White horses. To interfaith lunch. Elizabeth to complete DBS for Lourdes and Bishop John said hello. To Royal Academy summer exhibition and schools. Feel sorry for artists who's pictures end up at the top of a wall. Some good stuff, some funny, some overpriced rubbish especially the horrible fibreglass of the Queen. In the Royal Academy of all places! Liked the bronze of the Queen Mother. Lovely exhibition of the history of the summer exhibition. Glorious Turners, Laura Knight, etc. Why do people buy this stuff? Swept patio and watered garden. Question time and cruise liners in Orkney, also celebrities and the NHS. 

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, Mass St Benedict's day.  I have 2 pairs of new glasses. Screen printed a tote bag at Whitgift centre with BRIT school students.  Accident at Victoria and flood in underpass meant I was late seeing my spiritual director. It seems I once again need to review my activities and learn to say No. The Royal Academy summer exhibition a curate's egg. I found only 2 that I wanted to draw. Gilbert and George offensive and silly. Lovely Charles Tunnicliffe RA exhibition. Always interesting to see what sells. Some awful pictures!  Lord Patten fascinating talk at LSE covering identity politics, patriotism, Hong Kong and Brexit. Met Liz at St Anselm and St Cecilia servers council. Heavy rain and my new bag got wet. Wed watched Wimbledon - Murray out. Catch up on blog. To Dulwich meetng 32 there. Liz stayed at Acton.

Swam 20, new hearing aids at Guys hospital, welcoming at the cathedral, Royal Academy summer schools and summer exhibition (some lovely paintings) BP portrait award at National Portrait gallery, met Liz for dinner and enjoyed Jenufa at ENO. As always I preferred Jean to the winners. Schools stuff rather disappointing. 

Woke late. I really enjoyed meeting art students from the Brit school at art at AgeUK Thornton Heath this morning and looking forward to clothed life drawing in July! I drew 6 small paintings on the theme of harmony and in the afternoon painted them.   Francesco da Mosto's TV series on Venice excellent but sad too. Are tourists destroying the city we love?  Deeply shocked by the death of Jo Cox MP. Terrible, Up early to  Explore session on marriage at Beacon school, Banstead. Regal cars are rubbish - late, went wrong way, etc. The students were year 10 and the quietest so far - maybe too young or too big a group? Not many questions. Liz went shopping and I took stuff to the tip at Lambeth and the pictures to Alan Gadd, Watched Penelope Keith and Silk road, also Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III. Alexander Armstrong on underground Rome excellent. Royal Academy summer exhibition programme.

Swam 20 and Liz came. To art and finished the Chennai painting for Fr Renato and started a rugby picture which is the theme of  Thornton Heath Arts Week . Traffic and late running trains meant there was no way I would get to St John's Smith Square to hear Patrick Russill play so went to Royal Academy to see Eileen Cooper's work. She combines Picasso child-like faces with passion! The schools work was pretty awful - one would have thought the standard would have been higher?  Had a M & S picnic in Green Park. The Royal Society of Antiquaries has a good film and small Magna Carta exhibition. To British Museum to see the new Woolfson gallery but all that gold and bling! Exquisite but .....? Served as crozier as Cardinal said Mass of sick and retired clergy fund supporters. Delays getting home and watching third round of  BBC Cardiff Singer of the World . Impressive Mongolian baritone!

Swam 12 as I was late. Liz went off to college. I finished first draft of the article for Xavier. Also finished reading Mark Barrett's Crossing. To St John Smith Square to hear Martin Baker. Excellent Bach and de Grigny. Effective Reger and a sparkling improvisation on a jumpy theme! Apparently he was not too well  -you would not have guessed it. It was good having the screen. The Klais is very fine and a reasonable audience. To Royal Academy to see Sensing Spaces. Fascinating use of light and natural materials by architects. It was great to see the film and to be able to interact on IPads. I loved the Japanese use of cedar wood for the scent and light and the lovely forest with birchwood. Also being able to climb up to the ceiling of the grand rooms. I am considering not renewing my membership of the Friends - the tea room was very crowded again. To National Gallery to see the Vuillard - his technique is fascinating. One tends to miss him against all the Monets and Seurat. To tea...

Swam 20. Finishing touches to Clooney coursework. Sang at Mass and we did de Severac Tantum ergo - gorgeous. Jerry thanked me for singing - he too graduates next year! Good homily by Fr Peter Gallagher. Having lunch and met a Muslim MA philosophy student who suggested some Sufi wrters for my dissertation subject! To Royal Academy for the Gainsborough, Turner and Constable exhibition. The Constables stood out! Back for meal and more reading on modern Hinduism. Martin Ganeri actually asked a question this evening. Got wide choice of essay topics. Red wine and then to pub and Michael Barnes came for a while. John Park (from South Korea) as incomprehensible as ever! Home at 11.20. Liz had been at John Lewis carol service and meeting with Tony and Ausra.

