Rains Retreat

News arrives from Plum Village of the forthcoming three month long Rains Retreat. A reminder of the wonderful week in France, with teachings from the Interbeing School of Zen. .. Thay the inspiration for the group of centres near Bergerac, though Thay's in his old root monastery where he went to die ... what stage he's at is not clear, though he stopped taking food a while ago.
Vietnam's climate gives this Retreat its name and the idea of a winter retreat in Northern England does appeal ... ideal since I live here now!

Other options, never far from mind include winter Camino and winter Sun ... a house share in Lagos offered and Humberto the dental implantologist is not far away in Faro. .. Penang for tropical Sun in a part of the world neglected, a Penang resident of Chinese origin issued an invitation a while ago ... always fun to keep options open ...

Meanwhile, an idea to check the Scottish Border takes form, a brief escape during poppymas and birthdays ... the poppocrisy upsetting, the betrayal of the promises to never forget and never do it again ... still, the killing goes on ... when will we ever learn?

It's the Sunday before 11.11, so Church services are held today, commemorating the Bishops' blessings bestowed upon young lads marching off to war ... their God was backing both sides of course, as they pontificated and polished up their mitres ... funny kind of God that, not least because Jesus' message was one of Peace as far as I recall, though there was rather a lot of editing and rewriting of the holy words to produce a magical story, a God with a gender, always male, conveniently for the patriarchal psychopaths running the show ... hardly surprising then that so many threw the baby out with the dirty bath water ...
NB: for US friends, whilst 11.11 works on Wednesday, please note today we say 8.11, whilst you say 11.8 ... no idea why, lost in translation I expect ... words are never the thing described anyway, so don't worry too much ...

As for birthday, this one, if I make it, will be the allotted three score years and ten ... not bad going given the risks involved on this planet in these times, though conscription fortunately avoided ... so, to mark the momentous event, usually skipped, why not wander up to another country for a few days of walking, reading, writing ... not forgetting passport, recently renewed, though unused after shocking travel ban at Easter ... and fascist measures anyway in France, Spain, even Portugal ... you may fly there, but boat is better, slower ... of course elder daughter's Scottish now, soon heading across the Lowlands from West to East, where it rains less ... dear friend over there too,  Buddist friend as well ... they know a lot of other worlds, and not just earthly ones!
A change of scene is always refreshing, not least when some say it's against the rules to go ... hey ho, that's what rules are for - breaking ... let's see ...

The deadly serious pretend election in the decaying home of dying empire limps on... two old white blokes contending to preside over the debacle, whilst supporters of the old order in Europe, still including U.K.  (or not, who knows? Brexit in or out another false divisive duality) ... it certainly knocked the new four week lockdown off the front pages, more or less ... not sure, when here in the U.K. we don't even have a vote in the matter!

And as for empires, they come and go whatever politicians do or say ... especially those on the waning side ... some say the rich compost from the remains will provide nourishment for a higher level place, beyond all the greed and violence ...

Selfishly, though no fan of the resurgent Chinese Empire, awash with all the made up money the declining West provided, I am now an owner of a Chinese car to go with a phone, plus Korean Tablet ... wired up, ready to go ... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, as they say ... though still not sure who "they" are, if not us ...

Rest assured dear loyal reader(s), none of this stuff is really real ... but these great games demand to be played in this round, which some say has lasted two millennia. .. which is a lot (it Time is Real, which, some say, it's not) ...

Mushrooms fresh picked from the fell after misty morning wander provide lunch ... still Autumn here in Northern England golden leaves hanging on, though thinning fast ...
NB for US friends, take care in these perilous times, take heart that all is well in the end, don't worry that there may not be an end or a beginning anyway ... and don't forget, when you see Autumn, that means Fall ...