The organist librarian

Friday was a quiet day catching up on TV. I went to Mass and saw a near collision at the Robin Hood lights when 3 vehicles were turnng right and a van came fast between them. Both the Thames Water who was turning and the van which came up in the turning lane were wrong! Saw more of Valkyrie, Pottery challenge final, Couples come dine with me,, three wives, one husband (Mormons). Piano tuner Robert came. Wrote an obituary for Gerrard for SSG. To Beckenham black tie dinner. Andrew Hollingsworth of the Passage spoke well. Cheque for £800 handed over. Bruce arrived.

 Gerrard Goodhind died at the age of 65. Gerrard sang bass in the choir of Our Lady of the Angels, Erith, Kent for many years. I knew him through the Catenians as a dear and much loved friend, secretary of Blackheath and Chislehurst circle and outstanding editor of the newsletter for Province 7. He is indeed a great loss to all of us. At his funeral the celebrant was Brother Martin Mikuskiewicz and the church choir lead by Christine Bould and accompanied by Michael King at the organ sang Psalm 84 arranged by Gerrard’s brother David and “The Lord is my shepherd” by Howard Goodall. The hymns were “Lord for tomorrow and its needs”, “On eagle’s wings” ,“My God accept my heart this day”, “O bread of heaven” and “Thine be the glory”. Paul Wellicome, Liz and I sang in the choir. In the prayers his grandchildren said “Help us all to think... that Grandad is in heaven, singing hymns in the choir, flying aeroplanes and enjoying a John Smiths with the angels”. Gerrard always s...

Saturday was an enjoyable day in Reading. William McVicar demonstrated the fine organ in the Town hall an untouched Willis with amusing anecdotes and Norman Harper demonstrating. There was time to see the copy of the Bayeux tapestry and the museum and lunch there. Quite a walk to and from St Giles but a fine Bishop organ in a very High Church building. Got to Mass in good time and Brian was doing the first scrutiny presenting the Creed. I haled mike and Michael the book. Went well. Fr Martin got me to take communion to the choir Byron consort from Harrow school and they sang Poulenc really well. Liz was at the hospital. Watched end of Big painting challenge Suman won, Pottery challenge was good too. Tired out. Sunday morning and evening at Caterham in between lunch and to hospital to see Henry who looks well and should come home today Monday.  Lent prose went well today and I played Bach O lamm Hottest unschuldig and Lasceux Fugue in G minor.  Played Herzleibster Jesu by Bra...

To Dr Ojo who removed stitches and pleased with the wound. Liz to hospital after shopping.  To Croydon Minster for a lovely Recital by Gail Winter, Julie Beaumont, their mother Ann and beautifully accompanied by Jack Oades who I see was organ scholar at St Edmund's Cambridge and St.Germans. The Peter Nardone was really the highlight for me. Terry's arrangement of Humperdinck as Ave Maria worked really well and how good to hear 2 Mendelssohn duets! I looked after the boys so Louise could stay at the hospital. They were fine!

Tuesday to mass at Anerley then drove to St John's school Caterham. CRB done and saw Stacey who produced a list of hymns they know. I went round trying to get the poster up - library, museum, shops £3, Morrisons board full. The community boards are for charity only it seems. Came home for lunch and went back on train to GROW meeting at the vicarage - all very straightforward. To Acton. wednesday Sean happy to play at home - hide and seek, snakes and ladders, jigsaws.  14 came to the excellent talk on Laudato Si' and Amoris Laetitia by Dr Susy Brouard theological advisor to CAFOD. We had a good discussion on being more welcoming at church. Why do people look right past you when greeting you? Would not the Asian hands together gesture be a better alternative to the handshake at the Peace? Some new comers as well. To 5.30 mass - rather a nice setting by Isaac sung by the men. Liz got home after me. Baby not coming home just yet. My CAFOD box emptied and taken to school £28.  Th...

Set off to church. Henry Francis was born by caesarean at 9 a.m but I did not know until 11.30 as I was playing. We sang Hurford's Litany to the Holy Spirit - we being Linda and I. Nobody else came to practise Holy Week music. After lunch we went to King's College Hospital first for Mass with Clare in the chapel. Colourful vestment and colourful Afrcan priest.  Baby was 8 pounds and lots of black hair. Louise had got there already. Abandoned the idea of norma's recital at Dulwich as Liz took items back to the ward. I enjoyed the final Call the midwife and the painting challenge was really  hard. Monday We both went to Mass. I was late at mosaic and again jokes about being arrested for writing to the PM. I went to Marks to get biscuits to celebrate Henry's arrival but for some reason they got put int he cupboard so I gave the strawberry creams to the tai chi group most f whom did not eat them! 8 there. On buses to the hospital and Mum and baby doing well. Lo...

Set off early to get train to Wembley Central then bus. I got off too early and ended up walking round Wembley stadium which was the wrong place. It was Wembley Arena, Met William outside but when we went in Bill said Oh you must be with the other Catenians. I was not on the list. Any way ended up giving out 1000s of bursary fund cards. The kids tended to come in vast droves so it wasn't easy. 10 coachloads from Newcastle. Others got T shirts to wear. I do not think I will dot his again as I got tired standing. Met several bishops including Bernard Longley, Paul Hendricks, Nicolas Hudson and Richard Moth. Matt Redman sang - not bad but loud. CAFOD and Sarah Teather excellent. Left before final liturgy with the Cardinal. Hold up on Bakerloo so train to Euston. Got to Mass in time. Michael Quaqoe. Watched Real Marigold hotel. Tired out bed early and got up an hour too early!