Good news - all the monks have arrived safely from India after a long flight direct from Bangalore. They are finding it quite strange that it stays light until 10pm and is light again at 4.30am - very different from Bylakuppe! Tomorrow we start the preparations for the tour, and our first performance which is in Genoa, Italy on 3rd July. Back to the airport again!

NEARLY HERE...

The arrival of the main group comes nearer: two of the party are already here, and yesterday saw our first major shopping trip of the tour. It seems strange to be buying 20kg bags of rice and vast quantities of chillies, garlic, ginger and flour to satisfy the culinary needs of the monks! On Monday we took part in a fund-raising concert in aid of Nepal following the earthquakes in April and May. We offered prayers for those who had been affected, and a blessing. The concert, in All Saints Church, Middle Woodford, near Salisbury was a mixture of summer music from ancient plainsong to Mancini's 'Moon River' and a spirited rendition of 'Tea for Two', and the retiring collection raised just over £1,000 in donations to two charities. Now we are looking forward to the arrival of the full tour group next Tuesday 30th June, and to the tour really getting under way.

PREPARATIONS AT GAUNTS HOUSE FOR THE DHARMA FESTIVAL

I have just come back from a brief visit to Gaunts House to further the preparations for the Dharma Festival there in July. As usual, the gardens were looking wonderful, and because there was a course going on, I was able to see the set up for the dining room tent, which may well become the place for evening showings of our films. The Theatre is going to work well for the Kathakali workshops and the performance of their extraordinary sacred dramas, and I have promised Gaunts' staff that I will bring the full tour group over on 2nd July to help put up the tent. We have decided to encourage people to camp on the main lawn so as to be close to the 'action' and it is all beginning to feel very good. We are hoping that more people decide to come - especially now we have 'Evening Only' Tickets available, giving access to Gaunts from 3pm each day and entry to the evening talk and performances Wednesday to Saturday, and more Day Tickets including entry to any of the activities during the day. It will be a lovely event, and we are getting quite excited!

TOURING IN 2015

We are coming back to UK! Our group arrives in London on 30th June, and we will be touring for the next three months. Final details are being sorted out by our UK office, and we are looking forward to a busy tour. We start in Italy with a performance in Genoa on 3rd July. Then it's the Channel Islands with visits to Jersey and Guernsey, followed by a unique five day 'Dharma Festival' in Dorset with Kathakali artists, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, singing bowl workshops and much more. Keep in touch with us by following our blog - and by checking for up to date details on our website at www.tashi-lhunpo.org.uk