The organist librarian

A quiet morning and the talks prepared for August 1. Listening to lovely evensong from Rugby school including Hear my prayer. Phoned for assistance on both flights. Cut out poppies 4 to a sheet of red felt so I have 2 spare buttons! Conducted London Mozart players at Centrale Croydon. Pizzicato polka went well! An hour at the Lambeth country show on the interfaith Stand which was in a more prominent spot next to the ice cream van! Hot! Truth is it is an ordeal! The crowds at the crossing to the station! Superb singing of Amy Saunders, Rheinberger and Paul Patterson from Nottingham cathedral choir and Fr Thomas. We heard them at Simon Gillespie's ordination. Listening to the Prom on phone on train many interruptions. Trying to follow the score of Sinfonia da Requiem was awful. Good thing I did not plan to go to the Prom as there was an appeal from Missionary sisters which went on far too long although she got a round of applause! Hilarious tribute to Victoria Wood. Tony Robinson ...

At lunch time we had a long break so walked to Southwell workhouse - it proved much further than we thought but worth a visit. Sunday morning cereals and cooked breakfast. We sang a jolly operatic Mass by Durand (better known as a publisher) and a tricky Alleluia motet by Anerio. A good beef lunch at the Piano. Evensong was Jackson in G, Shephard introit and Bairstow Know ye not -  a York tribute Afterwards there was an excellent tea with lots of cakes. We drove to St Barnabas cathedral Nottingham where Simon was concelebrating and we went for a drink. Got lost getting petrol but eventually found the road back to Southwell. Monday pointed out water in kettle in our room tasted awful and suggested some improvements. To Woolsthorpe Manor where Sir Isaac Newton grew up - an excellent science display and hands on experiments and the famous apple tree. After coffee to Audley End which is a magnificent house - guided tour and cream tea. Lots of fine paintings and grand rooms! Drove home...

To St Pancras via East Croydon to get train to Nottingham.  Had to wait at Travelodge which is actually not brilliant but cheap and convenient for St Barnabas cathedral. It was a splendid ordination on St Barnabas Day lasting 2 hours and Simon looked and sounded great. We washed the Bishop's hands using a towel which had been used earlier! Everything went well. Choir were on good form and sang Widor, Lauridsen, Mawby and Weelkes. A very long stand during the ordination itself! Nice party afterwards and the scouts formed a guard of honour. Tuesday a.m. saw Larry at breakfast and to the Albert Hall to meet David Butterworth to play the magnificent 1909 Binns organ. Bought his DVD. I played Andrew Moore and Crown Imperial. We served at Simon's first Mass as acolytes - this was at 1 p.m. in the cathedral. Lovely new Polish vestments. Bus to station and train. Picked up Ciarán from nursery and put him to bed - he took an hour to settle and twice I crept out only to find h...

Met Lou at Brentford music and went home as it was wet! Liz had a good singing lesson with Timothy Penrose and came over later. To osteopath - Simon's last session at the school and very pleased with my progress. Gave me some more exercises. To St James Park to read more of F E Peters "Children of Abraham" and then to Graham Barber's recital at Westminster Cathedral. A good programme including Bach, Dupre and a fine Karg-Elert Passacaglia. Richard Pilliner and Martin Ball there. Slept OK on the blow up bed on my own. Thursday set off for Nottingham via overground. Good journey. Unable to check in at Travelodge early so to St Barnabas cathedral but no sign of Paul the organist. In the end left robes there and mobile message and back to hotel to watch Wimbledon. Played at 4.30 but vespers started. Any way I enjoyed the clarinet and diapasons Hill Norman and Beard 1913. Paul Hayward only been there 3 weeks. Dinner at hotel and back to serve at ordination of Simon Gill...