The organist librarian

Rained heavily all day. Swam and Mass. Stuart was amused about the readings not being fixed.  21 people at Nigel Groome's recital at St Matthew Westminster. The Leighton worked well not so sure about the English music on a baroque organ. Marcus Wibberley is playing next Wed. Torrential rain and British Museum heaving. Hokusai sold out but enjoyed British landscapes.  Readings about the Spanish civil war preceded Ballad of heroes which is a fine work.Brian Elias cello concerto some fine moments. Purcell arranged by Elgar a curiosity. Excellent Enigma will real ppp. Liz did not come. Jennifer very restless again but at least she took her boots off. Louise and boys have arrived. 

Only swam 14 and did my hydrotherapy exercises as my left knee was hurting. Woke up with the pain and dreaming about tonight's concert and a small choir doing an item beforehand! Collected my pictures from AgeUK and to coffee and cake at Ada and Sylvia's. They were delighted by the Faith, hope and love mosaic and Sylvia asked a lot of questions about Heythrop. She stood for Ashburton ward and lost by 8 votes because of UKIP - she is Conservative. To Elmers End to try and get castors for bedside cabinets and dropped in at the Manse to see Josie. She recognised us immediately. Excellent talk on Wilfred Owen but it was full and I was in the gallery so could not hear too well.  War Requiem wonderful ending and long silence which moved me to tears and superb soloists Gritton and Spence. Not entirely happy with children's choir who should be boys only. Tenors where were you? Sanctus and Libera me could not hear you! Basses very good and great to have young singers. Simon Halsey

Liz set off for Salford at 8 a.m. Dennis left hospital in the evening and Liz stayed with the Hewitts. Swam 20. To mosaic and completed 2 small ones. Asked the flower ladies very politely @I am sorry ladies I can't hear what Linda is saying' she was explaining cutting glass. They complained! They are so inconsiderate every week laughing loudly and never sweeping up so I end up not putting my hearing aids in and miss instructions! Left tai chi early (lots in class) to get to Denmark Hill. The tests were most interesting and I think I fell asleep int he brain scan despite the noises! Home to eat and ring liz and to Odeon Beckenham. Got a refund on Liz's ticker and really enjoyed Gloriana from ROH live. Sarah Bullock and Toby Spence and excellent chorus  -loved the 50s touches in the production - the choir master in gown and hood and the cubs! Adrian, Terence and Graham were there. 

Thursday swam 23. Watched women's open water swimming in the Serpentine - amazing stamina. To the Russian display in Kensington Gardens about the winter olympics. 20 minute wait and no explanation - just like St Petersburg! Turns out a guide tells a group of about 30 about the films on Russia, the sponsors, transport, modern developments and a rather good 4D film about winter sports. Sochi looks like a great place on the Black Sea but with mountains nearby. The African village is closed and the park looks occupied. To the pre Prom about Per Norgard who is 80 and unable to travel so Ivor Hewitt spoke about his music and we heard a string quartet and Dances from Jupiter for 4 saxophones based on actual sounds from the planet! It was interesting and even amusing. The prom was great BBC Phil 2 Sibelius symphonies 3 and 6, Grieg piano concerto with Steven Osborne, Delius Cynara with Roderick Williams, The Norgard symphony wasn't that exciting. Late prom tribute to Ivor Novello with

Thursday finished at 2 and met Liz at the Royal Academy. The Treasures of Budapest very well displayed with brown walls. Odd how the really great paintings stand out in such a collection - Raphael, Goya, Monet, Toulouse Lautrec. Interesting to see work by some of the artists mentioned in Caravaggio: a life sacred and profane by Andrew Graham-Dixon which I have just finished. Tea in the friends room and a stroll round Fortnum and Mason - brilliant presentation of tea! Walked to St Martin's in the Fields where we had chicken supreme in the cafe. Our Metro offer seats in the upper circle were good and we thoroughly enjoyed Faust which I had not seen on stage. Delicious chocolate icecream at 2nd interval.Lovely music and orchestra under Edward Gardner on great form. Toby Spence excellent and a brilliant production and more religious than I expected. We met John Almeida on the train.Friday staff meeting and Julian came to do PRP interview. At choir we tried the John Harper settings.