The organist librarian

Sunday's call from Celia led to a disturbed night and no swim on Monday. To BDT and the mood seemed subdued. Watched university challenge. Tuesday 40 lengths and staff meetings - very wet. Right shoulder hurting - it started at Doaui with being a narrower bed I think. I spoke to Dennis on Saturday. Grandma enjoyed Sunday. Gas off again - the workmen have had our road dug up for weeks! Louise and Tom in London Lite on butchers course! Pig's brains - yuk! Helen came to get scores for Londinium and she said London Philharmonic choir were fed up they only got one prom with Goldie but that was televised. We got nothing and now Freischutz is cancelled we are left with Albert Hall gigs with other choirs and the MacMillan on Good Friday. I can't do Mahler 2 as that is my chance to play St Paul's cathedral organ! Philharmonia orchestra have only 2 choral concerts in the Festival Hall season both using Philharmonia Voices. Thouroughly enjoying Gareth Malone's new TV series ab...

Tuesday pest control turned up and put down poison for the squirrels in the ceiling voids. It is the nesting season. How they got in is another question. If it dies the smell will be horrid - it was awful last time! To Catenian council meeting at Kevin's - very positive. Wednesday early to Mayday hospital for blood test and then swam 20 lengths. Spoke to Ann. To osteopath and Julia very pleased with me and I am feeling much better. Even left shoulder is better. To spirituality day at Hinsley Room. Decided to get tube from Southwark to Westminster and wished I had got tube to Victoria from there as the 24 bus stop in Whitehall was gone in improvement works. As a result has to walk to opposite Horse Guards where Burma Star association were laying wreaths at statue of Orde Wingate I think. As a result I was late. Eileen McDade did an excellent session on Jesus the teacher and looked at parables. I chose the wedding feast one which is puzzling. Home to help put compost in front garden ...

Wednesday to osteopath and 3 students this time who worked on my left shoulder as I have no discomfort in side or back. They were impressed at my promming and swimming! Came home and Lauren had prepared nice BBQ with lots to eat. She ws having a quiet day and the new router meant she could use her laptop downstairs. Tried to use laptop to download music without success. To St John's to put pot of orange begonias with message for Mum and Dad's 2nd anniversary. Spoke to Ann and Dennis. Ann had been to Christ Church St Lawrence with Snowy and they had marked the first anniversary with Bairstow just as I did! Mum and Dad were prayed for and the priests remembered Ann. To Westminster Cathedral for organ recital by John Scott on sparkling form. De Grigny, Durufle, Alain and Eschaich all worth hearing but not Messiaen. It seems I am not alone on this one! Met Martin Ball, Adrian, Arnfinn (soon to compete in Montreal), Isabella, David just arrived from Dublin, Martin Baker. It was a go...

Friday woke late so no swim again! Work experience student came for interview - he uses our library and put us as first choice! The other young man is apparently not coming after all. Two very unruly teenage girls came in around 4 p.m. and we ended up calling the police. One told me my job was boring - what I should have said was that life is never boring with people like her coming in showing no respect for anyone! On the bus the other day large man sat next to me taking up as much room as possible and then switched his radio on. I said "What makes you think we want to listen to your radio? Please switch it off" which he did remarking that it was ClassicFM. So what I thought! Liz thought I was mad in view of all the knives about these days. I just wanted to read "The Tablet" in peace - I now have 4 to get through and there's a lot to enjoy in them not least items on future Archbishops of Westminster. To Mass at the cathedral and the full choir wer...

Liz informed me that I should have got a Valentines wife card from somewhere else rather than St Paul's bookshop. What was wrong with a lovely card from there? She dropped me at the station as I had pulled a muscle in my left shoulder on Wednesday when I woke up so missed swim. Have been doing 40 lengths each day. A busy day at work and straight to chorus as conductor was coming. Mark very smart in a suit as he was interviewed for Turkish TV and the cameraman took some shots. Wierdly the conductor just sat and listened and smiled! He said the Dvorak had not been performed in Turkey before. Liz went to Bow to do decorating using the old car and I returned home.