The organist librarian

Just checked the tenor soloist in the Darke on TV from King's better than on radio I think. Bombshell from Lou re school. St John's Day celebrated splendidly in Upper Norwood and an excellent vicarage lunch after Mass. Adrian played. Had a long chat to Daniel - he has been choosing the hymns without the planner! He only got one week on conflict in his training! Surely clergy need more on dealing with people? Terence told me about Chile and China. I am still not keen to go to China.  Dennis and Henry came. Slept peacefully now listening to Leeds cathedral midnight broadcast. Long facebook messaging  Jackie Jones on Muslims taking part in Oldham Christmas day TV broadcast and Andrew Pritchard on Catenian recruitment. Christmas at St Paul's lovely programme. Christmas University challenge. 

Another extraordinary day. To see Spotlight (£5 pensioner rate at Clapham Picturehouse!) This is a brilliant film but deeply disturbing. The extent of clerical child abuse is truly horrifying and every bishop and cardinal who hid it should resign To the Wellcome to see the excellent Tibetan tantric exhibition. Met Sara Thorley and earlier in the day  Jeremy Travers . Candlemas at St Paul's with incense and procession. Holst, Hassler and Eccard and the Bach prelude. Excellent sermon on the dark and light in the church. . Only in that way can the Church be seen to trying to move forward. Secrecy must be challenged. Final pleasure of the day Alexandra Palace with John Pryer who played the Dorian and Katherine Smith trumpet playing Handel, Haydn, Lovelock and Street and joining in the brilliant improvisation on the Teddy Bears' picnic! Nice chat to Jack and Derrick. Quick journey to Acton just caught the Overground at Highbury! Wed took Sean to Tamar's and he sang the monkeys ...

Swam 18 as I was late because of frost on the car. Wrote an articel about recent events called Bewildered? Guiding at the cathedral with Maureen who told me some interesting things. Lady on about wooden statue of Mary turned out to be a Padre Pio and anti-abortion fan and loves Our Lady of Guadelupe. Had a few questions. To St Paul's for vespers sung by Westminster cathedral choir. Guess what the servers with Paul M, Paul T, Jess, Rebecca, Jack and a blonde stranger. Saw Martin Ball and Anne Welch. Buxtehude Magnificat and Victoria O quam gloriousum. Home for dinner and beer. Watched War horse prom and Still open all hours. Luis has resigned as Provincial President elect and all offices in his 2 circles so I have offered to be PP at some stage. 

Over slept so no swim. To art and not many there so did a charcoal and chalks drawing of a lantern (IKEA Christmas one like we have on our porch). I was pleased with it! Watched Come dine with me. Lots of rain. To St Paul's cathedral. Did not realise 17 bus not running due to earlier May Day march so ended up walking. As I reached the cathedral one came past and I missed the Brewer. Simon Johnson played well but the echo wrecks anything fast. Franck, Mendelssohn, rather underwhelming Brahms and splendid Widor 6. Friday swam 20 and did menu choices for OJ dinner. Phoned dentist and optician. To St John's for the funeral which had been postponed. Emma only 31. We sang Laudate dominum, Schubert Ave Maria and Kontakion. Cathy's breathing and vowels were dreadful and Frank sang flat.

To cathedral early to serve at Mgr Ralph Brown's funeral attended by several bishops and the cardinal. I was crosier so was able to congratulate Archbishop Vincent on getting the red hat. John his chaplain remarked on the Pope's letter and the need to pray for him in his new service. Michael was quite scathing about Pope Francis so I pointed out that everybody I meet praises him! The choir sang Victoria Requiem mass. Lots of priests there and a very nice lunch in the hall. Came home to go on Global Net webinar with Andy Love MP. Liz took washing up to Dennis's as our washing machine broke down. I was back at the cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral. Taverner Coll Reg canticles which are effective and Arabic in feel. Malcolm Boyle Thou O God. I saw Martin Ball. I looked for Liz's hat but didn't go in the common room instead went to Pret. Ismaili centre for 7.30 reception and lecture by Prof Zakar on Muhammad's life. A large audience - Jon dal D...

Played Noels, Bach In dulci and John Cook on Divinum mysterium. Fr Adrian presided. Only 12 there! Listened to Chester cathedral and Birmingham cathedral broadcasts and Carols from King's. Evensong was a 1988 broadcast from St Paul's and it was superb. The Choir featured Janacek and Dvorak. Watched programme on Andrew Wyeth. 

