The organist librarian

Ciaran came to art group with me and did some nice drawings. In the afternoon Louise took the boys to Bethlem for action painting workshop. Bruce coming over end of May. Sang at funeral of Chris Younger at St John Upper Norwood. Morgan played Claire de lune beautifully. Maundy Thursday began with the tolling of a single bell for Notre Dame. I played Priere a Notre Dame, Words worth Nicht so traurig, Bach Passion chorale and Coleman Pange lingua. We had incense and Love is his word. Elgar Ave verum and Ps 88. Great to have 4 good singers. I could not help thinking of the musicians and people of Notre Dame. Celebrity painting challenge was good.

Painted 2 acrylics at art of the cross and feet. To South London interfaith group lunch - a moving presentation about the care learning disability needs. I gave Fr Adrian my copy of the JRS report on the homeless migrants which makes shocking readiing. To Caterham and played Wordsworth and Hwnry Coleman and we sang Elgar Ave verum. For some reason the choir stopped in the middle of Pange lingua. Not many there. The repair shop on TV.

Maundy Thursday to art and completed painting of Mum and Dad for May 9 Bereavement support day. Played Night so traurig William Wordsworth and Bach O sacred head. We sang To mock your reign and Ps 88. Good Friday 3 hours excellent meditations with art. Practised the Vigil psalms. Ben came and Susan but not the new soprano. Sketch of Picasso's portrait of Poulenc.   Watched BBC young dancer, Decline and Fall, jaguars. 

Swam 20. Saw a mouse last night in the lounge - Liz saw it in the dining room the other evening so reset 3 traps. To art and worked on Venice picture. To Streatham only to find interfaith lunch is next week! Watched Mary Berry's Easter feast, art of Scandinavia and Songs of Praise. Also had a lie-down! Liz baking Hot cross buns. Played for Maundy Thursday liturgy at St John Caterham. William Wordsworth on Nicht so traurig (actually composed at Hindhead) and Groves on Pange lingua and Adoro te. We sang A new commandment by Peter Aston. Train at 6 and home at 10! Watched last Royal Navy school. News from Brussels still bad. 

Up early and Cambridge visit is now finalised - just got to do the programme sheets. Chat to Ann. Moved the logs and branches of the rowan tree from the back lane to the front garden for recycling using the wheelbarrow. While I was on Skype Liz disappeared. It turned out Katy had taken her up to No.19! I set off for the Hinsley Room and the spirituality day wondering where she was and left messages on her mobile which of course was at home! Jill Benet spoke about relationship - there are 3 elements between 2 people - you, me and the space between. The theme was "Rising to new life" and after the silent meditation and lunch she gave us a bunch of leaves. She spoke about the new child and how we ever new and the music of the dance between us. I chose to try and draw a leaf and was interested how scientific this was rather than artistic. We also were encouraged to touch and smell the leaves and really look at them. I noted soft, gentle, pure, simple structure, united, all the ve...

38 lengths and the last swim for a few days. Sad to see that the pool is open Good Friday and Easter Monday - the staff need a break too! Spent the day completing PRP statements and getting them signed. Staff meetings went smoothly and there was time for once for some discussion rather than just me telling everybody everything! I also had to fill in the training statistics which is never easy. I left at 5.30 and picked up the car. Thornton Heath is being dig up for gas works for 5 months so chaos reigns and it means using the Selhurst route. The service at Coulsdon went well. The choir moaned about being in the nave but it was more intimate and sensible as the congregation was sadly small. We sang Rutter Gloria, Wood Mass in the Phrygian mode, To mock your reign to Tallis tune, Psalm 116 and at the end Psalm 22 and Taize Stay with me. The altar of repose in the Lady chapel looked lovely. The hymns were "Soul of my saviour" "An upper room" "Now my tongue" t...

Wed March 25th to the Queens gallery to see the beautiful Breughel to Rubens exhibition with excellent commentary featuring our friend Jenny Scott! We had tea at a nice Italian place nearby and I went to Lent group and then to extra chorus rehearsal. Thursday Liz went to Birmingham with Jet in the van to take Bruce's stuff and she returned on Saturday and all is well. I went to chorus on Thursday evening and to choir practice on Friday on public transport so decided to go straight there and practise. I am not playing Bairstow's Toccata prelude on "Pange lingua" this Maundy Thursday. I have revived a fine piece by William Wordsworth on "Nicht so traurig" instead. The tune is set to "Go to dark Gethsemane". I kept up the pace at rehearsal but at one point I told choir to shut up so I could explain the plainchant pointing of the psalm. I was mot embarrassed but really there was no alternative! Friday's interfaith lunch gathering at All Saints was ...