Snowglobe

On further exploration, the dorm room is surprisingly well kitted out, with a dressing gown, decent tea and coffee and good biscuits (ginger shortbread). The design probably wouldn’t pass any code these days though, with the edge of my loft bed only marginally lower than the padded guardrail (I’m sleeping on the far side lest I take an unscheduled trip over the edge) and a bathroom only 55cm wide. Claustrophobia in the shower cube might be a real problem. I understand there are four rooms with bigger bathrooms, and the reception team quietly allocates them after looking at the person checking in. I’ve included a photo of me in my Oxford hoodie - probably the only time you will see me wearing one! 

It was only five degrees and raining in the morning, so sensibly the tai chi session was in a little room overlooking a garden rather than outside. These morning sessions proved to be the only time to stop and breathe and clear my mind. It’s  SO full on. One of the group suggested that it was like a snow globe that’s been shaken up and that’s exactly how I feel- ideas swirling all over the place. Such fantastic ideas though. It’s my absolute favourite kind of learning- interesting concepts, new frameworks to put things together and lots of time to discuss with other people who think conceptually. I have never never done anything I love as much as this. It’s also such a hothouse of ideas and cultures, all together, all the time, bouncing off each other, challenging and supporting. I’m wondering how it will feel once I’m outside this environment and what I will take away to implement. 

Also, it’s snowing! So beautiful. It’s a bit challenging to be inside all the time - I’ve not gone outside for 36 hours now. It feels even more enclosing to be in this warm noisy place surrounded by the snow falling silently outside.