All Wales & Borders Course

Mood: Tired & Panic Health:Good Weather: Sunny & Cool

What does the below picture tells you?

The Wales border bridge

Ya, going out of Wales... I was traveling out of Wales to England. I have signed up for a three days 'All Wales SGI- UK course and was on my way to my destination on a friday afternoon.

Remember this place? This is Taplow Court - our SGI- UK HQ centre. I came here a year ago to attend the student division day. I am glad that I am able to come here for the last time before I finished my degree.

Not only that! I was able to stay in this century old mansion, owed by countless of rich earls in the past! Hahaha... a taste of their lifestyle!

The dungeon door to my checked in room...

Ok, I was just kidding. My room was actually at the 'used to be' servant's quarter. The space was amazing. The servant quarter was a later extension to the main building in the 18th Century. Can really tell how many servants they have and how rich they must be.

I have a shared room with six other women. Ooo... wonder if I will have ghostly encounter in this century old building...

Out of the window in the room

After checking in, I decided to tour around for a short time to see if anything has changed.

Everything seemed to be the same even the horses. Yes! I saw Mr. Brownie again! Unfortunately, there was an additional border and I couldn't have close contact with them like I used to! Ok, time to go for my course...

Exhibition of Sensei's visit in Taplow Court many years ago...

Theme for this course

Very attentive audiences :)

On friday, we got an opening ceremony & experience, followed by group meeting and lecture by Sanda McWilliam. Jonathan was our group leader and he shared his experience on the last day of the course. Sanda McWilliam's lecture evolved with 'the heart'. Hmm... remind me of my heart project...

Breakfast in the morning! I love English breakfast!

A good breakfast means a lot of energy to sustain the whole day. But I ended up with no lunch or dinner because I was too full for breakfast...

Beside the normal schedule, other highlights of the meeting included a tour of the mentor and disciple room. It was also the first time I entered the main building, which is the taplow court. OMB! (Oh my buddha!! A term more suitable for Buddhist than OMG) The interior design was awesome!! I don't want why, everytime I entered a building like that, I feel like writing a story. Unfortunately, as I was also a lilac (on duty), I didn't have time to snap a few pictures. Sighs... I hope one day, I will have the chance to visit the room again!

The lecture that I enjoyed most was by Kazuo Fuji. I loved the many analogies he used. It just made people remember them! On the 3rd day, I suffered from fatigue. I was so tired that I couldn't focus in the experiences and lecture by Robert Samuels,who was also my favourite lecturer. It was because I didn't have enough sleep. On the first night, I was quite weary and my mind was on the radar for something interesting if you know what I mean. It turned out that the servant's quarter was 'clean'. However, on the second night, I thought I was doomed...

I went to another shower as the one closest to my room was occupied. This shower was an underground type. I went to the shower, shut the door then close the shower door. Five minutes before I was done, ghost and spirit came to my mind... a lady figure dressed in 18th century, which I quickly brushed it away. Ooo... As I tried to open the shower door after I had finished, I realised it was struck!

"OMB! I can't be that lucky!"

If the door was shut, it wasn't that bad since I could knock and shout at the door. But being struck in the shower is not a good idea. Not only I was a few steps away from the door, I didn't have towel with me. Worse! It seemed that I was alone in the underground. OMB! Maybe I have to wait for hours before they realised I was missing... I was panic!!

What happened then? I am not telling here. It is a mystery! Hahaha...

At the end of our course, we got a surprise! The special choir group in our organisation, came to our hall and presented a beautiful song! So many of us were so touched and tears were flowing down. It was not surprising how people got so emotional at the end of the wonderful course. I guessed everyone just wished that the 'encouraging, inspiring and learning' were not coming to an end. Hopefully they will maintain high spirits once they got home and in the 'reality' world!

My reality world is to revise for my coming exam. I am so glad that I have made it to my last course in Wales. Cheers!