The organist librarian

At service today played Rhosymedre (played at our wedding) and Intrada of John Ireland also voluntaries on St James, Ratisbon and Malcolm Archer on Evelyns. At the end I substituted Karg-Elert with Mendelssohn Elijah section about the wind, fire and earthquake and still small voice to fit the first reading about Elijah. We sang Dear lord and Father of mankind after communion. Fr Paul had been at St James Elmers End 50 there with choir and servers. He said 120 turned up last Sunday for the baptism. I chatted to the family whose baby will be baptised next Sunday (not at the Eucharist). We had Devonshire honey cake made by Sue using the honey from the hive in the vicarage garden - delicious! I woke at 5 a.m. but reserved scores. Prom at 4 was Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by Joshua Bell - Beethoven 1 and he played the Bruch. Sir Neville Marriner who is 90 conducted Walton Henry V which used the organ and choirs effectively. At 7.45 the NYO conducted by Edward Gardner were ...

Saturday to Cadogan Hall and Reuben Thomas was in the queue. Finished 4th Kubu novel -  this one more gruesome about muti. To Balham library to get scores and home to tidy and clean up. Unpacking all done and everything put away. It rained all day. Took clothes to the Passage in the car. Excellent prom at Cadogan - Britten, Purcell, Lutoslawski ECO with Paul Watkins. Ben Johnson sang beautifully - better than Pears and Richard Watkins horn. I went to Mass with Fr Alexander and the choir from Farnham singing Mozart and Bruckner. Liz to the Prom and I got there in time for the start - Wagner, Ravel and Shostakovich 5. Picked up car at Victoria and home in 35 minutes.

Thursday was a lovely day and we had a big breakfast including delicious black pudding. We went for a walk round Headham village and saw the alpacas then had a swim, sauna and jacuzzi. The wedding itself was at 2 and the room was beautifully decorated with lights, candles and flowers. The registrar was charming and the whole thing went off very well. Shirley and Levantha's sister were witnesses and it was great to see Shirley and Jim's grandchildren. We had a delicious meal and sat with George and Jane from York and Marion. There was a good band and excellent ballroom dancing plus a disco. I went off the bed around 10.45! Friday up for a swim and short sauna and a large breakfast. I had rung the parish church vicar and arranged to play at 11 a.m. We duly arrived in a taxi at 10.50 and there were flower arrangers around and the lady said the the vicar is here as his car is here. By the time she went to the office he had gone. I tried the library (wearing my organ shoes) but no ...

Paul Britton wanted the photo of the late Mark Gandar in Benjamin Pogrund's book which we could not scan from the website so I went to SOAS library to find the book. I tripped outside and hurt my knee - just skinned it. The assistant tried to find a plaster without success. I was given a day pass whereas I should have been given a SOAS card. Having found the book I then needed an ID electronic pass which lasted one day only so I pt £1 on the photocopier and made 2 copies which should have cost 10p. I was not able to scan and send. The whole business took far too long and I got very cross. Staff are there to help not make life more difficult! I was late for Sarah's first session at spirituality day. Reading Jimmy Mizen book  -it is very moving. It was a good session on Come unto me. To PreProm which was young composers works played by the Aurora ensemble. Most impressive was the 13 year old's work. The prom was Lutoslawski and Holst - the chorus were not good at the end of ...

Up at 9 and got trains to Hampstead Heath where we shopped at M & S and had a cappuccino. Then to Gospel Oak and met the family at Parliament Hill fields lido where we had a picnic and swim - 10 on my front. Then to Acton Park cafe and back to Louise's. Ann, Paul and Dennis went to see Billy Elliot and we went to the Prom. Britten Sinfonia da Requiem, Lutoslawski cello concerto with Paul Watkins - started with cello alone and he played an encore. Thomas Ades conducted his new work Totentanz with Simon Keenleyside on great form - this could be a modern classic -much use of percussion and huge drum! Home to watch Apprentice final and Leah triumphed! Thursday up late and grouted the mosaics. Hot again!

