Before bringing me a cup of tea in bed this morning Chris received this request for accommodation on our Airbnb site (Chris answers to Sally in this instance because we share management of our site):

“Hi Sally,

I’m registered for a four day training at the Sea School of Embodiment. As of right now, I’m just booking this for myself only. If my friend also joins the training, I may want her to stay with me. I will be sure to keep you updated, if you accept me.”

Annabelle (from New York)

Delighted to have an inquiry from America, Chris wrote back:

Dear Annabelle,

Thanks for your inquiry, and it ‘s lovely to hear from you. Yes, I’m happy to say we’re clear for the dates you want, so Chris and I would be delighted to host you for the duration of your training course – I must say I hadn’t heard of the Sea School of Embodiment – sounds fascinating! There would be absolutely no problem if your friend decides to come too – it makes no difference to the cost, or to us, we love having people. July is usually pretty good weather-wise here, so hopefully you’d be coming at lovely time of year..but no promises, of course – This is England! We greatly enjoy visitors from all over the world through Airbnb, and we love the variety of types of people. Just read your reviews, and you sound very much like our sort of person, so I really hope you decide to come and stay with us! I can pre-approve your booking, just let me know. Hope to hear back from you shortly.

All the best,

Sally (Well, we are interchangeable; like threads woven together we are as one. That’s what many years of marriage does for you!)

Chris nearly spilt the tea as he came laughing into our bedroom and sat on the bed.

“We’ve had an Airbnb request from Annabelle in New York,” Chris chuckled. “Darling, have you heard of the ‘Sea School of Embodiment’?”

“No,” I was a bit surprised at all the hilarity so early in the morning, “Is it here is Dawlish?”

“Oh yes,” he giggled, “guess what it is.”

“Maybe it has something to do with fishing, or diving, or… it’s a special course for artists learning to paint the sea,” I pondered, although Chris’s laughter suggested something far less logical or normal.

“You’ll never get it. I shall have to tell you.”

“Go on,” I urged. (He was still laughing.)

“To think, (laugh), I told her, (howl), she sounded like our kind of person!”

“Tell me what it is…” I could hardly bear the suspense.

“Here, I printed it out…” and Chris read:

“The Sea School of Embodiment sponsors international teachers in the fields of somatic sexology, sacred sexuality, sexological body work, Tantra and the expressive arts, making available top trainings and workshops for explorers to learn and heal all that’s in the way of shame free naturalness and professionals enhancing their professional practices. Somatic can be defined as “of the body” and embodiment as “the body experienced from within”.

(Tantra is a Sanskrit word that means ‘woven together.’ Hindu and Buddhist meditation practitioners use sexual union as a metaphor for weaving together the physical and the spiritual: weaving man to woman, and humanity to the divine. The purpose is to become one with God.)

“It’s £680 for a four day course. And they have ‘Cuddle Parties’ – for between 10- 25 people at £25 each,” he added.

“We’re in the wrong business,” I said.

We meditated over the notion as we drank our cups of tea, which weren’t exactly divine because they had got cold whilst we were laughing.