just back from a week on the isle of mull. it's now a habit of mine to take a retreat of some sort each year which is one of the best decisions i made a few years back. i always switch off from phone, internet, and any media and take some time to think, walk, be, pray, read, write, and take photos. the last few years i have been to a community wise in the ways of the soul to join in their life of silence and prayer. this year i decided to just head to scotland, risk the weather and camp. unsurprisingly it was cold – i had about 6 layers on most evenings. but it was glorious to be away and in the beauty of the scottish landscape and islands. i actually took my first retreat in this sequence on a scottish island so it was good to be back. i picked up a traveller who wanted to hitch a lift so i wasn't totally solo but headed off alone most days and then had company for evenings and meals round the fire.