Woke at 4 and 6 and 7. Liz off to the cathedral. I did some hoovering and reading and then to St Paul's cathedral for Sung Eucharist. I was early so did some more reading despite the Germans next to me. Lovely Bach Nun komm der heiden heiland prelude. Men sing plainchant very heavily. Byrd 4 part Mass always a treat. An exc sermon from the Treasurer. Dean presided - he appears to tbe High Church. I hated the vestments and altar frontal - purple with check pattern and blue! Nobody seems to bow to the altar apart from the 3 main clergy! Byrd Vigilate motet at communion. 3 rather odd hymns to well known tunes - why? Lift up your heads to Wareham, O child of promise come by James Quinn to Carlisle and Ye servants of God. Lovely Rachmaninov Alleluias and the responsorial acclamations worked quite well. Mendelssohn Prelude and fugue in E minor at the end but the lady from Stuttgart next to me wanted to chat - she said I had a good voice, they had been to Opera House for the Donizetti and...

Liz to course on Excel at Battersea library. I worked on the essay. To St Paul's cathedral and we sat in the South Transept for a change - it was not full. There was distraction from a noisy boy and a lady in a natty cap in front of us. Why bring a small child to such a service? Good sermon from the Primus of Scotland. Pigeon flying around inside! Magnificent organ Bach and Vierne. Byrd, Bruckner, Holst from Southwell (but girls not singing!) Mealor from Bristol. The big anthem was Elgar Great is the Lord with its thrilling ending. Walton Orb and sceptre at the end. Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Mayor in procession - all very grand! To Acton so did not go to City Hall meeting about interfaith walks or the South Norwood partnership meeting! Watched Great Ormond street and enjoyed pizza. Started the book on Centering prayer.

Swam 24 and Liz came but the water was cold and the "muzak" far too loud. To mosaic and cleaned up the mosaic and had a session of tile cutting. To St Paul's cathedral queueing in pouring rain. The Dalai Lama received the Templeton Prize which he promptly gave away $1.5 million, £900,000  to Save the children fund because of how they had helped Tibetan children, some to Mind and Life and some to Tibetans in India to study science! He said he had empty pockets - he was charming and amusing. A simple message - money does not bring happiness, love, forgiveness and compassion bring happiness. Jessye Norman sang 2 spirituals and the choir sang Hadley and Britten Jubilate. Stunning organ fanfares and Bach at the end. I was in North transept and could see the podium well and also a screen with the text from the live web cast. White scarves were given out including Andrew Carwood. I was amused at Rowan Williams not having to show a ticket. Met Michael Redman for coffee and a ch...

After the Ealing PMM day to Westminster cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's. Howells Coll Reg and Poulenc Exultate Deo.Exc sermon about evensong quoting Stephen Hough and Betjeman. Martin Ball was there and I was sitting in front of our choir men! Liz went to the bunfight but I returned home and to choir practice.

Glad that Andrew Nunn is to be Dean of Southwark. Sad that the Dean of St Paul's and Giles Fraser resigned. Saw the camp tonight from the bus - it certainly blocks a major right of way.

Swam 30 and then to mosaic class - one more piece and it is finished! To funeral of John Dodds at St Chad's - very hard to understand Fr Protus. Fr David was clear, Music group and keyboard played too slowly by Vincent for 3 hymns which were dreary! Pie Jesu at communion. Symbols placed on coffin by the priest! Surely the grandchildren could have done that? To post office to post Debenhams Warehouse clothes. To Tate Modern to see Oroczo exhibition - only the modified car and bicycles were of much interest. Cream tea in the Friends room and finished reading The Tablet. To St Paul's cathedral to serve for vespers sung by Westminster cathedral choir. Fr Alexander preached really well. De Morales magnificat and Palestrina anthem. Nice reception in Amen Court at music office building. Chatted to Fr Swavek, Fr Michael, Peter Stevens, Ian and met John from San Francisco with some useful tips. Across millennium bridge to Peter Wright's for RSCM committee, Norman Harper has joined u...

Tuesday to Bromley Parish church with Liz to hear Adrian Adams play Alcock, Boyce, Elgar,Reger and Bach. Nice coffee and sandwiches with Terence beforehand. Liz has been painting and went to osteopath. To cathedral for evensong sung by St Paul's cathedral choir. Philip Moore responses, nice chanting, Stanford in C Gloria sent shivers down my spine which doesn't happen often, Britten Te Deum in C. To Westfield to see The King's speech which was so moving. Louise treated us. Brilliant film!

