The organist librarian

Linda says it my best yet. Van Gogh Starry night. Took 3 sessions to grout. Next time I use bigger pieces! Need to find a good home for it!  Jonathan Rennert gave us a most enjoyable programme at St Michael Cornhill. The Franck chorals with 2 Stanley voluntaries. I liked the contrast in styles very much.  To Barbican to see photographs Masculinities. Lots of gay and black material. Films by women of men were interesting. Fascinating. Interesting that religion hardly got a mention.  To Museum of London new displays about Becket anniversary of his birth. Watched fascinating films of Londoners.  Art and Christianity talk On holy ground. Rupert Sheldrake on pilgrimage fascinating. Asked question about rebaptism in the Jordan. Met Charlie who is studying jazz at Guildhall and Anthony Weaver. 

Up early for Van Gogh and Britain at the Tate. Some lovely paintings they are all about himself and discoveries like Christopher Wood. Members special opening 8 to 10 Saturdays a wonderful idea! Some rooms I had to myself! The queue outside Tate Britain at 10 horrendous. So glad I was there at 8. Abandoned Cadogan square garden idea as wet. To St John East Dulwich for Andrew Chadney's recital. Some out of tune stops. Buxtehude and Percy Fletcher. Nice chat to John Webber. Bridge adagio too slow and no flow. Sitting in the hospice with John East and listening to radio 3, I spoke to John about that superb passage at the beginning of part 2 of Gerontius illustrating the sleep of the soul. "I went to sleep and now I am awake. It is the voices who say the Profiscere hither the echoes come. Go forth upon thy journey Christian soul." As Alan Rees said "This is a loving God welcoming us home". Who can imagine the music in heaven? John Bell said all the strange harmonie...

Programme on stolen Van Goghs. Question of sport

To art and good progress on the cheetahs. Lunch at Johnnies cafe Lordship Lane and delicious icecreams at Oddono's then to Picturehouse to see Finding Vincent. Very clever but not sure I am happy with the idea of animating paintings which really are autobiographical. Van Gogh always paints himself or rather his mood.

An inspiring morning at Support library campaign with authors and people from all over the country and met MP Steve Reed's assistant with  Elizabeth Ash  and told her the true state of Croydon libraries.Met Liz at the Royal Academy and we enjoyed the gardening exhibiton despite the crowds. Lovely Monets and Van Gogh. Had tea and cake and then to Acton for pancakes. 

To Victoria and the HQ of the Women's intefaith network for the meeting of the London boroughs interfaith forum where we chose a postcard and spoke about it's meaning for us. I chose a Van Gogh. We discussed Faiths and the environment. I heard of libraries under threat in Lewisham and Barnet. To Glyn Close to help with clearing up and Liz painting the stairwell. Missed tai chi - more important to network!

To Moss Bros to hire green tie for Saturday's wedding to match Liz's outfit! 11 a.m. Interfaith group 15 came Andrew Cameron from the Met Police Faith and belief division proved to be an amusing and interesting speaker - I had met him before. Hai Dang invited us to the Chinese New Year lunch on Feb 10th. Trains were affected by fire at Battersea Park. To Coulsdon to choose hymns for Feb and March - Vickie had forgotten our meeting but all was well. Back on train to Royal Academy for the superb Van Gogh exhibition based on his letters. Some wonderful drawings and paintings. Tea and a mozarella baguette in the Friends room. To chorus for alto and tenor practice of the MacMillan with Nic Chalmers. I told him of the connection with Daniel Beach. I did the February music list. All this travelling gave me a chance to read The Tablet!