The organist librarian

9.10 train to Caterham - got poster put up for carols cost £4. People already there, Tamil hymn rehearsed with lady at piano. Flute. Canadian soloist decided to sing unaccompanied. Twice I was asked to transpose at sght which I cannot do. Sextet and soloist sang Take him Lord to Wesley Lead me Lord - went well. I played 15 minutes. Va pensiero went well and I managed all the sharps F sharp major. Congregation big and really sang I cannot tell, Be still my soul, Guide me. Priya from Sri Lanka. His wife comes to 8 o clock. Got 12.05 train only to find train at Norwood Junction cancelled so abandoned going to interfaith lunch and went to Balham library via East Croydon and Clapham Junction. Identified all but 2 of the fish so have printed the fish guides. Listened to choral evensongs from Edington, Edinburgh and RSCM at Lincoln. Mary Berry visiting Scone House. 

Monday the oversize books got filed into the main non-fiction sequence and Chris and I moved the whole lot round to accomodate. Exhausted! Watched Halle youth orchestra programmes and programme about British writes in the 50s and 60s in their own words. Schumann Symphony N. 2 from the Proms. Tuesday a day's leave. Swam 36 and to New Addington - optician very happy with my eyes and no need to change glasses. Long chat about music as usual. Clearing stuff from upstairs ready to be recycled at Emmaus. Evensong from St Mary's Edinburgh.

Morning service went OK and I practised. I had a long chat to Barry Stronge -his wife has goine into a care home. Visited Grandma and took Louise to the station. Dropped off wedding music at Adrian's and sent out the music list. Evensong was from St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Wrote provincial councillor's report. Watched on BBC4 an amazing prom by the Simon Bolivar youth orchestra of Venezuela. Shostakovich 10, Bernstein and Latin American dances played with such gusto and intensity. Most impressed by the 26 year old conductor who spoke of humility!