The organist librarian

Fisher house mass. Low mass from St John's on zoom. The Temest by Thomas Ades from the Met. Simon Keenleyside as Prospero. Amazing high soprano as Ariel. Great production. Meditation on zoom. Father Brown, come dine with me, illustrated children's books, zoom with the Palestinian  ambassador, repair shop. Sewing bee. Korea handled the crisis so much better than UK did. 

Swam, no Mass as to hearing aid clinic at AgeUK at 10 a.m. Need to put in drops every night and change tubes more frequently every 2 months.  At East Dulwich picturehouse for Thomas Ades The exterminating angel from the Met. Weird and 15 principals Alice Coote Tomlinson Sophie Bevan huge orchestra, bells, drums, ondes martenot, small violins. Liz to Acton. To St Paul's for Lucy WInkett and Marian Partington on forgiveness - large audience. 

Lie-in. Did not go to Gallery prommers picnic or Oscar Romero mass and film at Southwark. Instead had a quiet day at home as Sunday is a long day.  Catching up on proms Schumann cello concerto and Hindemith and NYO TV prom. Ades Polaris sounded far better on TV than in the gallery. Schubert unfinished and Mahler 10 very moving. David Owen Norris talk he is a genius. Liz was at Mass and arrived at the start of the Prom. Parked at West Norwood because of match and home by 11. 

Yesterday h ad delicious mackerel, rice and beans. Opened a bottle of Ned Sauvignon Blanc with a screwtop and the inside cap flew off into the air! Wine tasted OK!!   Glad we took a night off from the Proms and watching it on BBC4 we would not have heard the chat in the gallery. People complain about Barenboim making speeches but it is acceptable for jazz musicians to do so? Get on and sing or play please and cut the chatter! Actually I am no fan of jazz. Watched several programmes on gay liberation anniversary.  An impressive choir and orchestra from Cracow at Mass. Transfiguration. No incense at vespers after all.  Liz at NYO prom. I got there for Ades Polaris hard to follow full score and Rite of Spring. On BBC4 tomorrow

Swam, got scores from Central music library, brilliant Prom at Cadogan hall by Stile Antico and Fretwork - beautiful singing and playing. To V and A to see Ove Arup which is well worth seeing especially Sydney Opera House, Crossrail and soundlab. Early at the hall and delightful discussion of Beethoven 8 and Prokofiev 1 which for some reason were reversed in order in the prom and no announcement made (we do not buy programmes at £4 a go!) The new pieces by Ades and Coll were interesting. A day for meeting people -  Elizabeth Butler , Bob Reiss, Graham and Mary Smith, Barry, Warren!

Up at 9 and got trains to Hampstead Heath where we shopped at M & S and had a cappuccino. Then to Gospel Oak and met the family at Parliament Hill fields lido where we had a picnic and swim - 10 on my front. Then to Acton Park cafe and back to Louise's. Ann, Paul and Dennis went to see Billy Elliot and we went to the Prom. Britten Sinfonia da Requiem, Lutoslawski cello concerto with Paul Watkins - started with cello alone and he played an encore. Thomas Ades conducted his new work Totentanz with Simon Keenleyside on great form - this could be a modern classic -much use of percussion and huge drum! Home to watch Apprentice final and Leah triumphed! Thursday up late and grouted the mosaics. Hot again!