Bob is currently on day five, of a five day fast. He is feeling weak (although has been training and teaching throughout - perhaps a few extra stories on the floor during class?) and finding it a lot harder than the 5-day fast he did at the Narita-san temple in Japan, probably just over two years ago now. I am selfishly pleased to have to attend an all-day conference at the ICC for a writing assignment today - I do find myself questioning whether it is harder to watch someone fast, or to do the fast itself - but I'm fairly sure I'm only feeling sufficiently sorry for both of us!

Quite a lot has changed since my last installment. I think it is sufficient to say that I came very close to my personal limits - in terms of trying to maintain my own balance while simply trying to do more than it was possible for me to do - and a lot of it not within my normal character requiring me to step out of my comforts zones on a regular and recurring basis.

Around mid-August I withdrew from running the Centre. I have been concentrating on my writing work - it has been a relief to be able to do so, and the benefits are, I hope, about to become apparent. I have got a commission from two magazines (one SA, on US) to do an article on a horse riding safari, and am pretty sure of negotiating a free riding safari towards the end of October. 6 days in the saddle, riding a minimum of 5 to 6 hours in a day - counting my chickens before the trip is confirmed, it could be a painful experience, but I am excited at the prospect. I am also treating myself to a course in writing columns and opinion pieces early in November, and I have a potential BIG contract that is waiting for confirmation. Exciting times for me - and a huge feeling of relief in being able to just be me, and express myself naturally.

Back at the Centre. Bob has taken back the administration; not something he enjoys - and he's been revising and devising better systems to go forward into the future. He is back on the floor teaching Katori, as well as the senior TodeJutsu students... and I think enjoying being back in contact with people.

After licking my personal wounds and sensing failure I had recently suggested to Bob that we consider restarting his 1000-day pilgrimage again this coming year (2008)... but his response was that this does not mean that it is broken. He continues to follow his regimen of rising at 4am and the meditation sessions, and is of the opinion that 2007, as a process, has been one of clearing the path of past obstacles towards further progress. Time will tell if it is working, but currently the major reason for his withdrawal from teaching - a growing frustration over a self-imposed responsibility of teaching, and not always seeing the results - seems to have been cleansed during the initial period.

I think we are now, more or less, in a new routine. I am enjoying my work, keeping a watchful eye over the Centre and providing the odd suggestion and support where needed - and Bob is fully involved in working at creating his dream, and I think he is finding it fulfilling, if not a little too consuming.