Friday, 28 October

This week we had a spectrum of weather, so typical of Spring.  We had hot days and nights and then cold and wet days and night.  Not the easiest environment for building. 

Tall crane over the chapel

On Wednesday a big crane arrived to lift more of the steel framework for the building into place.  It was a very high crane.

Crane placing beams for the library roof

The crane was expertly choreographed so that it placed the steel beams together so they could slip into place.

The roof of the library takes shape

The library takes shape

While all this was happening the other trades were busy.  Pete, our electrician has been here continuously.  Part of his job is to connect the present retreat centre building with a new electricity supply.  This involves placing a number of cables underground.   The cables in the photo below are about to disappear down the small pipe coming up from the ground next to the wall.

Pete, on the right, with cables

Pete is a man of many parts.  For some years he had a pretty big boat in Apia, Samoa, complete with a Kiwi captain taking tourists on fishing expeditions.

Sunday, 23 October

Pouring the last slab

I have received some encouraging comments from those who have enjoyed following the progress of our build through this blog.  It has also been a welcome means of contact with ex-novices.  One correspondent suggested we should have a webcam so that daily progress could be followed.  Now that would be commitment.
Anyway I am back home and today will update you on the past week.  On Friday I caught the pouring of the cement for the last of the foundations for the building.  The long corridor linking the different rooms is now in place. 

The connecting corridor and courtyard takes shape

This morning I walked with Fr Johny around the site pointing out what rooms were where.  He wanted to know whether we had a tap near the garage so we could clean the cars!  I wasn't sure.  But only our Indian friars- himself, Gabriel and Shemil, are keen car washers.  Johny also wanted to know where the vegetable garden was!  I made a suggestion.  We'll see what happens.  In the photo below you can see the corridor going from outside the library up to the friars' part of the new priory.  Just behind the pile of dirt in the foreground is the courtyard.

Sunday morning: the cement has dried

The foundations now being complete (except for the balconies and verandahs).  The structural steel is now on site and has begun to be erected.  You can see the outline of the oratory roof in the photo below.

Steel for the oratory roof is in place

This week I hope to see the steel below rising so that we can have an outline of the priory roof.

More steel for the roof

When all the steel is in place the next stage will be the roof.  Only then will work on the masonry walls begin in mid-November.  The walls will be of a new product called Timbercrete, invented by Peter Collier who lives at Bilpin in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.  Here is a link to the Timbercrete site       http://www.timbercrete.com.au/

Saturday 15 October, Feast of St Teresa

I know, I know!  It has been too long since I have have posted.  I have been preoccupied with a number of week long retreats.  These have been enjoyable but have not given me the time or energy on my return to post.  Sorry.

Well, while I was away the well organised work on the priory has continued.  All the slabs have now been poured.  So you can see the length of the building and make out most of the rooms.  Here is a snap of the final slabs on the right are four bedrooms, in the centre formations facilities, laundry and offices and beyond that the garages.

Slabs for garages, formation resources and bedrooms.

Yesterday our nice Muslim concrete workers poured the corridor/walkway which will link the various slabs into a coherent building.

Concrete being poured for the corridor

You can also see the form work for the courtyard taking shape to the right of this photo.

The corridor is poured and form work put in place

The winding corridor takes shape

While I was at St Celement's Redempotorist Retreat Centre in Galong, near Hardon, NSW, I missed a unique opportunity back home.  On Tuesday 4 October contestants from the Miss Earth Australia Competition came to Mount Carmel and planted trees.  Paul Maunder, Johny Arattukulam and Gabriel Maliakkal welcomed the contestants, their chaparones, their entourage and the paparazzi gave them all wonderful Carmelite hospitality.  In fact the brethren, in their chivalry and Carmelite devotion to manual labour,  also wielded picks and shovels and planted the trees.  On my return I took a photo of their efforts.

Trees planted by Miss Earth Australia contestants

The Miss Earth Australia contestants will return to plant more trees on 2 November.  I shall be home then and am looking forward to some manual labour, myself.  Plus I hope to take a few commemorative photos.  At the same time we will have the Carmelite nuns with us for the General Assembly of their Association.  Perhaps one of the girls will be interested in the contemplative life? 

While having lunch on Friday we had a surprise visit from Jude Nagle or Jude de Angulo as he now is.  Jude was a postulant with us in Brisbane in 1982 and a novice here in 1983.  It was great to meet up with him again.  He was both fleeing the Rugby World Cup  in New Zealand and attending a wedding at nearby Mount Annan.  Meanwhile, I leave tomorrow for another retreat.  This time for clergy from Parramatta Diocese. 

The blessings of St Teresa be with you and all those you love.