Reposing Welsh Style

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Our final talking ‘repose’ day on this otherwise silent 5 week retreat saw most of us aiming for Olympic gold in the chattering event. We headed for a place with a population of more than sheep and made a triumphal entry to Llangollen.

It is strange how informal conversation makes such a difference to your ‘head space’ after the silence and intensity of the past three weeks. Interesting, too, to compare experiences with other retreat participants now that we’ve passed the half-way stage.We know the most difficult section lies in the next week, so a bit of relaxation and mutual support goes a long way.

I’m really loving this bit of Wales – in all weathers. Even the torrential rain a couple of days ago wasn’t enough to stop me getting out into the hills for some rather brisk walking and meditation. It’s the availability of all that wonderful outside space that stops the ‘cabin fever’.

A very positive and revealing experience, so far, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of the next fortnight. The photo above is the view from my retreat room. Not bad to wake up to that each morning!

Birthday in Andhra

Today is my sponsor child’s birthday. Happy Birthday Amala!

Earlier this year Amala and I managed to get together for a short time at her home in Andhra Pradesh. She lives at HEAL Village near Guntur – an inspiring and joyous place run by the largely voluntary HEAL (Health and Education for ALL).

Heal Village, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

Amala is doing fantastically well in her education thanks to this wonderful charity that works to provide a stable environment for orphaned children and young people in eastern India.

HEAL is hoping to help even more children as it develops a new facility called Paradise Village in the coming months and years. It needs our support and I’ve seen, first hand, what a difference this makes to individual lives.

www.heal.co.uk