The organist librarian

30 minutes wait at Selhurst. Signals blamed. We were late at the cinema.  A tour de force from Kenneth Branagh and the cast of The Entertainer at Clapham picturehouse. We missed the first 15 minutes. Enjoyed it and so relevant today!  2 contrasting exhibitions William Kentridge at Whitechapel and Robin and the dance at the Courtauld did some sketches  Nelso.n Ferreira  offered an extra session so we could finish. sean up at 9.30 and opted for a day at home again.  The Crown on Netflix is brilliant and moving. To book fair at school. To Gate cinema  A United Kingdom is a great film with David Oyelowo giving a fantastic performance. The British do not come out of this at all well. Sir Seretse and Lady Ruth Khama were a beacon of light in Africa and Botswana. Just read Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana novels! Like Love Haha Wow Sad Angry

A quiet day with Sean. Yesterday was a full day Picasso portraits at NPG brilliant, left bag in locker and to St George Hanover Square. David Saint recognised me and played really  well. National Gallery for Beyond Caravaggio. Too many people, lovely to see Dublin pictures and good film. Back to NPG Black portraits. Tea then Wellcome for excellent Bedlam. Did a psychic awareness test with photo. Earls Court wait for Richmond train got Ealing one which became a Richmond! Good painting session and Nelson gave me a 1905 book on Palestine. Gareth Malone and William Kentridge in Joburg on TV. Car would not start outside school but Louise had bought a portable charger. Home in good time and changed with bowtie for Frank Bond. Bill Whitmarsh took Brendan Foley and I to Chislehurst golf club for joint Blackheath/Bromley meeting which was great. Sausage and mash. New brother Peter Graff knows St Joseph's college. Frank and Duncan delighted by scrolls.

Swam 20 wrote minutes of council. I was up early and wrote a measured response to David Wright and Stephen. He pulled out of the recital over the typesetting of the programme! Talk about nitpicking. I should never have agreed to Stephen's suggestion. He appeared not to know the audience would be so small. He is 85 and lives in Boston. It looks as though I may have to play. To Odeon Kensington on Overground to Olympia and bus to see the beautiful Far from the madding crowd - loved the music and scenery and excellent acting. Liz went to Holland Park. I went to RA summer - liked the bright coloured walls and the arrangement. William Kentridge South African and brown etchings of Galapagos. Some fine landscapes. Schools exhibit closed. Tea then to Cassart to get varnish. 

We went to Clapham Picturehouse to see the Met production of The Nose. Very different and not particularly like Shostakovich! Very inventive production by William Kentridge. Can't say I enjoyed it but there was some amazing sustained singing. John Thing rang very pleased with the CD. Decided not to make the trek to Alexandra Palace but instead went to St Paul's cathedral to hear Lucy Winkett and David Lammy MP on generosity. It was most interesting. Ann Welch and Fr Dominic were there - the latter was in Soweto for 3 months in 1993! Thanked David for mentioning libraries and he opened the new Tottenham mosque.