Retreats

who are out...

They're allowed to shoot any Welshmen who's out after dark in Chester, apparently. I don't know about Welshwomen though...

Why? Do ruffians come out after dark and set about Welsh people?

I love Chester at that time, but being Welsh I have to leave before darkness falls !

Yes, I suppose it would Anniebach. Have a few days in a nice big town? Xmas lights are very cheering.

I know, but I do apologise if I make an error

They're not compulsory.

Ooooops, forgot to add a smiley

Best not areas in Wales where there is sheep farming , be like taking coal to Newcastle

Tee hee!

You could take a recorder.

Wouldn't a few days in a nice cottage be as good? Somewhere in Wales. With sheep. And hills. You know - countryside?

Why is it necessary to have the doom and gloom reverential atmosphere?

I spent a week on Iona making music - it was splendid and I remember it with great joy - but the journey was a bit of a drag of course.

There's a Buddist centre in Dumfries and Galloway, hold courses and retreats. Not been but will do one day! Google Samye Ling.

Might be, but that might be part of it. If someone's very stressed in their day-to-day life a bit of boredom could be welcome...

Wouldn't it be boring?

I'd love to go on a retreat. It would have to be for more than just a day though! At least a week or two - a month would be ideal...(commitments allowing, of course.)

I met a rather splendid lady on the train to Oban in the summer. She was heading for an annual retreat on Iona. I keep promising myself I would follow in her footsteps. She had been going for over 20 years and she was in her 80s

I was trying to make the point that the reaction was over the top compared to Kenya in April and Beirut the day before Paris. Where were the flags for those events? As at 31/8 the UN estimate that 2,500 refugees died trying to reach Europe so far this year. There is no end to the tragedies and they all matter, we are all one family on this earth, my point was that the media is over emphasising one event at the extent of others, and when the facts are missing they waste columns of paper on speculation. Whilst I want to hear how it happened, until the details emerge I would rather read about the many other things - good and bad - going on in the world which at any other time would be in the headlines.

Yes retreats are different, just you and your thoughts

I always come away from a Sunday morning service feeling very determined to be holy saintly a good girl. It wears off by 4 o'clock.

But I expect retreats are different.

There is a very good retreat near here(Melton Mowbray) called Launde Abbey - its very well attended C of E but you don't have to be. I have never been to a retreat but my friend goes regularly and finds it refreshing and uplifting.

As Roseq suggests, yoga is wonderful. I did yoga many years ago and enjoyed it, however you cannot get a beginner yoga class in the north east. There are either classes that you must join and just 'catch up' with the rest of the class or private and expensive 'one to one' classes.

The one I went to was all beginners and we progressed from breathing through to some of the more difficult poses. A couple of years ago I tried the local gym who ran classes but everyone could literally tie themselves in knots and I spent most of the time sitting out as I just couldn't do it.
I am not particularly agile and would need a beginners class if anyone in the Newcastle area knows of one please let me know.

We used to go to a Buddhist retreat in Yorkshire, Kilnwick Percy Hall, I think it was, near Pocklington. Just for the day, for talks, but thinking about it, it would be nice to go and stay. You do not need to join in, but it would be a shame not to.
Some of our guests at the guest house in York were buddhists, often on their way there or back.

Indiana, i am very fortunate they allow me to join them for a day visit.

Merlotgran, I so benefit from time in a retreat but not enough to have a hysterectomy , sorry but you did give me a giggle

Rosequartz, I think a meditave form of yoga is an excellent suggestion.