The organist librarian

An enjoyable meal at Bella Vita Shirley for President's Friday. Nice that  Dennis Woodhouse  and  Ann- Marie Woodhouse  came. 24 there. Good chat to Steve and Derrick.  To Kingsley Hall Bromley-by-Bow where Gandhi stayed in 1931 and we saw his simple cell. The interfaith seminar for the Gandhi foundation on animal rights. Not quite clear whether one should become vegetarian or vegan or not change diet at all! Certainly vivisection and industrial animal husbandry are unacceptable.  Bloomsbury organ day heard Richard Brasier play Mathias and good buffet. John Scott Whiteley played brilliantly. Bach, interesting Glass, Franck but Liszt which seemed neverending! Dreadful page turning! Watched Real Marigold hotel and Victorian bakers. Louise brought the boys to stay Friday night and they went to Gruffalo's child at Ashcroft. She was at Bagattis.

At lunchtime to the bandstand in Battersea Park where 2 pop groups from John Paul II school entertained us. The Mayor was there and we dodged the showers. I was impressed at the young men singing so well. To Westminster Interfaith network meeting organised by Westminster City council at the lovely Victorian New London Synagogue, Abbey Road, St John's Wood. The Rabbi welcomed us and we were given a talk about the building. The subject was the body and health and we had Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Bahai and Buddhist perspectives. Alas time ran out precluding discussion but I did chat to my friend Woolf van Silver (representing Somali community) and met Terry who teaches economics at Oratory school and some folk from St James Spanish place. One of the nuns asked if I am a priest - she didn't see the wedding ring? They liked my wooden Bethlehem cross from Pax Christi. Fr Terry Phipps gave a good exposition on the incarnational aspects of our faith. The eats were good and the ...