The organist librarian

Louise went back home after breakfast. I went to 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's - little Indian priest who said "heaven persevere you" instead of "preserve"! They now play taped music of plainchant. Pat Ryan was there. At St Michael's we sang "He who would valiant be", All creatures, Father hear and Happy are they (Mum's favourite and she died 8 years ago this week). I played Thalben-Ball. Peeters and Walton Henry V music. The CDs have arrived and look good. John Williams had made a ridiculous fuss on email about them. What church treasurer want to return a cheque? Idiot and rude with it. To St John's vicarage for garden lunch - played football. Dennis came. I went to the Prom of Elektra, Rebecca was there and not so many in gallery. Sounds like Salome last night was great but there were queue jumpers - weekend ticket holders. Amazing singers not least Felicity Palmer.

Church of the Nativity Bethlehem Going down into the cave and the star for the birthplace. Listened to Rachmaninov vespers on way to Coulsdon Christmas Eve - it was the Estonian philharmonic choir at the Proms - we will be singing this next year with Edward Caswell. Bruce went to St John's Upper Norwood for Midnight, Louise to St Michael's Bedford Park. Dennis and Louise to St Chad's South Norwood Christmas morning where they met Grainne and Clare and Sophia. So between us we have been at 6 churches! I drove to Coulsdon 3 times but it was worth coming home and having a short sleep before Midnight. I finally got to hear more of King's carols today! Many of them we had enjoyed at the Albert Hall - the soloists are particularly good this year especially the baritone. Bruce went cycling in Richmond Park on Christmas Day morning with friends and won the champagne. Boxing Day was relaxing. Waited until the football crowd had come before taking Dennis up to Grandma's - he

36 lengths. To Catenian meeting at Beckenham and Mike Cox was installed as president. There were 7 of us from Norwood present including Kevin our new president. Bill Whitmarsh told of the typhoon in China and how it messed up their flights. Enjoyed 1 and half pints of Harveys bitter from the barrel. Tuesday woke at 3 a.m., 5.30 a.m. and then 6.30 a.m so too late to swim! That's what beer does to you! I was amused to realise when I reached our corner that I had one brown shoe and one black shoe on. The perils of dressing in the dark so as not to wake a wife! Did a lot of work as it was relatively quiet. Have prepared the periodicals accounts for the year. Although there has been publicity about joining the library for National Year of reading we have had only one person doing so! To St John's Upper Norwood expecting a spirituality evening only to find vicar had gone out for dinner and nothing happening. Liz picked me up in the old car which went in for service - it is 10 years o

To St John's for Harvest evensong - canticles by Coleridge-Taylor, Kindle a flame by Michael Fleming and "A new commandment" by Peter Nardone, all composers who lived locally. The same programme will be sung by the choir at Southwark cathedral on Saturday. Liz will go but I will be working. Watched Antiques roadshow and Michael Palin in Eastern Europe.

We interviewed for casual assistants this evening and found 3 suitable candidates! It is exhausting work. To St John's Upper Norwood for an illustrated talk on icons by Revd Beverley Mason which was most interesting. At the end there was an opportunity to pray at different altars with icons. I chose the Rublev Trinity which is my favourite!