The organist librarian

To Coulsdon where we sang Psalm 27 and Farrant's "Hide not thou thy face" and I played the Lasceux Fugue in G minor. The organ cover coming away at the bottom on the nave side and I saw more dirt in the chamber. I was putting things downstairs when Vickie came along in tears. She had spoken to Molly's brothers about their behaviour in church and this had led to uproar. Any way I advised giving it time and was pleased to find Molly had not gone home. Long chat to Catharine and Molly and then practised Buxtehude and Bach. I did my best to help and rang Vickie in the evening. There have clearly been previous incidents with the boys and their behaviour. Quick lunch and Dennis set off for the hospital. I parked at Selhurst (it was very wet) and got a fast train to Victoria and then a 24 bus as Warren Street station was closed. 3 hours of working on MacMillan detail. Buses back to Victoria and bought lilies for Liz. Trains cancelled because of flood at Clapham and got a tra...

Dennis came last night and visited Grandma who moved wards. To St Cyprian's for 2 rehearsals with Nick - it is starting to go in. At lunch time I went for a walk in Regent's Park and found a lovely garden with a stature, crocuses, snowdrops and pansies. Cappuccino at Pavilion cafe next to tennis courts. On bus with Andrew and bought meal for 2 in M and S. Canon Christopher at vespers and Mass. The Byron choir from Harrow school was excellent - Byrd, Shephard. Newsletter does give Lent group on Wednesday but nothing about quiet day! Picked up Dennis at King's and I prepared dinner - trout, Mediterranean vegetables and profiteroles with Ke wine from Chile. After dinner played the piano for once - Clair de lune, Faure, Nimrod, Dichterliebe.

Had a lie-in and to Dr Attard. Tingling in left hand is due to srthritis in neck and shoulder so must do tai chi and try back stroke. Cream for my right ankle. Did some more weeding and worked on the basic skills section. Julian rang. Liz at hospital after funeral of Canon Pat Davies in the morning. Picked up prescriptions after walk round Balham. To practice - started on Kerry Andrew's "Drop drop slow tears" using metronome - much muttering but they picked it up OK. May cancel practice next week. Also a discussion about Easter Day.

40 lengths. Jeremy went for interview and is to be Northcote branch librarian from March 22 so I lose my deputy but should get a replacement very soon after that! Clare was off sick so I volunteered for the first ttime ever in the library to read stories to under 5s. I had a large enthusiastic audience many of whom wanted to climb on my lap! They liked the flap books very much and I got the Mums to join in a song at the end. It went well and I enjoyed it. Did more weeding and admin stuff. Last hour in music - run down, untidy and grimy! Longchat to Ross on Face book and listened to Stanley Vann evensong from Peterborough.

Spoke to Ann. To clergy house for first Lent group meeting only to find room 2 was not booked in my name and Mary Maxwell who should know better had taken over the room! I was most annoyed and said so! Any way Joan and I met in room 1 and had a great chat. Bus 170 to Albert Bridge and visited Doris Clements in her new flat which is nice. Had my lunch and carrot cake, fruit and tea. She looks more drawn but pleased to see me and had a good chat. Walked around the area and found Catholic church of Holy Redeemer but not Carlyle's house! 49 bus underground to Turnham Green and 272 bus to Acton. Ciarán's winning smiles and expressions a delight! To chorus MacMillan rehearsal. Shocked to hear Francis Herbert was thrown out by Stefan after 40 years in the chorus. Liz had been at King's with Grandma and went up to stay the night at Glyn Close. A cause of concern - seems doctor prescribed wrong medicine.

Monday and Tuesday 40 lengths. The Hungarian Olympic champion as I call him was going far too fast! Monday finished at 6 and to St Cyprian's for MacMillan slog. Tuesday met with children's librarians and attended rhymetime (41 kids!). Good staff meeting with lots of involvement. Met 2 more staff in office. The Balham town centre manager came to see me and I met the manager of Waitrose. More weeding - a good day!

The frustrations of running anything at the Cathedral! The newsletter again carries Mary Maxwell's item about contacting her to join a Lent group. I went to a lot of trouble to inform the secretary of the times and leaders of the groups. Neither of the Wednesday groups appears in the calendar which means that unless people read the posters they will not know about them! I printed off some leaflets for Liz to take. Bobbie's new book "Love, revenge and buttered scones" is absorbing. MacMillan CD seems reluctant to play. Alarmed at Coulsdon to see plastice coming off top of pipes and more splits in the plastic which clearly too thin as it is ballooning. Worse there is no covering between the case and the arch above so I spoke to Bob, Peter, Martin Cross and the churchwarden. It must be sorted before they do any more cleaning down. It will need scaffolding. We sang Psalm 91, Turn thy face by Attwood and Wood in Phrygian mode - only 5 singers plus me! Hymns were 40 days, W...