To Heythrop library as Michael could not see me today. Met Liz and the family at the gym where Ciaran had his tennis lesson and swam. Seán was very good and standing a lot.  To the hall and saw a lot of the familiar faces in the queue. Anderson Harmony well sung but diction not great. Britten sea interludes are now a modern classic. Stephen Hough played Rachmaninov and Lutoslawski variations on a theme of Paganini. The Sea symphony was excellent and the young chorus did really well. Met Dennis at Selhurst and took him to No.3 - he looks well. 

To Balham library to get scores and reserved books including the Hesse Siddahrtha. Then to Morden library to get Gershwin score. Home to find Liz had gone to IKEA with Bruce. Carole rang to say her Mum had died aged 92. To pre Prom talk about the future of orchestras which seems secure although German subsidies are so much bigger than British ones. The recent appearance of orchestras at the Olympics is important although the LSO were not live at the opening of the Paralympics which is a shame. London 2012 needs to be continued with more outreach to new audiences and especially schools and hospitals. The concert was full again and again the audience were quiet! Brahms piano concerto 2 was very well played. Why did we have to have Lutoslawski 3? What a row! We left and heard the Dvorak encore on the recording. Today have caught up on some recorded concerts on TV including Anna Meredith Hands Free NYO piece not using instruments and Nico Muhly. and Varese Tuning Up. Also Emily Howard and ...

Wednesday woke in the night again. Finished reading Alexander McCall Smith's "Tea for the traditionally built" and checked out his website. Decided to give union meeting a miss as had not had an agenda or notice of a meeting. Watched Delius Song of the high hills (cond Mackerras) and Lutoslawski concerto for orchestra (NYO stunning) on HDD, also rest of rivers programme. With Liz to the British Library for Henry VIII Man and monarch. Excellent audio guide by David Starkey. Wonderful to see his books and his annotations plus a fine early portrait, his astrolabe, writing desk box, psalter, etc. Very well presented but there were 2 places where people "bottle necked". To All Saints Battersea Park for Queenstown ward neighbourhood watch meeting and farewell to chair Re Johnson. She is excellent. There were nibbles and wine and I won a box on raffle! Home listening to Handel Coronation anthems from the Prom and fell asleep. Philip Glass Prom.

Listened to prom featuring 2 pianos - Faure, Mozart, Lutoslawski, Saint-Saens.Had lunch in the garden. Left at 4 to be at Holy Apostles, Pimlico for Pax Christi service at 5 p.m. remembering Franz Jagerstatter then peace walk to Battersea Park peace pagoda. Chatted to Maureen, Catherine and Kevin. Guitarist too quick in "Will you come and follow me?" Chanting, dancing and speeces including Bruce Kent. Liz came for the lantern floating ceremony on the Thames - our orange one got ahead but then became becalmed! Alan, Phillipe, Ivor and Suzanne there.

The second Saturday on in a row of 4 was a glorious day and I enjoyed my time in the park! Said goodbye to Gillian who is going to the new Wandsworth Town library and gave her gladioli, chocolates and card - we will miss her. She has been with us nearly a year and is excellent - no need to ask her to do a display, she just does one! The free slk painting course is going well and Pat, Ann and Jean from tai chi asked for copies of the photo. We need a couple more to make up the numbers. Lorinda came in and was pleased to see the display of recipes for Jamie Oliver's competition "My Nan's recipes". She is doing a Battersea heritage trail and I gave her some ideas. To vespers (only 3 clergy there) and Mass with 3 visiting concelebrants. On way home heard the National Youth orchestra prom Tchaikovsky first piano concerto with Stephen Hough on blistering form, Lutoslawski concerto for orchestra and Respighi Roman Festivals on BBC2. The conductor Vasily Petrenko is not much ...

Chaired 2 staff meetings this afternoon. Went to the Police Queenstown ward meeting at All Saints church and progress is good. Sgt David Cook has really had an impact. Listened to Walton's Symphony No 1, MacMillan's Veni, veni emmanuel and Lutoslawski's Chantefleurs and Chantefables. I just turned off Birtwistle's Panic!