Lie-in as I had a Sunday off. The original plan was to go to St David's cathedral with Turnham Green choir but we were not needed! So I went to St Paul's cathedral for the 11 a.m. Mass with orchestra. Mozart Coronation Mass and Epistle sonata in C. Fugue in G minor on organ at end. Splendid - 3 boys sang solo and John English was the tenor soloist. Unfortunately I had a cathedral nutter near me who kept commenting so eventually I moved although it was pretty full especially with Afro Caribbeans in national dress. Enjoyed it. To Adrian and Graham's for champagne and canapes. Stephen Roberts was there. Lovely day. Bob gave us a lift home. Birmingham cathedral evensong on radio 3 and Simon Boccanegra from the Proms. Watched Rude Britannia programme and Who killed Caravaggio and start of Meistersinger. Hoovered and tidied and singers came to rehearse for the wedding in August. Slept at Adrian's and on settee so awake in the night. Looked at Heythrop courses.

To Purcell room for hour with Stefan then there was an hour when we sang nothing and finally got away at 1 p.m. To M & S at Clapham Junction to get black shirt as Brice must have taken his back! Reminiscence group - 6 all very vocal about childhood some in extreme poverty in Battersea. Saw RA. To St Paul's cathedral and first to play. Simon Johnson changed stops and I played Murrill's Postlude on a ground as I did at Westminster Abbey. Big thrill to have the tuba at the end! Simon saw Adrian and myself out. I hailed a taxi to the Artists entrance Royal Festival Hall and was early as a result. Concert went very well although I think the pros were still too loud. Train home and liz picked me up after coming back frm confirmation class. She was upset at Stefan's result which was poorer than Edward's and saying she must have lessons.

Swam 40. Busy at work transferring files about BTP onto a memory stick for my successor. To St Paul's cathedral on 344 and arrived early. Westminster Cathedral choir sang vespers and we were acolytes. Lovely Palestrina Magnificat and Brucker Virga Jesse. Robert Quinney plaed Dupre Prelude and fugue in A flat - stunning ending. Martin Ball was there. To chapter house for wine and sandwiches - big spread! Spoke to Nick and John English who is getting married again. Train to Coulsdon and practice. Liz picked me up there and drove to near Chelmsford - Oak Lodge very nice b and B and DIY breakfast in conservatory.

There was a baptism at Coulsdon - Autumn a lovely 8 month old who had been very ill. I played Arthur Wills's Lullaby for a royal prince, some Andrew Moore and Mendelssohn Song without words in E. I didn't think the Venetian gondala song suitable! Chat to Jill Cliff about the magazine. we are to try a half hour with the girls after Sunday service which avoids me going down there again on a Wednesday or early on a Friday. Listened to Roberto Alagna's Desert Island discs (his second wife died) and Just a minute. Liz had been shopping in Croydon. To Geffrye Museum in Shoreditch to see the excellent photographs of Ethelburga tower in Battersea and Newlyn copper. The herb garden and formal gardens are delightful and it was very sunny. The smell of rosemary and thyme very strong. They even have hyssop and valerian! Swopped buses to get to Museum of London to see the excellent history of Anti-Apartheid movement exhibition. Walked to St Paul's cathedral through the lovely Patern...

Monday to neighbourhood librarians meeting at Earlsfield which is looking good. To Catenians - 13 of us and 9 visitors. Kevin Ingram is a granddad for the first time, Eric for the 7th time! Some good jokes. Tuesday 12th staff meetings about Investors in People. To St Paul's cathedral. Lerone and Frank did not take up the spare tickets and Philipe got the time wrong so missed it! This was the 355th Festival. Exeter and Salisbury cathedral choirs joined St Paul's under Andrew Carwood's direction. It was great they both brought girls and boys. The tinnitus was not so bad this time. The Purcell Hear my prayer from the combined choirs at the back was stunning - those marvellous clashes and as we were at the back we got the full impact. Of course the procession is always magnificent with the Lord Mayor of London, Sheriffs and Aldermen. The magnificent sword and mace and the city marshal is splendid uniform. Great hymns "All hail the power" "Breathe on me breath of ...

Liz served at St Paul's cathedral when the cathedral choir sang vespers there and went to tea in the chapter house. At the ecumenical vespers last night there were some fantastic outfits - one number with silver thread! The CTE booklet this year is good.

Staff meetings today - there was discussion about unruly children. It's been quiet but there are signs of old troubles re-emerging. To St Paul's at the cathedral were singing vespers. Transport for London advised bus 344 to the Elephant and then a train from there to Blackfriars. I could also have stayed on the 344. I could not find the rail station entrance in time so used my initiative and got a bus 100 to the cathedral arriving at 5 p.m. Too late to serve of course but Liz did and there was full team including Deacon Peter and Decaon Ed, Fr Archer, Fr Michael Seed. Magnificent Palestrina and a fine sermon on Paul from Mgr Mark. I got the car keys from Liz and she set off for Stansted and Dublin for nearly a week which does not fill me with joy! I hate sleeeping alone! To Dvorak rehearsal and all 11 tenors for the trip were there! "Music and liturgy" has arrived.