This afternoon I watched a dramatized version of A Child's Christmas In Wales (1955) by Dylan Thomas the renowned poet. I didn't manage to watch the program consistently as there was a phone call and then a couple, very kindly, brought a ready-to-eat festive lunch for me. When I eventually returned to the TV I heard, .......'I said some words to the close and holy darkness, and then I slept' . Those were the closing lines of the story!
They speak to me and I hope they speak to you.

More and more I appreciate the 'music' of language and the facility it has to convey that which is not well approached through words.

Very many thanks to all those who have sent cards, via regular mail and e-mail as well as special e-cards. Unfortunately there has not been time to send out greetings this year. The cost, in terms of both time and money, may mean that mass mailings will be a pleasure of the past. So I thought I'd publish a 'Past Times' retrospective as a way of offering something. Here below are three cards sent in the past five years, with photos of where I was in 2002 and 2003 when cards were not made. Our collective efforts in 2004 would be a hard act to follow!

2000. Cornwall, UK. Outside of my trailer home with Julie and Andrew who kindly gave me space on their farm. Louise the cat and Kate the greyhound in her new coat also feature. This was an attempt to offer something a bit different in terms of Buddha's Enlightenment cards circulating within the Order. I printed around 200 of them using this image. It was a project to be sure! Rev. Saido from Telford Priory took the photo.

2001. Cornwall, UK. Louise (not my cat) basking in the heat from a wood burning stove in my trailer. Printed and mailed a lot of cards and this was the image used. People thought my stove was white, it was in fact silver; they were glad I had a cat, which I didn't!

2002. Cornwall, UK. The civic decorations in Cornwall are remarkable, drawing many people into the tip of the South West of England in December. I think this is the village of Mousehole, either that or Newlyn. Just a few commercial cards sent this year.

2003. Northern California, USA. I was staying high in the mountains at our Hermitage. We had a goodly snow fall and the steep dirt road was a challenge to negotiate for a couple leaving new years day. The picture was taken early one morning in the spring during some extensive ditch digging. It is a beautiful spot at any time of the year. Very few cards sent that year.

2004. Edmonton, Canada. The cards were all hand made and when the children got hold of the glue and tinsel...the sky was no limit! It was fun. The text inside the card was "Shakyamuni Buddha was, is, and will be awakened upon beholding the morning star."

That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed the 'tour'.