July - October

In the second half of the year, we were drawn south – first to attend John’s sister, Lorraine’s birthday party in Canberra (in July – that’s shows how much we love her), then in October to the same Buddhist Meditation Retreat that we had attended in eastern Victoria last year. Despite its name, the retreat was hard work, with lots of learning, as well as the meditation. I declined to go with John and attend the 5am and 6am sessions, which has probably diminished my prospect of enlightenment. The Retreat is also a good test of our will – having to go without meat and alcohol for ten days.