The organist librarian

On Monday the last day of the 3 day SPIDIR refresher course was led by Chris Chapman who was most inspiring. To 1125th and final meeting of Norwood circle and dinner. Liz came later after Maths. It was an excellent evening.  Henry had fun! To Bromley picture house to see Agrippina from the Met. Finally got going with subtities an hour late! A stunning cast with Joyce DiDonato and Eistyn Davies. Liz stayed on to see Riverdance live. I came home and watched Great pottery throwdown.  Mass at Addiscombe and coffee and then took my organ shoe to be mended at Traditional shoe repairs, Wallington. To West Norwood picturehouse to see Parasite which is fantastic! Liz still in a lot of discomfort from hurting her shoulder when she slipped on the stairs. Watched Vietnamese boat people and how well the younger generation have done in UK, Alan Bennett diaries, University challenge, Asian railways. 

To Death cafe and evensong where we sang Byrd and Whitlock. Richard played Bossi Scherzo. Crib down. Call the midwife good. Programme on nude in art followed by study of being naked with strangers. . Grouted half of Van Gogh mosaic.I hate grouting. Peter Wright at St Michael Cornhill such musical Bach! What a joy! Vierne Feux follets with score - amazing piece! SPIDIR commitee pretty dull. 

Led with Nim second day of SPIDIR refresher course. It went well but quite a few missing. 10 came.o Hackney picturehouse delicious cod and chips! A hidden life is a truly remarkable film great acting, photography, scenery, music. Franz Jaegerstatter refused to swear to support Hitler when called up. He was mistreated and condemned to death. Pity they did not say his widow was present when he was beatified by the Church which tried to dissuade him!

Got to Trinity House in time. Excellent first day of refresher course for spiritual directors with Chris Chapman. They loved Mum's fruit loaf! Now on crowded tube to go to Louise's for birthday dinner.Guildhall Art gallery has a lovely exhibition on London architecture until end of October.The end of a lovely day. Miserable crowded journey to Acton. Lasagne and wine and Louise working on art auction plan for Jan. Sean gave me a big hug. Ciaran is away at camp and Tom is in Dublin. Watching Paul Merton finding out his family history.Served at the Red Mass for the judges. Bishop Nicholas. Splendid National anthem with both verses. Byrd 4 part Mass. Henry came. Heavy to carry  -he has a proper cast on leg. 

Took minutes at SPIDIR AGM and a most interesting talk on unconscious bias in spiritual accompaniment by Chris Chapman. To Tate Modern to see Natalia Goncharova lots of colour and last room about her ballet designs is great! Did not go to Beckenham circle. Watched North Yorkshire Moors railway programmes and walk in Cornwall. 

Tuesday blood test at surgery cancelled, Mass. Henry to Whitgift centre softplay and he loved it. The works could not trace order. Bank and Post Office. Quiet time and 2 new people there. Clapham picturehouse  Fabulous Queen of Spades from ROH. Wonderful singing and production. The chorus Wow! Dame Felicity Palmer, Westbrook, Stoyanov and stand-in tenor, Pappano on great form. My tweet about the coup de theatre at the end of first part appeared on the screen! I love the idea of the posh audience standing for the arrival of the "Empress"! Sat next to Biddy Spidir chair! Wed up early for blood test at Mayday, swam only 4 in pool and sauna, Mass. Went to see Mary Queen of Scots slightly disappointed not historically accurate or easy to follow. Brilliant acting. Popped into St Mary's Clapham for the first time. Fine Seacole statue outside St Thomas hospital. Excellent champagne tea at the library Marriott County hall. Had a lot to drink and hunky fireman from Tampa and his p...

Liz up in the early morning to see blood moon. To mosaic, part of Stephen Disley's recital at Southwark cathedral and SPIDIR committee meeting.Updated Christmas card list. Sadly so many are now emails but that is so much cheaper! Connect. University challenge. Liz went to Anerley UCM. Icons. 

