The organist librarian

Swim, Mass. A quiet day at home. Mick came. Watched hat making, part of film on the Great War "They shall grow not old" caught up on choral evensongs from Salisbury, St Paul's and Cambridge. Read The Tablet. Liz went to Bromley with Dennis and choir.

On iplayer the Prom of Holst Ode to death and Vaughan Williams Martyn Brabbins conducting - lovely way to start the day! We sang Bread of the world arranged by Alan Bullard. I played Poco adagio from Saint-Saens organ symphony and Flor Peeters on Cwn Rhondda and Lasst uns erfreuen. Train times changed again so home in time to listen to "I'm Sorry I haven't a clue". Played Dancing years Novello selection and Brewer Marche heroique on piano. Took music to David Dibbs miserable rain. Great singing and playing from Southern Cathedrals festival at Salisbury Blair in B minor, Jonathan Dove, Vierne. RVW Pastoral symphony and Parry Symphony No. 5 on Iplayer. Poldark came to an end for the moment (sad). Watched Shostakoich, Beethoven and Rachmaninov from prom. Henry came to stay overnight and went off to sleep happily. 

To Mass and art good work on Angel musician. Delicious fish for lunch. Saw Clare in her garden lovely day. Waste of time going to Croydon planning committee. 5 objectors to Crystal Palace football ground given 3 minutes between us. I gave up after an hour on John Lewis site . Bridget West played well at St John's. 90 minutes journey to Acton 30 minutes outside Clapham Junction. Last night Southern could not agree on cause of delay of 30 minutes. Driver started with congestion into Victoria then blamed signals. At station the board said dealing with emergency t caused it. Why not just say We can't run anything? Now they say bear with us as we upgrade. Why should we? They should lose the contract full stop. A hot day cataloguing in the library. 6 volunteers and a good meeting with Anna and Reading co-coordinator so feeling much happier. Decided not to go to V and A and Exultet at Hammersmith home for a shower and rest. My right big toe hurts.Sean commented this morning "Why...

Lie-in after last night's late night. Liz to servers Mass in Newcastle and fireworks. To coffee concert at St John's humorous delightful wind sextets by Mozart and Beethoven by Sonnet. Sat with Ray who comes to meditation - his daughter Elaine went to St Chad's a year ahead of Dennis. Watched cellists and listened to Romero and Salisbury evensongs. Also 3 Living with the Gods. Did C of E safeguarding online training. Paul Tobin as sacristan thurible stand in wrong place and no gospel book on altar. Engaged couples blessed by Fr Martin who gave us a thumbs up. Claudia back. Cleaned wax of cassocka and left one for Paul. Programme on Harry Potter and magic uninspiring. Golden gate bridge programme. 

Mass and Lauds combined before breakfast. Rain again! Next September it is to be Ampleforth. Returned home from Salisbury via Winchester with a tea stop at Guildford cathedral. 195 miles round trip! We had a most interesting tour of Salisbury cathedral including Magna Carta in the wonderful chapter house and Canon Jeremy Davies joined us and showed us the lovely vestments. We made our little pilgrimage to George Herbert's church St Andrew Bemerton.

Swam 18. We set off for Salisbury and drove via the A3 and M3 and A303 to Salisbury. The speed limit on the motorway was 50 mph and we had one stop so we did well to get there by 2. The Panel of Monastic Musicians is always a pleasure and it was good to see old friends and note that many familiar faces were missing not least Abbot Richard from Roscrea who is on sabbatical. Our room has a lovely view of the cathedral spire so I draw it and also did a drawing of the cathedral font. Retired bishop David Stancliffe gave us two excellent sessions on his online resource on the Sunday gospels with art, music and literature. He wants us to produce our own imaginative linkups. Canon Jeremy Davies retired Precentor spoke on Sarum use and Shakespeare and showed us a DVD of a medieval liturgy staged in the cathedral and Sr Jean asked me to write it up. Martin Foster did an excellent session on choosing Mass settings just what I need. We did 3 new. Mass settings Missa Camino with. Paul Stubbings w...

A simple communion service led well by Stephen so no Sanctus and Agnus. 4 in choir as Phillipa joined us. I started going through Alan's music and brought home Nutcracker suite and Grieg Wedding day and lots of Bach which I enjoyed playing on the piano. I have agreement to sell the unused scores.  Found an interesting voluntary on Diademata by Barry Ferguson, played Bach New Year's day prelude, Stanford on Gartan and Les cloches by le Begue. Very nice roast duck and red cabbage for lunch with wine. Evensong was from Salisbury and The Choir mentioned Tim Penrose. 

