The organist librarian

Friday straight from work to meet Liz at Clapham Junction to get the train to Windsor. Bought a senior railcard for £20 so return fare only £5. Checked in at new Travelodge next to Central station and had pizza in the room while watching again "Meet the Fokkers" with hilarious performances from Dustin Hoffmann and Barbara Streisand. Saturday Bruce joined us and we spent the day rehearsing with the Bridgeman Singers in Vicars Hall. Noble in B minor and a beautiful "Sure in this shining night" by Morten Lauridsen - very touching piece. To Zizzis for an excellent Italian meal. Sunday we arrived in good time for the 9.30 a.m. start. The superb George Malcolm Missa in praesepio as heard at the cathedral at Midnight Mass - what a joy to sing! At Mattins Howells Coll Reg Te Deum. To the pub for half of Old peculiar and at Arthur's excellent vegetarian lunch we enjoyed Kosovan beer! Evensong Parry 2nd service in D and Bob Chilcott's 7/9 version of the Sussex Carol. ...

Beautiful icon courtesy of Fr Rob To work and to the museum to say farewell to Sue Barber and show her the service booklet for Helene la Rue. So sad that the museum is closing and went to West Hill library to fill 2 trolleys with excellent stock for Battersea Park library. The library closes on Saturday and will eventually be replaced by a library in the museum building which is quite unsuitable. Missed going to St John's Upper Norwood for the first time in many years. I like the Easter gospel for today when John outruns Peter to the tomb but he is the one who believes.

After the rain of yesterday, Boxing Day is clear. We remember St Stephen first martyr, deacon and patron saint of servers. Watched 2 episodes of Monarchy on the computer. To Grandma's to put all her china and glasses away now the decorating is done and new carpet is down. Bruce fixed the downstairs phone up. I walked home and saw the end of Carmen from Covent Garden which I recorded. Also listened to the rest of King's Carols and midnight mass from the cathedral and watched Derek Jacobi in "The old curiosity shop". We enjoyed bubble and squeak. Bruce watched "The Terminal" after buying an enormous clock at IKEA.

Spoke to Ann and Paul on Skype. To Coulsdon for family Eucharist. We didn't sing Gloria or Lamb of God because Vickie said the congregation didn't have the words! I played lots of French noels. To Purley for 12 noon Mass. Fr Jim did his best to get people celebrating but the singing was pathetic despite having the organ played by "Bill". The little boy behind me shouted out "No! I want that!" and had to be removed to the sacristy. Liz came home from serving at the cathedral and we both went to second Vespers and Benediction. superb singing from the choir of Bethlehem Down by Warlock and O magnum mysterium by Poulenc. Messiaen Dieu parmi nous at the end - that final chord is amazing. Nice to see Deacon Peter. Grandma joined us for dinner of roast beef and mango pudding. Spoke to Graham on Skype.

To Lakeside home to sing carols at the simple communion service conducted by Bev. It is so hot in there and many of the elderly have dementia but it was appreciated. Sally gave me a lift home. Liz was baking rolls and mince pies - very delicious. Why does one eat so much at Christmas? I recorded King's carols as I had to play for crib services at 4 and 5 p.m. (an hour earlier than last year). What I heard in the car was excellent. There was lots of kids at the services. I played some French noels. On return home King's were on TV finishing with the stunning Tavener God is with us. I recorded from TV the Midnight Mass from Westminster Cathedral and this was stunning. Liz was serving at First Vespers, 6 p.m. mass and Midnight. I had a sleep. Bruce went to St John's. Coulsdon Midnight went really well. The Haydn Mass is just right - full of joy. Carols round the tree and we ended with "Ding dong" which we had not rehearsed. Stille nacht at the back. O holy night at c...

A St Joseph from Bangladesh! To work on Saturday and a quiet day doing housekeeping things like deleting lots of items not found in the stocktake - dull! At Vespers we sang the O antiphon in Latin - what a thrill to sing that! I put our more leaflets for "Understanding Islam" - the poster is still up! To Mass and Philip and I were the servers for Fr Dwayne. Deacon Ed gave an excellent homily about Joseph - not heard him preach before. On the radio we had Prokofiev's "War and Peace" from the Met and in the opera quiz an extract from "O holy night". Liz went to take Ann Marie to the airport and borrow her car over Christmas. Watched Monarchy programmes on TV - the Queen is amazing! Sunday to collect meat from the butcher in Addiscombe and Liz was thurifer at the solemn Mass with Bishop John Arnold. We sang "Hail blessed Virgin Mary" and "For Mary, mother of the Lord". Started with "Come thou redeemer of the earth" and ...

A rosewood angel from Madagascar. Today we read of the Visitation and Elizabeth's joy at meeting Mary her cousin. O King— King and Desire of the Nations, made one by the cornerstone of your coming, of your being. How can it be? The cornerstone rejected, misused as rubble for rocks and stones to hurl and smash. They didn’t understand then (and often we don’t now) that cornerstones are for fastening onto, for building up, for foundations and transformation. Come, O King, Desire of the nations, Cornerstone. Save for us, formed of clay, the opportunity of being transformed by your peace. From Hasten the Kingdom: Praying the O Antiphons of Advent by Mary Winifred, C.A. (Liturgical Press, 1996). Dec 21 left work at work to be at Royal College of Music in good time for the orchestral rehearsal. Chatted to Peter Stevens the King's senior organ scholar who remembered our visit to the King's loft. He was playing the Harrison orgna in the great hall of the college which has paintings ...