The organist librarian

To Mass in rain, Liz saw nurse about her hand - she fell outside school. 2 mosaics finished and we now have a break until June while some go to Corfu. Finished 2 small mosaics and chose Van Gogh for next project in June. Bravo Peter King at St Michael Cornhill cheering up a wet day with a varied programme. An enjoyable evening at Duke's Hall Royal Academy of Music. 6 excellent organists competing for the Dorothy Cooper prize won by James Orford. Thomas Trotter adjudicating. Well done Marko Sever and Michael Butterfield and great to see Paddy Russill and meet the South African Hannes Ebersohn. Andrzej Malitowski and Jamie Rogers also impressed. It is so important to play expressively and not just fast and loud.

Snow! Superb playing at Bloomsbury Baptist by Thomas Trotter. Bach,Wammes and Elgar sonata. Organ club there in force. Watched Michael Portillo in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Also Civilisations with Simon Schama. Emails about public speaking.       Played Brahms O God thou faithful God and Herzliebster Jesu and we sang Ah holy Jesus. Took hot water bottle to warm my hands! No service tonight which is a relief as the buses take an hour each way.                                            

Unpacked and watching the Trooping - good old Britain. It's hotter here than in Botswana and Zambia. Good flights with SAA apart from the muddleup on the flight home. As it happens I needed 2 seats so I could elevate my leg. I grazed it getting off the safari vehicle so had to have treatment at the Avani hotel. We met a lady from Florida who said she normally came to London every year but not this year. Understandable but sad. The LMP concert attracted a good audience no doubt attracted by community choir singing Adiemus. Ken Burton conducted Vivaldi Gloria. Good for all to hear Poulenc and Mozart. The ensemble in the organ concerto was remarkable. Hot and trains replaced by buses so going whole way on tfl buses. We sang Day by day by How and I played Ronald Watson Elegy in memoriam Herbert Howells and June Nixon improvisation on Adoro Te. She signed my copy when I played it at Melbourne cathedral. Happy 50th birthday to her. Super concert by the London Mozart Players at St Joh...

Swam 20. Saw Dr Ojo - he laughed when we asked about going up Machu Picchu "You're 68 not 88!". To art and finished the rugby picture. Disappointing that a glass case cannot be found to show my mosaics - the one we used last year at the pool is broken. To interfaith lunch and made announcements. Ivor's sisters were there from Australia. Chat to David Standley about a Christian who became Muslim. To dentist and she did bottom left fillings. She has changed her mind about the right hand side and says one is to be extracted! We both went to St John's for Thomas Trotter's recital which was excellent. Stanford, JSB, Hollins, Holloway and Mendelssohn. The Macmillan was quite challenging. Helen Murphy was there! Dennis and AnnMarie dropped in. Several more returns about alley gate. Proms passes came.

Could not swim as pump was broken. To St Matthew's for talk by Helen on the enneagram and we did it. I am a 7 - I've done it before but had forgotten what my previous result was! Good session in the afternoon too and Howard led the prayers well. Home and Liz had been at Catholic Grandparents launch with Bishop Kieran. To St John Notting Hill for opening recital on the restored historic organ by Thomas Trotter. Glass at the side enables children to see the action. We saw a video about how the work was done in Devon. Peter Hurford suite was delightful and the Knightsbridge march. Barbara from the Proms was there and people were friendly. I chatted to a lady from the Heritage Lottery Fund and there were lovely eats from a local restaurant. Long chat to Thomas. Home by 10.

Liz and I swam - I did 20. Yesterday little woman removed my bag from the disabled change room and did not answer knocks on door. Liz reckons she was having chemo. I cleared the patio and rearranged it. Fixed wires to the fences. Spent a lot of time doing Catenian invites to clergy and widows. Listened to Festival Hall organ concerts. Thomas Trotter was brilliant and Andy Scott gave a good interview. Poulenc and Berlioz very good.

Michael Toplis lent me a CD of Thomas Trotter playing St Giles Cripplegate which is the same as the Mander at St Michael's and it makes interesting listening. Watched Howard Goodall on the history of music. Wasted an hour on this computer as the cursor got stuck but have now gone back to using a mouse.

Liz to morning prayer and preparing for confirmation. I worked on the essay up to 3200 words which is good! I missed playing Wyton and Thiman on Veni creator! To 12.15 Confirmation with Archbishop Vincent. It was hot and long. Sad that the sequence was again said! I got the food from the kitchen to Vaughan House for the simple party which was pleasant especially as the outside area was available. I went to 3 p.m. recital by Thomas Trotter at Methodist Central hall where the organ has been rebuilt. He played from memory Handel concerto, Schumann and the Elgar sonata. Stephen Disley was there and met a man from Madras! Liz to evensong and took plates back. I had a shower and listened to 2 items from the choir book for the Queen with the score. Church Music by Julian Philips sung by Truro and Sincerity by Michael Finnissy sung by Wells. Both difficult but beautifully done. Wells also sang Skempton and Howard Goodall's Love divine.

Tuesday morning to Bethnal Green for London interfaith forums meeting. This was disappointing. Having paid to get train to be there for 10 a.m. I could have travelled later for free as they did not start until 10.40 a.m. The hall was large and it was hard to hear with people next door talking loudly. It is a concern that some forums report no Roman catholic involvement. We heard from the interfaith officer for the Olympics and that was interesting. Back to work for 1 p.m. and then to Town hall for L & A JCC on health and safety which it turned out was cancelled as 2 union reps could not attend. Wed to union committee meeeting - much wittering but I did get in a bit about parking permit issue in libraries. To St Michael's for excellent recital by Emma Gibbens - Franck, Bach, Wammes Miroirs. Had to leave to go and get car to get to meeting with Vickie. Excellent choral evensong from Exeter - Howells. Did November music list and then to Croydon Parish church for superb concert by ...

Drove South from Helmsdale. Loved Dornoch cathedral with stunning stained glass. Fine window in memory of Stuart Anderson organist who died 2001. Shows hands that flung stars into space (Servant King Graham Kendrick) and The day thou gavest - Praise the Lord is the theme. Carnegie gave some of the glass. Tain distillery for a tour and bought whisky. Wading birds on the estuary. Hugh Miller's house and Cromarty court house with a dramatic reenactment of a trial. Dolphins! Fortrose cathedral a ruin. Swam at the impressive Inverness recreation centre. Back to Inverness to eat at the Snow Goose. Picked up Peter at the station at 11 p.m. on his return from Belfast via Edinburgh! Wed 24 June Culloden battlefield - very well presented and walked round with Peter. Dropped him home and on to airport to return car (900 miles!) and flew to Gatwick. Home in good time to drop everything and head for the cathedral for Thomas Trotter's excellent recital at 7.30 p.m. at Westminster cathedral w...

Watched Songs of Praise featuring Messiah from Birmingham with Thomas Trotter at the organ. Very effective use of the whole body of singers in Hallelujah chorus from memory and "Since by man " and Amen chorus. Jonathan Lemalu sang wonderfully. Read Tablet, Oremus and Music and liturgy while enjoying the Radio 3 Handel day and evensong from Ely featuring 7 Cambridge college choirs in Stanford in A. Watched an old programme "Barking" - amazing BNP people and racist views.