VILLAGE DES PRUNIERS

For seven years I have dreamed about and visualised walking among the plum trees with Thich Nhat Hanh in his exiled home of France. I cannot believe I am actually about to make this dream come true. In a few hours I hope to board a plane that will take me to Bergerac airport and thence, onwards, to the monastic settlement in Plum Village.

We returned home late tonight from Gloucester where we said our final goodbyes to Aunty Saida. One final flurry of activity awaits before the pace of my life changes beyond all recognition. Everything I do will be in mindfulness harnessed by good, strong, clear energy, and when I eat, I will chew at least thirty times, like my grandfather taught us when we were little (and we never listened! There were games to be played! Comics to be read! Who had time to chew?).

Now I will chew. Think of me, as I will be thinking of you.