Recent Photos October 2019
View from bedroom window. Rainbow over Oxford.
Rainbow over Annam Brahma, Jamaica, Queens, New York. (more…)
Garden October 2019
There is not too much left in the veg garden, apart from the last of the runner beans, courgettes, and tomatoes, but from lawn and borders, there are still quite a few leaves to make a salad.
Some greens still going.
- Sorrel – a big leafed kind of herb. I thought I pulled it up last year, but it regrew in August, to my surprise. A neighbour gave it. I was pleased it grew back.
- Dandelion leaves
- Tomatoes
- Spinach – a few slug holes
- Lettuce – only one or two plants left, but get a few leaves
- Flowers of Borage
- Swiss Chard
- Rocket
Other photos
Inspired by 3100 Mile Race 2019
Every year, I follow the Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Self-Transcendence Race from a distance. This year seemed a particularly good edition. I know Nirbhasa (who finished in 2nd place) and…
Garden August 2019
Courgettes 
This courgette plant is flying – 1 new courgette daily. It takes up half the bed and more.
Border
Coreopsis.
Sunflower
The chair collapsed under my colossal weight and I unceremoniously fell within the chair. It was comedy gold, but can a funny act be funny, if no-one is there to see the joke? I wasn’t laughing! (It is like the Zen koan, if you tell a joke in the forest but no one is there to hear it, was it really a joke?) (more…)
Leeds Peace Plaque
Whilst in Leeds, I visited the Sri Chinmoy Peace Plaque in Park Sqauare to check it was still there and in good shape. (more…)
Garden from roof
Races short and longer
Last night was the last race of the summer races we hold at the Oxford Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile. 87 runners entered the race. 
I have bought a megaphone, you won’t be able to take it away from me now. (more…)
Meditation is no protection from greedy wood pigeons
Yesterday, I was meditating in my outside room when I heard a very heavy bird land on the roof. Immediately my meditation was disturbed and I feared it was a greedy wood-pigeon who was going to start chomping away at my beautiful brassicas just a few feet away. However, I thought I ought to try and be spiritual and remain detached from my vegetable garden.
So I kept meditating but it wasn’t a very good meditation, because I was worrying about the effects of wood pigeons. After 10 minutes I gave up my attempts at meditation and went outside to see my vegetable planters. Two really fat wood pigeons looked very guilty and flew off. In ten minutes they had wreaked havoc.
So I have had to net the brassicas. (more…)
Kings College Cambridge and Oneness-Dream
Last week I was on tour with Oneness-Dream, a group of singers who sing acapella the songs of Sri Chinmoy. I was driving three friends, including Snatak, who formed the group back in 2011 and who now has restricted mobility.
The first performance was at Kings College, Cambridge. One of the most impressive chapels in Britain. The last time I visited was in 2003 when Sri Chinmoy visited to honour his spiritual mentor, Sri Aurobindo. [Sri Aurobindo studied at Kings College, Cambridge before returning to India where he was an early leader of Indian Independence and later spiritual Teacher.]
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we left 45 minutes late, and so only arrived with a few minutes to spare. Kings College is very strict at closing the doors 5 minutes before the service starts. But, despite concerns over time, it all worked out – fortunately!
The Evensong service was very nice. I was admiring the architecture and beautiful singing. Then after the service, Oneness-Dream were given the opportunity to sing for 15 minutes in this sacred church. The first song was a song composed by Sri Chinmoy and dedicated to Sri Aurobindo. Sri Chinmoy would often sing this song at his Peace Concerts and counted it as one of his most soulful. (more…)