The organist librarian

Woke late so no swim and Liz gave me a lift to the station as my side was troubling me. But thanks to heat treatment and ibuprofen it wore off during the day. The lads all passed their GCSEs - Wisdom had 3 As so very pleased! I finished at 3.30 and the plan was to go and see "Mamma Mia" at Beckenham but Bruce got the time wrong so Liz took his cassock for Bath to him. He goes there tomorrow for the weekend at the RSCM course with his friends. I came home and finished the Tablet crossword and listened to Dvorak Slavonic dances from the Proms. The revelation of finding my travel diary from 1972 has sparked many memories from those heady days and a contact with the Revd David Murfet now retired in Ripon. I stayed with him in Naples on condition that I played the following Sunday!

On Monday Lauren arrived on standby flight from Sydney and her case came the following day! It is 4 years since she stayed here! Watched University challenge and fell asleep. In fact slept so well missed my swim. Interviews for SAturday adn weekend essistants - impressed by 16 year olds but sad about Darcy who has lost confidence as a result of being knifed while trying to break up a fight. Hope to employ 4 of them. Barbara Costanzo interviewed with me. I went to tai chi and felt fine. However on Tuesday the pain in my left side returned. Watched Maestro and again impressed by Goldie. David Soul was eliminated. Chat to Daniel on Facebook. Wednesday swam 22 lengths. By car to Buckingham Palace with Grandma and Lauren. All well-organised with wheelchair access. Most impressed by the audio guide and the Vermeer and Rembrandts. The state banquet wonderful! Tea in the garden and chatted to a staff member who sings in the Bach Choir and visited Sydney. Dropped off at British school of osteop...

Pain in side still a bother so no swim and took old car to Thornton Heath ready for the evening. Saw Pauline and both were interested in my Canadian and Alaskan brochures. Met Malcolm in local history. Preparing for staff meetings on Thursday and did time sheets up to September. To Bill Whitmarsh's for Catenian council meeting which was quite useful - Kevin is a good leader. I remarked to Bill that I had searched for his address and an article came up about triad gangs in 1995 in Croydon so nothing has changed. If anything things have got worse. Watched channel 4 film "Fallout" on the subject of knife crime - powerful drama. I have volunteered to visit Bill Beach about the circle history update. Wednesday woke early with some discomfort. Bill says it is not low enough to be appendix - more likely a muscle strain around the diaphragm. Twinges come when I stand after sitting.