WINTER SOLSTICE UPDATE 2006.

It was a wonderful Summer and idyllic Autumn with temps in the comfortable early 20s. Only over the last few evenings have I begun to need any heating.

In 2nd week of July, I was honoured with a visit from James and Sophie of Budaveg, their veg.-letting business in Budapaest, with Oliver, their black labrador. They drove all over the island, swimming and sunbathing, and also helped me water and clean. James, bless him, put my compost bin together. I had cut and treated the lengths but completion was not high on my priority list so had they not come, I would probably still be building a compost heap on the ground. It is a joy to just throw the waste matter in, instead of having to build it so carefully! Oliver was a delight as I miss contact with dogs here.

Unusually for me, I had felt tired for some days before they came and began to wonder if I were ailing, but this lifted while they were here. This shows what a bit of help and encouragement can do! The day after they left, Fabijan and his son Misel who, with helpers, had been working here for some weeks, also cleared up and left. Their work on the roof and paths has taken a weight off my mind and I missed their company. I continued to cement holes in the walls and drive from 5.30 am daily but I have now let them concrete the drive properly. I know that concrete leaves much to be desired eco-wise but I desperately need to cut my work-load! In August a developer came to look at Potok and concluded that it was too beautiful to develop. Good for him!

At the Summer festivals I managed to stun not only the band and audience but the other dancers with my acrobatic dancing. I had not done it since I was last in Goa! At the Mirca art and folk song one, I joined the catering team and handed round vegetarian savouries I had made over the afternoon. In mid-September Keith and Stella made a one-night visit which they combined with dental treatment. Unfortunately it was the day after I had sprained my ankle but they kindly took me on a drive to Sumartin at the other end of the island which I had not seen and gave me a hand with spreading seaweed for the rain to wash the salt out. Last year I had made the mistake of putting it directly on the garden which did not improve the vegetables at all!

Christa was going to cover my return to the UK, 11-17 Oct but her cancer took a turn for the worse. The Petrinovic family were sharing the garden so Misel agreed to come daily to feed the hens and water. I sent back food parcels for both of us. Misel was delighted with his and I shared mine with village friends, Lucija and Slavica. During my few days in Swansea I felt very privileged to be able to attend the inauguaral meeting of the Holistic section of the Interfaith Foundation on which Nigel of The Retreat Restaurant, has been working so hard. Vegan stalwarts George and Shirley again provided me with a base and a welcome to return to at the end of my problem-solving days. My last day was spent with George and Alan who between them conveyed me to the coach.

Dossing at Gatwick with my charity-shop blankets, I was checked by the Police and given a certificate to the effect that I was a genuine traveller! Early in November, Christian came to stay for a week. He told me he had felt 'guided' to come which is encouraging. Potok's emanations must be strengthening! He is a native of Sibenic, about 70km away, but has spent all his life in Germany. We finished picking the olives and took them to the Supetar Press only to learn that they could not give us our own oil, so we re-loaded, much to everyone's amusement, and took them to Sutivan. (Mirca is between the two) We returned at the end of the week, with the final pick of about 16kg and this was accepted as payment for the pressing. There was about 8 1/2lts of oil, a bit up on last year. Having picked, we pruned a few trees, removed ivy from dry-stone walls, walked and cracked walnuts.

My walnut tree must be my greatest Autumn joy. Collecting the nuts to eat and the leaves for the compost is a daily delight. Christian always claimed that his Croatian was not up to much but I was especially grateful to him for enabling me to chat to a couple of people for the first time. His gentle, sensitive presence was a joy. and believe it or not, he had a sister who phoned from Germany to ask the names of the hens! Lying on a beach, we observed a creature that seemed a cross between jellyfish and oarweed, and concluded that it was telling us to entrust ourselves to the tides of life.

The next significant event was the installation of a woodstove by Kamini Hoyan, the only Croation firm that does them for fireplaces. Mario and Nikola worked for 2 long days and were very pleasant to have. They were even friendly and gentle with Honey, my favourite hen! Having a smoke-free kitchen will be sheer bliss! I continued to help friends pick their olives and made the olive season my excuse when Branko, my Police Liason Officer, took me to task for leaving my Resident's renewal application so late. When I called at the Police Station to find him, he was on his way to Potok to find me.

When Fabijan had a bad back, I gave him and Misel a yoga class after which Misel became interested so he has had a couple of individual sessions. Having previously only taken classes, I found it rewarding being able to give total attention to one person. On 27th November I went to Split to find an angel to place on the cairn outside Potok and that very afternoon, Christa, who had such affinity with angels, left her physical body and passed on. Those present experienced it as an awe-inspiring moment and that day and the next, much joy came into my life in the form of good news and achievements. I had not then heard the news but early the following morning, I dreamed that I gave her a small bunch of grapes, feeling somewhat guilty because I had given most of the grapes to other people but she responded with a joyful hug!

At Potok in Apr - May, she had done what work her strength allowed, observed her spiritual practices, walked and swum. She did not take a day out until my return. It is undoubtedly charateristic of her that her last foreign holiday was one of service. I loved being with her and feel that her presence was a great blessing on Potok. The angel, of course, became my memorial to her. I would light its candle and tune in beside it daily at dusk and continued this practice even when my hostile neighbour smashed it. It is now in three, which I believe is a good omen! I am now starting to sell my mandarines and oranges. I love the work here but writing and studying projects are queuing up in my mind and I could do with more time for them. I should also like it to be easier for me to get away. Both would be practicable if there were two of us. There is a fulfilling life here awaiting someone. Anyway, do visit if you can and please bear in mind that I need someone here 3-4 weeks April-May while I return to the UK with the car.