The organist librarian

To Brentford on trains and bus and met the family at softplay. Amelia was there with Rufus and Scarlett and her Australian mother-in-law. Had a very nice lunch at Syon House - I had beef pie. Built track and the boys put on their Buzz outfits. To opticians in Ladbroke Grove and Mr Shannon advised new specs - £591! Not had new ones for 4 years and eyes are healthy! To British Museum to see the Spanish prints especially Goyas and fine Asian galleries and Asian drinking rituals. To Westminster Abbey for Professor Keith Ward's lecture on faith and secularism. Saw Graham Hedges. Watched Michael Palin in Brazil and University challenge.

Read the last article for this week's work on Helios - 35 pages about Pieris by Fleming. Swam 20 and Liz came as well. To All Saints Tooting - I was early so had coffee at the Kitchen Table. Rosa Cook's funeral - she was 90. Alan one of her sons recognised me - he used to work on the mobile library. Not that many people there considering she had been church warden - she was 90. Organist was a stranger to the church too - he played Elgar and Bach. There seemed to be no provision for people not going to the cemetery before the reception so I went to Balham and got 2" x 2" photos done for Indian visa. To British library and advice on conservation of old photos and family Bible  - keep in cool place and take digital photos of material now. Bus and walk through Mayfair to RA Now. The prices astronomical but quite a few works already sold. Buses to St Paul's cathedral - long walk to No. 9 bus stop. Nice meal at Pizza express and then discovered speaker could not get her...

Swam 20. Mosaic and nearly finished the project for Alan and Ivor. Ta'i chi and struck again how similar the ideas are to Buddhist enlightenment and emptying. Had a brief chat to Tony about it. To Balham library and got 2 guidebooks to India which was good as Trailfinders rang. Have now confrmed flights and itinerary. We will stay in the hotel in Kochi as the Jesuit houses are not air conditioned. The driver will be available for our leisure days in Jaipur and Udaipur. In both places we will want to get to Mass and there are Catholic churches there. Did some reading about Pieris.

Richard Blackford's "Mirror of perfection" was featured on The Choir on Radio 3. It is worth hearing! Vespers from Liverpool Metropolitan featuring Pachelbel. An exciting new piece by Roxanna Panufnik for the Choirbook for the Queen - Joy at the sound.

Woke early as clocks went back an hour. Ciarán wanted stories too. To St James Riddlesdown to play. Arrived 8.55 and lady came but disappeared - she was preparing coffee! Choir turned up 9.15 by which time I was cold. Went through anthem and setting - a wierd one by Roff with several key changes. Never played an opening voluntary as time ran out. Christine Spurway very welcoming. I played Karg-Elert Nun danket as had played it twice this week in Leeds. Anthem was Lead kindly light by Sullivan - not a great setting! At coffee met a couple from Tasmanian Christine Clifford. Home for roast duck lunch and Dennis and Bruce came too.

Did clearing up and making beds etc. Liz to college. Practised music for tomorrow. To Whitechapel and arrived early so went to Whitechapel gallery. 2 rather odd displays by Mel Boechner and Giuseppe Penone. Met Adrian in the coffee bar. The tour of the bell foundry was interesting but tiring. 2 and a half hours of standing is too much. It is the oldest business in the country still running - 1420. Their bells go all over the world and they also make lovely handbells (£250 each!). St John's organised the visit. I hopped on a 25 bus and heard part of the Bloomsbury Baptist recital by Richard Walker from Shrewsbury. The Jongen Sonata eroica was well played. Served at Mass with Fr Michael Durand and Fr Timothy Radcliffe preached and I spoke with him afterwards. He is very pleasant. To St Monica's Hoxton Square at Anton's request. Saira was there but it was all rather disorganised. We ended up saying the rosoary outside and no attempt was made to reach out to passersby! I nipped...

Lie-in. Unpacking, cleaning, hoovering. Sorted out hoover, bedroom chair and bedroom carpet lip. Read 3 articles. Watched Leeds piano competition (amazing to think we there on that stage this week) Rachmaninov 3. QI and Andrew Marr History of the world part 1. Programme about Fanny Waterman.