The organist librarian

Took Ciaran to his diving course and he did really well. Liz took Sean for a swim. We enjoyed sketching at the Edward Bawden exhibition at Dulwich picture gallery and then made a beachhut out of lollipop sticks in the garden and the boys did some more drawing. Met Pauline Kirwan and Carol and Roger from St Michael Beckenham. Roger told me the organ is covered during the works and several people have died or are seriously ill. I had a seat for Inspire new music at Broadcasting house but it would have been difficult to get to the Prom so Liz went. Budapest festival orchestra Enescu, Mahler 4 and encore Laudate dominum sung by orchestra! Watched university challenge. I complained to the gallery about a staff member who was officious about the stools! 

Yet again my 8 a,m, train was cancelled and I was on the bus to Caterham. Website says disruption until 10a.m. Please take an alternative train. There is NO alternative train! We sang This joyful Easter tide and I played Alan Ridout's cheeky piece on the tune and the more sedate Thalben-Ball. Willan on Vulpius at the end with tuba. 2 in choir. Why did we have to sing Before the throne again? Watching close of Commonwealth Games. Well done Birmingham great show #Brum At evensong played Philip Moore and Douglas Guest on St Fulbert and Bach Christ lag variations. 4 at evensong incl Jerry and myself. What is the point!  Watched The Durrells, Big painting challenge on portraits. Work is to start at St Michael Beckenham 3 years after I left! 

Daniel Moult played brilliantly at Bromley Parish church - about 50 there and nice cakes! Jean Francaix's Suite Carmelite interested me. It is 6 portraits of Carmelite nuns. I know a nun just like No. 4 - rushing about and constantly chatting with little apparent conclusion! I drove there behind an old lady going at 20 mph. On the way back no less than 8 drivers waved their thanks as i waited for them. Courtesy is not dead! Sme work in the garden. Played Elgar on the piano - Salut d'amour, Chanson de matin, Enigma variations. Fr Jerry wants to discuss Shona taking practice on first Sundays. Emailed and have deputy organised. A couple of singers withdrew - everybody is making excuses. Barry Williams thinks St Michael's behaved very badly and Coulsdon not much better. Watched Sewing Bee, Venice and Versailles programmes. Upstart Crow about Shakespeare is funny. 

Boxing Day at Acton boys loved their presents and I now have a Sat nav! Also a fascinating book called Letters of note and How to babysit a Grandad and a lovely sketching kit. We sang carols with the keyboard and Liz and I went to Mass at Acton at 7 - recording of Silent Night after communion - why? Played Cranium - hilarious! A lovely day. Sunday excellent breakfast cooked by Tom. Dropped Liz at St John's - I won body lotion in the big raffle. They raised £3000. 15 at St Michael's and I played RVW Greensleeves, Christmas pieces and Cook on Divinum mysterium. Archdeacon Paul but he left quickly to get to Canterbury cathedral for evensong. I remarked that it would have been good to discuss the future of the church as it will be closing for 5 months in June for the improvements to the narthex. Several PCC members said they did not know this. Fr Leon never said it was confidential! The cat is among the pigeons! 

Had a lie-in - woke at 4 the St Michael's situation not helping. This will be resolved as the church will close for the improvements in June so no recitals and an opportunity to play elsewhere!  Put tree up and put foil  behind radiators. To Watermans using free ticket to see Lady in the van which was excellent. Had a half bitter beforehand. Read Monastic musicians and Tablet. Started on Monks and Mystics III. Wed to Tamar's and told her I recognised the Lalo tune she plays for the instruments  -she says she made it up! Will not see her next week as now going to Tony Potter's funeral. All day long Eddie worked on handyman tasks Liz stayed - she had been at 2 cathedral "donkey" carol services one with the Cardinal. I tripped over scooter and thought I had hurt my right wrist but it is OK. Louise has her tree up. Conversations for the soul with 4 there was very interesting and we heard about mental health issues and interfaith action to find properties to take migr...

Swam 20. Spent the day doing hymn lists up to Baptism of the Lord and Leon accepted them. He did mention that WE might need a congregational rehearsal of the Taize Wait for the Lord. I would not have thought that necessary. I must say I am unusually ambivalent about St Michael's. The All Saints debacle with the rebuke about starting the hymn too soon during the Peace and the late start, the laughing and chatter on Remembrance Sunday, the unresolved tuning issue, above all the uncertain future and the bad atmosphere. Add to this the refusal to outreach at the station at Christmas and I really think this cannot last. The cathedral also gives cause for concern - the lack of welcome from one key person and the appalling treatment over no longer being catechists. Why? Worked on the mosaic and the programme for Laudato Si' series is complete! To the Tablet lecture at the Emmanuel centre by Paul Vallely about the synod on the family. Really interesting survey and answered the questi...

The late Alan Burtonshaw playing the new Mander organ he gave to St Michael's Beckenham. His will cannot be found!

Liz to cathedral. I went to St Michael Beckenham and arrived at 10 a.m. Met Steve the thurifer who plays and is doing ordination training in Oxford 2 days a week. Met the Bishop of Rochester who I met at Hayes and Paul introduced me to lots of people. Robed choir of 3. I played Bach, Mawby and Cook for Candlemas and all went well. Shared lunch and I reckon every member of the congregation of 35 spoke to me very enthusiastically.Paid cash by treasurer. We went through the Kontakion for Alan's funeral and I corrected vowels! The Bishop came and had a play too! He is very approachable. I got to St Paul's cathedral late for Stephen Cotterill's talk on Stanley Spencer's paintings of Christ in the wilderness which are in Perth, W.A. It was standing room only. To Suthwark cathedral for evensong - 4 cathedral chaplains were welcomed and Frank and Phillipa Millingotn were there to support the curate from St Mary Addington whose post has been deleted. Noble in B minor, William ...

Dennis was visiting AnnMarie in Dublin and had to go to casualty at St Vincent's where she works. He is diagnosed has having viral peritonitis and a hiatus hernia which is hereditary - Liz's side this time! He hopes to come back to England tomorrow - his car is at the flat as he had been on a course at Liverpool. Swam 24 today and to St Michael's where Paul and Caroline provided tea and chocoalte biscuits. Neither of them liked Vickie Sims - too bossy and rude when at Oxford and ambitious! Had an enjoyable chat about theology and then a practice. He had put the heat on in the church. I see he is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May. I am to play for Alan's funeral. I see there is a window showing the Pope in memory of his mother and father. His brother died in 2004 and he had an Allen organ in the house. He was a very private person.

Tuesday more emails from Rob Sceales, Anthony Gear and Stan Trollip about schooldays. To St Michael's Beckenham despite snow and meet Fr Paul Keown - liked him. Lovely 1956 church wiht a new Mander organ paid for by the late Alan Burtonshaw who sadly died last week. Looks like it might be a proposition - I am playing for Bishop's visit on Feb 3rd. To Provincial council taking Harry Mellor. It ws held at Russell hotel, Maidstone a 39 mile drive. Peter Stevens was elected director. Nice beef meal and chatted to John O'Sullivan of Dulwich and his charming wife who have been married 25 years this year. John MacMahon was on form.Saw a mouse in the lounge - yuk!