Takeaway #3: Listening

I was reminded on the island how difficult and sometimes subtle listening or being listened to can be.

A follow-on to "being present" is the attention and effort expected during a discussion.

Working in the gardens or kitchen with others during the fortnight meant that there were sustained periods to talk or to listen.

I met some people during the visit who were really good at listening and I experienced the simple delight of being heard and understood.

Meanwhile there were others who must have cloth for ears, stayed in their bubble and moved from one self-centred moment to another.

It was a rare joy to spend time with a stranger and give them the space to be heard.

Takeaway #2: Meditation

Near to 5pm the bell would ring to let us know it was time for meditation in the sanctuary up on the hillside.

Not everyone would come along, just a hardcore of attendees, some of whom told me they had been instructed how to meditate.

This visit to Erraid was my first experience of meditation and I quickly found that I could effortlessly drift off to sleep if I relaxed too much.

After working in the gardens or kitchen during the day it became a welcome way to finish the day, relax and prepare for supper at 6pm.

At first I used the sessions to think on a topic, such as the book I was reading, but went to subsequent meditations clearing out the clutter that invades moments of silence like this, harder than I expected it to be unless I let myself sink into sleep.

In an article by Dr Sigel, meditation would count as Time In or Down Time, something that I would like to repeat whenever I can. I haven't resolved how I would fit in 30 minutes if I am working, so this has to be a habit I will return to when time permits.

So if you spot me on a sunny day sitting on top of a grass mound in Battersea Park overlooking The Thames don't worry, I'm probably not asleep but having another beginner's go at meditation.

Takeaway #1: Presence

Before starting each session such as gardening, logging, kitchen or the morning check-in we held hands, very unBritish I know, and focused on who was there and what was happening around us.

This proved an effective way of dropping the thoughts or chatter leading up to the moment and homing in onto where we were.

I remember during large Embercombe sessions people silently raised their hand when ready to participate, simple but equally effective.


Nowadays we multi-task, play with our phones, looking around and getting distracted from the moment, anything but focus.

So whilst hand-holding might get me arrested at the Asda check-out till, I'll be inserting that pause to see how Erraid goes down in Zone 1 & 2.

Zone 2

I flew into a London sunset sky this evening over Wembley Arch, then up the Thames, over St Paul's, Tate Modern, London Eye, Parliament, Vauxhall, Battersea Power Station, my house and then onto Heathrow.

Rather pleased with this photo taken through the window of the plane.

Home to sawdust free flush toilets.

It's good to be back, let's see how long this lasts!

Farewell to Mull

Time to leave Erraid and take the bus back from fionnphort to catch the ferry in Craignure later in the morning.

Mull is a spectacular island, particularly in this sunshine, another delight to savour.

Onto the ferry across to Oban for what must be a classic rail journey to and from Glasgow through the Scottish mountains and valleys.

I had a lovely chat on the train with Mo' unpacking the time in Erraid discovering all sorts of insights she picked up that I missed.

Hope to see her again for a walk in her neck of Wales, but now it's Glasgow in the rain dodging shoppers heading to Buchanan Galleries

Sunset over Erraid

So it's farewell to Erraid after a fantastic evening watching the sun go down, sharing some wine and then a strange German drinking ritual with vodka and sweet crystals, don't ask me why!

A night sky that is still light at 1am and a quiet street.

Final K.D.

That's it, the last washing up of the trip, a big one too, and a final meditation to break the circle and return Sauron's ring.

Blistering sunshine today and a fantastic walk amongst spectacular empty beaches and granite outcrops from clear blue seas.

Late flight tomorrow out of Glasgow back to the big smoke and Zone 2.