We've just finished a week of community time, when we were also visited by Dhammadinna, who sat in on our meetings and met up with each one of us individually...she is always such a pleasure to have around and we're delighted she's going to come up again later in the year.
The main thing that came out of our meetings was that Vidyalila has decided to leave after 10 years here and so we are looking at who may join the team. Of course we're sorry to see her go (no actual date yet), but we're sure it'll be a good move for her. We've had no changes in the team for two years now, which has been great, but as we are all told repeatedly as Buddhists 'all things are impermanent'! It was suggested that Vidyalila is irreplaceable, but not indispensible, as all good team members should be. It will be some months before she leaves and when we know a definite date we'll let you know.
We were also planning next years programme, which is quite a feat trying to fit all the different retreats people do around each other, such as Akashavana (for the preceptors here), College meetings and Chairs events. Hopefully the programme will be out in September.
We're still looking into a ground source heat pump, but unfortunately the change in government has meant the possible 50% grant we'd hoped to get has gone and so it's looking a little less feasible financially. We're updating the insulation throughout the building and having double glazing fitted where there is none, and so this will all help to bring our fuel bills down too. Vajrasakhi produced some great graphs in this morning's meeting to illustrate the use and cost of oil and gas here over the past few years and it was sad to see that costs have risen to a high not seen for a few years. Hence we always remind you to shut windows if your radiator is on when you're here!
A new garden tool shed is arriving in a couple of weeks and that should prevent the crush in the greenhouse on work mornings...and allow me (Amritamati) more opportunity to grow more next year, which I am very excited about (aubergines seem to be high on the list to try). If you ever think you can't change believe me a few years ago I never thought I'd be living at Tiratanaloka obsessing about mange tout and rabbits in the herb bed! Anything is possible! The garden is looking lovely, although the lawn is suffering slightly from the little rain we've had. So unusual for Wales. The recent What is the Order retreat had brilliant sunshine most every day. It was glorious.
Do tell your friends about the blog and comment if you wish. I'm aware a lot of women don't know about it. The more women who read it the bigger the prompt for me to remember to update it!!
Enjoy the summer.
