Monday 12 September

Since I last wrote Spring has come to Varroville.  The trees and shrubs are in blossom.  The smell of their perfume is in the air.   The sun comes up earleir and sets later.  These longer, sunnier days have been wonderful.

During the week a group of us with retreatants John Collins and Kathleen visited the site.

Frs Shemil, Greg Burke, Paul Maunder with John Collins and Kathleen Bashford

Waffle pods in place

We were interested in seeing waffle pods about which we hadn't previously  heard.  Waffle pods are polystyrene panels which are part of the formwork for the slab.  They also help insulate the floor of the building.

On Friday we had not just Spring showers but genuine rain.  The site was a mudbath but still they managed to pour our first three slabs.  the building progresses.  It is amazing really how much time and work goes into the ground under the building itself.

The first slabs in place

Life here is always interesting.  This morning after mass there were three steers wandering around the grounds.  So off we went to see what was up.  They were not our farmer's.  Shane said he saw them walking down the road and herded them into to our place.  We rounded up two and got the other back where he belonged across the road.  I missed the rest as I had to leave to take a retreatant to Campbelltown for her journey home to Wagga Wagga. 

I have just finished a retreat on Henri Nouwen which was well received.  I have another retreat beginning on Sunday which will take me away for a week.