Mei-An – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

UK: Father’s Day Cards! (21.6.2026)

21/06/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

With regards Mother’s Day – the UK has a different day to that recognised universally. Why this is I do not know. Apparently, the UK invented Mother’s Day – which was originally the “Mother of Christ” Day. I am told that “Father’s Day” is the same in and outside the UK. So, there you have it. Anyway, my two daughters are still children and tend to give me cards. Parenting is a difficult and demanding undertaking and certainly not the starry-eyed pastime popular literature likes to portray. It is not romantic to say the least. Of course, children never understand the burden parenthood – and as parents we would do well to remember that we were once children. Although there is no standard rule-book – there are rules. It is hoped that common decency and common-sense hold sway and all difficulties navigated. And on the journey goes!

A Cuckoo Pecks the Tree Outside Our Bedroom Window!

Sutton: A Woodpecker Outside Our Bedroom Window! (6.11.2025)

06/11/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Whilst getting ready for school – our youngest daughter (Kai-Lin) – heard a “knocking” outside our bedroom window in our first-floor flat (the window is more or less in-line with the treetops nearby). When Gee pulled-back the curtain (it was around 8 am) to everyone’s surprise – there was what looked like a juvenile Woodpecker attempting to develop a head of steam through its inexperienced pecking! Normally, we only ever hear these birds “out of sight” as it were, but even then, only at a considerable distance (usually in woodland or nears forests) – but I have never seen such a rural bird landing within a city context.

Sutton: St Nicholas Church – Feeding Squrrels & Pigeons! (21.9.2025)

21/09/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

We visited the Church-yard of St Nicholas Church on the 14.9.2025 – a pleasant Saturday afternoon in South-West London (formerly East Surrey). At the moment we are experiencing what we use to call an “Indian Summer” – providing this is still an acceptable analogy (who knows – the ground upon which we stand keeps dissolving into loose sand). Either way, communing with wild animals teaches children empathy, sympathy, and kindness. This is inter-species communication – a very important aspect of a civilised upbringing and education. From a superstitious Buddhist view – all life is karmically inter-related following endless cycles of rebirth (bundles of life-habit living through all different life-forms until the realisation of enlightenment breaks the cycle). Is this real? I have no idea – but the Buddha seems to think rebirth is a Brahmanic myth – but it is a myth which he uses to convey his teaching and make his point, etc.

Paignton: The Gurkha Curry! (27.8.2025)

27/08/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

This is a very sought after place with tables having to be booked weeks in advance. The cuisine is Nepalese (Gurkha) and is exceptionally good. The children enjoyed the rice and poppadoms – and it was a good experience for them. I was shocked to learn that the average price of a burger nowadays is around £8! Can you believe that! Even curries are not that cheap nowadays and so I am grateful we were guests and not hosts. As my mother is bed-bound abs could not attend in person – we ordered a curry to take home for her! We had a wonderful time surrounded by our family.

UK: Father’s Day – June 15th! (15.6.2025)

15/06/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Seriously though, When I look back at the perfect days of the late 1970s – the UK was basically a Soviet State managed by not too convincing representatives of the bourgeoisie! NHS Staff were paid fully and received everything a grateful State could provide. Our NHS friends would go on holiday to Cuba and Yugoslavia – two Socialist States with free cradle to the grave healthcare. Tony Blair blanket-bombed Yugoslavia for 78-days in 1998 – simply because its people wanted to stay “Socialist” (the US deliberately bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade as a “warning”). Although I recognise the bravery of the RAF during WWII – I am reticent to visit RAF Museums on the grounds that since WWII – the RAF has been involved in one bombing atrocity after another – including killing our Comrades in Yemen. As an Englishman – I refuse to accept this behaviour from my country. England has a responsibility to bring peace and harmony to the world – emanating from Stone Henge – and not to participate in the destructive underbelly of US anti-intellectualism.

UK: Father’s Day – 2024! (16.6.2024)

16/06/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

Today, my two daughters – Mei-An and Kai-Lin – presented me with two wonderful “Father’s Day” cards! The UK follows the UN declaration of “June 16” of each year marking Father’s Day – but the UK has a different day for “Mother’s Day” – which is far older (dating back to the 16th century – “Mothering Sunday” – which is the fourth Sunday after Lent and varies each year in actual date-day.

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