The organist librarian

Thursday swam 20. Liz was out all day. John Turner came to put in new outdoor light, fixed the otter water feature (wire bitten through) and the new water feature came in good time so we now have 2! I did a scissors and paste job on the Holy Week Murray psalms and took copies to the church. Also collected Dennis's keys from Glyn Close and took parcels up there. Strangely the light was on when I came back but is not coming on at night. Got the water features going and watched 2 Come dine with me. To Mike Nestor's for Catenian council meeting but he was held up at a funeral so we went to Brendan's and all was well. To Welcome Friends in Addiscombe for a Chinese which was good and only £10 as Kevin bought drinks for his 60th birthday.

Swam 32 and a glorious day. Watched the Royal Maundy from Westminster Abbey on the Queen's 85th birthday. A lovely occasion and we spotted Francis Clark and Ann's husband receiving the Maundy. Archbishop Vincent and Canon Christopher were there. Lovely Brahms Geistliches Lied and good hymns too. "Praise to the holiest" "It is a thing most wonderful" and "My song is love unknown". Elgar Sonata at the end. Nice that Manx and European churches were represented. Fixed up the wiring for water feature and David came for a cuppa. Heard some of the Bach St Matthew Passion conducted by David Hill. Picked up Marie. Service went well and feet were washed for the first time in many years! We sang Ubi caritas. John very late and not at practice. To mock thy reign went a bit off key but psalms were well done. It seems the gong was not used at yesterday's funeral so it was not my hearing!

Tony Trent turned up! We sang Wood in Phrygian mode and Stainer's "God so loved the world". I played Bach O mench bewein but had to cut it short as John was late at rehearsal. Parry on "Rockingham" was somewhat marred by noisy children. Hymns included Lift high the cross, When I survey and It is a thing most wonderful. The AGM went off calmly and there was only a brief mention of a review of what we sing.The point is that 2 congregation memebrs asked to join in with the Eucharistic acclamations but this was not in the minutes! We have 2 choir members on PCC. I was thanked. Set up the new water feature which features otters but we will need an outside plug. To evensong where we sang Vexilla regis and Walton's Litany "Drop drop slow tears".

Thursday to Peckham for Dulwich circle attended by Vernon De Cruz the Grand President who gave an excellent speech - the food was great too. 4 there from Norwood. Friday another lovely day so did some more clearing up in the garden. Swam 30 lengths and Andrew was there. Took car to Hondas for check on light switch. To Gemma's Dad's cafe for bread pudding and cappucinos. Nice walk wound South Croydon rec with daffodils out. To St George's Beckenham on the tram for Travis Baker's excellent recital of Bach, Dupre,F.X.Schnizer and Bovet. He is form Melbourne and remarked that June Nixon was not that welcoming. Got Easter eggs at M & S and noted that the bookshop is temporarily closed. Found water feature not working any more so went and bought a new one featuring otters. Practice went well - no John or Ann. I watched "Perfume" on Iplayer about a murderer - very well done.

The water feature yesterday shows how cold it is but today it is even more frozen although still flowing! Liz went up to Grandma's while I got up early to get the hourly train to Coulsdon so I had lots of time to practise. Choir turned up late and wandered around getting glasses so I got rather cross and said we must start singing at 9.20 a.m. Actually the anthem "Three kings" went really well and there were lots of compliments for John Linney. 2 buses home straight away and walked home from Grandma's for late lunch. A delicious ham and finished off the Fish Hoek white wine. Watched Songs of Praise about astronomy, a programme on the Star of Bethlehem, Antiques roadshow, Lark Rise to Candleford and a fascinating play about Shaun Greenhaulgh who fooled the art world.

gListened to choral evensong from the St Pancras festival of contemporary church music. At St John's we sang Gibbons Short service and Pitoni Cantate domino and 2 hymns to tunes by Percy Buck who died in 1947.He was cathedral organist of Bristol and Wells and became Professor of Music at Dublin then London University. he was knighted in 1935. The tunes were "Gonfalon Royal" and "Martyns" - both very singable. We sang "Gonfalon Royal" to an Ascensiontide hymn at the cathedral last night and use it for "The royal banners forward go" at Passiontide. Adrian Adams played Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 1 by Herbert Howells - a favourite of Dad's although I don't think I ever played it in public! Liz was working in the garden and I fixed the water fixture (again). When I went to get bird seed out of the shed, found that the mice had attacked the fruit slabs for the birds. The birds like the seedballs the best! The garden is looking good with fine i...