Read the last article for this week's work on Helios - 35 pages about Pieris by Fleming. Swam 20 and Liz came as well. To All Saints Tooting - I was early so had coffee at the Kitchen Table. Rosa Cook's funeral - she was 90. Alan one of her sons recognised me - he used to work on the mobile library. Not that many people there considering she had been church warden - she was 90. Organist was a stranger to the church too - he played Elgar and Bach. There seemed to be no provision for people not going to the cemetery before the reception so I went to Balham and got 2" x 2" photos done for Indian visa. To British library and advice on conservation of old photos and family Bible  - keep in cool place and take digital photos of material now. Bus and walk through Mayfair to RA Now. The prices astronomical but quite a few works already sold. Buses to St Paul's cathedral - long walk to No. 9 bus stop. Nice meal at Pizza express and then discovered speaker could not get her...

Swam 26 because I was late. To Heythrop to hand in finance forms - charges have gone up. Met Michael Smith resplendent in blazer and off sailing for a fortnight. Meeting with Fr Rocco about interfaith sharing. Jonathan Gorsky said he had 2 lectures on Thursday but that is the day that suits my class! Wednesday next term but not this term please! Volunteered to help at Freshers' fair next Thursday. To library. 9 to Royal Academy for the outstanding Bronze exhibition. Brian Sewell in the Standard criticised the glass cases and the lighting but some of the lighting is brilliant! Loved the Roman satyr, Il porcellino, beautiful horse's head, Indian Gods - some remarkable work. To Tate Britain to see Pre-Raphaelites - not my favourite art but I did like the Paradise room with furnishings and carpet. Lots of people at both places. Wait for 88 bus and Michael Redman saw me outside the Abbey. Combined evensong with the Cathedral choir - Stanford psalm, Clucas responses, Palestrina, Vict...

Tuesday to lunchtime concert at Grosvenor chapel. Martin Ball was there. Richard Hobson played Bruhns, Clerambault and Bach very well. Picnic in park and took family's photo. To Royal Academy to see lovely Impressionists and tea there.Lovely day. To the prom and the pre Prom talk with members of the orchestra of the Age of enlightenment - clarinet, flute and horn - interesting to hear about the instruments and Mozart's use of them. The opera was well staged so moved from seat to rail at times holding score. Superb singing. Liz missed the prom again. I went to Acton. Wednesday to Chiswick for some shopping and Ciarán enjoyed playing at Starbucks and in the sand at Ravenscourt Park. He was very good about leaving the playground and we then got caught in a downpour. Had lunch in the cafe as we were wet including ice cream. Dried off and to Stratford for the opening of the Paralympics. Fantastic atmosphere and huge stadium. The show was great - especially liked the dancers like th...

Spent Saturday morning on essays and redraft of both is done. To Summer exhibiton at Royal Academy and met 3 Battersea Park ladies and Alex who used to work at Balham and his Mum. Loved the blue pictures and Jayne Parker film of cellist. Tea at M & S and smoke vespers for the Trinity and Fr Christopher gave an excellent homily on the Jubilee and special prayer. Slipped away to get train to West Dulwich to get to Stephen Disley's opening of organ at All Saints West Dulwich. Emma Penrose sang Handel and Barber. Lots of familiar faces including the Almeidas! Stephen played despite his op.

To lectures about Catholics in Georgia and Russia, then sang at Mass (for unity Fr Peter Wilson chaplain at University of London celebrated and told his story from Cape Town) to Royal Academy and met Sally and Liz. David Hockney a bigger picture - Brian Sewell panned it in the Standard as gaudy and repetitive - liked the films and some of the work. Fauvism and Monet influences. His pastiche of Claude is crude. Lots of people there but I would not pay £14 to see it. Back to Heythrop and rearranged Hughes room and to first half hour of the Melkite liturgy - some fine singing and colourful vestments. Interesting lecture on Islam and other faiths.

Back bad when I got up. Last mosaic class until September. Finished mirror for Ciarán and it looks great. Came out really well despite the problem with the bought tiles cracking in a jagged way. Stars look great. Tai chi helped back. To Royal Academy to meet the McCullochs who are returning to Christchurch. The kids loved the art packs. Brian Sewell's review was right. The architecture models are excellent and fine sculpture by Tom Butler - Rainbow Division memorial and bag lady Shopping. Some fine smaller works too. Had tea in the Friends room and is wasn't crowded. Sat in St James's Park and then to Guards chapel for Churches together in Westminster visit which was excellent. Ann, Sean and Ann from chorus there. Best of all was the young chaplain just back from Afghanistan. Very fine building.

