The organist librarian

High winds. 468 late but just got 407. Played Homage to Howells by Ronald Watson and De profundis Aus der tiefe Hendrick Andriessen. We sang Lent prose and All my hope on God is founded. Anne-Marie Garton preached on spring cleaning and Lenten promises. 6 weeks with no alcohol....Superb singing on radio 3 from St John's college Cambridge and the second reading was riveting! Disturbing BBC news item on poaching of Botswana's elephants. Evensong Thou knowest Lord Purcell and Harris in A not his best setting. Great playing by Eleni Keventsidou at Christ's Chapel Dulwich and a good audience enjoyed the eats afterwards. It has been a good start to Lent with quiet reflection on Ash Wednesday and a moving funeral on Thursday.It strikes me that the outside world seldom sees the church at its best when a community is united in grief and joy at the loss of a beloved brother and friend. The media seldom portrays this. All they see are the faults. And that is not to deny the fa...

Played Wachet auf Bach and Walther. Nun komm der heiden from Orgelbuchlein. We sang Stay awake by Chris Walker and Bernadette Farrell Christ be our light.  To St Paul's cathedral to hear Margaret Whipp on the Grace of waiting. Bought her book so much she said resonated with my life and helpful in spiritual "direction".  Great Advent carols from St John's Cambridge. Ian Shaw I sing of a maiden a highlight.  Beautiful Advent carols at St John Upper Norwood with Keziah Thomas in 4 movements from Ceremony of carols, O thou the central Orb and Wood Magnificat in E flat. Bach preludes and great hymns. Love Lo he comes!  For over a week I have had a sore right big toe treated with salt water and cream 3 times a day and antibiotics. I just wish it would clear up. Wearing organ shoes and leather shoes does not help! I am wearing trainers as sandals are too cold! It is like a whitlow.  I thought my diary was lost but found it in my bedside drawer! Blue planet and end of ...

Advent 1 we sang John Scott's arrangement of Creator of the stars of night and I played Flor Peeters and Alec Rowley preludes on Conditor Alme also Lloyd Webber rhapsody on Helmsley. Organ has been tuned. Carol practice with 4. Edited church website and put appeal on Streetlife. Watched end of Midsummer night's dream on TV.  St John's Cambridge Advent procession very good. Lovely Advent service at St John's including Michael Fleming's Kindle a flame (we sang in the first performance) Charles Wood and Stanford. Es ist ein Ros in German . Bridget's version of Wachet auf quite different to Ben Bloor's - well he is young! Interesting to see Plimouth plantation in programme on Mayflower pilgrims.

Swam 24. Wrote 3 articles based on my notes from meetings. Liz went to Earlsfield for pedicure. Watched Wolf Hall, good programme on Simon Rattle and Come dine with me and listened to 2 evensongs St John's and Windsor both excellent. To Heythrop to pick up 4 books for the Jerusalem course which Larry issued for me. To Gate picturehouse and met a nice lady as I was early. I must remember not to sit in the back row as people go to the loo and a woman came in late and dumped next to me. The ROH live production was excellent and Bryn Terfel was splendid. Peter Rose, Adrianne Pieczonka and Ed Lyon all most impressive not forgetting Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Michael Kónig. Andris Nelsons quite rightly included the chorusmaster in the lineup for bows. It was quite riveting and no interval! To Acton and Liz picked me up. Wednesday Ciaran was again a bit off with me. Sean was on fine form and shouted out in the silence at music "Was that a fire engine Grandad?" Had lunch at Waterm...

Played Bairstow and Statham on Veni emmanuel and Walther Wachet auf. Practised carols and suggested singing at the station to give out the church Christmas cards with details of the services. Listened to St John's carols which featured Tippett, James Long and Michael Finnissy. To St John;s for a well-attended carols which included Goldschmidt, Archer, Lloyd and Howells  -lots of sightreading but it went well. Bridget played Bach very well  -her father died this week. Dennis and Ann Marie were there so we went for tea and cakes (which Liz had made). 

Good recital at Holy Trinity Sloane Square by Mylene Shoreman who is a GP. Bridge, Bach, Vierne - the organ sounds great and there were 40 there. Chatted to tenor and organist from Acton member of SSG and I cannot remember his name! Came home for a meal. Went to an extraordinary event at Initiatives for change on mindfulness and its implications for mental health in business and education. Got 2 buses to Acton because of tube strike. Wednesday Liz set off for Hexham on first class train with wine! I took Seán to Acton Parish church playgroup - not many there. Had a look in the church and there is a large Walker organ. Picked up Ciaran and we went to Gunnersbury. Lovely and sunny and we had lunch and ice creams. Helen and Yap came along with the girls so I was able to have a look round Gunnersbury museum which is interesting. Boys fell asleep in the car. Evensong from St John's Cambridge. To Philippe Lefevre from Notre Dame Paris playing at the cathedral - Franck and Vierne 2 with...

Watched Gareth Malone and the bankers choir last night in bed on Iplayer. Alex made me cry! Composed first draft of Christmas letter and scrolls for Indian circles. Listening to Advent carols from St John's Cambridge.

Drove to Beckenham and played Bach Ascension and Easter preludes. Chatted to Stephen about recitals publicity. To Alan's house and tried the Allen organ and there are 5 keyboards. Packed with his brother's paintings some of which are good and some are dreadful! I think museums would be interested in the original features. Liz stayed at Acton and went to Mass there and the park. To evensong - Timothy Penrose in congregation - Sumsion in G and Walford Davies O sons and daughters. Watched Diamond Queen. Great evensong on radio from St John's Cambridge. Monday woke with bad backache.

Allegri Miserere from St John's Cambridge on radio. Nice vegetarian and egg meal. Cherries. To the cathedral and we were acolytes although most of our jobs were done by others! Superb Allegri and the small group moved down the gallery between verses. Had time to nip home and then to St Michael's so got ashed twice. Cheque for funeral. I played O mensch bewein at the end. Piano for 2 of the hymns. The choit were in robes but I did not bother - 11 there.

Forgot to say that evensong yesterday was from St John's College, Cambridge and included lovely Otcenas by Janacek with harp! 36 lengths today and tai chi was good as well - Tony was back. I gave out invites to library's silver circle reading group First Fridays 2 - 3.30 p.m. Very good reaction to Saturday's reading group session and the photos. Micky brought in Fr Michael a Comboli father now at the local RC church. He is an Islamic scholar and wants to come to the interfaith group which will be great! My PRP assessment is full of glowing praise - let's hope I get the matching payment! Watched University challenge and How to build a cathedral in the BBC4 mediaeval series. I went through the Proms programme on the BBC website and was impressed as increased organ music - lots of Messiaen who is not my cup of tea. I am considering promming again. Such a shame the chorus is not singing this year. Incidentally Angela Young has a scene at the Proms in "Speaking of love...