Shanks departs for Sunny Climes Down-under...

Only Amitabh has been at Croydon Hall longer than Shanks! But now he feels it is time to move on and he is heading for warm, sunny down-under territories – not to his native home, New Zealand, but to southern Australia. He will fly to Sydney where he will spend a few days with his sister whom he hasn’t seen for many years, buy a car, and drive down to southern New South Wales to join a loose-knit sannyasin community there.

After the end of the Ranch a number of sannyasins, surprisingly many of them from the UK, gravitated to this area. Neehar, famous farmer in Poona and on the ranch, is Australian, but living near him is Nijananda, Agneya and Noleen and several others. Shanks plans to meet up with all these old friends and have a much deserved rest for a while before deciding what he wants to do.

Shanks arrived at Croydon Hall in 2001 to look after the buildings and participate in a community of meditators working together at a hospitality venue. Along the way he became a health and safety officer, fire officer, group liaison, bar man, body balancing session giver, meditation facilitator and was involved in the myriad issues which needed sorting out so that the guests would have as enjoyable as stay as possible. Many guests returned year after year, creating individual bonds with him and the rest of the community. Each Xmas, for 9 years, he gave one friend body balancing sessions during his annual Xmas stay.

He says, "How did I stay sane in the hospitality industry? Good question! – with gardening, bee keeping and regularly meditating as a community with Evening Meeting Meditation available every day. I love Zen and I found Croydon Hall very Zen and celebrative at the same time. I will certainly miss friends that I work with and the many friends from around the area."

Over the years Shanks has discovered many beautiful places in this part of the world. For him Somerset is without doubt one of the most beautiful places he has lived in. He says, "The walks in the forest of Horner Woods, Lynmouth Coast and Quantock Hills – one would have to see these areas to experience the overpowering feeling of natural wonders. Glastonbury is my favourite pilgrim town with its ancient other-worldly vibe. This whole region is steeped in standing stone monuments, nearly every one of which I have visited again and again. I have felt a strong attachment here; it’s like communing with ancestors on every hill."

He has been a very, very good friend and we are all going to miss him very much indeed. But we wish him a wonderful time in his new adventure and look forward to hearing tales of sun and space with hopefully a few photos to help us imagine what his new life now entails. Bon Voyage, Shanks! Stay in touch!

text by Veena – January 2010