Summer 26 Round Up

It’s been about four months since I had a round up so I thought it was about time that I did so. Above is a picture of Woldingham boarding school in Surrey, where I spent a week during August. I’ll explain why I went back to school a bit later on.

Books

For a book blog, I’ve been doing pretty badly on the reading front, and I’m quite ok about that. I’m reading what I want, at my own pace. I’ve accepted there will be times when I want to do other things than read.

Hooked by Asako Yuzuki is billed as a follow-up to the bestselling ‘Butter’ by the same author, but it was written before that one, and I think I preferred it too. Intriguing, but it just didn’t have the same drive for me.

Eyes of Gaza by Plestia Alaqad is a defiant act of witness by a young journalist, which is also about her love for her homeland. Harrowing and heartfelt.

Ironwood by Michael Connelly is a new installment in the Catalina Island series, tightly plotted as always. Good people by Patmeena Sabit is about an Afghan family being tried in the court of public opinion in the States. Genuinely gripping and thought-provoking, this one had me really examining how I was forming my opinions as I read. Will be amongst my favourites this year, no doubt.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy was a haunting climate thriller set on an Antarctic island, whilst Alone in Japan by Tom Feiling was an in-depth look at population in decline in Japan (my fascination continues).

I leave two of the best until last - I mentioned in my last blog post about coming across a film set during a visit to Wicklow. I had to go back and re-read Walk the Blue Fields by Claire Keegan and it was just as pitch-perfect, sparse and beautiful as I remembered. I don’t think I’ll leave it seventeen years before I read it again.

Perhaps one of my favourite books of the year so far - London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. Regular readers will know of my enthusiasm for everything that PRK has written, and this one didn’t disappoint. It's a scarcely believable true story of wealth, shadow and a family's search for truth in modern London — I tried to pace myself but couldn't. One of my favourite non-fiction writers and this is as gripping, well-researched and quietly devastating a book as I'm likely to read this year.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann

I’ve been wanting to attend Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for many years now - I’ve watched it from afar on TG4 but always left it too late - you need to organise accommodation months in advance. So when I heard it was coming to Belfast I wasn’t going to miss it, and it worked out well as I was flying out to England on the Sunday (and I had somewhere to stay - thanks Julie).

For those who don’t know - Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the worlds biggest celebration of Irish traditional music, dance, song and language and takes place annually. For the first time ever, Belfast was picked to host it (as it will also be doing in 2027).

I spent some of Friday afternoon in the town then most of Saturday, so I got a good taste of it. I’d post more pictures but I didn’t take any, except for a couple of the crowds in front of City Hall above. I lived in Belfast for about six years during the nineties and have been back many times since - I don’t think I, or anyone else, ever expected to see the city like this.

The whole area around city hall, royal avenue and surrounding streets had been pedestrianised. Laneways and alleys were full of musicians, stages had been set up in previously derelict spaces, bars sprung up on the street - it just felt like one big party.

And such a positive atmosphere - it felt properly cross-community, inclusive and family friendly. An estimated 1.65 million people visited over the week, and I’m already looking forward to next year.

I lived in a Belfast where it was hard to imagine this ever happening, and it was hard to believe it was the same place. At times I felt emotional seeing the city like this, a hugely positive public space full of joy that belonged to the people. Lots on youtube, but here’s a flavour of it.

Screen

Honestly, I haven’t been watching a lot of TV or been to the cinema so not a lot to suggest here. I enjoyed the last season of ‘The Bear’ - definitely recovered from what to me was an underwhelming previous season. Still had its momments of intensity but I liked how the emotional tone in this season. Felt like a fitting time to go out.

Also in its final season is Aussie romantic comedy ‘Colin from accounts’ - still loving the natural chemistry from the two leads, Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, also the writers and real life couple, ably supported by a quality cast. A nice light comedy with some genuinely funny lines and momments and like ‘the bear’, it knows when to bow out.

I find it easiest to remember those shows which resonated emotionally with me, and ‘Virunga’ on Netflix was that show. It’s a 2014 documentary about the work of park rangers in Congo’s Virunga National Park.

The park is threatened by both the outbreak of civil war in the Congo and the predations of a British Oil Company, SOCO international. What especially comes across in the film, thanks to the work of Melanie Gouby, a French journalist, is how the company is preparared to do whatever it takes, whether that be bribery or intimidation, to get their grubby hands on the oil in the park.

