Tan Manapo, or perhaps really we ought to be calling him Ajahn Manapo since he does so much excellent teaching now, was away for a week on retreat at some remote and beautiful place in Scotland (I did get a postcard) and so I was left here cared for first by Ex and then by Guy.
Fortunately it proved to be a relatively quiet week and at last the yobs left us alone. This might have been because of the letters some of them will have received from the police, or maybe because the police have stepped up their presence in our lane or perhaps because Ann, Tan Manapo’s mum, has been driving up and down outside as well as periodically sitting in her car in the wood gateway opposite ready to have a word with anyone making any trouble for us. Quite which of these did the trick I don’t know or it could have been their combined forces but whatever the reason we’ve had no trouble for a week now.
Still our additional fortifications have slowly taken shape and sometime next week the fencing that supplements the new gate will be complete.
Tan Manapo and Rob got back from Scotland yesterday and almost immediately a short weekend retreat at Bhavana Dhamma began.
Now, after my busy week without A. Manapo, I’m enjoying a pleasant and sunny afternoon.
By the way a young man from a Thai restaurant in London came here today with a bag of coins – 175 quid’s worth of tips that he’d saved to offer. Anumodana!