The organist librarian

Spoke to Dennis and Ann Marie and Ann on Skype. They had been to Taronga Zoo and on the ferry, also St John's Glebe and Christ Church St Laurence. Still no plaques for Mum and Dad after 3 years! Planning the weekend. Haircut. Took Josie and Grandma to Buckingham Palace. Once again the disabled facilities were excellent with a new lift and garden cafe. Liked the special exhibition about the Queen's tours and gifts - some wonderful dresses and her own orders. To Victoria to get battery for Liz's swatch and then to National gallery but it is now open late on Fridays instead of Wednesdays! To the cathedral for David Sanger's interesting recital and a bigger audience. Saint-Saens, Karg-Elert, Vierne, Martin Passacaille, Seth Bingham. On way home listened to Strauss Symphonia domestica with score but train very noisy and reception poor. Watched Tudors part 1 and Barenboim conducting East West divan orchestra at proms in Liszt Les Preludes and Wagner Tristan prelude and liebes...

34 lengths. Lovely in the park at lunchtime. Shredding lots of old material. Prom was Sir Roger Norrington conducting Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn 3. The last programme of "Desperate romantics" and the death of Lizzie Siddall movingly done. It has been a colourful series inaccurate but well done.

Tai chi as no swim today - decided on some extra sleep in the end! On way home prom of Nagasaki by Schnittke and followed Shostakovich 8 with the score - Gergiev and LSO - alas I dropped off. University challenge, Levi Roots on caribbean cooking and the Queen's tour without sound! Interesting about Uganda and Fiji and the legacy of the tour. Margaret off to Ghana tomorrow! Good to have Liz home. Very shocked by the death of Fr Edward Houghton.

To Coulsdon on buses and arrived early so time to copy hymns for September and "On eagles wings" for Richard Pilliner. I played Dad's march and they were prayed for. We sang "He who would true valour see" and "King of glory". Last night we had "Father hear the prayer we offer" and "Holy, holy, holy". Excellent BBC4 broadcast from Bath Abbey - the RSCM choir did really well and interesting choices from Geoff Weaver. Good that Liz and Grandma are there with Bruce. Got buses home straight away. On Skype to Dennis, Ann Marie, Clare and Ann in Sydney - Dennis had to help medically on the plane. Both very tired. Watched HDD Rivers and Mendelssohn Lobgesang well sung and played by Halle under Sir Mark Elder. Had score for first 3 movements. David Cairns was interviewed. Szymanowski Stabat Mater from Proms. Edited blog and it is now a closed blog. Jam and Jerusalem was funny. Enjoyed "Bad Catholics" thriller by James Green.

The finished silk paintings! 24 lengths on Thursday and 34 on Friday - Dan was there and I was in fast lane again. Liz to Bath with Grandma. The second recording session for "Merlin" went well although more music was produced on the night again! I laughed at the bass who reacted to Rohan Atkinson, the Australian composer's request for a low E flat "Easy Skippy!" Tuesday and Wed rehearsals and recording on Thursday at Islington. Had a chat to Hana about her family. Friday after work to Trafalgar Square and enjoyed BP Portrait award exhibition at National Portrait gallery and "From Corot to Monet" at National Gallery. Back to NPG for excellent harp recital by Keziah Thomas including Faure and Paul Patterson "Spiders". Lots of people about and young man on 4th plinth singing and playing away! Trains to Feltham and checked in at Travelodge. Breakfast not until 8 a.m. so to Asda to buy supplies. Bus to Heathrow Terminal 1 in good time - their ...

36 lengths. Listened to Brahms Variations on a theme of Handel for piano lunchtime prom and to tai chi. Prom tonight was the Philharmonia with Salonen playing Ravel and de Falla. Enjoyed part 2 of the Queen's tour of 1953. Freischutz is off which is a pity.

There was a baptism at Coulsdon - Autumn a lovely 8 month old who had been very ill. I played Arthur Wills's Lullaby for a royal prince, some Andrew Moore and Mendelssohn Song without words in E. I didn't think the Venetian gondala song suitable! Chat to Jill Cliff about the magazine. we are to try a half hour with the girls after Sunday service which avoids me going down there again on a Wednesday or early on a Friday. Listened to Roberto Alagna's Desert Island discs (his second wife died) and Just a minute. Liz had been shopping in Croydon. To Geffrye Museum in Shoreditch to see the excellent photographs of Ethelburga tower in Battersea and Newlyn copper. The herb garden and formal gardens are delightful and it was very sunny. The smell of rosemary and thyme very strong. They even have hyssop and valerian! Swopped buses to get to Museum of London to see the excellent history of Anti-Apartheid movement exhibition. Walked to St Paul's cathedral through the lovely Patern...