This is a mighty work of investigative journalism that feels like a thriller. You can only admire the courage of those risking their lives to save the park and it’s animals. If you’re having difficulties accessing emotions such as anger or sadness, you’ll find this show especially useful.

Retreat

I mentioned going back to school earlier, and so it came to be that I found myself at Woldingham, a boarding school set in 700 acres of Surrey countryside on the historic Marden Park Estate. However I was there during the summer, when the school operates as a retreat centre, catering for up to 360 people.

I’ve been following the teachings of Angelo Di Lullo since I read his book ‘Awake’ back in 2023 and have since attended some of his online retreats. He’s usually based stateside, so when I found out he also hosts an annual retreat in England, it was too good an opportunity to turn down. It usually sells out, so I booked it back at the turn of the year.

It’s been nearly twenty years since I last did a silent retreat, that time it was a Vipassana retreat, also at a boarding school but in County Meath here in Ireland. That one took place at Christmas, and I was in the Dorms. I got a lot out of it, though it took me a few days to get used to the constant rounds of meditation and body scans - 10/11 hours a day, starting at 0430. I also found it quite cold and draughty, and struggled with sitting cross legged on the floor.

This was a bit different. I had my own room for a start, small and without air conditioning, but with everything I needed. I only really used the room for sleeping, though even that was minimal (more later). Three meals a day were also provided, along with plenty of tea and coffee throughout the day.

The surrounds were beautiful - around the main school building you had a trellised walkway, fountain and fish pond, and lots of lawns and trees you could lounge/meditate under. I spent a large part of my free time walking around the grounds.

‘Sometimes I go about pitying myself, and all the time I am being carried by great winds across the sky.’ Traditional Chippewa song

I have to mention the weather, as it played its part. That week at the beginning of August seen an amber weather warning, and on one day it hit 35 degrees. I hadn’t experienced these sort of temperatures since I was in Australia a few years, but the difference is that the UK isn’t equipped for global warming. I’d bought a small portable fan last minute, and it was the best thing I could have done. However, I couldn’t sleep at night, and found myself wandering the grounds/meditating at 3am. It was fine, and I wasn’t alone.

It took a day or two get used to 360 people wandering around not speaking. There’s an automatic urge to say something, even thanks or excuse me, but after a while it’s fine. It works well because it helps to quieten the mind - sitting together at lunch, you’re not thinking about making small talk. At times I felt I was in rehersal as an extra for the TV show ‘Pluribus’ but after a few days it felt natural and I appreciated the silence.

‘If the power to think is a remarkable gift, the power not to think is even more so.’ Sri Aurobindo

Angelo started each day with a guided meditation, followed by a talk then a Q&A in the afternoon. These took place in the 630 seater auditorium, and I also appreciated being able to escape here during the day due to the coolness, especially in the balconies. This was much more comfortable than my previous winter retreat on a hard wooden gym floor.

There was also less meditation - about 5/6 hours a day with the silent sittings, though you could do this outside if you wanted, as I often did. There were also small break out rooms with excellent facilitators where you could talk about your experiences or ask questions, and there was Qigong sessions daily, along with Kirtan and circling (though numbers were limited - over subscribed). There was even some entertainment in the evenings when people could get up and recite a poem.

Retreats take on a life of their own - I had some preconceived notions, but they were quickly swept aside. There’s an energy created, a feeling that’s hard to described being with 360 other retreatants in profound stillness. I would say that it became apparent that my retreat was to be an emotional one, about feeling, and that’s where it went for me.

When after heavy rain, the storm clouds disperse, is it not that they’ve wept themselves clear to the end? Ghalib

Angelo and the team worked hard to make everything run so smoothly, and for me it was perfectly paced. Angelo himself comes across so naturally, without any spiritual airs and graces. His meditations, talks, hosting the Q&As, were perfect. It’s that combination of non-dual teachings along with working with emotions that makes his methods so potent for me.

I watch his videos daily and still return to his book often, so this was the perfect retreat for me in beautiful setting. Angelos channel is called simply always awake and here’s a great recent interview with him.

Music

No gigs, though I did get plenty of live music during my trip to the Fleadh. Few concerts coming up though, so will have a bit more to report next time around. Been listening a lot to this fella though, and this song synchs in nicely with my week in Surrey.

Until next time - may you be happy, may you be well, may you be free from suffering.