The organist librarian

Swam, Mass. Emma has knee problems. Delivered some St John's leaflets in Canham Road - some gardens had dodgy steps. Facebook comments on the Catena letter. To Westminster Abbey for a service about Christians in the Middle East. Reflections including Prince Charles, Sayed Ali Razawi, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Excellent sermon from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Great to have the Coptic and Syrian orthodox choirs.

Woke early and did some posting and then back to sleep. Helped clear up the garden and the bark is now down under the tree at last.  Bloomsbury Baptist Karg-Elert festival. Ouriana Gassiou and  Eleni Keventsidou  played duets for organ and piano. The problem was that a succession of movements left one confused which was Karg- Elert and Kienzl. Wagner and Weber more successful as it was all rather similar. Stefan Engels played well.  The cardinal celebrated Mass for New Catholics at the cathedral and gave an excellent homily. It was good to see Deacon Kassa and Carlos there. We had a word with him about Sayed Ali Razawi and Ibrahim Mogra's visit to the Pope. He did not realise our friendship with them. Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen on TV.

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.   

Both swam and I did 20. Loved Mr Holmes at Clapham Picturehouse. Sir Ian Mackellan was brilliant and the music and scenery superb.T o lobby of parliament about Palestine. Saw my MP's assistant and went to meeting - several MPs of all parties said opinion was changing! We waited at 5.30 for Diane Abbott to come but she did not show so by then tea room was shut.  To iftar at Abrar House Sayed Ali Razawi spoke brilliantly on fasting Revd David Tuck and Dr Shafti spoke well.An hout to get home and tired.Cate was there but she did not speak. 

To St Ethelburga's for Peace conference which was well attended with good speakers and interesting workshops. Lots of people I know were there including Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi. An Egyptian urged us to support peace groups in the Middle East and to engage with media, politicians and corporations.

I played pieces on Rockingham it being Holy Cross day and Land of hope and glory went down well. Stephen deaconed and did well. To Stephen and Judith's lovely home for a delicious buffet and sat in the garden. I was amused at Paul saying one of the Southwark babes would get the Coulsdon job which has finally been advertised! Liz came. I went to Corpus Christi hall Brixton and saw Fr Adrian - he is overworking and not eating properly. Sayed was late but answered all the questions very well on extremism and what we can do about it. He said Muslim young men were not marginalised. Met a lady who works for Prevent and chatted to David who thinks the West should not intervene. To 5.30 Mass at the cathedral and Fr Michael D did his first sung Mass guided by George. Mark, Lerone and Marcus and Larry. To Hinsley room for basic Guild of St John Southworth training on being a cathedral welcomer and guide - not sure it has been thought through properly. Got to Selhurst and car would not start...

We both went to St Paul's cathedral for Sons and Friends of the clergy. The noise beforehand was bad so I tuned my aids off and sketched a lampstand! Peterborough and Wakefield cathedral choirs sang well and we heard Tavener, Bernard Rose, Kenneth Leighton and Elgar Give unto the Lord written in 1914 for the festival. Hymns were Disposer supreme, Christ is our cornerstone and For all the saints. Dean preached well and ended with Brewer Marche heroique. I went straight to Willesden Green and found the Muhammadi centre in Walm Lane. Sayed spoke well but Dr Shah-Kazemi did not use the time well and I dropped off. The ladies did not get their questions answered and many left when I did before the prayers! The person singing the earlier prayers had a fine voice. It was a pity they used so many Islamic terms.

I played pieces on Dominus regit me by Willan and Vernon Griffiths and Worthy is the Lamb. £139 collected at Lewisham maternity unit for Tommys! To Homebase to get paint and then a lovely roast lunch at Oval Lounge. To LAMAG event on faiths and education. Sarah Thorley and Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi - most interesting. Hard to sketch him as he kept moving about! Jeremy Rodell was there so booked July date. Fr Adrian McKenna-White was very chatty. I sang at evensong. Eyre in D did not inspire and Weelkes Hosanna was just loud. Nice Dandrieu on O filii. Gareth was there. To Christ's chapel Dulwich for RCO 150th anniversary recital of Handel by Catherine Ennis. Watched QI.

Back to the pool after a long gap and swam 20. Collected Dennis's car tax disc from the house. Sorted out the Sebo - the new bag and found the pipe was very blocked so now it works fine. Sadly Sayed cried off for our morning meeting but I have offered him some other dates.

