| We took our stall to 3 different Christmas fairs and it was also at Dee's home for several days. We sold goods for Free Tibet and Tibet Relief Fund as well as our own goods which we'd bought back from recent trips to Tibet and India. Altogether we took almost £750 - and had a lot of fun! Many thanks to everyone who helped. | 
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 We were delighted that Ven Mary, the much loved Tibetan Buddhist nun, came to spend an evening with us later in the month. She talked with us about many aspects of Buddhism including her experience of her recent one year retreat on Holy Isle of the west coast of Scotland.  TSGY member Roswitha Jarman gave a fascinating illustrated talk about her grandfather A.H.Francke who led an archaeological expedition to Tibet in the early part of the twentieth century.
Rowena and Adrian gave a talk about their trip to Rewalsar and an update on the sponsorship scheme which has grown considerably in just over a year and there are now just under 40 people being sponsored through he scheme. This includes children, monks, nuns and the elderly.
 In August, Rowena, Adrian and their family visited Rewalsar in Northern India where the TSGY sponsorship scheme is based. They met up with Lama Lhakpa Yeshe there and managed to meet nearly everyone currently being sponsored through TSGY as well as many others hoping to find a sponsor.
The photo shows Lama surrounded by prayer flags on the hillside above Rewalsar. We travelled to Samye Dzong in Scarborough for an inspiring evening talk on Mindfulness given by the much respected Rob Nairn.
 Our main summer fundraising event was a sponsored walk along the 30 mile length of the River Foss accompanied by Rowena and Adrian's dog Flynn.
In acknowledgement of the World Cup we also showed the film 'The Cup' set in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery during the 1998 world cup.  Our first group visit to Holy Isle after hoping to visit for many years. Holy Isle is part of Samye Ling and is a beautiful and inspiring island off the West coast of Scotland dedicated to world peace. We had a wonderful few days there and hope to return before too long.
We also held our summer retreat with Lama Lhakpa Yeshe at the very welcoming and beautiful Lime Tree Farm near Masham. The teachings took place in a reconstruction of a neolithic roundhouse just visible in the photo - very atmospheric!
 Six of us travelled down from York to take part in the annual Tibetan Freedom March and Rally in London.
The photo shows John who described it as 'a great privilege to be there'. We also showed the beautifully made and very inspiring film 'Women of Tibet' for International Women's week. |
