The organist librarian

  A stimulating morning! Revd Kevin Scally preached about death. Why did nobody record what Lazarus said about what happened when he died? We all want answers about that. Mary was angry at first "Where were you? My brother would not have died. Why?" He told me at his Death cafe most people who came were under 30. A treasure trove of icons and booklets from the Gartons! I played Prelude on Caswall by Peter Hurford and preludes by Henry Coleman and we sang Ah holy Jesus. I played Herzliebster Jeu by Brahms. At the Lent group at Upper Norwood we concluded our discussions about Ah holy Jesus. It was said that we are Holy Saturday people waiting in hope. Sorry I am an Easter Sunday person living life to the full! I can no longer accept a theology of a vengeful God condemning his Son to death as an atonement. The Cross is a mystery but above all it is about Love. The last hymn today was "Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim". We also sang my favourite Passiont...

 Mothering Sunday - lovely flowers from Louise. Played Bach Descent from the cross and Fantasia in C minor, GTB Love divine and Griffiths Maria zu leben. Archdeacon Moira was singing along while giving out flowers. She spoke over the Kyries so I have marked the altar sheet. To coffee and then to Lent group. Soldiers in York mystery play and clay crosses with Rachel. Evensong I actually got to sing a solo Nunc dimittis Moore, Goss Goss so loved the world. Nice dinner pork, profiteroles. Bruce and Dennis rang. The Seagull NT at home - odd production.  Monday swim and aerobics. Liz missed bus. Optician postponed because of gas leak. Publicity for interfaith group. Nazareth community Angela on Joseph. Green party on inequality. Henry came later. Painting and he did well doing the outline himself. He slept well.  Tuesday up early and at school by 8.20. Swim. Ordered new cosyfeet slippers. Quiet time. To Balham station and Charles gave Patrick, Terry and I a lift to Weybridge. ...

 Woke early. Played Bach Erbarm dich and O mensch bewein. David did a good job. Katharine came to discuss Maundy Thursday. It was claimed that people did not know "We sing the praise". I pointed out that we sing it every year! To Lent group led by Fr Andrew which was better as I could hear. Henry's party at Spa recreation ground - bouncy castle. 10 kids there. Chat to Clare. Home for a rest. Gresham lectures on Viking pagan gods and Carbon cycle reaching net zero. Scanned music for Katharine. Best in show at Crufts. Pottery throw down won by Lois. David Attenborough Wild Isles.  Monday 100,000 have signed BBC singers petition and the internal letter shows unbelievable incompetence of senior staff. Chat to Ann. No swim. To New Addington to see Libby. All clear 61mm retained, try taking Laxido in the evening. No need to go back unless there is a problem. Tram and 130 and 196 buses. Colette's meeting was good but there was an incomprehensible video from Africa! She did n...

 Tuesday swim and to cinema for NT Othello - fascinating production. A most enjoyable evening at Sutton Mid-Surrey Presidnets elect night my first foray into Province 19 apart from zooms. Excellent meal and I could hear at the meeting. The President Adrian Mann kindly picked me up from Kingswood station and took me back there. Home at 11.40.  Wed snow! Rain later so took Liz to station to go to Guys. Wrote articles about Who is my neighbour? and April music.  2 X Father Brown. Nasty cold rain. SM and Lent group. Thursday swim. Started jigsaw of House of Parliament which I won at UNACC raffle. Saw Dr Dossett - very nice. Ringworm on left leg, new stuff for verrucas, head will heal. The webinar from LSi was very American droning on! LSIUK meeting zoom did not start so set up a new one. Gresham lecture on the adversarial system of justice. Tina Beattie at SLN excellent. Apprentice and we lost Simba a real gent. Friday swim CCT talk on Jane Austen and her sister. To two car b...

 We set off on Monday and drove via Romsey to visit Mottisfont (not been there for years). All I remembered was the Whistler garden room which in fact looked different. We walked up to the walled garden and enjoyed a coffee in the basement. Lovely gardens. Mosaics by Boris Anrep. Degas and Bonnard.  Arrived at Hotel Collingwood about 5 and delighted with the bigger room (the £30 was well spent). The food proved to be as good as ever. The sauna has been completely renewed like the bathroom (wet room) in our room. The pool could do with a rail to help you get in! Tuesday we drove over to Lymington and loved the St Juste museum which had an excellent film and exhibition about etchings. Had coffee there then to Midday prayer and Mass at St Dominic's priory. 2 of the nuns chatted. To St Thomas Lymington - organ looks good and lovely stained glass. Drove back via the coast Milford on Sea and Southbourne.  Wednesday to Poole to check the route and Poole park - swans and coffee a...

 Monday woke at 6 and slept until 9. Went for swim. To West Norwood Crem for Tina's funeral. Several people from the street were there. Susan greeted us but the rest of the family ignored us! The priest looked familiar - he works with Rowlands the undertakers. The photo presentation was nice. No wake - Susan said they could not cope with one! Watched first Southwark Lent video - excellent. I am playing at All Saints on Ash Wednesday! Only Darren and us remain on our side of the road from 1975. SMITF contemplation Sieger Koder. Only connect, Mastermind, University challenge. Chat to Ann.  Dennis and I went to the ordination of Bishop Philip Moger at St George's cathedral. Lovely to have the choir and some good hymns to sing. So nice to see old friends and meet new people. Fr Peter is now retired. Delicious pancakes with lemon curd and cream cheese plu whipped cream. A last beer before Lent!. Hidden Venice. Ash Wednesday. Swim. Mass at St Andrew Thornton Heath. Priest stumbling ...

 Tuesday swim. To West Norwood NT The Crucible very well done. Unfortunately right hearing aid played up in first half and I was a bit sleepy. More work on chorus talk. Life drawing from Devon with Don on zoom. His was older so had marked folds in the body.  Wed swim. Watched funeral of Deacon Fred Carter from Merton - kept losing the signal Gerard spoke well. Supervision group. To St James Piccadilly A and C lecture by Rachael Salter PRA on Japan. Shinto shrine moved after 20 years to adjacent site. Had to wait outside for 15 minutes. Pauline, Revd Charles, Elizabeth URC minister from Milton Keynes Cornerstone. Interesting chats. Spoke to Lucy Winkett.  Thursday swim. To Caterham for funeral -only had to play beforehand and Jerusalem which people were singing. Rest was pop rcordings. Went to pick up Liz at gym but she was already on the bus. Churches conservation trust Philip Burnett on missionary churches - very interesting. Why did we export English architecture and li...