Another Week.
Today there was another march in London in support of the monks in Burma and to keep the terrible situation there from being forgotten. I had been asked to go and I very much wanted to be there but I couldn't find anyone to take me. Right up until late last night I was still hoping to find a way but without success. I'm very sorry about that.
But that's the way it is at the moment. We have very few people around who can help us and I have only one or two who I can occasionally call on for a lift somewhere. Without someone to drive me I haven't been out much lately, which means I've done very few prison visits and I haven't been able to visit Rosemary as often as I would have liked.
Some of you reading this will remember Rosemary. She's a wonderful lady who used to come here and with utmost generosity supported us in so many ways. The last few years her health has deteriorated and not helped much by a couple of recent stays in Warwick Hospital, where they were incapable of organising someone from five minutes down the corridor to repair her hearing aids, she's now unable to care for herself and is living in a home for the elderly in Leamington Spa.
But back to this week. Back from the dash to London last Sunday we held a meeting of our Buddha-Dhamma Fellowship Committee and settled on November 11th as the date for the AGM. On Monday evening Tahn Manapo kindly replaced me and went off to Rugby to speak to some cubs who were trying for their Religions badge and on Tuesday we got our car back from the garage where it had been for some expensive repairs. On Wednesday Pie took me to Broadmoor where I've been the Buddhist chaplain for many years. I usually go there once a month for a visit that normally last for four or five hours. This time, afterwards, I had an appointment at the nearby Wellington College, which is a large and expensive school founded at about the same time as Broadmoor was built. They are interested in the Buddha Groves that have been built in various prisons and in Broadmoor, which of course is not a prison but a hospital, and are thinking of building one themselves. Unfortunately I couldn't find the chap I was supposed to meet, so now the plan is for him to come and see me here.
Thursday was Wan Phra, the half moon observance day and it was great to see some Thai ladies bringing food and making merit. That Wan Phra reminded us that with only three weeks left our Vassa this year will soon be over and so this weekend we are anxious to let everyone know that on October 28th we will be having an event here to celebrate the Conclusion of the Vassa.
This afternoon a little party of teachers and students from the school that Matthew teaches at in Bangkok called to see me. They are staying not far from here and travelling daily all over the country to see things of interest, like Stonehenge and Manchester United football ground!
When at first, with no one to drive for me I had to restrict my travel around the prisons, the chance of spending more time here seemed a blessing but as time has worn on I've felt increasingly uneasy at letting people down. Fortunately there is a some light now at the end of the tunnel and hopefully I'll be able soon to get back into my stride.
But that's the way it is at the moment. We have very few people around who can help us and I have only one or two who I can occasionally call on for a lift somewhere. Without someone to drive me I haven't been out much lately, which means I've done very few prison visits and I haven't been able to visit Rosemary as often as I would have liked.
Some of you reading this will remember Rosemary. She's a wonderful lady who used to come here and with utmost generosity supported us in so many ways. The last few years her health has deteriorated and not helped much by a couple of recent stays in Warwick Hospital, where they were incapable of organising someone from five minutes down the corridor to repair her hearing aids, she's now unable to care for herself and is living in a home for the elderly in Leamington Spa.
But back to this week. Back from the dash to London last Sunday we held a meeting of our Buddha-Dhamma Fellowship Committee and settled on November 11th as the date for the AGM. On Monday evening Tahn Manapo kindly replaced me and went off to Rugby to speak to some cubs who were trying for their Religions badge and on Tuesday we got our car back from the garage where it had been for some expensive repairs. On Wednesday Pie took me to Broadmoor where I've been the Buddhist chaplain for many years. I usually go there once a month for a visit that normally last for four or five hours. This time, afterwards, I had an appointment at the nearby Wellington College, which is a large and expensive school founded at about the same time as Broadmoor was built. They are interested in the Buddha Groves that have been built in various prisons and in Broadmoor, which of course is not a prison but a hospital, and are thinking of building one themselves. Unfortunately I couldn't find the chap I was supposed to meet, so now the plan is for him to come and see me here.
Thursday was Wan Phra, the half moon observance day and it was great to see some Thai ladies bringing food and making merit. That Wan Phra reminded us that with only three weeks left our Vassa this year will soon be over and so this weekend we are anxious to let everyone know that on October 28th we will be having an event here to celebrate the Conclusion of the Vassa.
This afternoon a little party of teachers and students from the school that Matthew teaches at in Bangkok called to see me. They are staying not far from here and travelling daily all over the country to see things of interest, like Stonehenge and Manchester United football ground!
When at first, with no one to drive for me I had to restrict my travel around the prisons, the chance of spending more time here seemed a blessing but as time has worn on I've felt increasingly uneasy at letting people down. Fortunately there is a some light now at the end of the tunnel and hopefully I'll be able soon to get back into my stride.
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