Sunday watched Antiques roadshow and the last Upstairs, downstairs where Persie got her just reward having ruined a marriage and career. Monday the Annunciation. Liz went to babysit and all went well. To cathedral for 5.30 mass and glorious Victoria from the full choir, genuflection in the creed. Rushed to station and got train to Selhurst where Brendan Fitzgerald picked me up for Beckenham meeting. Always a pleasure to go there despite sticking to lemonade! Tuesday reading about alGhazali and watched Heavenly voices about Salisbury cathedral choristers - lovely programme including Stanford in G.

Swam 24. To mosaic and Kim standing in while Linda in Mexico. Cross completed and started on border. 8 at tai chi and started on a longer form. To Starbucks Croydon centrale for meeting about More than Gold in Croydon - 5 of us particularly impressed by Methodist youth worker who lives near here! At the end extempore prayer - in Starbucks? Did November music list and to dancing - cha cha, samba, waltz turn. Wayne Marshall organ concert. Watched a bit more of programme on Rostropovich and Songs of Praise from Salisbury cathedral with feature on RSCM Gold award.

Saturday had a lie-in as I was awake in the night again. Dennis came late last night and we went up to Glyn Close. The big surprise was that Susan Parsons dropped in up from Somerset so we had news of all the family. She used to direct the Addiscombe choirs. Then to see Louise. Turned out she had gone to Jo's not knowing Bruce was coming! We had a nice pub lunch at the Cricketers Richmond Green (cricket being played). I had Abbot ale pie and ale. Dennis bought a garden fork. We met Bruce, Louise and Ciarán briefly at Westfield and then went to Mass. Fr Alexander was on. Watched Salisbury cathedral Easter Day broadcast - excellent sermon by the Dean Revd June Osborne and Mozart Coronation Mass. Sunday I played Alan Gray on Parry's "O may we soon renew that song" Douglas Guest on "St Fulbert" and Crown Imperial which was much appreciated. Folk liked the reading and sermon at the wedding and the cartwheeling verger! Watched some of beatification of John Paul I...

July 4 American Independence Day. Drove to Kew and were late for the chorus coach which fortunately waited for us. Nice lunch at restaurant in the cathedral close next to the military museum - I had steak pie. Rehearsal went well and most impressed by the lovely new font. People playing with the running water! Had tea and enjoyed evensong Purcell - boys and 6 men. Vierne Epitaphe. The concert itself drew a good audience and went very well. Part, Mendelssohn, Kodaly Laudes organi stunningly played by Daniel Cook and Faure Requiem. Home by midnight which was good going and a lovely sunset as we approached Stonehenge. Sunday I had the morning off from Coulsdon and Kevin Shears played. To Provincial President's Sunday at Aylesford - only Norwood brother there despite Bill having postponed President's Sunday. The mass was not inspiring and the homily incomprehensible! Met Gerard Goodhind who knew Martin Hall well. Not as well attended - nice tea and sat in glorious sunshine with J...

Monday to neighbourhood librarians meeting at Earlsfield which is looking good. To Catenians - 13 of us and 9 visitors. Kevin Ingram is a granddad for the first time, Eric for the 7th time! Some good jokes. Tuesday 12th staff meetings about Investors in People. To St Paul's cathedral. Lerone and Frank did not take up the spare tickets and Philipe got the time wrong so missed it! This was the 355th Festival. Exeter and Salisbury cathedral choirs joined St Paul's under Andrew Carwood's direction. It was great they both brought girls and boys. The tinnitus was not so bad this time. The Purcell Hear my prayer from the combined choirs at the back was stunning - those marvellous clashes and as we were at the back we got the full impact. Of course the procession is always magnificent with the Lord Mayor of London, Sheriffs and Aldermen. The magnificent sword and mace and the city marshal is splendid uniform. Great hymns "All hail the power" "Breathe on me breath of ...

36 lengths and saw Andrew - the cathedral choir trip to Milan was very wet. To Battersea for branch development team meeting. I had a go about the number of reservations we had to deal with and the poor delivery from other boroughs. Calix annoyed me by not finishing the banking on Saturday because he had forgotten that the file is now locked away. Watched University challenge and Salisbury cathedral team won. Did the ironing while watching programme on addiction "Am I normal?". Liz had been to Bow as electrician came.