The organist librarian

To Mass and the crib is there only baby Jesus is missing. Please curtain this off until Christmas! We are in Advent. This happened last year as well. Henry came and I set up the Christmas train round the tree which he loved. He was due to come again later but they were delayed at St George's. I went to quiet time and I commented on the image of God which Graeme Watson mentioned in the talk. Liz went to school carols at Acton. Watched Babies, Only connect, shoemaking, Cliveden, masterchef. Put up hanging decorations. My right heel has begun to heal - I have had to keep it dry. Boys having a great time in Sydney. 

Li-in and cooked breakfast! Vespers and Mass Canon Christopher being jovial. Tidied upstairs and hoovered study and Bruce's room.  O antiphons start. 

A good quiet Advent day with retired Bishop John Crowley of Middlesborough at Sisters of Sion Kensington. Alan Rainer was there.I prepared my talk for Abrar House and chatted to several people at lunch. Bishop had to leave at 3 to get back to Harpenden so went to see the new 1600-1815 galleries at V and A.Lots of goodies and musical instruments. Also went to see the Indian instruments. Brian on at Mass and Liam was thurifer. On the way home an email from Paul suspending Liz from serving. It's outrageous and puts us both in an impossible position. Coming on top of the unhappiness and closure at Beckenham in June this is another blow. 

Liz worried about her condition which has not gone away. To St Matthew's and a good day on Advent. Cherie suggested that I might not just write this blog because of my Dad's passing but for my heavenly Father which is an idea I rather like. Bonny did a good closing service using her painting and Psalm 46. There was a bring and share feast at lunchtime! 

We started with I look from afar by Palestrina and sang the Wood in the Phrygian mode setting and Martin How's Advent message. I played Peeters on Conditor alme and Lloyd Webber on Helmsley. Baptism well attended - even people in the gallery! Bought some cakes. Kids singing well. To lunch at Exhibition Room Crystal Palace - lovely beef and chocolate brownie. Bit annoyed by service charge being added on but lovely food and good to see them. Advent carols from St John's included Giles Swayne and Jonathan Harvey. To Southwark cathedral for carols - candle burnt right down! Wesley The Wilderness, This is the record of John and Boyce Where shall wisdom be found. The new Maxwell Davies Advent calendar written for the Queen's Jubilee choir book is effective. The 2 choirs were joined by the choir from Richmond, Virginia. Great hymns and super Bach Toccata in F at the end. Liz went to Advent carols at South Norwood baptist church. Antiques roadshow.

We have chocolate Advent calendars, Advent candle and wreath! The process of adjustment between the 2 of us continues with a mixture of emotions - missing seeing people all day, being quiet, sadness, joy! Who is in charge here? Couple of disasters - put soda in dishwasher instead of salt, freezer somehow got switched off when keyboard was unplugged so food thrown out. Spent day enjoying radio 3 and reading Separate beds by Elizabeth Buchan which is rather bleak and sad at the moment. I took buses and got off 2 only to find no tube from Brixton to Victoria so as a result was late for Mass. We came home on buses. Not impressed again by children's choir. We did not go to Friends party - £20 is too much and worried about getting home. BBC Choir of the year on TV, Ann in gorgeous Hilton hotel at Paracas because of change of plans. Today Saturday was Colin Slee's funeral - a great and brave man. I missed Academy of St Cecilia concert at St George's cathedral.

6th Advent carols at Coulsdon and all went well. 14th to Wimbledon to play carols for old folks from Wandsworth. They seemed keen to drink and chat and 12 days of Christmas with actions was the most popular. Some got up and did solos! 15th medical checkup at Medicentre Waterloo and the lady South African doctor from Pretoria very pleased with me. My fat count is up a bit which happens with age but she said keep up the swimming and walking and the good diet. I reckon I need to cut down on biscuits and sweets. To a fascinating afternoon at the IIPR Institute for Policy research - seminar on interfaith and community at 30 Southampton Street. Came home to find Ciarán here. We had had lots of visitors - I took Grandma and Josie home. 16th Interfaith meeting with Rachel Heilbron of the 3 Faiths forum - she is a delight and 12 came inculding Jon Dal Din and Sr Hilda. Went home and then to Chesterton school at 4 p.m. for Christmas buffet - not a great success - the former head friendly and cha...

Thursday chorus rehearsal and Liz back from Ireland. Friday to choir practice - some moans about Warlock instead of Ord for "Adam lay ybounden". Saturday 30 people came to hear Jimmy Burns talk about his book about his father "Papa spy". An excellent audience and he sold lots of copies. I drove to Coulsdon and hit lots of football traffic only just getting to church in time in the rain for Songs of Praise for St Andrew's day. An eclectic collection including Jerusalem and Blessed assurance and an old Methodist hymn about Emmaus! Choir sang "O come ye servants" and "Cantate domino" well. Andrew Nunn from Southwark cathedral preached well. An excellent fish and chip supper with apple pie and a good quiz. Took Marie and Caroline home. Advent Sunday we sang "I look from afar" and I played Lloyd Webber on "Helmsley". Ella announced she was giving up choir. Molly making great strides. No time to practise organ as went to 12 noon...

Liz has gone to Hexham for a few days. I have managed to sleep better this time but I still miss her. I am getting pretty fed up with carols in Advent. The Archbishop of Canterbury's Advent message stresses the need to wait so why does the Church pander to the secular world. Friday's practice went much better. Saturday to Coulsdon town centre to sing carols with Churches together at 1 p.m. There was a lot of noise from other attractions. No carol CDs were sold and my view is that next year we should give them away with a notice about our Christmas services. We have several boxes left and have neither the marketing skills or time to sell them. We have made some money for the hospice and the church. To Vespers and Mass. I went up by train and when I arrived saw 3 black wedding cars and a white stretch limo outside. The wedding had started 49 minutes late and Fr Michael did well to get through in time for Vespers. John was there and 5 of the kids. The new cantor started "Crat...