To start, it is in our favorite weekend venue, the beautiful Buckland Hall, in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, UK. It is always a pleasure to lead (or attend) a workshop in this venue. It is an amazing English country estate, with beautiful grounds and gardens. The main house (where we hold our workshops) is absolutely magnificent. This current house was built in 1898, but the history of the estate goes back to the 1600’s.

But the specialness of this weekend to me is the magic we create for the couples who attend our workshop. You may have heard me say before that I get an immense amount of pleasure out of sharing the positive things Priyatama and I have learned about how to create and sustain (or re-discover) close, loving connections in partnered relationships. Well, this weekend is one of the best times I get to experience that feeling of giving something special to others.

In this (to use Priyatama’s words) fast-paced, technology-orientated world, many (perhaps most) couples find it difficult to create special time for themselves. And our Valentines weekend is attended by couples who have made the conscious decision to give themselves the gift of special time together.

What makes it special for Priya and me is watching the worries and cares of the “outside” world fall away as the couples slow down and concentrate on each other and their relationship. It is beautiful to watch the transformation that comes over them as they connect on a deep level, remembering - or in some cases, just discovering - the love they have for each other.

There is great joy for us in seeing this transformation take place. It is one of the reasons we do the work we do.

So I am excited! And after the weekend I will post something about my experience of the weekend. And I will invite the participants of the weekend to comment on their experiences of the weekend. (I hope some will.)

To close, I am curious. Do some of you experience that you can’t seem to make the time to be close and connected with your current partner? Or if you aren’t in a partnered relationship currently, was that a problem in a previous relationship?

We’d like to hear from you.

Namaste. Bob

So why am I so excited about that? Because I love having the chance to share with people some of our thoughts, beliefs, and practical tools to help them have more loving connection in all of their relationships. And this will be a great opportunity to do so.

Also, I love talking. …..I mean “teaching”. Well, I love both. I get a huge feeling of satisfaction in conveying to others the things that help make my life - specifically my relationships - rich and full and loving and fun and tender and ……… I could go on and on. I love how well my life works around my relationships with others, and I want others to feel that too. (And, there is always something more for me to learn and work on myself.)

But back to “Alternatives”. Their programme of talks and workshops reaches out to many more people than we have had contact with before. And that both scares and excites me. I look at the people who have been past speakers and I feel honoured and humbled by being added to that group.

I hope there are some of you who live in or near London and can come hear us.

I’m curious, have any of you heard of Alternatives?

That’s all for now.

Namaste, Bob