The organist librarian

To Watermans for the last session this term with Tamar. After lunch at Fields a happy hour listening to readers in Ciaran's class. Ciaran was delighted with the ZSL magazine and let 2 butterflies go. Radio 3 concert of Guerrero and Lobo from York Minster by the Sixteen. Busy putting ne BBQ together - need 2 people and 4 hours!

To St Augustine Kilburn for Christian/Muslim forum on the family: challenges and benefits. Bishop Paul Hendricks there all day, Revd Maggie Hindley and Father Colin Amos. It was interesting but ... 1.       St Augustine’s was very cold and the seats were uncomfortable. Some complained of not being able to hear the speakers well. Why not use a smaller space and heat that? The toilets were not well signposted and I had to ask where they were. I would certainly not go to an  event there in the winter in the future. 2.       While it was understandable that we should be invited to the normal 12 noon Mass it did place the Roman Catholics in an awkward position which could have been avoided I think with a non-Eucharistic service. 3.       The speakers took up all the time and there was little time for questions in the morning session. In fact my question was answered in part later in the day. 4.  ...

To the cathedral early for 10.30 a.m. Nice to see seminarians and I spoke to the priest from Watford. Deacon Geoffrey was very enthusiastic about the interfaith events. The ordination by Bishop John Sheringham was great - he sang some of the prayers. Brian looked so happy and the music was lovely. Mozart, Howells, Haydn, Thine hand O God which the Bishop used in his homily. Had tea downstairs and saw the flypast after the Trooping as we came out. Attempts to photograph it on my Blackberry not good. On No. 11 bus with Andrew and his family from Poland and Denmark. Nice reception somewhat disrupted by rain and ate lunch in library having a great chat to 2 ladies. Saw Stephen Wang. Nice speeches. A happy day. Liz went off to babysit and I returned to the cathedral for vespers and Mass with Fr Michael Quaqo - 5 servers and all went well. Byron choir from Harrow school sang Rheinberger, Guerroro and Harris Faire is the heaven very well. Harry Mellor gave me a lift as Catenians were appeali...

Cold! At Coulsdon we sang "Creator of the stars of night" arranged by John Scott, Kyries Byrd in 3 parts, Wood in the Phyrgian mode and I played Lloyd Webber's Rhapsody on "Helmsley". To Mass at Purley with David Palmer stuff - having a resident composer may not be a good thing! Soup and pizza for lunch - Liz bought party stuff at Iceland. Advent carols at St John's. Adrian gave me a funny retirement card. Guerrero Canite tuba, Stanley Vann (1910-2010) There is a flow'r, Jacob's ladder arranged by Stephen Darlington (I sang the solo - a charming piece), Veiled in darkness by Glenn Rudolph, Nun komm der heiden heiland of Bach at the end. Sorted out some songs for Tuesday but some missing from our Welsh visit!