Watched amazing drama about Hattie Jacques and her menage a trois. Swam 30 Friday a.m. To Debenhams Warehouse in Croydon but no refund - can exchange but they only do up to size 16! Not pleased! To osteopath and Imogen worked on my left shoulder with 2 students looking on. Tutor says 4 weeks treatment and use cream twice a day. To Royal Academy for friends day to see Modern British scuplture. People seemed more interested in Glasgow boys. Some fine earlier works like Epstein and Gill and some literally rubbish. Damien Hirst's thing full of flies - yuk! Pottered at home doing odd jobs. Liz painting at Glyn Close. Last night cooked my first risotto! It was delicious.

Liz served at the ordination of 3 Anglican bishops as Catholic priests - I feel this will not help Church unity at all. I went to Battersea Park library reading group to discuss John Wyndham's "The Chrysalids" and then to the Royal Academy for a chicken and avocado roll and tea. Met 2 ladies from Richmond who use libraries! With Liz to exhibition Image; art fashion identity which was interesting. Sharif Waked's Chic point video was very striking - models showing clothes with holes contrasted with photos of Palestinians forced to strip in the street by Israeli soldiers. To M & S for tea where we met the blogger Matt Doyle and his family. Vespers and Mass and Brompton oratory junior choir sang Alain Ave Maria and Lallouette. Nice meal from M & S including tiramisu. Come fly with me hilarious again.

Up early despite a day off and watched end of Big silence part 3. Also more episodes of Michael Wood's history of England based around Kidworth in Leicestershire. Changed to thick quilt, hoovered and took out vegetable stuff to compost heap. To Towards Advent in cathedral hall and saw John Ainslie and Mary Rouse on SSG stall, also met Clare and Polish tenor from Acton who sang at the wedding! Bought a CTS booklet on praying with Newman. To Royal Academy. The Glasgow boys very crowded. Nothing new under the sun an intriguing collection of old and new. Dennis was late for tea and we only saw him for 15 minutes! Vespers and confirmation with Bishop Alan Hopes who does it so well! The new Westminster children's choir enthusiastic but not very much on the note and this caused younger servers to giggle. We sang Now thank we all our God and Peter played the Karg-Elert. Car in Pimlico and home amid fireworks. We got fish and chips. Watched Michael Palin on the end of World War I. Alexa...

Monday to Catenians - David said he would come to the funeral. Ralph de Souza ill and in fact he died this week - may he rest in peace. Tuesday went to Town hall for H & S meeting but as I never got an agenda I was at wrong room so came back and saw Chris! Wednesday was a busy day! Served at golden jubilee of profession mass for Sr Bridget Cullen - Sr Ellen sang the psalm and I got to hold the papal blessing - it was a lovely occasion. To spirituality day and found Michael Dorey's thoughts on Ignatian spirituality very helpful at this difficult time of mixed emotions - relief and sadness. To Royal Academy to see the summer exhibition with the amazing coat hanger gorilla and David Hockney's enormous photos. Some very fine work. A small exhibition of John Singer Sargent and the sea. Walked through Burlington Arcade and New Bond Street and decided emeralds not quite the thing! Who buys all these expensive things? To Hinde St church for rehearsal. Stefan on steps asking after L...

To St Michael's for a rather lacklustre performance by a British organist who has settled in Bjornholm. There were slips in Finlandia and the programme was Scandinavian. Nielsen's Commotio rather outstayed its welcome. Bus to Couldson to see Vicky and we finished October hymns and half of November. To Coulsdon South - oddly Vicky caught the same train but she was on her mobile walking ahead of me to the station! To Royal Academy to see Anish Kapoor's extraordinary scultures. I loved the mirror ones - there was one where I appeared to become a single blue line! Also a magnificent pile of silver globes in the courtyard. I feel sorry for the people who have to clean up the red wax which is now defacing these fine galleries. There is also an enormous rusting object in the middle of a gallery! I like Sir Hugh Casson's pictures in the members room much more! To St Mary le Bow for lecture by Professor Tina Beattie which will be worth reading on www.justshare.org. http://justsh...

To spirituality day led by an American Michael Moran on the Cloud of unknowing - certainly made you think. There was much comment on my leading the day in August on being a pilgrim for which I am collecting material. To Royal Academy to see the Waterhouse exhibition. I'm not that keen on the pre-Raphaelites but he did have some lovely colours and ideas. To power station forum and the new plan looks more and more feasible!