The organist librarian

Watched programme on ballet during the blitz and after the War. SS Simon and Jude. We sang Holy is the true light. I played Parry Elegy and Simon Preston Alleluyas. He is 80 this year. Fabulous Walkure live from ROH orchestra brilliant and thrilling singing Skelton, Stimme, Lundgren, Connolly, all of them! The football match caused mayhem. I parked at Selhurst and collected the car after the cinema. The train from Caterham came in on platform 3 instead of the usual platform 1 - took 5 minutes to exit Norwood Junction station. The traffic was horrendous with people doing stupid maneouvres. I was lucky and got straight on the train at Thornton Heath. Liz was at King's and stayed at Dennis's. Watched Simon Reeve on the Med. Finished Varden's excellent book on loneliness. 

Glorious day and really enjoyed Matthew Beetschen's recital at Bromley Parish church especially the Granville Bantock, Preston and Jongen. The Vierne made a great ending and it was lovely to have the screen. So glad Oliver won the Big Painting challenge! Secret life of the zoo and Antiques roadshow - what's not to like. Swept patio and had g and t and dinner outside for first time this year. Got water features going. The Woman in white was excellent. Loads of emails about the Catenian conference not allowing proxy votes. How can 200 decide on motions? What about everyone else! 

Swam 20, to art and worked on Galilee picture in acrylics on canvas, our pictures are up in the library and the rugby club are chuffed! To dentist and back tooth removed! To St John's for Mark Brafield's excellent recital - about 60 there. Oley was nice, Preston, Bach, Franck and Tournemire encore. Not so keen on the Maxwell Davies. I was able to eat the cakes and sandwiches! Chose hymns for St Michael's and relabelled my photos so they are in date order.

Yesterday we went to Jim and Hyacinth's to collect some plants - they have an amazing garden! Woke early and went to the pool only to find it closed until 8.30 a.m. To mosaic and main pattern finished - just the boring white background bits to do. I think I shall take a break from it in the summer. To St Michael Cornhill and gave out Beckenham and St John's fliers in the course of which I met Prof Michael Musgrave who studied with Downes and Darke and is an expert on Brahms. Stephen Farr played beautifully - Preston, Mendelssohn 2, Bartok (!) Judith Bingham, Alain, Thurlow and best of all the Dorian! Always makes me think of Dad doing his FTCL. Home and working on Croydon meetings idea.  Also  a new blog on Jerusalem. http://cmjerusalem.blogspot.co.uk/

Spoke to Ann, up early and did blog and printed off music for chorus which in fact was incorrect so a waste of time and paper and ink! To dentist and now have 2 top teeth without a gap! £150. Finished off tar on gutter and roof and no sign of leaks. To St Michael's for interesting recital by Maxine Thevenot a Canadian who plays in Albuquerque New Mexico - Preston, Vierne, Mulet, Demessieux and Canadian Denis Bedard. It was good that she introduced the pieces from the loft. Home for stir fry and then to Hinsley room. 9 came for talk by Ross Kempsell about World Youth day in Sydney last July. He said he would speak for 20 minutes but in fact spoke for nearly 2 hours - he was brilliant and so interesting! His mum came too. To chorus to rehearse music for first "Merlin" recording with Debbie Miles-Johnston. To Victoria to meet Mark and Mariana who is charming and glamourous - pizza express. Very nice!

At Coulsdon on Sunday endured "You shall go out with joy" for the 3rd time this summer and there were no children present! I played Vaughan Williams "Land of our birth" (wonderful tune) and Fantasia on Greensleeves and the beautiful Vierne Berceuse which I played 2 years ago at Mum and Dad's cremation. No need to practise so had coffee and chatted about Buckingham Palace and King Lear! Watched closing ceremony of the Olympics which was most impressive. Boris Johnson looked scruffy with jacket open and hands in pockets. Good use of London bus and wrote down lots of ideas for an opening ceremony using nursery rhymes and British things. To the Prom at 4 p.m. Simon Preston playing Bach. Met Daniel and Gill and Daniel's friend Bart. A cautious start but some fine playing and I followed most of it with my scores sitting on the floor. Halfway through some guy complained about the cushion squeaking. It was a plastic inflatable one BP issued at the ballet in Canary W...