Lunch in Newcastle with a retired Chinese female paramedic from Malaysia. But before that a visit to an English funeral directors to deliver an empty ash urn. My companion took a healthy interest in our funereal arrangements, briskly scouting out the chapels of rest and the hearses. Modern sleek and shining, we have those. Horse and carriage with black feather plumes, humm. Motorbike and coffin side-car? No comment. Total incomprehension!

With the bemused secretary escorting us out my friend spoke matter-of-fact about ambulance driving and the one time she took out the fire engine. Because there was nobody else to drive it, and then fighting the fire too. Might as well help out.

The day continued in a free flowing, free wheeling way. In and out of Chinese supermarkets. Thankfully no mournful fish eyes gazing out of crinkly packets. A pit stop for lunch and chop stick practice. Then onwards to shop for an early Chinese New Year present. It was an exhilarating day out, she’d say we went outstation. Just one of the many expressions I reconnected with from my time in Malaysia, June 2005.

Best of all was reconnecting with the energy and bright spirit of Chinese Buddhism.

forget your perfect offering,

there’s a crack in everything,

that’s how the light gets in.

Pictures taken today at Fountains Abbey. There is more information on the official web site too.

The Leonard Cohen poem came on a card from somebody who recently fell and broke her foot. …and while I wouldn’t have directly chosen this time of broken-ness, I am learning so much through it.

The altar set ready for the Feeding of the Hungry Ghosts ceremony held yesterday in Edmonton, Canada.

Nearly everybody has left after the retreat here at Throssel. This email arrived just now with news of a returning friend:
Dear Rev Mugo, Yes she arrived safe this afternoon complete with streaming cold. I have packed her off to bed with inhalations, chest rubbed with essential oils, lem-sip and hot lemon and honey so hopefully she will sleep well.

Thankfully I still have a supply of ColdFX, Edmonton’s own answer to fighting off colds. It really works too.
Many thanks to Michael for the photograph.

Uma who died about a month ago watches the snowy hillside from her vantage point.

Jazzy the pug. In her youth, a couple of years ago, she had a modeling job. She trotted up and down at a dogie fashion show wearing the latest in dog attire. Mostly these days it’s on with the red harness and out to amaze and amuse the world on Whyte Avenue, Edmonton. Jazzy, always the show stopper.

Overheard in a large store in Telford last week. Come on, let’s knock ’em over Jim. A young father encouraging his small boy to leave behind the engaging toys. Parents as mates, parents as big friends and parents who protect. Parents who parent in a radically different way. Gone the authority figure, or only brought out when really needed. No better no worse a way, just different. If there is love and respect and tenderness parenting works, not and there is a struggle.

Knock ’em over Jazzy. No struggles and be careful out there this winter.