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.