The organist librarian

We sang Brother James's Air so played Darke Meditation and RVW Hyfrodol. Archdeacon Moira. To death awareness event which was well supported. Then open garden in Burbage Road, Herne Hill. Traffic bad because of football match. Cindy Kennett was serving tea and met her sister and the wife of Aziz who was a bass in the chorys. Evensong lots of unison Dyson and hymns too loud. Orb and Sceptre at end not very good. The last Durrells was superb! Victoria also finished. Sidney reported John East was responsive and liked the radio. 

We sang O sons and daughters so I played the voluntary by Christopher Tambling and in the same book Barry Ferguson on Maccabeus. Finished with Worthy is the Lamb and Amen. Bit tired. Buses both ways. Listening to Choir and Organ. Still tired so am not going to choral evening at St Mary Caterham. It's just too far from home and it has been a stimulating but exhausting week. To Mass at Anerley. How dull it was compared to Anglican He is risen indeed Alleluia! The Orthodox really know how to celebrate Easter! We have emasculated the Alleluia! Enjoyed The Durrells and Victoria very much. Easter from King's was excellent. Jennifer Johnston superb and Stephen Cleobury is to be complimented. The boys sing with expression but why do the men adopt such bland faces? Is no enjoyment allowed? How can you sing Hallelujah without using the eyes and express joy? I did laugh at the male altos singing Ingemisco.

Purcell Hear my prayer in 2 parts. Love those clashes. Played Bach aria Descent from the Cross from St Matthew passion and Fantasia in C minor. Elaine is back Praise the Lord!Enjoyed Anne-Marie Garton's sermon today about Mary pouring nard over Jesus' feet. We even got hand cream to smell! That's a first!  Revd Lucy Winkett packed room at St Paul's. She spoke so movingly on the Cross. We can look away, or look, or be looked at. The link with the empty tomb and Eucharist vital. We must contemplate atrocities now. Half the nations of the world torture. It is easy to have a lukewarm response to suffering until it comes to us. Be near me Lord when dying, that I may fight befriended.... The cross of life. Everywhere there are mothers and children uncomforted. Duck for lunch. Evensong Willan setting got changed to Batten. Benediction - organ too loud again. The Durrells and Victoria both excellent. 

Watched Antiques roadshow, Race around the world,Victoria. The Durrells start next Sunday! 

Oh bliss Oklahoma on TV remembering our canyons trip and the John Wilson Prom. Yesterday I was playing The King and I on the piano - great songs! Liz went to get her hair done. What I heard of Kings sounded lovely. At vespers at the cathedral we had Buxtehude Magnificat and Victoria O magnum mysterium. At 6 p.m. We had blessing of the crib and exchoristers singing Reger. Just spoke to the family in Oz on Facetime. Santa arrived! Carols from King's on TV. Superb tenor solo in the Darke and a Muslim woman reading the Annunciation - Yes! Love the new carol Judith Weir - it really is a carol. What I love about Christmas is how music brings back so many lovely memories especially Mum and Dad and so many wonderful Christmas celebrations in Joburg, Cornhiil, the cathedral, Addiscombe, Coulsdon, Beckenham and now Caterham not to mention Oz and India. And not to forget visiting Bethlehem 3 times! Delivered the circle records to Derrick so he can continue the history. Mi...

No bells Patronal Feast St John. Played Bach prelude for New Year, Gordon Phillips The holly and the ivy, Le Beque Noel Pier nobis and John Cook Paean on Divinum mysterium for which I got some applause! I walked to Norwood Junction as there was a match and got buses back as train was cancelled.  To East Dulwich playhouse to see the Berlin Philharmonic New Year concert live which will be Sir Simon Rattle's last. An enjoyable programme with Joyce Didonato singing Strauss and Bernstein superbly although subtitles would have been helpful. Dvorak, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Bernstein and Brahms. Great to see Sue Carroll there - we missed this last year as we were flying to Singapore. Enjoyed 2 hours of Victoria.

To Mass. Watched Victoria and Proms extra, also Gurrelieder from Prom. Setting up new dashcam. Ordered new printer. Liz's laptop has come. Haydn No 88 from the Concertgebouw and interview with Alan Hollinghurst. Mass for the circle at Addsicombe and I was asked to take up the gifts. Fr Keith attended the meeting in the hall and 2 new guys came along plus Beckenham and Terry. Tells me Fr Joe said the transition to Fr Keith would be a lot easier than his arrival! And who's fault was that? Sean had his home visit and did really well. Louise home.   Listened to Dvorak 8 from the Prom. LPO and Jurowski gave an interesting Russian programme with thrilling Shostakovich 11. The violin concerto no 1 of Prokofiev did not come over well.  It seems the 30 minute cutoff and noisy shoes moans at the Proms feedback meeting were dismissed. I agree a guide to promming would be a good idea as people do NOT know how to behave. A manager talked to us in the queue and got the feeling of our disco...

Clocks went back an hour. Woke too early and dozed off. Up in good time left home 7.35 a.m. but on way to station in the car had to reverse up Dixon Road for a white van. Result missed train to Purley from where there was a bus replacement service. To Selhurst from Norwood Junction and to East Croydon. No trains to Purley so got bus 407. On organ at 9 a.m. Lourdes Gloria and Gathering not on sheet so did Murray. For all the saints cut to 5 verses and no procession. We sang "Holy is the true light" fairly well. I then started the communion hymn in D instead of F and realised on the second line so changed to F. I have never done that before. I think the travel disturbed my concentration. I played Howells Sine nomine and Flor Peeters well. Rehearsed for next 2 weeks. Never spoke to Jerry who had postponed meeting about Christmas because Anne Marie had a fall and broke her shoulder bone. Strangely Gisela had a fall off her bicycle and hurt her arm. Julie took posters and had don...

A really super day very sunny with a breeze. Early breakfast and to Cavalieri hotel. Coach very late but an excellent guide and drivers. First ferry full so we were on second one on sun deck and saw blue lagoon on Camino. Good chat to PP from Watford. To Neolithic temples at Ggantija. Tour guide before us hogged space and time so we could not see things. The temples are older than the pyramids. To Ta' Pinu beautiful church of the Virgin. Mosaics and votive offerings. To the Azure window rock formation. Then delicious fish lunch at San Andrea hotel Zafiro at Xlendi on the coast.  Short walk round Victoria/Rabat and saw inside a 600 year old house and St George's gloomy baroque. Later ferry and back at 6.45 time to shop for dinner pizza wine and Swiss roll.