The organist librarian

Swam 20, Mass. A very special day on a New commandment. We washed each other's feet accompanied by Taize Ubi caritas and shared the peace and reflections. 12 plus me! I spoke about Lourdes and Wintershall. CD player played up but phone was OK. 3 new people there. Excellent talk on Czech uprising with Sir John Tusa and Rostropovich playing the Dvorak concerto at the Proms on the day the Prague spring was suppressed. Alas at the concert the orchestra were often too loud for the cello soloist. Dame Ethel Smyth and Strauss Heldenleben OTT.

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. 

Tuesday swam 20. Brilliant playing by  Alexander Pott  at Grosvenor chapel - Tomkins, Byrd and Bach. He makes the difficult sound easy. Spoke to his mother and a family from West Midlands.  To Tate Britain to see conceptual art - preferred Mark Wallinger and Sophie Michael's films and the Duveen dancers!  Fascinated by summer houses near Serpentine. Unimpressed by paintings at Serpentine gallery.  Excellent preProm discussion of Elgar 1 and BBC Philharmonic did not disappoint! A triumphant end. Dutilleux score hard to follow! Cannot imagine Rostropovich playing it! Simpson and Davies not really impressed. Empty hall put off my unknown works?  Lovely day at Whipsnade with the boys and Louise driving the new car! Saw baby giraffe, lemurs, sea lions, train ride, tiger, cheetahs, lions, zebras, elephants, rhino, moose, meerkats, etc.  The discussion of Henri Dutilleux is very helpful and I asked a question as I find his music bewildering and got lost in t...

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.