To Mass at Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe and what a pleasure to have Fr Dennis celebrating! Coffee with Tom Tannion and he is taking the public speaking trophy to Provincial Council meeting tomorrow. To Southwark cathedral to hear part of Graham Thorpe's recital (Chuckerbutty played at the cathedral in the 20s!) and then to SPIDIR committee at Trinity House. I avoided becoming secretary and am to organise a course of refresher days in autumn, winter 2019. Watched Apprentice and Great British bake off also Simon Reeve on the Med. 

Hot in the night again. To mosaic and cutting lots of little pieces and sorted out colours. To Southwark cathedral for recital by Jonathan Hall. Lesley from chorus was there! To my first SPIDIR committee. RAF 100 on Horse Guards Parade - planes with RAF personnel in period costume. Interested in Dakota as I flew on one aged 3 months. To 75th anniversary garden party at Westminster Abbey of Council of Christians and Jews. Excellent to hear from young people of projects at universities. Michael Redman, William Rhind, John Parry, Siriol Davies and met some new people. I was cross as Liz did not come down to station depite 2 emails - I had left phone at home. Tuesday we both swam (liz had not been for ages) and Mass. Henry came and played in the garden. I went to Thornton Heath library to video our art exhibition - looks great! To quiet time and a new lady came. I will miss it over the summer. Picked up Liz and went to Acton for the year 6 play Aladdin. For some unknown reason we went to ...

To Spidir AGM and I am elected to the committee. Linda Woodhead gave a stimulating presentation on abuse in the church and my group looked at the theological reasons for male supremacy. To Tate modern but Shape of Light did not appeal. To Beckenham circle and sponsored Bernie who will be enrolled next month at Chislehurst - I will miss it. Watched Inside the US Embassy.

My leg wounds have healed enough for me to have a shower. Excellent SPIDIR AGM and day with Rev Barry Preece most stimulating. Bought his lovely book. Watched Versailles. To Beckenham circle. 

To the SPIDIR AGM at Southwark cathedral. The reason our group have not been asked to go any spiritual direction since we finished the course in June 2015 is because the database is in a mess. We now have a new committee! A pleasure to meet Rev Patrick Woodhouse (descended from Liverpool born John Woodhouse famous for marsala wine for Nelson) and he spoke on the psalms. His book is excellent. To the new Tate Modern - very confusing and lifts far too slow and not enough of them! The bridge on level 4 is scary. Unimpressed by much of the work and the Bhupen Kharkar exhibition! Thameslink not running so train to Denmark Hill and 468 bus.Liz went to Calne to investigate the Bodinnars.  To Bromley circle - a small attendance at a good venue. I was very surprised to learn that the Catenian bursary fund will not support work on an ecological project in view of Laudato Si'.

Swam 20. Liz slept late. To Southwark cathedral for the SPIDIR AGM and conference. The Weston library is too hot and acoustics are poor. 50p for the loo is a bit much. There was lukewarm coffee in the morning and water and that was it! I did get to hear Richard Pilliner play Bach and Saint-Saens at lunchtime and sketched a candle and flowers. Bishop Michael Ipgrave, Ahmad Akhtar, Dr Rebecca Masterton spoke in Islamic spirituality. After lunch the 2 from Khayaal theatre in Luton led a workshop on a Shia story and got us to volunteer. It was excellent. A short meditation using the names of Allah. It all cost £10 and an opportunity was missed to welcome newcomers like 4 of my class. I do not think Rita told them we were coming! Home to make beds, change to summer quilts and put up the new light shades in the hall.

Swam 14. To St Matthew's for 2nd session - several had missed last month's session. Nigel spoke on the Bible and spiritual direction. We ended early with compline. It was a good day. Met Charles a Baptist minister from Sevenoaks who described himself as an Anglo Catholic Baptist! To the cathedral for Martin taking boys rehearsal of Bach and Durufle - vowels, consonants and superb musicianship. Served at Mass and a good meal with SSG at Jugged Hare after Ed had shown us the consoles. Alas no warning we could play so no music to play. He played Vierne Carillon in his socks!