Day 10 

By the end of today Bob'll be 1% of the way through his 1 000 days...

I'm not sure that it's really time to be counting... but it is one small step along the path - and today is also the day that Bob will be put hard to the test, when classes start at the Centre, and he needs to remain remote and removed.

I guess it's now Bob's turn to let go - and it's not an easy lesson!!

Overall, in the week since my last post, the going has got easier - although it has not been without a little drama on my side.

On Day Four, while collecting a letter for Bob's visa application, I inadvertently upset our accountant's dog, and got a snap of teeth on the nose. But on the positive side - the new ear drops started to take effect and Bob's ear began to improve.

Day Five was visa application day - and that appears to have proceeded without a hitch. Bob landed back in Durban in time to be whisked to the gym for his workout, and completed some important paperwork in the evening - all-in-all had a productive day.

Day Six was uneventful and on Day Seven in the afternoon I noticed a fleeting glimpse of that hard-to-describe-something (perhaps an aura or type of peaceful energy) about Bob that was so apparent after his return from Shikoku, remained strong for about six months, and then slowly faded.

That got me wondering what elements and factors would facilitate such a feeling and what would detract from it - until I realised that this line of questioning was, probably to a large degree, the motivation behind Bob's chosen path of spiritual training. (Shaz wins the Doh! Award).

Day Eight: Bob was doing well, but I must have done a really poor technique in training - and ended up exacerbating a long-standing shoulder niggle that left me with a painfully sore shoulder. The good news for this day was that Bob's ear was 95% fixed.

I would say that Bob is fairly comfortably settled in his new routine. He says it does feel different, but expects the routine to take about three weeks to settle into something more tangible. Day Eight and Nine saw him telling me how to set up classes, realising his mistake and saying they were only suggestions… but generally he's not letting go - understandable. I'm listening without comment and will make use of the 'suggestions' that fit well. I am hoping the stream of commentary will ease as the week progresses - otherwise we'll start with some gentle hints about letting go - as they saying goes: Let go, Let god, but tie the camel... or PAWS's version: Let go, let dog and...

Day Ten: My shoulder is still not in a trainable condition, and it does affect the feeling of the retreat not to participate in the morning session, so there I was this morning kodachi (a short sword or long knife) in one hand, facing a naginata!!

We've got a potential five new people coming this evening for their first trial class in TodeJutsu… of course there's always the gap between mouth and foot… but it is a potentially good start to the year.

Shaz says: Apart from feeling like a very well-tied camel...

Following Bob's routine of up at 4am and to bed at 9pm is tiring (and I don't do tired very well - I do it grumpily). I'm wondering how much meditation during the day might ease this… but don't have the time to experiment. Adjusting to two meals suits my eating needs - and the change to Bob's dietary requirements requires a bit more thought in preparation… Bob is doing fine on it - but I've run out if innovative ways of serving rice!! Trying to introduce variety (legally, within the dietary constraints) is the challenge here.

Bob says: Currently not much at all… When asked how he's doing or feeling I get either "hmmm" or "yes" - which generally means that he's deliberately not looking.

Behind the scenes: The instructors for this year have been working hard at planning and coordinating classes. The marketing machine in motion, and a few calls have come in … now Shaz just needs to remember to carry those two darn cell phones around with her all the time!! I've found I'm feeling rather excited about the start of classes this evening... and am looking forward to seeing the diverse and mottley crew that makes up our extended Wu-Shin family.

REQUEST: Bob is wanting to get hold of a specific brand of Chinese jasmine incense - it comes in a blue and white box with a picture of a jasmine on a vine and contains several packets of incense inside. The name on the outside of the box is MILIWEISHENXIANG - if anyone knows where /  how we can get some, please drop me a line - would be looking for several boxes.

Over 'n Out: An e-mail from Mike Michaelides reminded me of one of Bob's famous sayings... after teaching a new or particularly difficult exercise he's say: do this every morning - and AMAZING THINGS WILL HAPPEN...

Well Bob's doing a whole lot of training - every morning - and here's hoping that those promised moments of amazement appear just soon enough for Bob to fuel his determination. 

"Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity." - Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Have a great week!

Best wishes

Shaz