The organist librarian

A great visit to the superb organ at Bedford Park and the large Walker at St Mary Acton. I played Thalben-Ball Elegy and Andrew Moore. Lunch at Field's then took the boys to meet Father Christmas as St Vincent's school fete. Abandoned attempt to get to Bloomsbury Baptist for the recital as 207 was so slow but met Rizwan on the bus and had a good chat. He is a Sufi and a friend of Alan Rainer. First candle lit on the Advent wreath by our youngest server!

Borrowed John's ladder and checked the kitchen roof with hose. Put two layers of bitumen on sections but had to delay 3rd coat because of showers. Hoovered and cleared up. Saturday to vespers and Mass and bought cards at St Paul's. On the way home listened to The Creation from the Proms. Mark Padmore was excellent. Sunday we sang Goodall's "The Lord is my shepherd" and at evensong the Shera setting and Bob Chilcott's Irish blessing. I played Arthur Milner's variations and a vesper voluntary by Elgar.The day thou gavest and God that madest earth and heaven. In the morning we sang "From thee all skill and science flow". Handel's opera Partenope from the Proms with the libretto online while finishing loading photos from the holiday in Scotland. I am on Proms discussion board. Liz had been to osteopath and sang at evensong at Bedford Park.

Saturday June 27th after Mass there was a Taize vigil to mark the end of the year of St Paul with Archbishop Vincent giving an excellent homily. I felt the Taize went on just a tad too long although the msuic was well done. One of the cantors was not so good. We left before the end as I had not had any dinner! Sunday Liz was at St Michael's Bedford Park Chiswick for the Haydn Harmoniemesse for St Peter and Paul and lunch which she enjoyed although her name was not in the service sheet. Alan Foden from school days had indicated he might visit me but could not come in the end. Tuesday June 30th the end of the Wandsworth heritage festival which was a hige success and to York library for Jon Newman's talk on the history of Price's candle factory. I bought his book and after reading it donated it to the library. I was fortunate to go on one of the last tours of the factory.

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...

Adrian Adams' recital on 23 Nov at St John's marked some anniversaries - Leighton, Blow, Parry, Leslie Betteridge and Messiaen and ended with Jacques Charpentier's L'ange a la trompette. It was an interesting programme despite the inevitable Messiaen! On Sat Nov 29 St Andrew's celebrated St Andrew's Day with Songs of Praise. this was informal with no robes and free accompaniments which seemed a pity. We started with Vaughan Williams' "O taste and see" and sang Martin Shaw's "With a voice of singing". The position of the choir behind the nave altar space meant that we were not in sync in places. My choice was "O worship the Lord". Other choices were "How great thou art" "Morning has broken" and "What a friend" but at least we did sing "Christ triumphant" and "Thine be the glory". Then there were fish and chips and apple pie and cream followed by a quiz. Our table came 2nd - ha...