The organist librarian

Morning at LBFN Faith in social action at University of Westminster.  Shereen, Shanti, Catriona, Siriol there.  Explore marriage session at St Benedict Ealing - it went well but we needed more time.  The library is impressive. To Acton so Liz could change.  Lovely meal at Royal Society of Medicine our 4th OJ reunion dinner and great to have  Stan Trollip  with us. Mike Stanley has 2 books coming out this year. It's expensive but worth it.  Before dinner we prayed for our friends from the year of 1963 who have died and the Old Johannians killed in the First World War especially at Delville Wood.

Monday Stan had a meeting of the Kynsna literary festival folk so we took Mette to the quay and joined the ferry to Featherbed reserve. Tractor train to the top then a 2.2 km walk down. I skipped Needle point and the sea cave but Liz got some good photos. Very well signposted and a delicious buffet lunch. Most enjoyable. In the evning Stan cooked fish and stirfry and we had a great chat recalling things form our childhood not least Jeremy Taylor songs Ag pleez Daddy. Tuesday Lovely breakfast of egg and bacon. Mette and Stan setting off for Caledon and then Cape Town so said goodbye and thanks. We went to the garage and checked tyres - front one looking down. Got petrol. To Knysna elephant sanctuary and we fed and walked with the orphaned elephants - amazing experience. Had Belgian waffle and ice cream and coffee then drove to Buffelsbai and Goukamma reserve beaches - lovely scenery. We also drove onto Leisure Isle in the Knysna lagoon. Loaded videos onto blog but it is very slow. Some...

Friday was amazing! Everything suddenly came together. Friday October 4th is the date for the Joburg reunion and Colin Robinson offered accomodation in Cape Town and Knysna so we have planned out rip after the reunion along the Garden route from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay via Montagu and Knysna and then back to Cape Town via Mossel Bay! Excited emails were sent out all over the world to announce the glad tidings! Lauren came back with an earlier start for the tour because of security so 3 p.m. tour, 5.30 chapel with remembrance of the departed (12 so far) a hymn and me playing the organ. 6.00 kick-off. Have been trying to contact Ronnie Jones in Pretoria and in the process emailed Ronnie Gill! No reply as yet. I did manage to complete the Dupuis book overview. Watched University Challenge episodes and Come dine with me and Howard Goodall on history of music - still loads to catch up on! Jago Cooper in South America too but the day has gone on emails!

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!

Have been in touch on facebook with Stan Trollip from my class of '63 who is now retired in Knysna and is an author! We are going to the reunion at St John's College in September and then on to Margate for a week.