To cathedral early to serve at Mgr Ralph Brown's funeral attended by several bishops and the cardinal. I was crosier so was able to congratulate Archbishop Vincent on getting the red hat. John his chaplain remarked on the Pope's letter and the need to pray for him in his new service. Michael was quite scathing about Pope Francis so I pointed out that everybody I meet praises him! The choir sang Victoria Requiem mass. Lots of priests there and a very nice lunch in the hall. Came home to go on Global Net webinar with Andy Love MP. Liz took washing up to Dennis's as our washing machine broke down. I was back at the cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral. Taverner Coll Reg canticles which are effective and Arabic in feel. Malcolm Boyle Thou O God. I saw Martin Ball. I looked for Liz's hat but didn't go in the common room instead went to Pret. Ismaili centre for 7.30 reception and lecture by Prof Zakar on Muhammad's life. A large audience - Jon dal D...

Only swam 12 as water was cold and it was cold outside too. Liz came but did not swim. To Emertons to get Uhu glue for mosaic class and then to Glyn Close to pick up Bike Bruce wants to sell. To mosaic for an hour nd then to kitchen shoppe to get 2 fridge magnets. To Abrar House off Edgware Road fro United Muslim forum dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Catriona was there. Had lunch with Revd Cresswell from Oxshott and Julian Bond. Excellent speaker from Syria Chawkat Moucarry who gave me his book and later Sayed and Fr Nadim came. I spoke briefly about youth and invite for Thursday. It was mostly interesting. Invited to dinner at 8 so went home and changed. Train and Jubilee line to Willesden Green and walked to Imam Ali Foundation 65 Brondesbury Park a large house with superb Persian carpets. We sat on the floor and man next to me explained what was going on - he had a PhD from Wales in Maths. Speeches in Arabic no English at all - Professor then mullahs and a sheikh. Eventual...

Tuesday did the write-up of the interview with Sayed and did a summary of Sharing Eden points for tomorrow. Decided not to go to Kensington roof garden for lunch as Ciaran had glue on forehead!

Swam 24. Watched a Come dine with me last night with a woman with appalling table manners but strangely 3 tied for the prize! Did some research on Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi for the essay but did  not find out much more than I already knew. How old is he? Where did he go to university? Should have asked him! Read some of Suzuki's book. A lovely day but cold - Liz went for a walk. Watched 3 programmes on the 100 years war with Dr Janina Ramirez. Did the poster for the organ recital series at St Michael's.

Friday swam 20. At noon Sayed came and we had a wide ranging recorded conversation. It was interesting to hear of the enormous graveyards in Iraq and the difficulties Muslims have in trying to visit Israel. I now have to write this up for my coursework. Watched his brilliant Ismaili centre lecture. Read 2 articles.

To Houses of Parliament for launch of London Peace network Islamic/Christian. Lady on security liked my librarian tie. Met Lord Bates in the undercroft chapel which is splendid. Some excellent speakers and useful contacts. Good to see Sayed again. Coffee in the cafe and looked at the floor plaques in Westminster Hall. Moving to see where historic events happened. To Tate Modern to Edvard Munch exhibition (excellent) and the digital art project which was fun. The Tanks really are splendid and loved the Crystal Quilt by Suzanne Lacy. How true that many older women feel that nobody cares what they say or listens to them. Not impressed by Jeff Keen, Lis Rhodes or Sung Hwan Kim but liked the singing and running games in the Turbine Hall. To Imperial War museum to see Building the truce. Did a Red Cross questionnaire and met Catriona! The WWII portraits very fine and excellent display of VCs and GCs. The Holocaust display is claustrophobic and moving. Wartime family most interesting. Peace g...

After a cold morning a group of around 30 Christians and Muslims from London met in the sunny Kent countryside at a Catholic retreat centre for two days of conversation, challenge and collaboration. After a warm welcome from Sister Sheila we launched into a Christian-Muslim conversation between Fr Nadim Nassar and Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi . Out of their deep friendship they were able to show how Christian and Muslim outlooks can complement each other. Fr Nadim explained how good leaders can help us to navigate the distinction between faith and culture, particularly in the UK with its mix of faiths and cultures. He also held up leaders as people having a deep relationships with God and able to draw us into deep relationship with each other and between religions. Commenting on the similarities between Christianity and Islam Sayed Ali emphasised that 90% of the ethics of the two faiths is shared. The important thing about the faith communities is that they have faith and that fait...

I was surprised and delighted to receive £180 as a gift from St Andrew's during the service. We sang Bob Chilcott's The Lord is my shepherd - such a lovely setting. I played Worthy is the Lamb and we took photos. The after service party was very pleasant and gave me an opportunity to  thank everyone. Several spoke very highly of the choir and my playing which was kind. The at home this afternoon was abandoned because of the rain and people not being able to get to Vicky's. I cleared out some more files and the keyboard and its stand. There are just more organ music, hymnbooks and robes to come home. I certainly have no intention of giving up playing. I saw Martin and he knew nothing of the All Saints saga and says Tommy may not be leaving after all! I picked up Liz and headed for Streatham for the LAMAG meeting on Faith and Politics. Neil Jameson of Citizens UK spoke really well, Ghanesh Lall less so but the real star again was Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi. He went to Whit...