The organist librarian

An odd day. Slept in having woken early. To Mass. Looked up car seats and met Dennis at Halfords. AnnMarie insisted on coming despite having got spots from Henry and being off sick. There was no need for them to come. 30 minute wait at Halford so went to Mothercare where the young man eventually fitted the seat in the car. It is now on order -  it swivels.  It all took far too long. To quiet time. Ann was there. To Caterham and looked through carols. The Grow meeting was much more cooperative as AnnMarie was there. Home at 9 as trains not great. Watched Queen of the World.

Good chat to Ann. Trains affected by signals failure and came back on buses. St John's Caterham fete. Several people had a go on the organ. Good to meet people. Gave Jonathan Heaton a lot of Paul's organ muisc - Marilyn Harper is his teacher. Nice hot dog and bought an elephant which needed a wash, watercolour pencils and cakes. To Mass at St Edmund's Beckenham (recorded music from Handel's Messiah cut off short - it's like slashing a masterpiece). A good homily from Fr Beck. Appeal from finance committee. To St George's Beckenham for the Sixteen Palestrina, Allegri and best of all James MacMillan. Saw Janey Maxwell and her Mum, Ian, Nick Wibberley and his fiancé. A good audience too but such a pity the programme had no texts and translations.

Monday to Catenians 6 of us, 5 visitors. No Dennis as Ann Marie was sick. Left early to go to Acton to avoid strike on trains. We got to Olympia in good time only to receive message from Louise that steam trip was cancelled. It seems the steam engine could not have got into ely stationa dn the diesel broke down. Offered discount on April trip. Had a quiet day at Acton watching the rest of "The Crown" which is excellent. Allt he plans to meet Fr John and play Ely cathedral organ after the carols went out the window. Watched Gareth Malone. Louise and Tom went out. Wednesday  Ciaran loved his nirthday presents especially the lego. Sean on good form with track and reading. Louise was home and Matt came about the extension works. I left early and got to Caterham early. Good organ practice. To Waitrose to get pain au chocolat and croissant. Liz had my passport so got later flight to Copenhagen! I played for Bakers undertakers carol service when all the names of deceased were read....

To Caterham and served tea and coffee at church fair. Engaged about carol singing and several people took leaflets. Morrisons car park jammed. Soper Hall crap school choir outside. Caterham school choir and band much better outside Morrisons. Home for lunch. To Ben Bloor's recital at Bloomsbury. Philip wanted me to turn but I had to leave. Excellent playing. Vespers Advent 1 and first candle lit by Fleur. Emmanuel served as his friends were having silver wedding celebration but he was as usual a pain and acted as MC!! Programme on Christies.

Played for Croydon Minster hymnathon including several tunes I have never played before! I played for 45 minutes then we had bacon butties and I got the bus to Caterham.  An interesting afternoon at St John Caterham fair meeting people and the kids and adults enjoyed having a go on the organ. I rang a bell for the first time!  The choir from St Agnes cathedral Rockville sang at Mass.

Swam 20. To art and finished the Venic painting. I am pleased with it. To interfaith lunch and Sam who gave is the tour of Grangewood park told us about the Great North Wood project. I got passionate about the latest Conversations meeting and the closure of libraries in Lambeth! Not bad for 69! Home to email from Fr Jerry and very happy - will arrange meeting at Caterham with Jill. Coast of Tasmania.

We had a brilliant day taking the boys to the London Wetland centre and we have joined up as we will be returning! Loads to do and we did the search for clues to earn a chocolate. Applied to St John Caterham as organist and choirmaster. We saw ducklings! Ciaran fell over and knocked his head but he was OK. 

To * am Mass at St Mary's. Fr Celestine's homily hard to follow and screaming kids. Rather interesting to sit in the congregation at St John Caterham and get a better idea of the volume between organ and the small choir. The congregation do not sing Lamb of God at all and only a few try to join in the Sanctus. The most rousing singing was the last hymn "And can it be". We heard from Wendy Rogers about TRIO the responsibility is ours - giving needs to increase to meet their weekly shortfall! Nice cake and coffee in the hall afterwards. About 50 in church including some youngsters. I do not think the tuba tune is at all suitable for the 5th Sunday of Lent and Robert's style is rather lumpy and often too loud! Not many listen to the final voluntary and the bells keep going until 5 minutes before the service! 4 in the choir and I did not get any words in the Lole anthem. The organ was too loud in places.  Really enjoyed Spartacus from the Bolshoi at Clapham pictureho...

Up early to get the 8.03 train to Caterham and enjoyed practising on the 3 manual Walker at St John's. The mothering Sunday service went well and the small choir coped well with Rutter's The Lord bless you and keep you. Choir practice afterwards did not happen but I met a lot of nice people over coffee! Played Slater on St Botolph, Boellmann Angelus and Bach Fantasia in C minor. Andrew Moore's Berceuse for the distribution of flowers. Returned home to find somebody for the footbal match had parked between my bollards so parked outside Hyacinth and Jim's - no problem! Have caught up with Jonathan Vaughn  on interior design challenge and some old Songs of Praise. Liz got nice wax and real flowers. Bruce rang.  At evensong we sang Gibbons Short service and Stainer God so loved the world and Adrian played Howells De profundis psalm prelude.  Dennis Woodhouse  and  Ann- Marie Woodhouse  took us to Oscars at Croydon Park hotel for a delicious Mother's Day dinner...

To Tamar's and Seán singing the African song! We went to Kew to see the lovely orchids and I saw a couple I used to know at Battersea Park library. We had lunch "sharing is caring" says he! He had the playground to himself and Climbers and Creeper. I said 5 minutes. When we were leaving he said I didn't get my 5 minutes! When he went down the slide again I found a Crunchie in the buggy pocket. He said "Where did you get that?" That would be telling says I. We arrived at school to find Liz and Ciaran had gone. I went to St John Caterham to play for the 7.30 service. Took 90 minutes on trains and I was early. Small elderly choir but a fine 3 manual. I know Jill Caudle from 10 pin bowling and Anne-Marie Garton from spiritual direction is the vicar's wife. Back at Acton by 10.30. Walked to school for Year 1 assembly which was sweet. Be still and Ciaran reading very well. I went to art. Watched Father Brown and Story of China. To Stratford to see fabulous Jo...