Ah, and so here we are, a friday, my final day of work before i swan off to wales for a week.
i can't wait, i am spending a week in Llanbedr doing adventurous activities. now hang on a minute there, your not even listening to me now...your making your own jokes up in your head with that.lol
adventure training. naviagtion/hiking. climbing, kayaking, abseiling, mountain biking, canyoning. and whatever else depending on the weather. i cannot wait. last time i went on this camp i was just a young corporal in the atc, now i am still young, but am a member of staff so i am helping to run the course. 
i love Llanbedr, it is beautiful. the outdoors has this hold on me, i can't get enough, i feel trapped when i am indoors. on a nice day snowdon looms above llanbedr and it is just the most magestic vision of beauty.
i will use this landscape to really get in touch with myself as i can go down to the beach and meditate to the sound of the oceans waves.
since becoming a buddhist, a few people have laughed and mocked me for it, but surprisingly most people have been great and infact a few have said that they have considered it as well. i feel great to finally be myself and be free. i have become a calmer person now because i don't let myself get stressed anymore.
well i must dash, i need to go and pack my stuff.
As a Buddhist myself since 1995, I know and value the comments of others about my spiritual interests and these days can handle the opinions of others. In fact it is good Dharma practise to listen and not judge, nor to defend your own position. I thik the strangest comment I have heard - albeit by an 18 year old - is that 'all Buddhists are terrorists.' On that occasion, I decided to educate in a subtle way.
Have a fantastic retreat...next time, if you get the chance do a solitary.
Metta