The organist librarian

Thursday to the Cathedral hall. Surprised Liz at Victoria station - she had come home a day early to surprise me - good thing I had visited the new Battersea Park Tescos and got the flowers! A delightful celebration meal for the volunteers and Fr Michael read some of the thank you letters "Dear Fr Bone..." The whole event paid for itself. Lots to eat and drink but I drove. Sat with servers and had an interesting chat to Nick who is from Barons Green and has painted a station acrylic on wood. Brian and Andrew the seminarians engaged in a good discussion about the Baptism of Christ. Friday to practice and did most of the November music - I was throaty and suspect I caught the cough/cold from my neighbours at the Jerusalem chamber on Wednesday! Finished "The cleft" by Doris Lessing - most unusual and rather disturbing book.

Lie-in and watched Songs of praise Big sing and An Island parish. To St Michael's for last recital of the series. Dorio was there. Attila Laszlo from Slovakia played Couperin, JSB, Mendelssohn Sonata in C minor and an nice Abendlied by Dezso Antalffy-Zsiros (who would want to announce that?) and Fantasia by Istvan Koloss. To Coulsdon on bus to see Vickie. Planned up to end of January. Train to Royal Academy for the excellent Wild thing sculpture exhibition. Loved the Eric Gills and some of the Epsteins not so keen on the Gaudier-Breszkas. Walked via Pall Mall through St James Park - half moon just showing through the clouds. How beautiful and noble London is! An interesting talk on Jesus the Jew in the Jerusalem chamber for the central council of Christians and Jews by Rabbi Holdstein and Dr Taylor. Interesting and the rabbi said the baptism of Jesus was the turning point. He did say that Jews practice ritual washing (baptism). But why did Jesus have to be baptised if we was sinles...

Woke late so walked to station and no swim. In any case had to carry dinner suit in its carrier. Weeded fiction for sale. John the new work experience is autistic but quite helpful if a little wayward! Left at 4.30 and changed - Harry Mellor met me at Selhurst. Took an hour to get out of London and late for meeting at Russell Hotel Maidstone. Nice dinner for £13.50 and had a great chat about music to Anne Shufflebottom. Carmel was there too. Only some of the men were in black tie and we asked for next meeting to be at Victoria! Home by 11 p.m. Harry is good company!

Emma came to a happy conclusion on TV last night! 30 lengths although it was busy. FL sick again so we were short but I did get to tai chi and 4 new recruits and a new form to learn! To Brompton Oratory for John McGreal's excellent playing of Bach's Clavierubung III. I spoke to Simon Lloyd, Patrick Russill and David Gammie afterwards. He did not play it all unlike Gillian Weir and there was a lot of reeds which did not help my tinnitus! But he played superbly and some interesting sounds too. Printed out provincial council stuff while watching programme on Sydney Anglicans which Fr Rob picked up - scarey!

A quiet wet day at home finishing Patrick Gale's excellent "The whole day through" and watching a 2006 prom of Mozart C minor Mass conducted by Charles Mackerras. To Albert Hall via Battersea Park and Sloane Square. The concert started with Berlioz's Hungarian March. Stephen Disley played Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 - a truly thrilling sound. I was sitting with Chris Hollis and talking about Giulini. Love the bit with the piano duet. Carmina was excellent and Andrew Greenwood very pleased. Got a 52 immediately and train to West Norwood. Liz was ahead of me but did not have keys! Buses to Coulsdon - clocks went back an hour - I was exhausted so glad of sleep although I woke early. Liz off to Louise's baby shower and then back to Brum until Thursday so lonely bed again! We sang Martin How's "Day by day" and Howells "My eyes for beauty pine". Baptism and girls practised. Buses back home - am reading Doris Lessing's "The cleft" whi...

Thursday and Friday swam but got there a little late so only 24 and 28! There was some Russian looking young man thundering up and down the fast lane! To Carmina rehearsal and Nick Jenkins was as energetic as ever - he really is good. He had heard a recording of Monday's session and wasn't too impressed! Got MacMillan St John Passion scores - in 2 parts and looks difficult. Nick mentioned the 1988 opening concert of the proms Verdi requiem with Pritchard and Julia Varady and Dennis O'Neill - I think I sang in it! Friday no choir practice so enjoyed Gloucester's evensong, Brahms piano concerto No 1 played by the winner of the Leeds piano competition a Russian woman and Dennis rang for a long chat about Australia. Bruce moved O.K. and laid floor in new flat. Liz returns tonight. Got an earlier night but woke early! Fr Rob has sent me connection to his lovely new blog.

No swim so far this week - not sleeping well when Liz away! Monday to briefing on CIPFA survey at Earlsfield. CM late so library opened late. To Carmina rehearsal at Barbican City of London girls school. Andrew Greenwood looks like a younger Richard Attenborough and has not changed much. Some of the ladies were not watching - probably Royal Choral society older generation? Tuesday spoke to Liz - move is likely to be on Friday. Halifax slow over Bruce's mortgage. Wed spoke to Ann on skype. To Interfaith group 14 came including 4 new ones (David Chapman who is Jewish) Sr Margaret Shepherd of Sisters of Zion and retired from Council of Christians and Jews spoke so well. To St Michael's Sonny Son of Kansas played well - Dupre, Liszt, Widor and a rather fine romantic Prelude and Fugue by Elsa Barraine (1910-1999). To Wandsworth Town library for opening by Boris Johnson. SPoke to loads of councillors and staff and Boris himself. Told him how pleased I was that he mentioned books! He ...