Rhythm. ..

A change of rhythm, the typing of which word reveals no vowels, which is quite unusual ... six days at Land of Joy enables access to philosophers of Buddhist bent, though open, as usual, to free dialogue ... and outdoor exercise clearing the land ready for tree planting in March ... so, mutual benefit, making use of free time to stay fit in mind, body and spirit at great local resource, still operating the generosity principle, which is quite rare to find ...

Breakfast generally taken in solitude, before the others are up, though lunch and supper more challenging with conversations going at quite a pace ... easiest to focus on the food and not seek something vaguely relevant to offer ... of course the normal status is solitude and established quite firmly ... and a spiritual practice in its own right ...

Relevant informants this time include a graduate in Tibetan Buddhist studies and a retired G.P., who suggested at least 20% of her patients were somatised, and many more if serious conditions developed as a result of toxic personal or career relationships were included ... proper researchers put the figure much lower, though the effect is very difficult to identify, especially for those with seriously scientific mindsets. .. anyway, the train of thought here is to promote local community action to keep the "worried well" out of doctor's surgeries and away from chemicals which themselves often compound the problem ... overworked GPs may see this as a good thing, as long as it's not so successful as to put them out of work ...

February arrives, Celtic Spring, though calendar Spring probably more accurate at this latitude by the Wear ... still, the days lengthen perceptibly and temperatures are mild enough ... thoughts move to Caminos again, though not before a full week of dialogue at the Krishnamurti Centre in a couple of weeks and maybe some work at Land of Joy helping erect the second meditation cabin at the start of March ... later March tree planting also an option. .. all of which forward planning takes the mind away from the present moment for a while ... balance between house based retreat and other activities fine at this stage and none of the future activities are compulsory in the relaxed regime of retirement ...

Today's plan is routine local walk, despite rainy forecast and an unusual addition of companion ... weather permitting ... let's see ...