Mark & Jin.

Mark and Jin were here to say goodbye yesterday.

They're off to South Korea on Thursday, a new experience for Mark who hasn't yet been to Asia and a new life for Jin who left home alone and returns now with Mark accompanying her. They've both been loyal and keen members of Warwick Uni Buddhist Society, they've both been on retreats at Bhavana Dhamma and Mark spent several months here helping and driving me. So we'll miss them. I hope things will work out well for them, that they will continue to practise the Dhamma and above all that they will be happy.
They brought me a couple of farewell gifts, a colourful little model tortoise to add to my collection and a Chinese wall hanging (pictured). I asked a Chinese friend for a translation and this was his answer.
"The Chinese word says 清風高節, let's have a word by word translation first:

清 -> Pure
風 -> Wind
高 -> High
節 -> Moral Integrity

The whole phrase is an allegory for someone who has a pure character and very high standard of moral integrity."
So, a lovely present and we had just the right place for it in the room where we eat.