It snowed!!

OK, so I spoke too soon and as you can see the snow, all 6 inches of it, did hit us! Stunningly beautiful as it glistens in the bright sunlight, but somewhat treacherous underfoot. Our food delivery van couldn't make it over the canal bridge and so left our supplies at the local shop in Talybont, thanks to the kindness of Laura, the owner. She later rang us, concerned that our veggie bangers were in danger of defrosting with no room in her freezer, so Vidyalila and myself donned our wellie boots and rucksacks and set out over the fields to rescue them.

Today the post-ordination retreat is due to start and it feels a little like a military operation in the office with a white board marking everyone's plan of arrival, with mobile numbers at the ready. Three women have sadly had to cancel at the last minute due to the difficulties travelling, but we're hoping the remaining women will make it. The postman is getting through and is our information system for the local roads...very icy he tells us this morning, despite being gritted yesterday.

We're really appreciating living somewhere so beautiful, even if we're unable to get out and about much!

Wales in winter

It is so beautiful here at the moment, with dazzling white hill tops and the reservoir partially iced over. We've been spared the snow that much of the country has been seeing recently, and the plans to dig out the toboggans had to be shelved for now, but what we do have is lending itself to some stunning views.

We've just finished a Bodhisattva Ideal retreat, and now Vajrasakhi is on her way to the Chairmen's event at Dhanakosa (if she makes it all the way there!), Candraprabha is driving carefully to Colchester and the rest of us are busy catching up on things here. Sridevi has just returned from Finland where it really had snow!

Next week we begin a two week period of community time when we'll all be here. Hopefully Dhammadinna will join us for some of that time and we'll do some study with her, but we'll have to wait and see if she makes it. The snow is proving a good lesson in letting go of expectations!