[Pedro the Fisherman]

I emailed HAI to inform them I was coming with a female friend and we were both given places for the Level 1 at Buckland Hall (again) in a month's time. The next few weeks flew by and despite a couple of scares over M being able to make it, she arrived at my place early and I drove us both.

The journey to Wales took over four hours on a wet Friday evening, thanks to extra traffic. The time passed with M and me talking about pretty much anything but the weekend ahead. I could tell she was nervous, but after having had a bad week at home (her daughter's dog had been unwell and younger daughter playing up about spending the weekend with her father) she seemed pleased to have something else to occupy her thoughts.
With about 30 minutes of the journey left, M started to ask questions about what was in store, this weekend. “um, you know you assured me, everything is up to me? She said. “you're ‘at choice’ all the time" I assured her. “no, that's not the thing that’s bothering me". I tried to reassure her “I'll be your buddy this evening, so you won't be with a stranger for the early part of the workshop and you can sit out absolutely anything you don't feel comfortable with, later on". She smiled and then added “ this buddy thing, I'm happy that we will be together...but will you be naked?” I'd given this some thought in advance and gave her an option. “nobody will be naked this evening, so don't get ahead of yourself. That option comes tomorrow, but I should not be telling you this. However, let's do tonight's exercise, which are just friendly fun things and at breakfast time tomorrow, we'll discuss it then... You might even fancy getting your kit off, by then!” I added rather hopefully. “I very much doubt that" she said “I've spent half my life hating my own body and tried my best to avoid my ex- husband seeing me naked, since the birth of my daughters. When I was young it was better, but I've never been confident, even enough to wear a bikini at the beach on holiday". I realised then that this weekend might well turn out very differently to the first one. To keep ‘M's friendship I might well have to remain semi dressed (as my old roommate Nick always did) all weekend. No ‘Doctors and Nurses' and no ‘shower or shower of love’ as that would freak her out, if she is worrying about seeing me naked. I think I might have made a big error bringing her along, but what choice did I have.
I was mulling this over when the first sign to Buckland Hall appeared about half a mile from our destination. M had been silent for a few minutes, lost in her own thoughts. “here we are" as I turned into the long drive. Nestled in fabulous parkland, M brightened up and exclaimed “wow, what an amazing place, is this it?”. “yes it is fabulous, isn't it” I replied to lighten things up. I swung into a parking space away from the main entrance. There were already about 30 cars already parked up.

We sat there taking in the view for a second and then M put her hand lightly on my knee and said “sorry, I've been selfish. You're used to nudity with your ‘mad’ nude race (for some reason she always referred to WNBR as a race!) and these sort of courses, not to mention nudist beaches. You be yourself this weekend and I'll be a big girl and make up my own mind on what I do or don't do. If you want to strip off, I promise I won't be offended...possibly embarrassed a bit, but not offended!”. I smiled at her (her hand was removed as I replied to her statement “I'll be just as embarrassed as you, I'm no ‘porno star’ when it comes to being nude, just try not to laugh too much!”. This broke the tension that had been in the car for the past few minutes and we both started giggling. “oh, I hope you are not going to be too much of a disappointment” she joked. Now it was my turn to worry a little!

We took our two small suitcases out of the back and made our way inside. The hall entrance was identical to my previous visit, two years earlier. A helper was giving out room keys and asking us to sign in and sign a paper promising not to take photos, turn off mobiles and not to leave the designated area around the building for the next 48 hours. Another helper was giving instructions on meal times and where to find our rooms. It didn't take a second to realise that this helper was the large ‘virgin’ from Norfolk that I had met on my last trip. “hello again” I said and she smiled in recognition “are you back for level 1 again then?” she replied. “I am indeed and I've brought a friend this time" I said nodding at M standing next to me. “great” she said, “ it’s a good thing to do this as couple, you will learn more about each other in the next 48 hours, than a year in the ‘real world'. I've done level 2 and level 3 since I joined and it's transformed my whole life". I half hoped M did not hear the remark about us finding out everything about each other, then I realised we were being treated as a couple! “we're not a couple, as such" I quickly added. “no problem, one way or the other, everyone is at choice and we keep the rooms strictly single sex, even if you were married! That's the HAI way!” our helper responded. Your room 15 and your lovely lady is in room 19, both up this, the front staircase.