Day 475: Goodbye

(Sat 10th August)

Upped and 'on the mat' by six. In the hall, with a surprising number of others. It was touch and go for a moment, as I felt how tired I was and only just decided to go. I left today, so my rationale was that it was my last chance and I’d sleep in tomorrow. Pranayama. Some of it was a bit full on, but it was very good and I’m impressed by the taste I got for it. They were thorough. And I stayed awake in the meditation and the satsang. I loved the satsang. Very simple and very pleasing. Aaahhhh.

laters, lovelies

I enjoyed having a tiny bit of time with Bärbel, the beautiful, slight, acrobatic organiser (and gifted teacher) of the workshop. She’s a good, straightfoward and honest egg, that one. I like her. Grateful that I got my train (there were only minutes in it – thank you, computer room, and lady who let me push in, and good looking at details on my part, all of which helped us buy the right ticket and print it out just in the nick of time). Thankful for my double-accompaniment - Bärbel and Fabio. About a minute and a half to spare when we got to the train. Yup. That close. (Oh, and Fabio's in London from Friday 16th, for a week. Would anyone be kind enough to host him?)

I shall remember them mostly like this

A very warm goodbye from everyone. I will miss übermama Daniela, wonderfully warm Luciana, the Slovak lovelies Gaba and Katka, mischievous, both of them, in different ways, playful and funny, Fabio (so skillful, so nice), Martin (man-child meets man-mountain), sweetest, cleva Petra, lovely Sam, funny Simon, hilarious Florencia and her face, fabulous Günther and his most excellent demeanour and ridiculously good face, earnest, movey, committed Ferenc, intellectual and fine-faced Stanko (not fine as in delicate, rather mask-like, but fine as in brilliant), the fountain of richness that is Cécile, doll-like and pleasing Mary and her mysterious and charming husband Andrea, super-real Valeria, full of volume and passion and above all the group in itself… such a fabulous creature in itself, that group. Everyone ready to play, play, play. Very glad indeed that I went and I look forward to some of these people featuring bigly in my life. I want to work with many of them. Ooooh… so much to do. Europe is calling, or further still.

I loved how much my Italian (which I don’t speak) has improved, even just over this week. I’m understanding so much more and even daring to say a few words (though most of them come out Spanish). Gaba taught me to say ‘Gde jest peňaženka? Tu jest peňaženka!’* and it gave us both such glee. There was swierska (I think) too. Candle. We lost that and found it a few times over the evening.

Softest landing EVER on my flight. I was very impressed. I was also delighted at the sight of planes taking off over a huge, skinny sliver of a crescent moon as I walked through Heathrow. It’s half past midnight. I’ve been travelling for 11 hours. Now I’m back. Jochen in the morning. Bring it on!