The organist librarian

Went to St Chad's at 11 and I am glad we both went. Linda the secretary was very formal and obviously furious. Fr William appeared to start from a position of not being willing to change the arrangements for Mary's funeral but we came to a compromise that he would check with the servers and we could both serve. An organist has been booked - they seem to alternate between Louis and a lady. The nephew has no idea of our offer which is not good. We parted amicably and he has clergy supper in his diary! I do think that people living alone are very vulnerable and there should be some way of letting neighbours know that somebody has gone in to hospital. I left a card in the house porch and somebody was there but did not take it! Chris finished the painting and it looks fantastic and his charges were by the day and reasonable. Liz got more plants and I had a sleep after doing various email tasks. To May supper at the club and the meal was excellent and everybody enjoyed it. We came h...

To St Chad's to put up the Catenian banners early and leave leaflets in the porch. Discovered Mass intention for our deceased brothers not in newsletter so rang Fr Bartholomew and Bill who spoke to Fr David and sorted it but I was furious! Fr Paul noticed so I told him. Ran through Stay awake! Played Crown Imperial not very well, last part was better at the end of the service. Got back to St Chad's as people were coming out so gave out some leaflets but impossible to get into the hall for the fete. Derrick and Sheila were there - not helping of course. Colin could not come so a pathetic turnout. To Victoria and met Liz - train from East Croydon very crowded. To Sion centre for discussion on ethics between Michael Barnes and Anil Goonewardene a Buddhist. Met a lovely nun from Hanwell. Delivered mosaic to Brian just before Mass at cathedral for end of Year of Faith - he was deacon. Home to hear Britten Noyes Fludde from Aldeburgh. Programme on Morecambe and Wise.

Monday no mosaic so no tai chi either. Back bad to start with. To Oakwood on train and tubes and met Elizabeth West and we went for a coffee - it was a bit noisy but we had a very useful chat and she gave me some good Buddhist contacts. She was a Sacred Heart nun and became a Buddhist meditator. I was there for about 1 and a half hours! Returned to Beckenham Junction where I picked up the car from Liz and sat with legs all bunched up to drive and back full of bicycle packing boxes! Delivered them to Glyn Close. I took newsletter item to St Chad's and saw Fr William. He is looking forward to the pulpit presentations this weekend. The meeting went very well and my gold conference tie caused plenty of comments. Vernon Warner was admitted and had good chats to him, Willie Britto, John Almeida and Philip Chandler. Tuesday back bad at first.

The centenary history of St Chad's is interesting. There are 2 good photos of Fr Peter Farmer RIP. There are some mistakes which is a shame and repeated pages but the photos are good and the print clear.My Tablet subscription has expired but I have obtained the missing copies from St John's and purchased the current edition at the cathedral, I have been missing the magazine! Excellent broadcast of evensong from Hereford featuring Stainer's "I saw the Lord".