My birthday this year fell on Asalha Puja or as we call it for the prisons, Dhamma Day, on July 17th. As it’s one of the three festivals recognised by the Prison Service as special festivals that Buddhist prisoners can celebrate I went that afternoon to Gartree prison and afterwards to Stocken. In both prisons we managed a short celebration and for the Gartree group I took them a rather fine Buddha Rupa for the shrine that is set up every week for their group meeting.

The picture shows me setting off.

Later when I got back we had a mini invasion of former Warwick students fresh from their graduation accompanied by friends and family. Dr Pie had his PhD robes with him so I had a birthday photo with him in full regalia and we got a quick snap of Dr Boy, sorry, Dr Ant.